The 9 Best Hotels in the Cairngorms National Park

The Cairngorms is the United Kingdom's largest national park and is made up of a spectacular mountain range. It is a diverse place; from skiing to stalking and with a wide range of wildlife to spot (much of which is endangered), this is a place to come to be in the great outdoors! The accommodation options here are broad with everything from luxurious country hotels to charming B&Bs perfect for a rural hideaway. Sifting through all the options can be a laborious task, so our hotel experts have made a collection of the best hotels in the Cairngorms. Why not browse through the list and get booking your next trip?

For luxury

Fife Arms

  • High Victoriana meets modern luxury at the miraculously reinvented Fife Arms in Braemar. A destination as much as a place to stay; come here to celebrate and relax, or to walk, stalk or fish.

For a rural hideaway

Killiecrankie House Hotel

  • The Cross at Kingussie is a cosy haven nestled in the depths of the Scottish wilderness. This old tweed mill has been lovingly renovated to offer comfortable rooms overlooking the beautiful countryside. A characterful restaurant prides itself on its affordable fine dining. The perfect country escape.
  • Killiecrankie House Hotel is a quaint and charming Highland hotel, wonderfully unassuming and Scottish through and through. Snug sitting rooms, traditional bedrooms and a fantastic restaurant complete with tartan chairs! Set in stunning landscapes, with direct access to the Pass of Killiecrankie.
  • Culdearn House is a smart country house situated in a picturesque spot in the Highlands. Six individually styled rooms are bright and airy. An award winning restaurant serves regional dishes. A cosy spot to explore this scenic area from.
  • Offering beautiful views of the Tummel Valley, Knockendarroch is a charming, picturesque hotel in Pitlochry. Each comfortable room has a distinctive Scottish feel and the hotel's excellent restaurant focuses on local produce. A great gateway into the Highlands.

For the outdoor pursuits

douneside house

  • Situated in the heart of Royal Deeside, Douneside House is a perfect country retreat. Come for delicious food, comfy beds and total relaxation. Walking, fishing, and golf are all nearby and there's a Health Club to return to after a day spent outside.
  • East Haugh House is a beautifully renovated country house set in rural Perthshire which arranges shooting and stalking packages. Then there's fishing and trekking nearby. Appetites are satisfied after a day spent outside at the excellent restaurant which serves up the best of Scottish produce.

For a B&B

Craigatin HouseCraigatin House

  • Craigatin House is a chic B&B in the heart of Pitlochry, with Farrow & Ball interiors and a lovely garden. Expect stylish contemporary bedrooms and beautifully converted living areas with glass walls. Hearty breakfasts set guests up for a day outdoors. An excellent base for exploring the local area.

Still not sure where to book?

The 9 Best Hotels in the Cairngorms National Park

Craigatin House
Craigatin House

Pitlochry

A chic bed and breakfast in the heart of Pitlochry, with Farrow & Ball interiors and a lovely garden. Stylish contemporary bedrooms. Beautifully converted living areas with glass walls. Hearty breakfasts set guests up for a day outdoors. An excellent base for exploring the local area.

  • Value chic - A stylish and affordable base to return to after a day exploring the nearby castles, mountains and whisky distilleries.
  • Great walks - Walk around Loch Faskally and through the Faskally Woods.
  • Sights nearby - Visit Blair Castle just five miles from the property.
  • Restrictions on children - No children allowed.
from £135 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees
Check availability on Expedia
Killiecrankie House Hotel
Killiecrankie House Hotel

Perthshire

A quaint and charming Highland hotel, wonderfully unassuming and Scottish through and through. Snug sitting rooms, traditional rooms and fantastic restaurant complete with tartan chairs! Set in stunning landscapes, with direct access to the Pass of Killiecrankie. A characterful country escape!

  • Hideaway - The ideal getaway from it all spot, with warm fires, hearty food, comfy beds and miles of picturesque walking.
  • Great walks - Plenty of walking in the local area with Loch Tummel, Rannoch Moor and the magnificent Glenshee.
  • Views - Great views over the Pass of Killiecrankie.
  • Secluded setting
from £230 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees
The Cross at Kingussie
The Cross at Kingussie

Inverness-shire

A cosy haven nestled in the depths of the Scottish wilderness. The old tweed mill has been lovingly renovated to offer comfortable rooms overlooking the beautiful countryside. A characterful restaurant prides itself on its affordable fine dining. The perfect country escape.

  • Great walks - An abundance of local walking routes, from low level strolls to strenuous mountain hikes are in striking distance of the hotel
  • Back to Nature - The surrounding area offers mountains, forests, clear rivers and lochs, moorlands and a haven for a huge amount of wildlife
  • Fishing - Right on the hotel's doorstep is the River Spey known as one of the finest salmon rivers
  • Hideaway - A cosy hotel and restaurant hidden away in the midst of Scotland's wilderness
from £110 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees
Douneside House
Douneside House

Aberdeenshire

Situated in the heart of Royal Deeside, Douneside House is a perfect country retreat. Come for delicious food, comfy beds and total relaxation

  • Fishing - On the River Dee nearby
  • Views - Over the Dee valley
  • Swimming Pool - Indoor pool
  • Birdwatching
from £200 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees
Culdearn House
Culdearn House

Inverness-shire (Grantown on Spey )

A smart country house situated in a picturesque spot in the Highlands. Six individually styled rooms are bright and airy with sash windows, high ceilings and antique furniture. An award winning restaurant serves regional dishes. A cosy spot to explore this scenic corner of Britain.

  • Country Escape - A charming country house in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland.
  • Birdwatching - Spot birds from the RSPB Loch Garten osprey observation hide at the Rothiemurchus Estate.
  • Sights nearby - Explore historic castles in the surrounding region.
  • Restrictions on children - Children over 10 are welcomed
from £90 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees
Knockendarroch
Knockendarroch

Pitlochry

Offering beautiful views of the Tummel Valley, Knockendarroch is a charming, picturesque hotel in Pitlochry. Each comfortable room has a distinctive Scottish feel and the hotel's excellent restaurant focuses on local produce. A great gateway into the Highlands.

  • Sights nearby - Visit nearby Killiecrankie, the site of the famous 'Soldiers Leap'.
  • Great walks - The surrounding valley is full of beautiful walking routes.
  • Views
  • Restaurant
from £235 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees
Check availability on Expedia
The Fife Arms
The Fife Arms

Aberdeenshire

High Victoriana meets modern luxury at the miraculously reinvented Fife Arms in Braemar. A destination as much as a place to stay, come here to celebrate and relax, or to walk, stalk or fish. Hotel of the Year, The Sunday Times.

  • Other Activities - Stalking and shooting all available by arrangement
  • Artworks - Picasso, Freud, Bruegel to name just a few
  • Opulent - Check out the Royal Suites
  • Fishing - Fishing on the Dee
from £320 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees
Back to articles

Written by Katie Harris

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

No spam. Only sweet updates about the latest hotel openings and the best places to stay.