I tried Scotland’s only mountain railway with funicular ‘into the clouds’
SCOTLAND’S peaks are known for drama, beauty and inaccessibility.
As a wheelchair user, for years I thought they were off limits to me, unless I fancied freezing, struggling or staying behind.
But then I heard about the Cairngorm Mountain Railway, which reopened in February.
A step-free funicular that climbs right into the clouds? I had to try it.
Access is built in from the moment you arrive – a lift to the platform, a small threshold ramp, and level boarding into the front of the train.
I wheeled straight on with no fuss, no faff, and no feeling like I was the exception.
The train climbs from 635 to 1,097 metres in less than ten minutes.
As we rose through pine forests and heather, the view just kept opening.
Mist clung to the glens below. Ridges curved into the distance.
It was smooth, and completely surreal – like floating uphill. Ptarmigan Station is right at the top.
From the lift you roll straight into a warm cafe, an exhibition space, and a huge outdoor viewing terrace with the kind of panoramic views I never thought I’d access without help. (You can’t go beyond the terrace unless you’re part of a guided walk, but honestly, I didn’t need to.)
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The restaurant serves hearty food and sweet treats.
I had a Baileys hot chocolate – totally earned – and sat soaking up the sunshine at 1,000 metres up.
Now I don’t get to do that every day.
I stayed about half an hour away at the Grant Arms Hotel in Grantown-on-Spey – a traditional Highland property with helpful staff and a calm, cosy vibe.
My accessible room was easy to navigate, meals were relaxed and the whole place had that lived-in charm.
It’s worth saying the access isn’t perfect – there’s a small service lift with manual doors – but the team were happy to help me, and I never felt like I was causing a problem.
This part of the Cairngorms has a few hidden gems that are surprisingly accessible.
Loch Garten has level paths and a great wildlife viewing area.
Countryside accessibility can be tricky for disabled travellers
Anagach Woods offers some forest trails you can wheel through, best in dry weather.
And a few local spots like the Highland Folk Museum and Wildlife Park advertise step-free access and accessible toilets – always worth checking ahead.
Countryside accessibility can be tricky for disabled travellers.
I’ve had to turn back more times than I can count.
I’ve scrolled past places that were “not suitable for wheelchairs”. So when a mountain made space for me, it meant something.
I made it to 1,097 metres above sea level.
No compromises, no apologies.
Just clear skies, fresh air, and the kind of joy that lasts long after you come back down.
