Name: Highland Wildlife Park
Rating: 5.0

Highland Wildlife Park

The Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig, Kingussie, Inverness-shire, The Highlands, PH21 1NL, Scotland

1-99 Years

Paid

1171
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Description

If you are looking for the best things to do with kids in Kingussie, Highland Wildlife Park is an exceptional choice. This expansive 200-acre wildlife park gives families an immersive way to discover rare and native animals from around the world. It provides a fantastic educational day out where children can see polar bears, snow leopards, and Scottish wildcats up close in a stunning mountain setting.

Standard adult online tickets start from £25.00, while child online tickets start from £17.50 Children under 3 years old enter completely free of charge. Concessions for senior citizens, students, and family group packages are also readily available through the official booking portal.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that combines a wild drive-through safari with walkable animal habitats, this destination ticks every box. It offers an unforgettable outdoor adventure that makes exploring the Cairngorms National Park exciting and accessible for all ages.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: Yes

Features

Key Features

Drive-Through Reserve: An exciting safari experience where families can drive their own vehicle past roaming herds of European bison, elk, and vicuna.
Walk-Through Main-Park: Pedestrian paths leading visitors past enclosures housing Scotland’s famous carnivores, primates, and birds of prey.
Daily Keeper Talks: Informative public feeding sessions and educational presentations hosted by expert wildlife rangers.
Indoor and Outdoor Play Spaces: Dedicated areas where younger kids can burn off energy while learning about endangered species conservation.

Top 5 Highlights

The Polar Bear Enclosures: Watch Scotland’s only polar bears swim, dive, and play in their expansive aquatic habitat. It is a breathtaking, rare sight that captivates visitors of all ages.
The Drive-Through Macropod and Hoofstock Paddocks: Drive right through the open reserve area to spot magnificent red deer, Bactrian camels, and European bison wandering close to your vehicle. Kids love the thrill of spotting large animals right outside the car window.
Snow Leopards and Amur Tigers: Marvel at some of the world's most elusive big cats housed within beautifully landscaped enclosures. Observing these powerful predators prowl across rocky terrain is a major highlight.
Japanese Macaque Monkey House: See the lively troop of snow monkeys chatter, groom, and leap around their dedicated open-air enclosure. Children find their playful, human-like antics endlessly amusing.
Scottish Wildcats and Carnivore Trail: Discover native Scottish wildlife alongside wolves and lynx along the dedicated predator walking trail. It offers a great lesson in local conservation and rare species protection.

Facilities

Toilets: Clean public restrooms and baby-changing facilities located near the main entrance plaza and central gift shop.
Buggy Parking: Covered and open-air buggy storage bays situated outside major indoor exhibits and the main restaurant.
Food Options: The main gift-shop cafe serves hot meals, soups, kids' lunch boxes, home baking, and artisanal coffees.
Gift Shop: A well-stocked retail area offering plush animal toys, conservation books, and souvenirs.

Pro-Tips

Booking Strategy: Book tickets online at least two hours before arriving to secure standard rates and avoid disappointment on busy weekends.
Drive-Through Timing: Complete the drive-through section carefully at a slow speed, keeping all vehicle windows closed and staying inside at all times.
Weather Prep: Because the park sits high in the Cairngorms, weather can change quickly; bring waterproof layers and sturdy walking shoes.

Targeted FAQ

Is Highland Wildlife Park worth it for toddlers? Highland Wildlife Park is wonderful for toddlers because the drive-through safari lets little ones view huge animals safely from the car, while the flat walking paths make pushing a buggy straightforward. Children particularly love watching the snow monkeys and spotting the active polar bears.
How long does a family visit take? Most families spend between 3 and 5 hours exploring the park, which comfortably covers the vehicle drive-through loop, the main pedestrian walking trail, keeper talks, and a lunch break.
Where is the best place to park? There is extensive, complimentary on-site parking available directly outside the main visitor gateway, offering plenty of space and designated bays close to the entrance for easy access.

