Guided Walking Holidays in the Cairngorms
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| Cairngorm Northern
Corries |
Coire an Lochain
Cairngorms |
The Cairngorm Mountain Range
Scotland's Cairngorm mountain range
lies within the Cairngorms National Park and stretches more than 50
miles with over 200 square miles of land over 2000 ft. There are almost 50
peaks over 3000 feet and several others rising over 4000 feet high. The
range contains four of Scotland’s highest mountains, Ben MacDui
(1309 m), Braeriach (1296 m), Cairntoul (1291 m) and
Cairngorm itself which is 1245 metres high (4084 feet). The Cairngorm
plateau when not covered in snow is vast featureless rocky desert scoured
by winds far in excess of 100 miles per hour and sub zero temperatures for
weeks on end in the winter months. It is a unique example in this country
of a sub-arctic ecosystem (not the place to get lost on a misty day).
Three of Scotland’s best hill passes go
through here leading to semi-permanent snow fields which can persist into
the summer months and some throughout the year as well as the remnants of
the ancient natural Caledonian Forest and glacial features carved out
during the last Ice Age.
The Gaelic name for the Cairngorms is Am Monadh Ruadh (the red hills) due
to the pink granite on the plateau. However, the name Cairngorm means blue
mountain as the peak apparently looks blue from a distance.
The mountain range is a Mecca for
outdoor activities such as skiing, ice & rock climbing, hillwalking,
mountain-biking, kayaking, and some of the more relaxing activities such
as pony trekking, golf, fishing and shooting. The ski resort village of
Aviemore has plenty of hotels, pubs and restaurants!
Lairig Ghru and the passes of
the Cairngorm Massif
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| Reindeer on the
Plateau |
Cairngorm's Arctic
/ Alpine Flora |
Seven Day Itinerary: Through
the Arctic Alpine Plateaux go three of Scotland's finest ancient hill
passes used by Highlanders for centuries, a land of Mystery and Legend.
From the ancient Caledonian forest, summer snowfields supplying the great
salmon rivers to trees of gold, grey men and fairy lochans.
Our guided walks explore the inner recesses of the
Cairngorms over the five days in the company of a highly qualified local
guide(s) and naturalist. We will be based at Loch Morlich Youth Hostel,
mountain shelters and one night in the Braemar Youth Hostel. The week
involves backpacking with sleeping bags and provisions, though weight is
kept to a minimum by using existing shelters or open bivy's and carrying
only one days supply of food!
As with any mountain walking the
itinerary is somewhat weather and group fitness dependant but could
consist of:
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Day 1:
Arrive at hostel the
evening before.
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Day 2:
Introductory talk and
walk into the Northern Corries/Cairngorm. Buying trek supplies in
Aviemore later.
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Day 3:
Start of trek through
Lairg Ghru or over Cairngorm with overnight stay in mountain shelter
such as Corour or one of the Shelterstone caves.
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Day 4:
Continue trek into to
Braemar with overnight stay at Hostel and restocking of supplies.
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Day 5:
Return journey to
Glenmore via Glen Derry and Lairig an Laoigh or the Lairig Ghru if the
more strenuous Shelterstone route taken at start with overnight stay in
mountain bothy or open bivy.
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Day 6:
Continue trek back to
Glenmore Hostel.
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Day 7:
Depart Hostel the
following morning.
Grading
intermediate with up to 10-15 miles rough mountain walking and 600-900 m
ascent.
Cost including food and accommodation
for the seven days is £545
Weekend Lairig Ghru Trek:
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Lairig Ghru from
Aviemore side |
Lairig Ghru from
Braemar side |
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TV presenter Nick Crane see
Blog |
Two day guided walk through the Lairig Ghru Pass from Aviemore to
Braemar. Includes two nights self catering mountain refuge and hostel
accommodation as well as return transport back to Aviemore.
Cost: £140 per person (min 4 clients)
Lairg Ghru Taxi Service:
Return journey from Aviemore or Braemar
from
£25 per person (min 4 clients)
Cairngorm Munros & Scotch
on Ice
Itinerary: Over the five days
we explore and climb some of the UK’s highest mountains (there are almost
50 peaks over 3000ft in the Cairngorm range alone). The range contains
four of Scotland’s highest mountains, Ben MacDui (1309 m), Braeriach (1296
m), Cairntoul (1291 m) and Cairngorm itself which is 1245 metres high
(4084 feet) all of which we will endeavour to climb.
On the “Scotch on
Ice” we will in addition to the above travel west to climb Ben Nevis (1344
m) the highest peak in the UK.
As with any
guided mountain walking the itinerary is somewhat weather and group fitness
dependant but could consist of:
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Day 1:
Arrive at hostel or
B&B the evening before.
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Day 2:
Climb Ben MacDui via
Fiacaill ridge.
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Day 3:
Climb Braeriach by
Sron na Lairige.
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Day 4:
Rest or easy day…walk
into the Northern Corries/Cairngorm!
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Day 5:.Climb
Ben Mheadhoin or Bynack Mor
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Day 6:
Another
Cairngorm peak or
climb Ben Nevis
by the Carn Mor Dearg arete.
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Day 7:
Depart Hostel the
following morning.
Grading
strenuous with up to 20 plus miles rough mountain walking and 1500 plus m
ascent.
Cost including food and accommodation
for the seven days is £545 |
