Free
Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
Heating
Terrace
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Great food
Clean rooms
Good location
Cons:
Limited parking
Small room size
Shower pressure issues

Categories

Cleanliness
7.96
The rooms were very clean but some issues with shower pressure were noted.
Service
8.93
Customer service was outstanding from front of house, restaurant, and housekeeping.
Location
8.97
Excellent location, directly across the road from the railway station.
Room Quality
7.92
Rooms are great but some concerns about small size and low ceilings noted.
Amenities
8.45
Standard quality for this hotel tier.
Value for Money
8.41
Lovely food and great value for money.
Food and Beverage
8.96
Excellent choice of meals and fantastic breakfasts.
Overall Experience
8.43
A pleasant hotel experience with friendly staff and good atmosphere.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-20 11:34

Property Description

Central Location in Aviemore

Located in the heart of Aviemore, the Cairn hotel is the perfect base for exploring the Cairngorms and enjoying various outdoor activities. Its convenient location on the main street ensures easy access to shops, facilities, and nightlife, making it an ideal choice for travelers looking to experience the best of the Highland resort.

Comfortable Accommodation and Warm Hospitality

The Cairn hotel offers 3-star accommodation known for its warm atmosphere and friendly service. Guests can start their day with a full highland breakfast and enjoy a comfortable stay in a privately-owned hotel that prides itself on providing a caring and welcoming environment.

Outdoor Activities and Family-Friendly Amenities

Surrounded by its own wooded grounds and close to Rothiemurchus Estate, the hotel offers outdoor activities for all ages, from quad treks to deer farms. Whether you're into hill walking, fishing, or winter sports, the Cairn hotel caters to all interests, ensuring a memorable stay in Aviemore.

Book your stay at the Cairn hotel and experience the best of Aviemore's hospitality and outdoor adventures.

Important information:

Please note that all of our bedrooms are on the first and second floor and the property does not have a elevator.

We do not accept Group Bookings.

Pets are accepted on the first floor bedrooms but not permitted in the restaurant or bar.

There is a wheelchair elevator at the front door which provides access to the restaurant and bar areas.

Reservations of 3 or more rooms are considered a group and as such are subject to differing booking terms, with a 10% non refundable deposit.This property does not accommodate bachelor(ette) or similar parties.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free public parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may be applicable.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.5
Based on 3012 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.96
Service: 8.93
Location: 8.97
Room Quality: 7.92
Amenities: 8.45
Value for Money: 8.41
Food and Beverage: 8.96
Overall Experience: 8.43
A
Asaf • couple • gb
10
Very nice hotel
Pros:

An old hotel (in a good way), with beautiful wooden stairs, cool pub, and comfortable room. Bed was ridiculously big. Staff were very kind and informative

2026-07-04 • via Nuitee
C
Cara • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-07-04 • via Nuitee
P
paul • solo_traveller • gb
9
Perfect choice if hiking or staying in the area.
Pros:

Stayed here on the second last night hiking the Speyside Way. Fantastic choice. Perfect location. Leaves you well placed for the last day. Lovely staff. Book dinner there. Nice, simple booking process, great service and good quality food. Liked everything about the hotel. It was clean, friendly and meals ran like clockwork which is great when you are tired from a week’s hike.

Cons:

Nothing. Room was a little small but it was really nice and cosy.

2026-07-03 • via Nuitee
K
Karen • family_with_children • gb
10
Great food and staff.
Pros:

Great location, very good breakfast and staff were friendly and very helpful.

Cons:

Nothing, would stay again.

2026-07-02 • via Nuitee
P
Perrea • solo_traveller • fr
9
Pros:

L'hôtel est très bien situé. On peut y manger midi et soir si besoin. On y a bien dormi

Cons:

Alors qu'on cherchait a éteindre les petites lampes, beaucoup de poussière en dessous. Pas top

2026-07-01 • via Nuitee
S
SafwanArshad • solo_traveller • ae
10
2026-07-01 • via Nuitee
M
Moira • family_with_children • gb
8
A lovely break, excellent staff, food and comfortable bed.
Pros:

Breakfast excellent, pensioners meals were very good and much needed in these expensive times.
Very comfortable stay with friendly helpful staff.

Cons:

A more comfortable chair in our room. A shower cubicle, and luckily we were on the first floor as no lift. These are only age related problems and suggestions.

