Gallery - Winter Walking in the Cairngorms – A Scottish Adventure
This Gallery Relates to the following trip from Large Outdoors:
Guided Winter Walking Holiday - Cairngorms, Scotland
🔗 https://www.largeoutdoors.com/guided-winter-walking-holiday-cairngorms-scotland
Our Large Outdoors Winter Walking trip in the Cairngorms was an unforgettable adventure, featuring snow-covered peaks, winter skills training, and stunning Scottish landscapes.
After meeting in Glasgow, we travelled north to Aviemore, stopping at Loch Morlich and Glenmore Forest for a scenic warm-up walk. Once the group was together, we checked our winter equipment, ensuring crampons, ice axes, and helmets were ready for the days ahead—good preparation is key for winter walking!
Coire an t-Sneachda – Winter Skills & Changing Weather
Our first full day took us into Coire an t-Sneachda, where we experienced rapid weather shifts—clear blue skies turned into a blizzard within 15 minutes. It was the perfect day for winter skills training, practicing crampon techniques, ice axe use, and moving safely in deep snow. We discussed avalanche awareness after spotting debris and saw ptarmigan and snow buntings, birds well-adapted to Arctic-like conditions. The day ended with an ascent to the rim of the corrie, where we battled strong winds while practicing safe movement in challenging terrain.
Glen Feshie & Carn Ban Mor – Summit Views in Wild Conditions
Day three took us to Glen Feshie, where we ascended Carn Ban Mor. Calm weather at the start quickly turned to cloud and strong winds at the summit, reminding us why goggles are essential in winter conditions! Descending through a beautiful Caledonian pine forest, we returned to Aviemore ready for another big day.
Cairngorm Plateau – Blue Skies & Winter Mountain Views
With near-perfect conditions, we took the opportunity to reach the Cairngorm Plateau, home to Arctic wildlife and tundra-like landscapes. We climbed Cairn Gorm, Britain’s sixth-highest mountain, before following the Northern Corries ridge. The views were spectacular—we could see the UK’s highest mountains in full winter glory, apart from Ben Nevis, which was hidden in the clouds. Watching climbers tackle the steep cliffs made this a truly memorable day.
Exploring the Chalamain Gap & Wildlife Encounters
After a tough day in the mountains, we opted for a shorter adventure through the Chalamain Gap, a dramatic ravine leading to the Lairig Ghru valley. Discussing its history as an avalanche terrain trap, we scrambled up Creag a' Chalamain, where we had clear views across to Braeriach, Scotland’s third-highest mountain. In the evening, we visited Ian and Gill, long-time friends of Large Outdoors, at their forest home. They put food out for wildlife, and soon we had an incredible close-up view of pine martens and badgers, a rare and special experience.
A Relaxed Finish at The Hermitage, Dunkeld
On our journey home, we stopped at The Hermitage, near Dunkeld, for a relaxed walk among some of the UK’s tallest trees and impressive waterfalls. After a final lunch in Dunkeld, we returned to Glasgow, marking the end of an incredible Scottish winter walking adventure.
Take a look at our gallery of images to relive the highlights of this unforgettable trip!
