Explore: the historic village of Carrbridge

Home to the iconic Packhorse Bridge and nestled below the Monadhliath Mountains, the Highland village of Carrbridge is a perfect place for a getaway. It’s a 30 minute drive from Inverness and 10 minutes from Aviemore, so makes a great base for exploring the Cairngorms. 

Surrounded by glorious countryside and abundant wildlife, Carrbridge has many hillwalking and cycle routes for all ages and levels of fitness. One of our favourites - Ellan Wood – is a fine pine wood on the fringes of the village and accessible just minutes from Springfield House. Partly owned by the Woodland Trust, it offers several short waymarked trails, some of which finish along the riverside and come out at The Old Packhorse Bridge. Great for dog walkers!

The village itself is home to Landmark Forest Adventure Park – an absolute must for anyone wanting to keep the kids entertained. There are rides, nature walks, mini diggers, a monkey trail, and a dinosaur kingdom to explore.

If golf is your thing, you could head to Carrbridge Golf Course for a picturesque round or two. It was originally constructed over 100 years ago and offers a challenging 9 holes with truly magnificent views of the Cairngorms and surrounding hills. 

For something more historical, you can visit the oldest stone bridge in the Highlands – The Old Packhorse Bridge, built in 1717. On two separate occasions, the parapets and side walls were badly damaged, giving the bridge the worn but characteristic appearance it has today.

The village might be small but it packs a mighty punch, especially when it comes to events. Alongside the traditional Carrbridge Live Art and Music Festival, you can also come to the Highlands village to experience the World Porridge Making Championship, and the Carrbridge Gathering and Scottish Open Chainsaw Carving Championship is a fantastic spectacle. The latter has an excellent selection of stalls from Highland based small businesses selling a variety of quality, locally produced gifts, crafts and services.

Keep an eye out for all the wood carvings dotted around the village when you’re there.

The village boasts a fantastic local inn, the Cairn, which is the hub of the community and loved by residents and visitors alike. The lively, traditional highland bar has a open fireplace, pool table and a cracking range of whiskies, craft gins and cask ales restaurant. Dinner can be served in the bar lounge or next door in the restaurant, with the kitchen serving excellent local, seasonal produce, cooked fresh to order. It’s a classic village pub with a great atmosphere and very tasty scran; head there early at the weekend to secure a spot by the fire. The beer garden to the front is well placed to catch the last rays of sunshine on a summer’s night.

For its size, the village has a great range of shops, including the Carrbridge Artists Studios, a family run gallery and gift shop with a beautiful selection of art and ceramics, and the Carrbridge Artisans Craft Shop, which is a few doors down, overlooking the packhorse bridge and showcasing a range of local, handmade products. Both are a treasure trove of gifts ideas.

A fantastic starting point for exploring all the sites and activities the Cairngorms National Park has to offer, Carrbridge is an absolute must-see and a great alternative to Aviemore for those looking to stay somewhere a little more peaceful.

Looking for some inspiration on where to stay in the Cairngorms National Park? Check out our self catering cottages…