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 3054 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
J
julie • couple • gb
10
2026-07-18 • via Nuitee
L
Lee • couple • us
7
Adequate.
Pros:

Breakfast was excellent.

Cons:

Cramming a king-sized bed into an average room made it intolerably crowded

2026-07-17 • via Nuitee
N
Neal • couple • au
5
Decaying old style beauty of a hotel.
Pros:

Good old style hotel, but in need of refurbishment; room and all areas looked and felt tired. Location great and beer gardens areas pleasant in a sunny day.

Cons:

Room was very tired and small for price being paid,but bed very comfortable. Apart from the rude person taking dinner bookings, all staff very keen, but seriously lacking in training and a system, leading to multiple tables, including ours waiting to have orders taken, food delivered and general service levels. Wouldn’t stay there again.

2026-07-16 • via Nuitee
P
Peter • solo_traveller • fr
10
2026-07-16 • via Nuitee
A
Alessandro • couple • it
9
Ottimo hotel per un soggiorno vicino al Caringorms NP - staff accogliente e disponibile
Pros:

Staff
Colazione
Struttura

Cons:

Niente

2026-07-16 • via Nuitee
M
Martin • family_with_children • cz
10
Pros:

Výborné lokální jídlo v místní restauraci.

2026-07-15 • via Nuitee
J
James • extended_group • gb
9
Old style grand hotel with comfortable rooms and nice restaurant.
Pros:

Very friendly and helpful staff. Excellent Scottish breakfast. Convenient location opposite station and near shops.
Very nice restaurant on site.

Cons:

No lift.

2026-07-15 • via Nuitee
J
Janice • couple • gb
10
dont brake something thats not Broken
Pros:

Location

Cons:

its cashless and also theve no music

2026-07-13 • via Nuitee
R
Rok • solo_traveller • si
8
2026-07-12 • via Nuitee
R
Richard • couple • br
8
A lovely stay in a cozy highland castle right in the middle of the national park.
Pros:

Beautiful property, right in the Cairngorms national park. A cozy room, and above all a wonderful breakfast that really goes above and beyond! We loved staying there. Gorgeous tartan motifs decorating every wall, a truly nice castle feel.

Cons:

The basic room is a little small perhaps, but since we only stayed one night, that didn’t matter at all. We truly enjoyed staying there.

2026-07-12 • via Nuitee
M
Miller • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-07-12 • via Nuitee
W
wilbert • couple • nl
7
Pros:

Mooie locatie, ontbijt

Cons:

Zeer gehorige kamer boven de bar en ze stonden niet open voor een andere kamer

2026-07-12 • via Nuitee
G
Gwennies5 • Family
6
Disappointing with no Scottish soul
Pros:

This restaurant has had its soul removed! We’ve been here every year for over twenty years during our annual Aviemore holiday, for our favourite meal of our holiday and the change this year was horrendous. The hotel has obviously changed hands. All the usual staff have disappeared. The menu has been destroyed and even the traditional placemats have disappeared. For those who know this hotel/restaurant you will know exactly what I mean. For those who don’t know it, then don’t expect anything ‘Scottish’ as part of your experience. It was so disappearing and ridiculously overpriced for what we got. Sorry but what a disappointment!!

2026-07-11 • via Tripadvisor
V
Victor • solo_traveller • fr
9
Great staff and location; amazing breakfast.
Pros:

Great staff and location; amazing breakfast.

Cons:

The floodlight pointed directly towards my windows.

2026-07-11 • via Nuitee
S
Silke • solo_traveller • de
8
Pros:

Sehr gut gelegen, Parkplatz direkt vor der Tür, sehr gutes Frühstück

Cons:

Zimmer etwas klein, Bett war recht kurz

2026-07-11 • via Nuitee
P
Paul • couple • gb
8
Clean and comfortable hotel in good location with an excellent breakfast
Pros:

Excellent breakfast

2026-07-09 • via Nuitee
M
Maria • extended_group • ch
8
Étape dans notre voyage
Pros:

L’emplacement avec le parking, le choix au petit-déjeuner

2026-07-09 • via Nuitee
J
JovialGent666 • Couples • Kells, County Meath
10
3 🌟 Hotel but 5 🌟 Staff
Pros:

Stayed here for a night on our way up to Durness & on the way back home. The hotel was nice & clean, food was good but it was the staff who made it for us!! Everyone were so friendly from the barstaff who were rushed off their feet to the restaraunt staff, receptionists & everyone involved in serving breakfast!! Would absolutely recommend a stay!!

2026-07-08 • via Tripadvisor
J
jason • extended_group • gb
6
Food good room ok
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Dogs barking from another room close by a lot
Very small tv with copy remote only able to go up and down channels slowly

2026-07-08 • via Nuitee
S
Serafima • solo_traveller • at
8
2026-07-08 • via Nuitee