Wigwam® Holidays Glenlivet | Glamping in the Cairngorms National Park

Autumn, the season of colours, is here. All across the country, parks, forests, woodlands, gardens and mountains change colour, displaying different hues of yellow, orange, red and brown. It's a magical time and also the perfect time for a glamping break.

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Wigwam® Holidays offer glamping breaks in 80+ stunning locations across the UK. Whether you fancy staying close to the coast or in a forest or even on a remote island, Wigwam® Holidays have their sites in almost all corners of the country. Wigwam® Holidays Aberystwyth, which is located close to a stunning coastline in Wales, is one of the Wigwam® Sites we have stayed at earlier and loved the whole experience. This time around, while travelling to the Scottish Highlands, we picked a Wigwam® Site within a National Park - the Wigwam® Holidays Glenlivet Site located in the Cairngorms National Park.

Wigwam® Holidays Glenlivet

Set within the Cairngorms National Park (the UK's largest National Park) in the village of Tomintoul (the highest village in the Scottish Highlands), Wigwam® Holidays Glenlivet is a site that is surrounded by natural beauty. Its location is its USP (unique selling point) and if you are looking for a fantastic holiday in the great Scottish outdoors, then this site is the one for you. 

Whether you want a weekend away skiing, want to go on a Scottish whisky trail, are looking for a thrilling cycling holiday or simply want to explore the mountains & glens, the forests, the rivers & lochs of the Cairngorms National Park, then there is no better place than Wigwam® Holidays Glenlivet to have as your holiday base.

Wigwam® Holidays Glenlivet has two different accommodation types, both of which are fully insulated, double-glazed and have electric heating and lighting - the Running Water Deluxe Wigwam® Cabin and the Wigwam® Lodge. We stayed in one of their Running Water Deluxe Wigwam® Cabins which includes an en-suite toilet, a kitchenette and a Mira sport shower.

What's included in each Wigwam® Cabin?

The Running Water Deluxe Wigwam® Cabins are cosy and luxurious with beautifully designed interiors.

There's 1 double bed and 1 double sofa bed with memory foam mattresses making it perfect for couples and great for small families as well (2 adults and 3 children).

There are underbed and undersofa storage drawers and they were perfect for holding most of our luggage. These storage drawers make the best use of the available space in each cabin while also giving the cabin an uncluttered and tidy look.

There's an en-suite shower room with shower, toilet, wash basin and a heated towel rail.

The kitchenette is well-equipped with a toaster, microwave, an electric 2 hotplate hob, kettle, a small fridge, sink, pans (frying pan, saucepan) and plenty of crockery & cutlery for all guests. Tea towel and cleaning essentials (washing up liquid and scourer) are also provided.

There's a dining table and 4 chairs inside the cabin and an outdoor decking table with 4 chairs as well.

Double-glazed patio doors offer lovely views of the surroundings.

One of the fun parts of a glamping holiday is gathering around a fire with your loved ones and enjoying gooey toasted marshmallows or BBQ-cooked meals. And to that effect, a deluxe fire pit/BBQ is provided with each cabin. Logs and fire packs can be purchased for an extra cost.

The cabins are fully heated and have running hot & cold water making them great for all-season holidays.

All in all, the cabins are self-contained and have everything one needs to make the most of a glamping holiday in the great outdoors.

If you need any help or information during your stay, there is a Reception office on site which is manned at certain times of the day. Alternatively, you can contact the site team via phone. They are always happy to help with any queries.

What to see and do while staying at Wigwam® Holidays Glenlivet

There is loads to see and do around the Glenlivet Estate (where the Wigwam® site is based) and in the wider Cairngorm National Park area.

We would recommend visiting the Tomintoul & Glenlivet Discovery Centre which is located a short walk away from the Wigwam® site, in the village centre, to learn about Tomintoul's heritage and history. 

Also, a short walk from the Wigwam® site are the Tomintoul Bird Hide where you can look out for eagles, wildcats & otters and the Dark Sky Discovery Site which is a nice spot for stargazing.

The Glenlivet Estate Office and Information Centre is next door to the Wigwam® Site and you could drop in there to get more information on walking trails and other things to see and do on the Glenlivet Estate.

