Everything to Know Before Visiting the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre
In today’s blog post, we will be talking about the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre in the Scottish Highlands, which is home to Britain’s only free-ranging herd of reindeer!
Reindeer are native to Britain and could be found roaming freely in Scotland until they were hunted to extinction about 800 years ago. Reindeer were then reintroduced to Scotland in 1952 in the Cairngorms by Mikel Utsi and his wife Dr Ethel Lindgren. They were reintroduced to the Cairngorms because it is the only place in the UK that has the sub-arctic qualities that allow reindeer to survive. Now, the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre has over 150 reindeer who have a grazing area of over 10,000 acres in the mountains.
This blog post accompanies our YouTube video on our visit to the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, so be sure to check it out!
How to Get There
Address: Reindeer House, Glenmore, Aviemore PH22 1QU
The easiest and most convenient way to get to the centre is by car (and you’ll see why as you continue reading). From Edinburgh, the centre is about a 3-hour drive away. When you arrive, you should park in the lay-bys along the main road.
How to See the Reindeer
There are two ways to visit the reindeer: (1) in the paddocks and (2) on a 1.5-2 hour hill trip. You are not allowed to leisurely wander around to see the reindeer by yourself. Because we have done the hill trip ourselves, we will expand more on that experience below!
Hours and Prices
Paddocks:
The paddocks are open daily from 10.00 - 17.00 and are self-guided. This is a good option for families with children and those unable to walk the length of the hill trip.
Prices: £3.50 per adult, £3.00 per concession, £2.50 per child (3+)
Hill trip:
The hill trips run daily and the times are by tour. Pre-booking your tickets online is advised. Tickets are available to book up to 30 days in advance.
Prices: £18.50 per adult, £16.00 per student or senior, £13.50 per child (3+)
What to Know for the Hill Trip
You must have a car as there is a short drive required before the trip starts. Previously, they could drive you if you arrived without a car, but due to the current situation, this is not possible right now.
You must arrive at least 20 minutes prior to the start time to collect your tickets before the short drive.
You must be physically capable of the walk, which is sometimes on unstable and often mucky ground, and takes about 20-30 minutes each way.
You must wear proper shoes - hiking shoes or wellies - and weather-appropriate clothing - warm coats, hats, scarves, and gloves for the colder season - or they will refuse to allow you to participate. Check their website for their guidance.
The hill trip goes ahead in all weathers, so be prepared!
What Happens During the Hill Trip
After meeting the group (we estimate there were 40-50 people in our group) in the Sugarbowl car park, the guides gather everyone together for an introductory talk. At several points throughout the walk, you will stop for another short talk by the guides before moving on. They provide interesting facts about reindeer in general as well as their own reindeer.
Later on, near the top of a hill, you get the opportunity to hand-feed female reindeer with food provided by the guides! You then have time on your own to wander around, take photos, and look at (but not touch) the reindeer. Eventually, it’ll be time for you to make your way back to the car park. As mentioned earlier, the whole hill trip lasts about 1.5-2 hours.
Where to Use the Toilet
There are no toilets at the centre. There are public toilets in the village at Loch Morlich Beach, which is about 400 metres away, but they are closed during the winter. The alternative is the public toilets at Cairngorm Mountain, which is about 5 kilometres (3 miles) away.
Fun Facts About Reindeer
Here are just a few fun facts that we learned about reindeer while on the hill trip! Everything else, you’ll have to gather from the guides when you take the trip yourself!
Reindeer can’t kick out their back legs the way horses can, so you can stand or walk behind them without worry.
Reindeer have no upper front teeth or incisors, so they can’t bite you (therefore, making hand-feeding them possible!).
Reindeer are the only deer species in which the females also grow antlers.
That was a quick overview of our hill trip at the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre! Have you ever seen reindeer before? Let us know in the comments!
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