Cairngorms Walking Adventure in Scotland: Discover, Hike, Rewild

Things to know

• What’s included?

  Please note that regardless of the itinerary you choose, inclusions stay the same.

  Included:

  • • Experienced, local hiking guides with extensive knowledge of the area
    • Accommodation for 5 nights in a room with private facilities
    • All meals (breakfast, picnic lunch and 3-course dinner), as in the itinerary
    • Guided walks as in the itinerary
    • All activities as in the itinerary
    • Yoga session (if you choose the Connect to Nature itinerary)
    • Minibus transportation during the tour
    • Transfers from Kingussie to Ballintean Mountain Lodge

  Add-ons:

  • • Inverness Airport transfers — let us know if interested upon checkout

  Not included:

  • • Transportation to/from the Cairngorms
    • Alcoholic drinks
    • Personal expenses
    • Travel insurance — mandatory
    • Medical insurance
    • Guide gratuities — optional
• How fit do I need to be?

  Regardless of the itinerary you choose, just a basic level of fitness is required. Each day, you will walk at a leisurely pace on established tracks and trails. In some places the ground underfoot can be wet, uneven and sometimes slippery. Occasionally, you may need to cross minor burns and/ or shallow rivers, which will require sure-footedness and reasonable agility.

  While all of these rewilding hiking adventures in the Cairngorms, Scotland, are quite similar in terms of walking, keep in mind that Walking the Wild itinerary is slightly more demanding than the other two, and you can read about expected day-by-day distances above.

  For more hiking adventures in Scotland, click here!

• What do I need to bring?

  Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

  • • Day pack large enough to carry everything you might need throughout the day (around a 25-40L bag)
    • Hiking poles — optional
    • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
    • Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
    • Comfortable hiking clothes
    • Spare clothes for layering
    • Waterproof rain jacket
    • Sunhat
    • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
    • Headlamp or flashlight
    • Sunglasses
    • Camera — optional (but recommended)

  Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

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• What is rewilding?

  Rewilding is a process of nature recovery that leads to restored ecosystem health, function and completeness. The goal is to maintain and expand areas of wildlife in a manner that has a positive impact on the climate and encourages biodiversity. Rewilding Britain is an organization founded in 2015 that promotes the rewilding of Great Britain. It is a registered charity in England, Wales, and Scotland.

   

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing

  • • For these rewilding hiking adventures in Cairngorms, Scotland, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 8:1.
    • It takes a minimum of 5 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 8 participants.
    • For private outings, the maximum group size is set at 12 participants.

  Rewilding hiking adventures in the Cairngorms can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join these rewilding hiking adventures in the Caringorms on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

  If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Getting there and meeting location

  To get to Ballintean Mountain Lodge in Kingussie, the starting point of the tour, most people fly into Inverness Airport (INV) (1 hour away by car and 2 hours away by train) or Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ) (2.5 hours away by car or 4 hours away by train). Once you reach Kingussie, your guides will transfer you to your accommodation.

  Private transfers from Inverness Airport to the accommodation are possible to arrange. Let us know upon booking if you’re interested.

• What will the weather be like?

  Weather in the Scottish Highlands is very changeable and at any time of year, you should expect anything from warm, calm conditions to wintry squalls. Temperatures are likely to range from 0 to 10°C (32 to 50°F) in autumn and 10 to 22°C (50 to 72°F) in the spring/summer.

• Does my visit benefit rewilding and locals?

  Yes. After covering the necessary costs associated with the trip itself, such as accommodation, food and transport, the hosts are left with a small surplus which gets reinvested into rewilding work. The visit allows the hosts to train and employ local staff and to purchase supplies and services from local businesses. In doing so, they demonstrate that rewilding is an economically viable land use in Scotland.

  

• Safety measures and insurance

  We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

  Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

  Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  Deposits

  Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.

  Cancellations

  Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.

  Basic

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 60 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 59 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

  Flexible

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 60 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled 30-59 days before departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 29 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

  Super Flexible

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 30 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 29 days of departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.

  Early Bird booking

  Want to be the first one to know when we publish new dates or secure your spot well in advance? Select a future month that suits you best and lock in your Early Bird spot in time with just a 10% deposit.

  As soon as our guides publish new tour dates, you’ll be the first one to know. We’ll hold your spot for 2 weeks until you choose the date that suits you best.

  More about how Early Bird bookings work below:

  • Only a 10% non-refundable deposit must be paid upon booking, but this deposit can be transferred to any other 57hours adventure in case the dates don’t end up working for you.
  • Once our guides publish new tour dates, we’ll reach out to you so you’ll be the first one to choose from newly released dates.
  • When you pick your date, you’ll confirm your booking by paying another 20% of the total trip amount (amounting to the standard 30% deposit).
  • Once the trip has been confirmed, the regular cancellation policy (found above) applies.
  • The remaining balance is due 90 days before the trip.