UKC

Hello!

I’d appreciate some insight into how people doing multi day camping trips for the north cairngorms whilst avoiding the £25/night parking fee at the Aviemore ski car park. 
 

I see you can approach a lot of the crags from the south Derry side and via the Hutchinson memorial hut but other options would be appreciated.

Thanks!

You tell them in advance you are overnighting but I've not tested this out in practice.

You could always find some free parking further down towards Aviemore and use the excellent bus service to get to the ski centre. They’re nearly hourly, and shockingly reliable. One November morning I ended up hitching to the ski centre, convinced the bus wasn’t running. The road was icy and hadn’t been gritted, and the car ended up needing a tow from some other climbers. Behind us, just as we arrived at the ski centre, the double decker bus trundled up the ski road completely fine! 

This (check their website for how to do it) or drop your bags and climbing partner at the ski station, drive down to the unofficial free car park and leave your car there. Parking nearer to town and taking this bus, as another poster suggested, is an option but the bus only runs so late (1812 last descent on Sunday). Do not park even on the other side of the double yellows unless you want a ticket. 

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/north-scotland/aviemoreadve...

It's £5 a night for hillwalkers/climbers. The £25 is for  people staying overnight in motorhomes and Campervans.

You do have to pre arrange or go when the ticket office is open.

https://www.cairngormmountain.co.uk/parking-at-cairngorm/

There's also some layby parking between the lower car park and the upper one, not sure if these have been affected by the yellow lines but the walk from there wouldn't be long.

Avoid giving Cairngorm Mountain money if you can, you'd be as well chucking it in the bin. 

The overnight charge for hillwalkers in the Coire Cas car park seems to be £5.00, but you have to contact them before your visit. The information is on their website (link below), beneath Summer Parking Charges.

- https://www.cairngormmountain.co.uk/parking-at-cairngorm/

Thanks all for your responses!! 
 

thanks Robert especially for this. Parked on a layby further down but there are double yellows. Will move sharpish in the morning!

Train to Aviemore. Bus to the ski centre.

Or walk in via Whitewell and Rothimurchus for the authentic Cairngorm Club experience.

When this came up on here  a few years ago, advice was to park on the lower level of the ski area.

There was some different legal arrangement for this bit and overnight or any other parking was unenforceable by the ski centre. 

Any locals know if this is still the case?

The lower level carpark is currently closed (gate). I think it was used as yard for Balfour Beaty while they were working on the funicular. 

A few years ago I did this in reverse. I'd camped at the far end of Loch Eanaich and my tarp was almost shredded by a storm during the night. At about 4am, having had no sleep, I decided to pack up and head down to Aviemore, which was my destination anyway. Traversing the lochside in the wind and dark was difficult, but once in the glen it quickly became calm and I enjoyed the dawn and a clear blue sky while walking down through Rothiemurchus. Saw deer near the Cairngorm Club footbridge. Quite magical really, and I felt like I had the place to myself.

Arrived in Aviemore and parked myself in Cobbs for a mega breakfast and much needed coffee.

So yeah, I definitely recommend the walk in (or out).