Group of reindeer looking up from grass (Erin Henderson)
During our time in Scotland, I signed our family up for a last-minute walk with the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd on a whim. I could have continued to tour castles, but we wanted to give our children, ages 3 and 2, something they would enjoy and another opportunity to be outside walking in the fresh, clean Scottish air.
The Cairngorm Herd is Britain’s only free-ranging reindeer herd. With a population of just under 140, the herd has over 10,000 acres to graze on. Mikel Utsi and Dr. Ethel Lingren introduced this unique herd to the Cairngorms from Sweden in 1952. Two bulls and five cows were brought by ship from Sweden to Scotland. Upon arrival, they were quarantined at the Edinburgh Zoo for 28 days before being released into the Cairngorms.
In later years, 18 more reindeer were sent over. Nowadays, a few reindeer are occasionally sent to Scotland to maintain some diversity in the gene pool. The herd is split between the Cairngorms and Cromdale Hills (near Glenlivet) to control breeding and manage disease prevention. The walk itself is done among the males.
Participating in the walk with the reindeer is a safe and enjoyable experience. A minimum physical fitness level is recommended before taking the 15-20 minute hike into the park to reach the herd.
People walking with the reindeer (Erin Henderson)
Upon arrival, you check in with the office, receive your parking pass, and then get directed to a parking lot up the road in about five minutes. A guide arrives just before your start time to instruct you and go over the rules for the walk. They have a strict no-touching or petting policy with the herd, but you can cup your hands to feed them. These measures ensure the safety of both the visitors and the reindeer, making the experience worry-free.
As you enter the area where the herd is roaming, the reindeer will follow you on the wooden path because they know treats are coming. It is quite an experience to look behind you and have a reindeer whose antlers are towering over you, following you along a path.
After the guides share the herd’s history, they have visitors line up to participate in feeding the reindeer. You are face-to-antlers while this gentle creature dines on treats from your cupped hands. It is hard to fathom the enormity of their antlers until they hit you in the face while eating out of your hands.
This experience is phenomenal for the whole family; our son still talks about seeing Santa’s reindeer. The walk lasts an hour and a half to two hours and is available year-round. It sells out quickly during the winter holiday season. Hiking boots are required for everyone participating. Depending on traffic, the Cairngorm herd is located two to three hours north of Edinburgh, with the closest town being Aviemore.
Close up on reindeer looking into the camera (Erin Henderson)
For tickets: https://www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/hill-trips/
Nearby Attractions: Speyside Whiskey Trail, Blair Castle, Balmoral Castle
Erin Henderson is a professional freelance photographer and writer whose work has been featured in a variety of publications. She is also a mother of two and a Marine Corps spouse living in Stuttgart, Germany. You can find more of her work at erinhendersonmedia.com or follow her travels on Instagram @erinhendrsn.
