What's on in Aviemore, United Kingdom through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in United Kingdom, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Cairngorm ski season (15 Dec – 10 Apr (usually)), Avalanche forecast season (15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually))

Busy — February half-term in United Kingdom, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Cairngorm ski season (15 Dec – 10 Apr (usually)), Avalanche forecast season (15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Cairngorm ski season (15 Dec – 10 Apr (usually)), Avalanche forecast season (15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually))

Busy — Easter / spring holiday in United Kingdom, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  Ospreys at Loch Garten

  1 Apr – 31 Aug · usuallyBirdlife season

  The Abernethy birds are back on the nest from early April to late August, watched from the RSPB centre down the road. Dogs go on leads across the whole forest for the same months.

Still on: Cairngorm ski season (15 Dec – 10 Apr (usually)), Avalanche forecast season (15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually))

Busy — Late-May half-term in United Kingdom, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Hazard

  Midge season

  25 May – 10 Sep · usuallyInsects & disease

  The eastern Cairngorms are drier and breezier than the west, which makes them bearable rather than immune. Still evenings by Loch Morlich in July and August are the ones to avoid. Source ↗

Still on: Ospreys at Loch Garten (1 Apr – 31 Aug (usually))

Peak crowds — Scottish school holidays, Late-May half-term in United Kingdom

• Holiday

  Scottish school holidays

  28 Jun – 18 Aug · usuallyCrowdedBook early

  Scottish schools break up in late June, six weeks earlier at the end than English ones, and Aviemore is where the central belt drives. Loch Morlich parking fills by ten. Source ↗

Still on: Ospreys at Loch Garten (1 Apr – 31 Aug (usually)), Midge season (25 May – 10 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — Scottish school holidays, Summer holidays in United Kingdom

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Ospreys at Loch Garten (1 Apr – 31 Aug (usually)), Midge season (25 May – 10 Sep (usually)), Scottish school holidays (28 Jun – 18 Aug (usually))

Peak crowds — Scottish school holidays, Summer holidays in United Kingdom

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Ospreys at Loch Garten (1 Apr – 31 Aug (usually)), Midge season (25 May – 10 Sep (usually)), Scottish school holidays (28 Jun – 18 Aug (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Nature

  Birch and larch turning

  25 Sep – 25 Oct · usuallyAutumn colour

  The birch in Rothiemurchus and the larch along the Spey go yellow through October while the pines stay dark behind them. It lasts a fortnight and the first gale ends it.

Still on: Midge season (25 May – 10 Sep (usually))

Busy — October half-term in United Kingdom, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Birch and larch turning (25 Sep – 25 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Peak crowds — Christmas and Boxing Day, Christmas holidays in United Kingdom

• Season

  Cairngorm ski season

  15 Dec – 10 Apr · usually

  The season on Cairngorm normally runs December to April, but Scottish snow arrives and vanishes in weeks rather than months. Check the hill's own report the morning you go, not the week before. Source ↗

• Hazard

  Avalanche forecast season

  15 Dec – 15 Apr · usuallyAvalanche season

  The Northern Cairngorms forecast runs from mid-December to mid-April, and the plateau above the ski area kills people most winters. Read it before you leave the car park. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Christmas and Boxing Day

  24–28 DecChristmas & New YearClosures

  Christmas Day and Boxing Day are bank holidays. Public transport is minimal or absent on 25 December and thin on the 26th, and most shops, attractions and many pubs and restaurants close on Christmas Day, so plan travel and meals ahead. Source ↗