A large-scale wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park broke out on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, near Ryvoan Bothy at Nethy Bridge. It has since grown to impact a six-kilometre active front. Driven by high winds and hot, dry weather reaching up to 28°C, the blaze has scorched roughly 300 hectares of heathland, woodland, and 10-inch heather at a steady pace.
Massive safety evacuations were conducted through the night across the Glenmore Forest Park area. This included clearing tourists and families out of the Glenmore Campsite and the Badaguish Outdoor Centre.Evacuated holidaymakers and children were moved to a temporary reception centre set up at the Macdonald Hotel in Aviemore, where they were given blankets and places to sleep. Meanwhile, the Cairngorm Mountain Resort has completely closed to visitors, and Police Scotland has cordoned off and closed the C7 road (known locally as Ski Road).
Emergency officials advise residents in Aviemore and Glenmore to keep windows and doors closed.
