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Winter walking courses in Scotland

COUNTRY:
Scotland
LOCATION:
Cairngorms, Scottish Highlands
HOLIDAY TYPE:
Moderate walking holidays
DEPARTURES:
These various trips run thrughout the winter. See below for departure dates.
PRICE:
From £238 - £698 (3 days) excluding flights
MORE INFO:
From £238 - £698 (3-7 days) excluding flights. Please state which trip you are interested in when submitting your enquiry
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Winter walking courses in Scotland

Winter walking courses in Scotland

Green travel discount
In direct response to growing Climate Change concerns and reports of Methane (a severe greenhouse gas) being released from Siberia's melting permafrost during the summer, we are offering those who travel up to us by train or bus to Aviemore a £15 discount on the price of their holiday or course. Travel plans must be notified to us by the time balance of payment is due (min 28 days before departure).
Departure guarantee
We are proud to continue to offer our unique departure guarantee*. If your booking is confirmed by us you can be assured that your holiday will run. We can offer this guarantee as we are unique amongst walking holiday operators in Scotland by providing all the parts of your holiday (guiding, accommodation and catering) in-house. * We reserve the right to alter the venue and itinerary of holidays advertised as based away from our lodge.

How this holiday makes a difference

Although the Highland scenery is stunning, it's one of the less affluent areas of Britain. Our operation is entirely Highland based, both as a company and whilst delivering the holidays. With all our walking holidays & mountaineering courses we employ qualified local guides who live and operate in the Scottish Highlands. They're an integral part of the local community and they know the intricacies of the local mountains, about the wildlife, the local environmental issues, etc. Through employing local guides we maximise both your holiday experience and the benefit to the local economy at a time of the year when visitor numbers are low. We source as much produce as we can locally and we support a number of local business', both directly and indirectly. By taking a winter holiday you're very much helping the year round sustainability of the local economy.

During the winter months we maximise the use a wood Burning Stove to supplement the heating at our lodge - the overall efficiency of these stoves is superb, particularly when you consider the energy used in production of other fuels. Wood is a renewable fuel and doesn't introduce any further carbon into the carbon cycle as fossil fuels do. As part of our continuing commitment to environmentally responsible holidays we are currently in the process

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How we choose providers
Winter walking courses in Scotland

Winter walking courses in Scotland

Reviewed 05 Jan 2009 by Sarah Daly5 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Getting up some of the most beautiful mountains in the region, with a great bunch of people. Learning how to do an ice axe arrest whilst sliding down a slope was the best fun!

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Don't be worried if you are going alone - I made some great friends on the trip that I'll keep in contact with and no doubt plan other trips together.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Yes, the program would have kept business in the local region. The operator certainly ensure there is minimal impact on the environment.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


9/10. The reason for not giving it 10 would be the lack of space for everyone on the course in the lounge area, especially when we needed to do some work after coming in off the mountain. It was such a great start to the year though - the perfect kick start to some solid outdoor training.

Reviewed 08 Mar 2008 by Sue Waton4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


The sense of achievement after pushing my boundaries when I climbed out of the Corrie with ice axe and crampons; not being keen on heights - the instructor was so encouraging and supportive that I faced my fears and got on with it! The views from the top of Cairn Gorm were amazing, the cold clear air allowed us to see for miles and I can't wait to go back.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Make sure you are fit enough before you go, the cold takes a lot more out of you than you may expect.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Absolutely, the lodge has an all-encompassing environmental ethos and everyone on the course was like-minded; the effect of hill walking on local flora and fauna was explained so that we were all aware of the consequences of our actions. Rebecca and Andy used local people wherever possible and the food was sourced locally too (and delicious!).

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Brilliant and I'll be booking with them again.

Reviewed 09 Jan 2006 by Matthieu Pinel4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Learning the techniques including how to walk on ice using Crampons, learning how to navigate in whiteout conditions and recovery procedures after a fall using ice axes. Really good group atmosphere.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


If you take a camera, fix it in a front sited bag, there is little time to rummage through bags. Bring lots of layers a good quality pair of waterproof ski gloves or mittens (if hands get cold easily), and a spare set of thermals (you will need them). Be ready to walk for 80mins uphill with no breaks followed by maximum of 10mins stop (this is a technique to stop you getting too cold and it works well!) If you can buy some B2 boots beforehand; although the hired boots were good you need an excellent boot fit especially with crampons. Hire crampons unless you have a new model.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Yes, the local Hogmanay evening was a local event to which ticket sales contributed to the community. Other than that fairly self sufficient. Helped the local economy, as several people brought wine and equipment.

4. Any other comments?


Really amazing food, excellent Hogmanay evening, and of course “Cake-O-Clock” (After the mountains each day tea and cake was served upon arrival back at the lodge).

Reviewed 28 Feb 2005 by Amanda Dudman3 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


To be up in very very cold snow conditions, at many points in white out, on the UK's most exceptional mountains for winter walking.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Go VERY well prepared and equipped in terms of your kit and clothing. Do not skimp on either, though you can hire suitable boots and crampons and ice axes from the operator. If in doubt talk to the operator who is friendly and extremely knowledgeable and experienced. Be clear that you are spending the whole day out on the mountain and that it is a step up from your usual hill walking, even if you are an avid/hardened Snowdonia/Lakes walker.

Fly to Inverness - it saves so much time and they collect you from the airport. Suggest you embark on a focussed fitness regime which is specific to CV, lactic tolerance, and strength and stamina exercises about 6 weeks prior to departure, or if you go to the gym already, amend your routines to assist your fitness around the requirements of winter mountain walking.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


The mountain leader was and is very conscious of the impact on the mountain environment we had as walkers, and paid attention to it as a theme throughout the week.

Food provided at the hostel is mainly sourced locally and local people in the village are employed to help out at the hostel. The proprietor grows a lot of her own produce and all food is fresh; bread is home made. Other village B and Bs are used when the hostel is full thereby spreading/sharing the business.
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Holiday Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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Winter walking courses in Scotland
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