It is home to a range of mountain and alpine bird and plant species. Red squirrels are commonplace in the ancient Caledonian pine forests of Rothiemurchus and Abernethy. Vast heather moors provide excellent opportunities to see red grouse and red deer. Such is the wealth of wildlife watching opportunities that you can watch black grouse and capercaillie at dawn, osprey and crested tits during the day and more reclusive mammals such as pine martens and badgers at dusk.
- There are 9 nature reserves in the park protecting the wildlife and offering the opportunity for visitors to observe wildlife in a responsible way. Reserves include: Abernethy, Corrie Fee, Craigellachie, Glen Tanar, Glenmore, Insh Marshes, Invereshie and Inshriach, Mar Lodge Estate and Muir of Dinnet.
- The Cairngorms National Park houses 25% of all the Uk’s endangered species including ospreys, capercaillie, the Scottish wildcat, golden eagle, red squirrel, snow bunting, lapwing, crested tit, dotterel and black grouse.
- Tomintoul and Glenlivet within the national park have been awarded the prestigious status of ‘International Dark Sky Park. This makes it the most northerly park of its kind in the world.
