Braemar Caravan Park and Camping Pods Blog

Braemar is located in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands of Scotland and is the perfect location to get outside and explore the massive wide open spaces and really explore nature and the outdoors, there is so much to see and do for the whole family.

Here is our top 5 suggestions of things to do this Summer with all of the family for your Highland Holiday adventure.

1. Cairngorms Nature Big Weekend. 

Braemar is a fantastic place to explore the environment and watch wildlife, and it is home to some of the Highlands most iconic wildlife. Braemar wants to celebrate this unique and special area and is holding a number of events and activities for the Cairngorms Nature Big Weekend on the 11th - 13th May 2018.

There's a whole range of fantastic activities and events activities celebrating the Natural heritage of the Cairngorms National Park, including Tree Folklore, Falconry, Mountain Biking, family Butterfly workshop, bat and bird box building, orienteering, and there's even a Ceilidh where you can get your dancing shoes on. For more information about the programme of events, visit Cairngorms Nature Big Weekend.

The event hub is at the Highland Games park in Braemar Village, and there will be a minibus available to take you from Braemar to the Linn of Dee. 

2. Explore the New Braemar Nature Trail. 

Braemar has such a diversity of Wildlife and in the different habitats in and around the Village, it can be difficult to know where to look first. The New Nature Trail in Braemar, in the woods of Creag Choinnich is designed so you can explore some spectacular habitats, and you may see Red Squirrels, Red and Roe Deer, Damselflies, Dragonflies, Woodants, so many different bird species, and much more. You can get a map of the Nature Trail from the Visit Scotland information centre in the Mews.

3. Visit Braemar Castle.

Braemar Castle is a fascinating castle to visit and an ideal place to visit with the whole family. Braemar Castle dates back nearly 400 years and is the only castle in Scotland which is run by the local community. The Castle was originally built as a hunting lodge for the Earl of Mar in 1628 but for the last 200 years it was home to the chief of Clan Farquharson. in 2007 Braemar Castle was taken over by the Braemar Community. 

You can have a guided tour around the castle or make your own way around. For the younger children there is a Kilted Teddy bear hunt and for older children a Quiz. 

4. Go for a Picnic

There's some fantastic places in Braemar to explore with all of the family, where you can sit and relax and watch the world go by while having a Picnic.

To make your picnic there is so much delicious local produce to choose from; delicious bread and Croissants from Highlanders Bakehouse, Cheese from Cambus o'May cheese factory, pies and sausage rolls from the Butcher in Braemar, and lots of delicious goodies from Taste.

Take a Picnic blanket or find one of the benches scattered around the village. Some of our favourite spots for a Picnic are Loch Callater, The Morrone Birkwoods, The River Dee Walk and the Viewpoint on the Lions face walk. There are many more perfect picnic spots, so why not get outside and explore to find your favourite.

5. Braemar Junior Highland Games

Braemar is home to one of the biggest and most spectacular Highland Games in Scotland - the Braemar Gathering. But did you know there is also a Junior Highland Games every July. This year it is being held on the 14th July 2018.

Braemar Junior Highland Games is organised annually to allow children between the ages of 5 and 18 the opportunity to participate in Highland games events normally reserved for adults. 

The emphasis is on having fun and having a go. There is lessons in a number of traditional Highland games events, overseen by qualified instructors. Children also have the opportunity to try Highland dancing, heavy events such as tossing the caber and throwing the hammer, tug o war and running races. There are Competitions for solo piping, solo drumming, Highland dancing and cross country running races.

It's a fantastic day out whatever age, come and join in and cheer.

There is so much more to see and do in Braemar for all of the family, and Braemar Caravan Park is a perfect location to base yourself. Book your break now.

Braemar is such a special, awe inspiring area, so for those who love getting out in to the hills, Braemar Caravan Park is the ideal base. It's so hard to choose a top 5 for exploring the outdoors, so this list is by no means exhaustive, but if you're time limited and can only fit in limited time for exploring, here is our top 5.

1. Take a walk up Morrone. Morrone towers over Braemar Caravan Park, tempting you the whole time to take a walk up it. It's a beautiful walk, about 8.5 miles, and there are spectacular views from the top. 

