The reserve, situated in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, is made up of more than 29,000 hectares of astonishing landscape: heather-covered moorland, Caledonian pine forest, towering mountains and the Quoich wetlands, home to wading birds and otters.

There are 4 of the 5 highest mountains in the UK. The beautiful ancient pinewoods are home to red squirrels and pine martens as well as birds such as the crossbill and black grouse. Mar Lodge Estate has a wide range of landscape conservation projects underway, including woodland regeneration, footpath repair and reducing the damage caused to woodland by red deer.