A paved steep road to Cairngorm Mountain in the Scottish Highlands
Scotland, europe
6.27 km
646 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, buckle up, adventure awaits! We're heading to Cairngorm Mountain in the Scottish Highlands, home to some seriously epic views and one of the highest roads in the UK.
Nestled in the Cairngorms National Park, this peak – also known as An Càrn Gorm – is a must-see. Plus, there's a ski and snowboard resort!
The road you'll be tackling? Cairngorm Road. It's a fully paved climb starting from Glenmore. It might only be 6.27 kilometers (3.9 miles), but don't underestimate it. You'll gain 312 meters (1,024 feet), with an average gradient of around 5% – but hold on tight, because some sections crank all the way up to a leg-burning 17%! You'll reach the top at the ski center car park.
Trust me, the views overlooking Strathspey and Aviemore are worth the effort. Just keep an eye on the weather – things can get pretty wild up here, especially in winter.
Heads up: there *is* a chairlift access road that climbs even higher, all the way to the summit (1,091 meters/3,579 feet). It’s unpaved and crazy steep. You'll need a 4x4, and even then it's totally impassable from October to June, plus closed to private cars year-round. Best to admire it from below!
Where is it?
A paved steep road to Cairngorm Mountain in the Scottish Highlands is located in Scotland (europe). Coordinates: 53.3104, -2.3375
Road Details
- Country
- Scotland
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 6.27 km
- Max Elevation
- 646 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 53.3104, -2.3375
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