What to see

Beyond the Main Attraction

Loch Insh Outdoor Centre: Located nearby, offering family-friendly water sports, soft play, and scenic lakeside trails.
The Rothiemurchus Estate: Head to this stunning highland estate for forest walks, red deer feeding experiences, and outdoor family adventures.
Aviemore Town Centre: Explore local gift shops, traditional eateries, and family-friendly cafes just a short drive away.
The Strathspey Railway: Step aboard a nostalgic steam train for a scenic journey through the heart of the Scottish highlands.

What Visitors Love:

The combination of a drive-through safari and a walkable zoo offers incredible variety for children.
Seeing polar bears and snow leopards up close creates unforgettable memories for young animal fans.
The park has a spacious, natural feel that avoids feeling cramped or overly commercialized.
Staff and rangers are widely praised for being enthusiastic and deeply knowledgeable during daily talks.

What Visitors Don't Like:

Queues for the main cafe can build up quickly during peak lunchtime hours in the summer.
Some shy animals can occasionally rest far back in large enclosures, requiring patience to spot them.
Unpredictable highland weather can occasionally make walking paths chilly or wet.

Attractions & Live Exhibits

Drive-Through Reserve: Enclosures for European bison, elk, red deer, vicuna, and Bactrian camels.
Main Walk-Through Area: Habitats for polar bears, Amur tigers, snow leopards, and gray wolves.
Primate and Small Mammal Enclosures: Japanese macaques and wildcats.
Main Stage / Event Lawn: Space for seasonal family trails and weekend community events.
Discovery Hub: Educational spaces featuring interactive conservation displays.

New for 2026

Expanded Polar Bear Viewing Terraces: Newly upgraded low-level glass panels allowing toddlers an entirely unobstructed view of underwater swimming sessions.
Enhanced Discovery Hub Exhibits: Interactive touch-screens explaining modern climate conservation projects and local pine marten protection schemes.
Refreshed Picnic and Play Shelters: Upgraded family rest zones installed adjacent to the main walk-through catering kiosks.
Upgraded Accessible Path Networks: Smoother tarmac surfacing along primary walking routes to ensure effortless pushchair and wheelchair navigation.

Website

Contact

Video

Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Adult (16+ years): £25.00.
Child (3–15 years): £17.50.
Concession: £22.50.
Under 3s: FREE.
Carer: FREE.

Pricing URL: https://www.highlandwildlifepark.org.uk/tickets

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: Yes

Birthday Party Details

Enquiries: For private group celebrations, school trips, or corporate events, please contact the team directly via email at [email protected] or call the main enquiry line.
Direct Link for Birthday parties info: Visit the official Royal Zoological Society of Scotland contact and support pages.

January–February: 10am–4pm.
March–June: 10am–5pm.
July–August: 10am–6pm.
September–October: 10am–5pm.
November–December: 10am–4pm.
Christmas Day: Closed.

Address: The Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig, Kingussie, Inverness-shire, The Highlands, PH21 1NL, Scotland

Post Code: PH21 1NL

Council: Highland

County: Scotland

By Bus: Both Stagecoach and Citylink operate regular bus services to Aviemore. You can reach Aviemore via the Express Coaches from London Victoria and all over the country, or there is also a Scottish Citylink bus service which has limited stops at the park. For timetable information, phone Citylink on 0871 266 33 33. The local Stagecoach bus number 39/M39 service coming from Carrbridge/Aviemore or Newtonmore stops at the bottom of our entrance road – you will then have a walk of around half a mile to our pay kiosks. Our stop is between Kincraig and Kingussie.
By Car: If you are travelling north on the A9 (Inverness), turn off for Kingussie/Kincraig, and follow the B9152 north. If you are travelling south on the A9 (Perth), turn off south of Aviemore for Kincraig and follow the B9152 through Kincraig to the Park.
By Train: The main train station is in Aviemore – regular trains from Edinburgh, Perth, Glasgow, Inverness and an overnight sleeper from London stop here. Anyone planning to travel by train can make journeys across the UK with Scotrail and East Coast Trains. You might consider using Trainline to plan your journey. There are numerous railway stations in the west of the Cairngorm National Park. Railway stations are located at Dalwhinnie, Newtonmore, Kingussie, Aviemore and Carrbridge. Some trains may also stop at Kingussie which is only 4 miles from the park.