2. Visit Loch Callater. Glen callater is an amazing and special place. The walk/cycle from Auchallater to Loch Callater is 3 miles each way along a track, and is an easy going walk. Glen Callater is home to some amazing wildlife, including Red Deer, Mountain Hare, Curlews and Wheatears, Dippers, Ring Ouzel and so much more. Once you reach Loch Callater the views are incredible and it's quite easy to take hundreds of photos! 

3. Cycle or drive to the Linn of Dee, then walk or cycle to Derry Lodge (and beyond). The Linn of Dee is on the Mar estate, where you can start your walk along Glen Derry to Derry Lodge, an old shooting lodge. 

4. If you want to explore and photograph the iconic Highland Landscape we are blessed with in the Cairngorms, then a day out with Steven Rennie Photography is a must. Steven offers bespoke photography tours on Invercauld Estate. Steve can provide tuition for the beginner to the advanced photographer. Get in touch with Steven for more information.

If you want to go for some more strenuous walks and you would like some guidance, get in touch with Hillgoers who can guide you to some amazing places, and help teach you some navigation and hill skills at the same time. There are a number of planned events throughout the year, such as a walk through the Lairig Ghru, or up some of the Munros in the area, or get in touch hillgoers if you want a bespoke guided walk.

5. This definitely has to be on the list. Our lives are getting increasingly busy and pressurised, and the constant connection to phones and internet, although can be really useful, can also play havoc with you peace of mind and wellbeing.

So one of our top 5 things to do in Braemar is to turn off your phone and other devices you may be connected to, and put them away in your bag. Take a walk in to quiet spot (this is something quite personal to each of us and really hard to choose from in Braemar as there are so many beautiful spots, like the Morrone Birkwoods, a quiet spot on the top of Creag Choinnich, or by the river Dee). Just take some time to look at the view, listen to the birds, watch the wildlife, look at the wildflowers, or just close your eyes.

The pressures of daily life can get overwhelming and just taking some time out, in the peace and quiet of nature, can be like a reset button and can make you feel completely refreshed. 

The most important this is to enjoy yourself. Happy holidays everyone.

Braemar is an amazing place and there is so much to do whether you are interested in walking, cycling, wildlife watching, visiting castles or distilleries, and so much more. We can't fit it all in one blog so we'll be doing a series of top 5 things to do.

This is our top 5 short walks. Braemar is a beautiful place and Braemar Caravan Park has so many walks on our doorstep that it's easy to pitch up and not have to get behind the wheel again until it's time to go home or move on.

Invercauld Estate and Braemar Caravan Park have produced a booklet of walks which you can start from Braemar Caravan Park, which will soon be for sale in the on site shop. We also stock local OS maps and other books and guides of Braemar and the Cairngorms. We all love walking and cycling, so pop in for a chat and we're more than happy to point you in the right direction of our favourite places to walk.

Walks from Braemar Caravan Park book details these walks and a few more:

1. Braemar Village Loop; approximately 1.5 miles

If you've had a long journey and you need to get out to stretch your legs for some fresh air, this walk is perfect. It is an easy walk, on good surfaces, and takes you in to the village if you need any supplies.

2. Queens Drive; Approximately 2.5miles

A walk which gives spectacular views of Braemar, Ben Avon, Morrone and many other mountains of the Cairngorms. It also takes you through the Pine woods on the slopes of Creag Choinnich. There are gentle inclines and some uneven paths.

3.Lions Face: Approximately 4 miles

An extension of the Queens Drive walk, this route also gives fantastic views, takes you through woodland, and you can pop in to Braemar Castle on route. There are gentle inclines, some uneven surfaces and some steps on route.

4. River Dee walk: Approximately 3 miles

Another wonderful route on the banks of the River Dee. Fantastic for watching wildlife. The route is flat and even.

5. Morrone Birkwoods: Approximately 3 miles or 5 miles.

A slightly longer route which visits some really special habitats in the Morrone Birkwoods. There's so much opportunity for watching wildlife and the views are breathtaking. The route has steady inclines and some uneven surfaces which can be wet in places. Well worth every step.

These are just some of the walking routes, and there are many many more. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Happy walking everyone.