Hogmanay in the Old Town, then Highland snow
This is leg 1 of 1, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Edinburgh & the Cairngorms
Edinburgh to Aviemore & the Cairngorms
Edinburgh and Aviemore & the Cairngorms sit about 143 km (89 mi) apart in a straight line, with Aviemore & the Cairngorms to the north. It is leg 1 of 1 on our Edinburgh & the Cairngorms itinerary, a 6-day trip. Here is how long it takes by train, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 143 km · 89 mi
- Est. road distance
- 172–201 km
- Est. drive time
- 1 h 45 min – 3 h
- Direction
- Heading north
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By train
Our Edinburgh & the Cairngorms itinerary is planned around rail, so a train is the likely way to cover this leg. Timetables and direct connections vary — check the operator before you book.
By car
Driving is an estimated 172–201 km (107–125 mi) and 1 h 45 min – 3 h at typical average speeds, not a routed time.
Edinburgh Airport is about 30 minutes from the city centre by tram or Airlink bus, and the Old Town is best on foot. Trains from Edinburgh Waverley to Aviemore take about 2 hours 45 minutes on the Highland Main Line via Perth; driving the A9 takes about the same. From Aviemore, local buses run out to Glenmore and CairnGorm Mountain, but a car helps for Loch an Eilein and winter road conditions on the ski road can change fast.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Aviemore & the Cairngorms
Highland base for the Cairngorms; 3 nights for reindeer, pine forest lochs and snow on the hills.
Cairngorm Reindeer Centre
Base for Britain's only free-ranging reindeer herd; guided hill trips walk out to the herd on the Cairngorm slopes.
Loch Morlich
Loch ringed by Caledonian pine with a sandy beach and a full view of the northern Cairngorms.
The Old Bridge Inn
Long-running pub by the Spey on the edge of Aviemore, serving food beside an open fire.
Cairngorm Hotel
Turreted granite hotel on Aviemore's main street, opposite the railway station.
Glenmore Forest Park
Pine forest around Loch Morlich with waymarked trails, including the walk up to An Lochan Uaine.
CairnGorm Mountain
Ski area on the northern slopes of Cairn Gorm, served by Britain's highest funicular railway.
Before you leave Edinburgh
Scotland's capital at its busiest; 3 nights for the Christmas market, the Old Town and Hogmanay.
On this curated route
Where Edinburgh → Aviemore sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Aviemore & the Cairngorms to Edinburgh is the same 143 km in a straight line, heading south. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in February, when Aviemore & the Cairngorms averages highs 2°C cooler than Edinburgh. Over a year, Aviemore & the Cairngorms gets about 490 mm more rain.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh high | 6° | 6° | 8° | 11° | 14° | 16° | 18° | 18° | 16° | 12° | 9° | 6° |
| Aviemore high | 4° | 4° | 6° | 9° | 13° | 15° | 17° | 16° | 14° | 10° | 7° | 5° |
| Edinburgh rain | 74 | 60 | 60 | 53 | 60 | 82 | 91 | 100 | 64 | 93 | 79 | 73 |
| Aviemore rain | 120 | 97 | 95 | 85 | 102 | 122 | 134 | 147 | 105 | 137 | 123 | 113 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Aviemore & the Cairngorms month guides.
Edinburgh to Aviemore: questions travelers ask
How far is Edinburgh from Aviemore & the Cairngorms?
Edinburgh is about 143 km (89 mi) from Aviemore & the Cairngorms in a straight line, with Aviemore & the Cairngorms to the north. By road, we estimate 172–201 km (107–125 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Edinburgh to Aviemore & the Cairngorms?
An estimated 1 h 45 min – 3 h, assuming 172–201 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day. Our itinerary leans on rail, so check train times too.
Which itineraries include the trip from Edinburgh to Aviemore & the Cairngorms?
Our Edinburgh & the Cairngorms itinerary includes this leg. Edinburgh & the Cairngorms runs about 6 days across 2 stops, best in Late Nov – early Jan.
Getting to Edinburgh
- Edinburgh to Fort William 152 km
Guides for both ends
- Edinburgh travel guide
- Edinburgh weather best time to visit
- Aviemore & the Cairngorms travel guide
- Aviemore & the Cairngorms weather best time to visit
Aviemore by month
- Aviemore & the Cairngorms in January
- Aviemore & the Cairngorms in February
- Aviemore & the Cairngorms in March
- Aviemore & the Cairngorms in April
- Aviemore & the Cairngorms in May
- Aviemore & the Cairngorms in June
- Aviemore & the Cairngorms in July
- Aviemore & the Cairngorms in August
- Aviemore & the Cairngorms in September
- Aviemore & the Cairngorms in October
- Aviemore & the Cairngorms in November
- Aviemore & the Cairngorms in December
Plan Edinburgh → Aviemore with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.