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      Wilderness Retreat

      The Highlands

      16 reviews

      Next Trip: 20th - 26th May 2023 Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights

      From £2,395 View Prices & Dates

      Travel Planning & Advice

      Our assurance that we continue to deliver responsible and financially protected adventure holidays.

      Book With Confidence

      Trip created by Rachael Gavan
      View Rachael's Profile

      Region: Cairngorms and Central Highlands
      Trip Type: Wilderness Retreat
      Accommodation: Classic
      Max Group Size: 8
      Confirmed: When 3 Travellers Book
      Deposit From: £598.75 £598.75

      Grading:

      Carbon Footprint: 120kg ? What does this mean?
      Click here to find out about our carbon labelling project and what we're doing to be more sustainable.

      All you need to know about your trip, this essential document is a must for all adventures.

      Download Itinerary

      The wilds of the Cairngorm National Park await you on this unique women’s only wilderness retreat. Based in a bright and airy Highland lodge that specialises in fresh, locally sourced seasonal food, you’ll get the chance to experience the magic of Scotland with like-minded women. Over the course of a week, you’ll enjoy exploring the varied landscape, learning and practising new wilderness skills, and challenging yourself in a friendly and supportive environment.

      With a maximum group size of 8, this inspiring guided trip combines breathtakingly scenic hikes with mini adventures and acquiring new skills. From wild swimming and restorative yoga to navigation and rewilding, you’ll get the chance to participate and share new experiences. Reconnect with nature and yourself against the backdrop of Scotland’s magical wild spaces alongside a fantastic group of women in the wild Cairngorms National Park.

      Trip Highlights

      • Hike in the beauty of the Cairngorms National Park
      • Try Wild Swimming in a sparkling mountain loch
      • Connect with like-minded women in a supportive environment
      • Learn new skills with your expert guide
      • Recharge and invigorate yourself on this active retreat

      Did you know?


      This trip can be booked as a private departure


      Learn more

      Day by Day Itinerary

      Day 1 - Welcome To The Cairngorms

      Meeting in the Highland town of Aviemore, we arrive ready to discover beautiful landscapes and share experiences with like-minded women. Over lunch, we chat about plans for the week before setting off on a local hike with fabulous views of the Strathspey valley and the Cairngorms Mountain range – the perfect introduction to our week in the UK’s biggest national park. Arriving at our welcoming lodge accommodation we’ll settle in and relax before dinner. (L, D)

      Walk details: 8.5km/5.25miles, ascent 543m/1782ft, approx 4.5 hours

      Day 2 - Wild Swimming In A Mountain Loch

      Much has been said about the exhilarating and transformative nature of wild swimming. We start our morning off at one of our favourite local lochs to discover this for ourselves. Led by a qualified local expert, we test the silky, fresh waters at the highest beach in Britain. Whether you prefer to just dip the toes in or plan on a full swim, you’ll have the chance to enjoy the level of challenge that feels right for you. Post-swim hot drinks and homemade cake are a must in order to warm up from the inside out. After the exhilaration of this morning, we’ll enjoy a gentle hike through the native forest, hearing only bird songs, that your guide will identify and the breeze through the trees. The quiet atmosphere allows for a reflective afternoon before heading back to our lodge for a well-earned dinner. (B, L, D)

      Walk details: 6.5km/4miles, ascent 222m/728ft, approx 2.5 hours

      Day 3 - Yoga & Navigation

      The wilderness surroundings of our lodge are the perfect backdrop in which to relax. Stretch out the kinks and release any tension in the body and mind this morning on a relaxing and accessible yoga session led by a local instructor. After lunch, it’s time to spread out our maps and chat navigation with your guide. Whether you’re new to navigation or always carry a map and compass we’ll spend the afternoon learning new skills and putting them into practice. You’ll hone your technique as we adventure through the Cairngorms, feeling and following the contours and features of the map through our feet. (B, L, D)

      Walk details: 9km/5.5miles, ascent 110m/361ft, approx 3 hours

      Day 4 - Summiting Cairn Gorm

      Today we’ll head out on a full-day hike. The aim today is to summit Cairn Gorm Mountain. The 6th highest peak in the UK which has leant its name to the mountain range and national park. This hike will take us straight into a wild mountain environment. Passing under the impressive cliffs of the Northern Corries keep an eye out for wildlife including mountain hare, ptarmigan and the UK’s only heard of reindeer which often graze here. A steady but significant climb takes us up and on us to the Cairngorm plateau, an arctic landscape. We’ll enjoy incredible views to the surrounding mountain as well as sweeping panoramas of the Caledonian pine forest and the mountains of the west coast in the distance. From here, we can pick our route, using our new-found navigation skills to find the best viewpoint of the remote Loch Avon before a final steeper climb takes us onto the summit of Cairn Gorm Mountain. This will be the most challenging day of the week but an incredibly rewarding one.

