As you might know, reindeer are one of my favorite animals, so I was thrilled when I discovered that they also live in Scotland. These reindeer inhabit the Cairngorms National Park and are the only free-ranging herd of reindeer in the country. Since 1952, they’ve been living in the Cairngorms mountains, where the climate is perfect for them.

If you want to visit the reindeer, there are two options depending on the season. First, from Easter to New Year, you can visit the Paddock. During this time, a small group of reindeer live in the Reindeer Centre in Glenmore. This option is great for children or people who aren’t very mobile, as it’s easier to navigate. You’re allowed to pet the reindeer, which is an amazing experience. The Paddock is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm and costs £3.50 for adults. The second option to truly experience the reindeer is the Hill Trip, where you’ll get up close to the animals in their natural habitat.

Hill Trip

The Hill Trip was an amazing experience, especially for someone who loves reindeer. To reach the herd, you’ll walk a short path down into a beautiful valley and then back up the other side to where the reindeer are. The walk is easy and suitable for everyone. Along the way, the guide shares fascinating stories about the reindeer and the surrounding Cairngorms National Park. I have to admit, I was already in love with the park before I even saw the reindeer, thanks to the stunning valley we walked through.

After the walk, we finally reached the herd. Surprisingly, the reindeer joined us on the road to their feeding ground. This is a rare experience, as reindeer are normally very shy animals, but here, they walk alongside you on the path.

Arriving at their feeding ground, our guide explained how she would proceed. First, she fed the reindeer according to their hierarchy. After that, she gave each of us some food to hold so we could also feed the reindeer. Essentially, the reindeer will eat straight from your hand. How amazing is that? You can be so close to wild animals without seeing them in captivity. Once they were fed, we had the chance to pet them or simply observe the reindeer in their natural habitat.

Lastly, we were able to see baby reindeer that had just been born. They were so cute and clumsy! The mothers and babies are kept separate from the other reindeer because they need a lot of rest. While we were observing the babies, all the other reindeer stood close to the fence, curiously watching the little ones.

History

Most people don’t know that reindeer exist in Scotland, likely because the last recorded sighting of reindeer in Great Britain was about 800 years ago. The climate has changed significantly since then, and the unique sub-arctic climate in the Cairngorm National Park is now the perfect—and only—remaining home for reindeer in the United Kingdom.

The founders of the reindeer company, Mikel Utsi and his wife Dr. Ethel Lindgren, discovered the Cairngorm area while on their honeymoon. They were so struck by how the landscape reminded them of Lapland that they decided to reintroduce reindeer to the United Kingdom. In 1952, they brought a small group of reindeer from Sweden to Scotland, and since then, the herd has steadily grown. Today, there are about 150 reindeer living in the Cairngorm National Park.

All in all, for anyone who loves reindeer, this is the perfect experience. You’ll get incredibly close to these magnificent animals, and it’s truly remarkable to observe them in such a stunning environment like the Cairngorm National Park.

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