Planning a winter roadtrip to the Cairngorms and looking for Aviemore campsites open all year? Although increasing numbers of campsites in Scotland are open all year round, you won’t have the amount of choice that you have from March onwards. This guide tells you which campsites in Aviemore and the Cairngorms are open during the winter period.
Set in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, just outside Aviemore, Glenmore Campsite is a beautiful, peaceful campsite in a woodland and lochside setting, with easy access to Loch Morlich, ski slopes and hill trails nearby. You’ll be tucked amongst the pine trees, just a short walk through the forest to Loch Morlich’s sandy beach.
There are both traditional hard-standing pitches with electric hook-ups or forest pitches, near the loch and surrounded by trees. The campsite is open all year round with toilets, showers, dishwashing and laundry facilities. Next door to the campsite is the Pine Marten Bar and there is a cafe just across the road from it.
Just a stone’s throw from Aviemore, this well-equipped campsite on the Alvie & Dalraddy Estates offers the perfect Highland base for your campervan on your winter trip through the Cairngorms. The site spans large, open fields and wooded areas. There is a choice of hard‑standing pitches, quarry pitches or woodland spots tucked away among pine trees. Electric hookups are available.
Walkers will appreciate the nearby woodland paths, directly accessible from the site. You will also be able to enjoy the other outdoor pursuits on the Estate, such as quad bike safaris, zipwire tours, archery, clay pigeon shooting, or even paintballing.
Alongside toilet and shower facilities, there are motorhome service points and chemical waste disposal facilities. There is also a shop on site that is open 7 days a week. Should you need more facilities, you are very close to Aviemore, so you’ve got easy access to shops, pubs and restaurants.
Situated at the edge of the charming town of Grantown-on-Spey, 23km from Aviemore, Grantown‑on‑Spey Caravan Park offers a balance of peace and quiet and convenience. You’re very close to the Cairngorms’ walking trails, cycling routes, and wildlife‑rich forest areas. The River Spey runs nearby, so anglers will love it and it’s a decent base for exploring distilleries along the famous Speyside Malt Whisky Trail. You are within walking distance of all the facilities in Grantown.
Grantown‑on‑Spey Caravan Park has around 130 touring pitches, open all year round. These include “super‑pitches” that are hard‑standing and serviced (water, waste, 16 amp electric), plus standard grass or gravel plots for campervans and motorhomes. Facilities are excellent. There are two heated toilet‑and‑shower blocks (one with underfloor heating), laundry facilities, a children’s play area, and free high-speed WiFi throughout the site. Dogs are welcome throughout the year.
Cairngorms Glamping, just inside the Cairngorms National Park, is surrounded by stunning views in every direction. Its peaceful location and open outlook make it an excellent spot for stargazing. There are 30 pitches for tents and campervans, and a further 6 with electric hook-ups.
Facilities include toilets, showers, water and waste disposal, as well as a small shop and seasonal food hut on site. One extra perk: the site runs a “Critter Corner” with alpacas, goats, donkeys and other animals.
If you’re exploring the Highlands by campervan in winter and looking for somewhere dramatic to park up, you can use the Coire na Ciste Car Park on Cairngorm Mountain. Perched high in the Cairngorms National Park at the foot of Cairn Gorm, it sits right beside the ski centre road, overlooking Loch Morlich and surrounded by pine forest and snow-capped peaks.
Throughout the tourist season, there is an official motorhome on the mountain with bookable hardstanding pitches, water, and waste disposal facilities. In winter, the motorhome site closes. But Coire na Ciste car park is open (used as overflowing parking), and you can stay overnight if your campervan is fully self-contained. A shuttle bus runs from the car park up to the slopes.
If you are staying the night, please leave no trace of your visit. Take all rubbish and waste away with you. You can find locations of chemical toilet waste disposal points on the Campervan and Motorhome Professional Association website. It’s an exposed spot, and even small bits of litter can blow far in the wind, so keep rubbish inside the van.
Because this site is situated at such a high elevation, it’s advisable to check the weather forecast and road updates before heading up – conditions can change rapidly, and there may be snow or ice on the road. If you’re set up for off-grid winter camping and want to experience the stillness of the Cairngorms during the season, this is an unusual place to park up and wake to mountain views.
Faskally Woods Holiday Park, located just outside Pitlochry, is surrounded by forest and makes an ideal base for a quiet winter break, allowing you to explore local walks or the Cairngorms, while still having easy access to bars, restaurants, and shops.
Hardstanding touring pitches have electric hook-ups and some are supplied with water and waste facilities. There are good communal facilities – heated toilet and shower blocks, laundry, dishwashing areas and waste disposal. There’s also a bar, bistro and even a pool and sauna on site, though it’s worth checking winter opening times before you arrive.
It’s a peaceful spot, especially in the off-season, with plenty of woodland trails straight from the park. Pitlochry is only a few minutes’ drive away if you need supplies or a meal out. Arrivals are from 1 pm to 8 pm, and dogs are welcome, so it’s a good option for those travelling with pets.
Planning a winter roadtrip in the Cairngorms?
Winter in the Cairngorms can be utterly magical, with snow-dusted forests, wide open skies and quiet roads that make you feel as though you’ve got the Highlands all to yourself. It’s a brilliant time to enjoy snowsports, spot wildlife and enjoy forest walks before cosying up in your campervan after a day exploring.
But travelling here in the colder months does call for a bit of extra preparation. You can have beautiful, crisp, clear sunny days, but they will be chilly, so make sure you are travelling in a well-insulated and heated campervan. Always check the weather and road conditions before you set off, pack layers you can add or shed easily, and keep hot drinks and snacks within reach for long stretches between villages. Make sure your campervan is stocked with essentials such as a good torch, extra blankets and a full fuel tank, as services can be sparse in more remote areas.
Big Sky Campers Campervans for Hire
Scotland
Our campervans are fully insulated and heated with high quality heaters. If you want a self-contained campervan then choose on of our deluxe off grid campervans. These VW Crafters are larger than the other vans and have their own bathroom with a hot shower and w.c. If you are renting one of our VW T6.1s, which don’t have bathrooms, you can hire a portaloo as an optional extra (with a small additional charge). Aside from that, our campervans for hire come fully equipped with everything you will need for your Scotland winter road trip. We will supply extra bedding sets and blankets if requested.
Got a question? Give us a call.
+44 (0)7768 973804