Still Art Viewpoint

A little longer walk takes you to the outskirts of Tomintoul where the 'Still' viewpoint offers beautiful views of River Avon and the Cairngorm Mountains. Located on the 'Snow Roads Scenic Route', this viewpoint is on a former limestone quarry and involves a short walk up to the viewing platform.

Distillery tours

Whisky is Scotland's biggest export and there are more than 100 active distilleries spread across Scotland. A number of these distilleries offer guided tours that give you a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes in the distillery's production areas ending with a tasting session.

By now you would have realised that Wigwam® Holidays Glenlivet shares its name with one of Scotland’s finest single malts. Glenlivet’s distillery is located around 10 miles away from the Wigwam® site and is the very first stop on the Speyside Whisky Trail. It is open for guided tours for most of the year. On the guided tour, you can learn the history of the famous spirit, go on an immersive visual experience and end the tour with a sampling session!

If you are unable to make it to a distillery tour, worry not. The Whisky Castle shop in Tomintoul (it is the highest whisky shop in the UK) stocks over 600 malt whiskies. Head to the shop and you can learn about and sample (tasting packages offered) some wonderful and unique Scottish whiskies.

Skiing at the Lecht Ski Centre

Located at the top of the pass between Tomintoul and Strathdon is the Lecht Ski Centre. It is around 15 minutes from the Wigwam® site and a fantastic place for those who enjoy snowsports. There are activities for all abilities and ages at the ski centre.

If you visit in Summer, Lecht is a great place to try mountain biking. You can take the chairlift to the top and then choose one of their two specially designed trails to explore and enjoy the incredible scenery and landscapes of the Cairngorms.

Walking Trails

Whether you are looking for a relaxing half hour amble or a longer, challenging trail, the Glenlivet Estate offers it all.

The Tomintoul Circular Path starts in the Tomintoul village square, takes you to the Victor Gaffney viewpoint and then gets you back to the village via a path through the woodland that runs parallel to River Avon. It is a 2.5 miles walk that takes approximately 1.5 hours.

For a longer walk, try the Carn Diamh Forest walk. It starts and ends at the Glenconglass car park. The 7.5 miles walk (around 4 hours) takes in the Carn Daimh plantation, a quarry, a viewpoint, open heather moorlands and farmlands along the route.

Muir of Dinnet, Ballater

At around an hour's drive from the Wigwam® site but still within the Cairngorms National Park is the Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve. It is a mix of woods, moors & wetlands and is a great place for wildlife as well.

One of the key attractions at the nature reserve is the Burn O’Vat. It is a stunning, cauldron-shaped pothole carved out by rocks years ago. There is a waymarked trail that leads you to the Vat and you can then enter the Vat via a narrow crack in the rock. It is a stunning setting with a lovely, little waterfall.

There are three other walking trails as well with the Loch Kinord Trail, a circular route taking you through Muir of Dinnet’s woodland, with beautiful views across the loch.

This is just a sample of things you can see and do while staying at Wigwam® Holidays Glenlivet. For more ideas, visit www.glenlivetestate.co.uk and www.cairngorms.co.uk

How to book a break at Wigwam® Holidays Glenlivet

Wigwam® Holidays Glenlivet is a great way for couples or small families to enjoy and explore everything that the Cairngorms National Park has to offer. The Wigwam® Cabins are self-contained and come with heating that make them cosy and comfortable all year long.

Price for the Running Water Deluxe Wigwam® Cabin at Wigwam® Holidays Glenlivet is £98 (per night, based on 4 adults sharing) and for the Wigwam® Lodge is £130/night. Dogs are welcome in some of the Wigwam® Cabins and are charged at £8.50 each/per night.

Extras that can be purchased on the site include things like logs (£8 per pack), towels (£3.50 each), travel cot (£10), duvet sets (ranging from £15-£20) and more.

For more information or to book a stay, use the contact details below.

Wigwam® Holidays Glenlivet | Old Military Road, Ballindalloch, Tomintoul, Cairngorm National Park, AB37 9EX
Phone +44(0)1838 300361 / 07817 483126
Email [email protected]

Disclosure: We were invited to stay at Wigwam® Holidays Glenlivet. All opinions and photos are our own.