Arrive at the Cairngorm Guest House in Aviemore and get settled in. You will meet your guide for a briefing at 3 pm, have a walk around the area, and enjoy a welcome dinner at a nearby restaurant.
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Uncover the spectacular Scottish Highlands and experience authentic Celtic charm on awe-inspiring nature walks. Join a seasoned local guide and other adventurous women for six days of roaming the Cairngorms, the UK’s largest national park, as you explore panoramic mountains, poet’s footpaths, historic rail tracks, whiskey distilleries, and other epic landscapes.
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On the morning of day 2, take public transport into the heart of Glenmore Forest Park. Enjoy a spectacular introduction to the views and wonders of the Cairngorms by climbing the Corbett (a Scottish term for mountains over 2,600 ft/ 800 m in height) Meall A’Bhuachaille. The name means “Hill of the Shepherd” in Gaelic, and your guide will happily explain why. Take in the epic vistas over the Cairngorms, the surrounding forest parks, and the Highland lochs.
Hiking: 9 km/ 5.6 miles
Elevation gain: 550 m/ 1,800 ft -
Venture further onto the Cairngorm plateau as you follow the footsteps of the Scottish poet Nan Shepherd. Nan roamed the Cairngorm hills all her life, and the beautiful words from her book ‘The Living Mountain’ will accompany you for the day’s walk. Depending on snow conditions, you might even tackle a higher summit.
Hiking: 11 km/ 6.8 miles
Elevation gain: 800 m/ 2,625 ft -
Board the steam train along the Strathspey Steam Railway between Aviemore and Broomhill in Strathspey, restored in 1978. Enjoy a blast from the past and do a little exploring at the quaint Highland village of Boat of Garten. Then, join The Speyside Way, a famous distance path, and return to Aviemore on foot. Once back, you’ll have some free time to relax, try the local spa, do some shopping, or if you’re still up for it, go for another wander.
Hiking: 10 km/ 6.2 miles
Elevation gain: 50 m/ 165 ft -
Time for a day trip through Speyside Whisky Country and all the way to the coast, sampling the lifeblood of Scotland and an integral part of the country’s history. Enjoy a scenic drive through the rolling Speyside hills, past many famed whisky distilleries, cruising along the River Spey. You’ll be heading for the Morayshire, dubbed ‘The Scottish Riviera’ for its mild climate and gorgeous sandy beaches.
Hiking: approx. 10 km/ 6.2 miles
Elevation gain: minimal -
After a non-guided morning walk, it’s time to leave Scotland. For some extra time enjoying the views, your guide recommends taking the Caledonian Sleeper train from Aviemore to London.
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Included:
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- An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- 6-day Cairngorms hiking tour (5 guided walks)
- Ensuite solo occupancy accommodations in a B&B for 5 nights (those sharing a room with a friend or a partner get a discount at checkout!)
- All evening meals at local restaurants in Aviemore
- Hearty highland breakfasts for the duration of the tour
- Minibus transport throughout the week for all travel
Not included:
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- Transportation to Aviemore
- Lunches (plenty of cafes and a supermarket in Aviemore, so you’ll always have options for picnic lunches)
- Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above
- Guide gratuities — optional
- Insurance — recommended, available to add at checkout
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In order to join this Cairngorms hiking adventure, a good level of fitness as well as some previous hiking experience is required. You will be hiking for 6-10 hours a day for several consecutive days, covering distances of up to 9.9 miles (16 km). You will be hiking on occasionally rugged terrain and tackling daily ascents of up to 1,900 ft (600 m) while carrying a daypack with the things you’ll need throughout the day. However, with some preparation and willpower, you should be able to handle this tour no matter your age or skill level!
Want to see what else is there in the area? Discover more Scotland hiking tours here!
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Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
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- Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
- Hiking poles — optional
- Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
- Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
- Spare clothes for layering and 5 days of hiking
- 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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Group sizes:
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- For this group adventure, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 8:1.
- It takes a minimum of 6 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 8 participants. However, smaller groups can still proceed if participants agree to cover the additional costs. This will usually be discussed with your guide about six weeks before the tour start date. If you’re curious about the current number of participants, feel free to reach out.
- Price of the tour is based on a single occupancy room. In case you’d like to share a double room with your friend/partner, you can get a discount at checkout.
Hiking the Cairngorms can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
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- If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
- Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike 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.
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To get to Aviemore, the starting point of your women’s hiking tour in Cairngorms, most people fly into Aberdeen International Airport 3 hours away. From there, you can take a train or local flight to Inverness, and a bus or another train to the station in Aviemore.
Alternatively, if you’re up for an extra adventure, your guide recommends taking the Caledonian sleeper train from London to Aviemore, with spectacular views of England and the Highlands. The train arrives in Aviemore at 9 am on day 1 of your tour. It only takes a short 10-minute walk to reach Cairngorm Guest House from Aviemore train station.
Once you arrive at Aviemore, get settled into your accommodations in the Cairngorm Guest House and meet your guide for a briefing at 4 pm, marking the start of this adventure.
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We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors 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.
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