Meet the Cairngorm Reindeer

The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd is one of the best-loved wildlife experiences in Britain, and the story behind it is unusual. Reindeer disappeared from Scotland centuries ago, and were reintroduced in 1952 by Mikel Utsi, a Swedish Sami herder who saw the Cairngorm plateau and recognised the kind of lichen-rich, cold country the animals thrive in. Today the herd lives free on the hills above Glenmore under the care of herders, and visitors meet them in two ways. The first is the Reindeer House at Glenmore, a visitor centre where you can learn the history and see the herd's work. The second, and the main event, is the guided Hill Trip: a short drive into the Forest Park, a walk up onto open hillside, and the moment when the herders call and the animals come to you, taking lichen-style feed from your hand while you ask questions about antlers, calves and migrations. The animals are calm, gentle and a little scruffy, and the cold mountain setting makes it feel like a small expedition rather than a petting zoo. It is suitable for most ages, though paths can be uneven and the weather decides the mood.

Understanding how the visit works helps you book well. The Hill Trip runs on a set schedule, usually in the morning, and numbers are limited so the herd is not overwhelmed; booking ahead is strongly advised for school holidays, Christmas and any summer weekend. Trips leave from the Reindeer House at Glenmore, where the herders brief you, hand out feed and explain how to behave around the animals: slow movements, no chasing and no touching of antlers.

The walk is short and usually gentle, but the ground can be wet and the weather changes quickly, so wear boots or sturdy shoes and bring waterproof layers. Dogs are not permitted on the hill trips because of the animals.

What you see depends on the season. In summer the herd grazes at height and can be far up the hillside, so the walk may be longer and the setting more dramatic; in winter the animals often come down to lower pastures and the snow turns the whole trip into something close to a Lapland scene.

Calves arrive in late spring, and antlers change through the year, with the males shedding theirs in winter and the females carrying theirs through the spring. Herders are happy to answer questions, and many have been with the herd for years, so you leave with a real picture of how free-ranging reindeer husbandry works in Britain.

The Reindeer House itself is worth time even if you do not join the hill trip. The shop and small exhibition tell the history of the herd, the Utsi family and the Sami heritage that underpins it, and in the festive season the centre becomes busy with the traditional reindeer events. The herd also appears in public parades at certain times of year, so check the centre's calendar if you want that.