Wildlife-watching campsites in Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve

Britain’s largest National Nature Reserve doesn’t do things by halves. On the eastern borders of the wild, wind-lashed Cairngorms, it’s home to four of Scotland’s highest summits, including the often Arctic-like Ben Macdui, and a haven for wildlife such as red deer, red squirrels, golden eagles, and black grouse. Through this landscape of heathery moorland and Caledonian pine flows the Linn of Dee, a beauty spot with waterfalls, low-level trails, and picnic spots favored by Queen Victoria. The estate’s showpiece is 19th-century Mar Lodge, a former sporting manor now home to self-catering apartments, cottages, and a bunkhouse. Area campsites can be found around Aberdeenshire, by the River Dee, and in Braemar. Most offer plenty of pitches with electric hookups or glamping pods.

93% (62)

Top-rated campgrounds

Britain’s largest National Nature Reserve doesn’t do things by halves. On the eastern borders of the wild, wind-lashed Cairngorms, it’s home to four of Scotland’s highest summits, including the often Arctic-like Ben Macdui, and a haven for wildlife such as red deer, red squirrels, golden eagles, and black grouse. Through this landscape of heathery moorland and Caledonian pine flows the Linn of Dee, a beauty spot with waterfalls, low-level trails, and picnic spots favored by Queen Victoria. The estate’s showpiece is 19th-century Mar Lodge, a former sporting manor now home to self-catering apartments, cottages, and a bunkhouse. Area campsites can be found around Aberdeenshire, by the River Dee, and in Braemar. Most offer plenty of pitches with electric hookups or glamping pods.

93% (62)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Culdees Castle Estate Glamping

88%

(25)

5 units · Glamping · Perthshire , Scotland

Luxury woodland cabins, each with a private hot tub, in the grounds of a Scottish castle

2. Muiredge

100%

(16)

8 units · Glamping · Perth and Kinross, Central Scotland

Rural glamping in a converted railway carriage, shepherd's hut, or bell tent in blissful Scotland

3. Cairngorms Glamping and Campsite

97%

(57)

10 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Strathdon, Scotland

Pitches and pods in the Cairngorms National Park

4. Mondhuie Chalets

1 unit · Glamping · Nethy Bridge, Scotland

Just under an acre, close to Ancient Caledonia Forest , on the Speyside Way (which runs from Elgin to the South) Garden space for pets, kids and a run around! Our house and 2 Chalets (1 sleeps 5, 1 ideal for 2 or small family) are on the property. Not fully fenced from road. On the outskirts of NethyBridge. Private driveway, and car park

5. The Snug at Logie Farm

100%

(7)

1 unit · Glamping · Falkland, Fife, Central Scotland

Luxury glamping pods with all mod cons, with an elevated position overlooking the River Tay.

6. Mongolian Yurt in Stunning Highland

1 unit · Glamping · Lochearnhead, England

When travelling in Scotland, you will want to have the confidence in the quality of your accommodation, knowing that it will play a big part in the whole pleasurable experience of your holiday. Our location in Lochearnhead provides an ideal base for walking, water-sports, cycling, with flora & fauna and wild life in abundance. There are many local historic places to inspire you and bring the history of the highlands to life. Or perhaps you'd simply choose to curl up with a good book and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of a slower pace of life. Wester Auchraw is located on the A84, Cycle Route 7 and the much loved walk 'Rob Roy Way'. It sits amongst spectacular scenery in Highland Perthshire yet is only 1 hour's drive from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth.

Stories from the community

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Cathy

August 2025

7 m Class A

Weekend Trip to Cairngorms Glamping and Campsite

Cairngorm Glamping 🩷. This is a beautiful place to stay, with friendly, chilled hosts. Tucked in among the hills of Upper Donside, the view towards the Lecht is lovely … morning or evening. The surrounding countryside is magical. The site has several fields set up for tents / vans / Motorhomes, with or without services. The animal park is very sweet, with goats who seem to spend all day teasing each other and an adorable donkey who wants to talk to everyone 🥰 … the zip-line park was popular with kids of all ages and there’s a food bothy if you don’t feel like cooking. Shower and toilet facilities are clean and well located. They never seemed to be “busy” even though we were there before and during Lonach Gathering weekend. Grey and waste water services are well placed for Motorhome access. As a Scot who lives overseas, I love that places like Cairngorm Glamping exist. They showcase the scenery and provide camping access to areas of countryside that might otherwise be missed by visitors. Just wish we’d had time to stay longer … but will return! 🥰🩷🙏

J

Jordan

August 2025

Tent

2 nights at Cairngorms Glamping and Campsite

Very pleasant, peaceful area with a good view & amenities

S

Stephen

August 2025

Tent

With kids

1 night at Cairngorms Glamping and Campsite

Fantastic, friendly hosts, spectacular views and breakfast was delicious! Kids loved the animals and we would have happily stolen Bru!

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Eric

August 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Muiredge

The place is really nice. Our tent was prepared for four and we sleep there really well. Views on morning were amazing. And comon places were really good when weather made not possible to be outside.

