Scottish Winter Walking - Cairngorms
An incredible opportunity to explore the wild Cairngorms National Park in deepest winter with a small group and Winter Mountain Leader.
Duration: 5 nights
Accommodation: Cottage
Group Size: Maximum 8
Collection: Glasgow or Aviemore
Level: Tough (Winter) - No previous experience of winter walking required, but you will need a good level of walking fitness.
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs, trained assistance dogs only
In a nutshell:
Learn the skills needed to walk safely and comfortable in the mountains in winter with a qualified Mountain Leader.
Get to grips with your gear on a dedicated training day on the mountains.
Enjoy 4 full days of walking through the magnificent mountain scenery of Scotland’s Cairngorms - one of Britain’s wildest places!
Relax in great accommodation, delicious local food, and cosy pubs with a group of friendly outdoors lovers.
The perfect opportunity to try winter walking in the Cairngorms!
Have you ever been tempted to explore the mountains when they're under a beautiful blanket of snow? Based in the Cairngorms, one of Scotland’s wildest and most beautiful mountain ranges, this 6-night winter walking experience will see you do just that!
You’ll head out each day with a qualified Winter Mountain Leader and a small group of fellow winter walkers to hike through breathtaking, otherworldly snowscapes. On carefully plotted routes, you’ll enjoy an experience truly like no other.
You’ll be introduced to the skills and techniques you’ll need to walk safely and comfortably, and learn how to use special equipment like crampons and ice axes.
Based in a cosy cottage, you’ll also have the opportunity to explore the local area, spot wildlife, and sample great local food.
Crampons and ice axe hire is included in the cost. Please note we cannot provide or lend you crampon-compatible walking boots. These can be hired locally Please note we do not hire out crampon-compatible boots, but these can be hired locally.
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1
Today is mostly about travelling to our location, settling in at our accommodation and getting to know your fellow winter walkers over some good local fare.
We’ll collect you and the rest of the group from Glasgow at around 10am, full meeting details below. We then head up to our accommodatio. We’ll stop for some lunch on the way and detour via Aveimore for those looking to hire boots. On arrival, we’ll settle in to our accommodation for the week and relax. Once the group is settled, we’ll meet up for a briefing about the adventure to come and then head out for dinner at a local eatery.
If you are hiring B-rated boots or any other kit locally, this is the best day to collect it. Please see the note below, and make sure you contact us if you have any questions about this.
Day 2
Today is our training day. The aim is to walk out onto a nearby mountain, covering a set skills related to walking safely on snow and ice, including the use of crampons and an ice axe. You’ll learn to keep safe in the mountains in winter and about environmental conditions to watch out for.
We’ll be out in the mountains all day today, heading back to the cottage to relax, fire up the log burner and enjoy dinner together. There’s be a little consolidation about the day’s skills learning, too.
Days 3 - 5
Now that we’ve learned the essentials of winter mountain walking, we’ll head out each day to walk safely through the magical winter surroundings. There’s a huge number of walking opportunities to choose from, so we’ll decide on the route to take depending on the weather of the day, and the group’s preferences and confidence.
Possible walks and routes include summiting Cairngorm itself; Lurcher's Crag, which is a fine peak with excellent views all the way to Aviemore, and down into the great valley of the Lairig Ghru; Sgor Gaoithm; and Glen Feshie, standing above the wild valley of Glen Feshie.
These objectives very much depend on the weather and snow conditions, but whatever happens we’ll make sure we have three great days out enjoying the mountains. As this is a sociable winter walking trip, our focus is on having great days out. If there’s no snow at all, we’ll still head out!
After a good day’s walking each day, we’ll head back to the cottage to shower and change, before heading out to a local pub or restaurant for dinner and to chat through the day.
You’ll grow in confidence with each day of walking and undoubtedly identify areas you’d like to improve or work on, so this is a great opportunity to talk through these - over a pint of beer or a glass of wine, as it’s not all work!
Day 6
This is our last day, so we want to make the most of it! After breakfast and packing up, we’ll leave the hostel for a final walk, taking one last tour around the astounding landscapes on a lower-level, 2-3 hour walk in smaller hills or a valley. Depending on what the group is up for, we could start the drive back towards Glasgow and stop somewhere on the route for a walk instead.
We will aim to be back in Glasgow for around 4-5pm.
