The railway in the Scottish Highlands is the UK’s highest railway and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains without the need for climbing
Carriage of the Cairngorm Mountain funicular(Image: Getty Images)
Scaling a mountain provides unmatched sweeping vistas, but not everyone has the fitness, endurance, time or desire to tackle such an expedition. If any of these apply to you, there’s no need to fret as a recently reopened Scottish mountain railway offers spectacular mountain views without any climbing required.
Digital content creator Chris Paul Lawlor, known for showcasing Scotland, shared a short video on his Facebook page featuring the Cairngorms Mountain Railway, located in Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands.
His clip started with a first-person view from the railway, which resumed services in February this year after a £25million refurbishment, showing his followers what they would see if they travelled on it.
Further stunning shots of the breathtaking location were then shown, while the overlay text read: “Did you know that in Scotland there is a railway on a mountain just newly reopened taking you to a restaurant at the top with breathtaking views.”
(Image: Getty Images/imageBROKER RF)
As well as being Scotland’s only mountain railway, it is also the highest railway in the UK, with a top station sitting at 1,097 metres (3,599 ft) above sea level.
Besides taking the railways themselves, Chris noted you could “make a day of it” by going on a walk to the pyramid in the Cairngorms National Park, which is a 35-minute drive away.
The pyramid, officially known as Prince Albert’s Cairn, is a memorial erected by Queen Victoria in 1862 on the Balmoral Estate to commemorate her husband, Prince Albert, reports Glasgow Live.
It is the largest of 11 Royal cairns in the area and sits atop a hill that provides stunning views of the surrounding landscape and national park.
It is Scotland’s only mountain railway(Image: Ken Jack, Getty Images)
Visitors can access the cairn by walking through woodland trails, with options for a shorter, direct walk or a longer circular route that visits other cairns.
There is no charge to visit Prince Albert’s Cairn itself, but parking fees apply. The car park fee is approximately £5 for a car and £10 for a motorhome or van for the day, and it’s located near the A93 road at the start of the walk.
He also recommended a trip to the Green Loch, known for its unusually green water. The green colour is due to a mix of algae in the water and the reflection of the surrounding pine trees.
However, local folklore attributes the colour to fairies washing their clothes in it.
Chris also suggested a visit to Loch Morlich before heading to the railway. This freshwater loch near Aviemore is famous for its sandy beaches and breathtaking mountain scenery.
It’s a favourite spot for watersports like kayaking, sailing, and windsurfing, and has a dedicated watersports centre. Visitors can also enjoy walking and mountain biking trails in the surrounding Glenmore Forest Park.
Chris captioned his post about the railway and surrounding suggestions, “An autumn day out idea in Scotland,” and fans were loving it, with the post racking up 4,800 likes.
One person exclaimed: “Oh my God this makes me want to come back even more. We visited Scotland 11 years ago for our honeymoon. Now my 8-year-old wants to go.”
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While another praised the “wonderful scenery”.
A third person chimed in: “Glad the railway is open again, it makes the beautiful mountain summit more accessible to all people.”
Meanwhile, a fourth commented: “Wow, what a place and view.”
A day pass for the Cairngorms Mountain Railway costs £17.00 for an adult and £9.50 for a junior (aged 6-17) if booked in advance online. On-the-day prices are £19.00 for an adult and £11.50 for a junior.
Prices are also available for seniors and students.