Mirjam

August 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Muiredge

We loved the cabin. Spacious and we slept very well. The best shower ever! The campsite has wonderful views and is well maintained. We used the bbq and fire pit. The barn is well equipped for cooking and relaxing. Angus is a wonderful host. Definitely would return to Muiredge when in Scotland!

e

evelyn

August 2025

Tent

With kids

2 nights at Cairngorms Glamping and Campsite

It would take less time to write what didnt stand out. This is the best, most well kept Campsite we have been to. The fields are really well kept with the most beautiful surroundings. Good Big pitching spaces. Facilities kept clean and always stocked. The Little Critter is a bloody brilliant idea, you can buy feed and go into the first pen and feed the goats, llama and alpaca. There is also a donkey, ponies and a horse, and some chickens. The owners have 4 amazingly friendly dogs. So beautiful and love attntion. 2 of them stay in their garden an want you to throw the ball. Theres a wee shop if you need summit last minute. The washing stations for dishes and the showers etc all have hot - YES - HOT water. There is a massice connect 4 game, swing sets, quiditch poles, a flying fox, an inground trampoline, a sandpit with toys, bikes and go karts all available for the kids and older kids etc. picnic tables. They also provide off the ground fire pits, (there is no time that you have to put it out or get to bed, just be respectful) If you need wood you can take it and pay the next day. Hot rolls and coffee are available in the morning to buy. Robert and his wife and team are all absolutely lovely and nothing is too much. Robert even helped to move my sisters car off a ledge when she missed some signs saying to not turn 🫣😁. The best part as if all of the above was not enough.... NAE MIDGES ❤️ Thank you so so much for an amazing wee break away.

c

claire

August 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Cairngorms Glamping and Campsite

Beautiful place, kids loved the animals and the play park

N

Nicole

July 2025

Tent

With kids

2 nights at Cairngorms Glamping and Campsite

Lovely campsite, great for the kids, my own kids made friends playing on the zipline, loved saying hello to the animals and the bikes they could play on was a nice touch, facilities where nice and we overall had a great time.

A

Abby

July 2025

Tent

2 nights at Cairngorms Glamping and Campsite

Everyone here was super kind and funny. The campsite was in a beautiful area with a gorgeous view and beautiful farm animals surrounding the pitches. Would really recommend and definitely going back.

P

Peter

July 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Cairngorms Glamping and Campsite

Great campsite with lots of amenities. Plenty of space for the kids to run around.

f

fey

July 2025

5 m Class B

With kids

1 night at Cairngorms Glamping and Campsite

Alles war wunderbar! Wir waren total überrascht, wie schön es dort war. Besonders wie kinderfreundlich es dort ist. Ein riesiger, wunderschöner Ort in den Highlands mit lovely handsome critters :), unendlich wunderbaren Spielmöglichkeiten, netten Nachbarn und sauberen Sanitäranlagen. Genau das richtige nach einer langen Fahrt mit Kindern. Wir würden gerne zurück kommen!

H

Helen

July 2025

6 m Class B

With pets

1 night at Cairngorms Glamping and Campsite

Great campsite - definitely dog and family friendly! Lots of amenities.

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Michael

July 2025

7 m Class B

Weekend Trip to Cairngorms Glamping and Campsite

Lovely to be in a secluded area surrounded by mountains, animals and lots of space. Simple well kept facilities.

E

Erin

June 2025

5 m car

Weekend Trip to Cairngorms Glamping and Campsite

Lovely family campsite, gorgeous views and plenty of amenities and essentials on site

A

Allison

June 2025

7 m Class A

With pets

Weekend Trip to Cairngorms Glamping and Campsite

A great campsite. We did not need to use the bathroom facilities as we were in a motorhome. Lovely and quiet which is exactly what we were looking for.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Wildlife-watching campsites in Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve guide

Tips for snagging a campsite

With more than 29,000 hectares of unsurpassed Scottish landscape to explore, wild camping is the top option in the nature reserve. This is a crucial habitat for conservation, so a leave-no-trace ethos is mandatory.
There are several free mountain huts scattered throughout the nature reserve. Corrour Bothy, a day’s walk from Mar Lodge, has a single room with a fireplace and is ideal for Munro ascents.
Booking is recommended for all campgrounds and caravan parks in the wider Cairngorms area, particularly in September during the Braemar Gathering, the town’s world-famous Highland games.

When to go

Winter is unbeatable for Narnia-like hikes, ice climbs, and ski touring, especially with Glenshee Ski Centre right on the doorstep. Nevertheless, certain campsites only open from spring to autumn—check before travelling that your preferred option is open. There are no less than 24 Munros (Scotland’s highest peaks) in the near vicinity, and these are best tackled during summer when you have the greatest chance of sunshine and clear skies.

Know before you go

Wild camping is permitted throughout Mar Lodge Estate, but campfires are prohibited ,as the estate is made up of a mixture of peaty grounds and Caledonian pine forests.
Should you have any on-the-ground questions, a small information booth is sometimes manned at the Linn of Dee. Otherwise, ask at Mar Lodge for one of the rangers.
Unless travelling by bike, the nature reserve can only be accessed from one of two car parks: at Quoich or at the Linn of Dee. From these points on, there’s only wild mountain tracks and the great outdoors.