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If you have your own winter walking kit then please feel free to bring it along. However, the hire of crampons, an ice axe, helmet, and snow goggles is included in the price.
We do not offer crampon-compatible boots so you will need to purchase these ahead of the trip or hire them from one of the local options available - you can pre-order these ahead of the trip.
To discuss kit hire, please contact us, and see our blog on what to look out for when buying winter walking boots.
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Included:
4 days of guided winter walking with our qualified mountain leaders leaders.
Training in the use of crampons and ice axe, and skills for walking safely and confidently in mountain environments in the winter.
5 nights hostel accommodation.
Travel during the trip.
Collection and drop off at Glasgow, Glasgow Airport, or Aviemore station - see the travel note at the bottom of the page.
Winter kit hire to include ice axe, crampons, helmet and snow goggles.
Breakfast each day.
Tea, coffee, and soft drinks at the hostel.
A packed lunch each day.
Pre-weekend support from the Large Outdoors admin team.
Not included:
Travel to and from Glasgow or Aviemore - get yourself to one or the other and we’ll collect you from there (which is included).
Crampon-compatible boots. You must purchase these before the trip or hire them from one of the local kit rental companies. Please contact us if you’d like advice on this - we’re happy to help.
Evening meals, which will be at local pubs and restaurants, are not included.
Any additional excursions or activities.
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What level of fitness is needed?
No experience of winter walking is necessary to enjoy this trip, but you will need a good level of fitness to take part in the daily walks.Can I attend on my own?
Absolutely! Many of our attendees are solo travellers.When should I arrive?
You should aim to be at Glasgow Central Station or the airport for a 10:00am pick-up. More information on pick-up can be found below.I’d prefer vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free breakfasts - can this be arranged?
Yes, absolutely! We will always supply vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options meal, but please note this must be requested well ahead of the trip - the remote location of our accommodation means we can’t pop out to buy additional ingredients. Complete the dietary section during the booking process and if your dietary needs change ahead of the trip please email the office and we’ll update your booking.I am allergic to a specific ingredient - can you provide meals for me?
Please contact the office before booking to discuss your requirements.What transport is provided during this trip?
After you’ve been picked up from Glasgow or Aviemore, all travel is provided.Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this trip, except for registered assistance dogs.
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The Cairngorms lie in the eastern highlands of Scotland, accessible from Aberdeen and Inverness and containing the highest continuous land in Britain. Ben MacDui is the second highest mountain in the country, and alongside the mountains are countless lakes, rivers, forested valleys and remote settlements. As well as the high peaks, there are a huge number of shorter walks, and easier summits.
The Cairngorms National Park covers all the central mountains and extends a long way around them to cover the hills of Lochnagar, over to the Drummochter Pass, and north to the Monadhliath Mountains. The central Cairngorm plateau, where the main peaks reside, is a giant dome of granite, making it popular with climbers, while the height and climate actually make the Cairngorms an Arctic ecosystem, playing host to a unique ecology of plants and animals.
Boot Hire
You must have either B1 or B2 boots for this trip as they are not provided.
You can either purchase these yourself in advance, or they are available to hire from a number of outdoor kit specialists. We suggest hiring from either Tiso Perth Outdoor Experience or Tiso Aviemore Outdoor Experience as both of these are on route.
You can also hire them online from OutdoorHire for delivery to your door ahead of the trip. You’ll receive a 10% discount code for boot hire from OutdoorHire when booking on this trip.
Getting there
It’s essential you let us know how you’re travelling to this trip so that we’re able to make sure everybody is able to make their way to our accommodation for the week.
Travelling by car:
You are welcome to travel by car and meet us at the cottage in Grantown on Spey, where there is ample free parking.
Free collection from Glasgow Airport.
On the first day, we can collect you at the following times:
Glasgow City Centre: - 10am
Glasgow Airport: - 10:30am
We’ll drop you back around:
Glasgow Airport: 4:00pm
Glasgow City Centre: 4:30pm
These are projected drop-off times. We do not recommend booking a train before 5pm or a flight before 6.30pm
Other possibilities:
If you’re flying to Inverness: You can then either get the bus or train from Inverness to Aviemore and we’ll meet you at the station.
Taking the train to Aviemore: We can collect you from Aviemore station at around 2pm on the first day and drop you back here for around 2pm on the last day.