2026-06-30 • via Nuitee
K
Kelly • couple • gb
8
2026-06-28 • via Nuitee
J
June • couple • gb
8
Nice hotel, friendly staff
Pros:

Location is very good.

2026-06-27 • via Nuitee
Z
Zbant • couple • ro
9
Pros:

Cladirea este impresionanta, interiorul de asemenea. Camera spatioasa si curata.

Cons:

Foarte multe scari. Nici macar intrarea in cladire nu are rampa. Micul dejun a fost bun dar cina nu mi-a placut deloc. In ultima noapte a inceput o petrecere care a tinut pana la 12 si ceva. Ne-a deranjat pentru ca noi am venit cu fetita noastra de un an si galagia o trezea..

2026-06-27 • via Nuitee
K
Karen • couple • gb
8
Pleasant stay music in the evening in the hotel was nice
Pros:

Great location

Cons:

Room very compact and shower noisy

2026-06-27 • via Nuitee
M
Marsden • couple • gb
8
2026-06-27 • via Nuitee
L
LINDA • solo_traveller • gb
3
Overnight stay
Pros:

Good breakfast. Friendly and helpful staff.

Cons:

Hot, uncomfortable room. Although we had been warned about the noise from the bar, it far exceeded what we expected.

2026-06-26 • via Nuitee
S
Sophie • couple • de
6
Pros:

Gute Lage, gutes Frühstück

Cons:

Schönes Haus von aussen jedoch von Innen sehr in die Jahre gekommen, unser Zimmer war so klein dass wir nicht mal die Koffer öffnen konnten ohne Sie aufs Bett zu legen, wurde auch schon länger nicht mehr geputzt

2026-06-26 • via Nuitee
G
Graham • couple • gb
8
Would use again
Pros:

Central in Aviemore with good parking available and opposite the Railway Station.

Cons:

Delays in seating for breakfasts, and we had one excellent steak for dinner but one inedible steak! as well! - they did compensate us on that…

2026-06-26 • via Nuitee
J
Jackie • solo_traveller • gb
8
Great breakfast
Pros:

The breakfast was amazing

Cons:

The location of the hotel was sad. Aviemore was scruffy.

2026-06-25 • via Nuitee
T
Thijs • couple • nl
6
Tegenvallend verblijf, oud en muffig
Pros:

Personeel in de bar was super vriendelijk, de locatie is prima, parkeren is ook prima.

Cons:

Het gebouw is sterk verouderd. Dat is op zich geen probleem, maar het was een stoffige, muffige bedoening. Het restaurant is ook niet geweldig (ga dus echt ergens anders eten). Het personeel bij de balie is meer met zichzelf en formuliertjes bezig dan met hun gasten.

2026-06-25 • via Nuitee
C
christinehY2192IY • Family
2
DON'T USE THE CARPARK AT THE CAIRNGORM HOTEL COSTLY MISTAKE
Pros:

Having visited this hotel for a drink & a bit to eat. On arrival at the Cairngorm Hotel Aviemore we were told by the receptionist to register our vehicle on there Tablet which we did. We then proceeded to the bar for drinks etc. I was SHOCKED to receive a fine a few weeks later for there car park totalling £100.00 for a couple of hours parking, having already asked if we could use there car park while we visited the hotel. I contacted the hotel on numerous days since receiving the fine & was told to contact smart parking which I did without any success. I have now had to pay the car park fine even thou we did as we were told by the hotel receptionist at the time. It was a very costly visit with no help from the hotel or there booking team.

2026-06-24 • via Tripadvisor
B
Brenda • solo_traveller • us
7
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Old no elevator

2026-06-24 • via Nuitee
C
Charissa • extended_group • us
8
Nice Hotel in Aviemore
Pros:

We were too early for the full breakfast - our flight left early. But we were able to eat the continental spread, which was nice. The staff also provided coffee and some toast. The location is decent - it's an easy walk to anything in Aviemore. It's about an hour drive from Inverness Airport, which is why we stayed there. The room was clean and the bathroom was great.

Cons:

The restaurant and bar are card only, and it would have been nice if we could have used cash or card. We did get moved a room above the bar, even though we had paid extra to avoid doing so. It thankfully wasn't too noisy, since it was a Thursday night.

2026-06-23 • via Nuitee