      Walk details: 11km/ 7 miles | 775m/ 2540 ft ascent | approx. 6-7 hours

      Day 5 - Rewilding the Highlands

      After a relaxed breakfast today we’ll enjoy a morning hike in Glen Feshie, this glen is often overlooked by hikers but it is one of the most beautiful. This area is also very special as it is the location of an innovative and ambitious rewilding initiative. Your guide will share some of the details of this flagship project that aims to restore the unique rich biodiversity in the Highlands. This is a long term project, spanning generations but you will see for yourself how the work has already transformed the local landscape, flora and fauna. This afternoon you can choose from some different options depending. You may want to join your guide on a short hike to a small summit, visit the open-air Highland Folk Museum with their reconstructed dwellings detailing what life was like for Highlanders dating back to the 1700’s. Alternatively, you may want to remain at the lodge to have a quiet afternoon to yourself to relax.

      Walk details: 6.5km/ 4 miles | 200m/ 655 ft of ascent | approx. 2-2.5 hours

      Day 6 - Wild Swimming & Wild Trails

      Enjoying another outdoor swimming session this morning, we really put ourselves in the present moment, invigorated and calmed by the fresh wild water. Later this afternoon in the wild Cairngorms, we’ll enjoy a final hike to soak in the beauty of these untamed vistas and reflect on our week together. Over dinner tonight, we share our insights and take the time to appreciate and celebrate the adventure. (B, L, D)

      Walk details: 11km/6.75miles, ascent 775m/2543ft, approx 6.5 hours

      Day 7 - Depart for Home

      After a relaxed breakfast this morning we’ll pack up and leave our Highland lodge. Invigorated, connected and with new friends, you’ll depart the Cairngorms carrying memories of your adventure and the time you spent in this ancient, wild landscape. (B)

      Walk details: 5km/3miles, ascent 302m/991ft, approx 3 hours

      Download Itinerary

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      Wilderness Retreat
      The Highlands

      To download a PDF copy of our Trip Itinerary, containing full details about this holiday, please complete the form below:

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      Trip Dates & Prices

      Trip Dates for 2023AvailabilityStatusPriceBook
      20th May - 26th May 2023 Women only departure4 places leftCONFIRMED£2,395Book Now
      24th Jun - 30th Jun 2023 Women only departure7 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,395Book Now
      5th Aug - 11th Aug 2023 Women only departure2 places leftCONFIRMED£2,395Book Now
      16th Sep - 22nd Sep 2023 Women only departure8 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,395Book Now

      Trip Details

      Expand All
      Accommodation Read More

      This walking holiday enjoys accommodation in a private mountain lodge set in the beautiful surroundings of Glen Feshie. The area around the lodge has abundant wildlife to spot and the grass outside is grazed by Highland cattle. Accommodation is a choice of double or twin rooms with ensuite facilities. The lodge is unlicensed, so we’ll make time on day 1 to visit a local shop if anyone wants to purchase any alcoholic drinks for the week.

      Single rooms

      There is no supplement charged to solo travellers, however, you may be required to share a room with another woman. On this trip, we have 7 rooms available and a mix of doubles and twins. There is no supplement for single rooms as we have exclusive use of the lodge. Solo occupancy rooms are allocated on a first come first served basis, please get in touch with our team to chat about availability.

      Meals Read More

      Breakfast and evening meals will be fully catered at the lodge each night and packed lunches provided for each day. Included dinners are two courses as standard.

      Trip Grading Read More

      Blue Graded 4-6

      Blue graded walking holidays are suitable for fit and experienced hikers. We walk at a good pace and you can expect to be out for 6-8 hours a day. You will not always be on a path and the terrain underfoot can be rough and boggy, including boulder fields and mountain tops. Some of the daily walks will involve a mountain ascent of over 3000ft / 900m high. Daily distances will be typically up to 16km but may be longer occasionally. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary.

      Travel – Arrival and Departure Read More

      Your Guide will meet you at the entrance of Aviemore Railway Station at 10.30am on Day 1 of your trip.

      You will be returned to Aviemore Railway Station at 10:30am on the final day of your trip.

      Photo Gallery

      Make This Trip Private

      Fancy this trip just for your group? Get together with family and friends spend quality time exploring wild places. A private trip allows you to benefit from all the features of the group departure, including hand-picked accommodation and expert local guides but with the advantage of the flexibility to tailor the days to your group. Make the trip more or less challenging depending on your experience or choose to add in some optional extras like castle or distillery visits depending on your interests. The price of a private trip will depend on the number of travellers in your group. Let us know your prefered departure date and we'll take care of the rest.

      Speak to an Expert

      View Profile
      Jane Gillies

      Our friendly office team hail from across the world but share a passion for the outdoor and wild spaces of Scotland. We are committed to providing you with the best customer service and are more than happy to chat through options and provide help and advice. Get in touch to find your perfect adventure.

      Ask Jane a Question

      Meet Your Guide

      Caroline Hart
      20th May - 26th May 2023

      Alice Varley
      24th Jun - 30th Jun 2023

      Emy Mcleod - Guide
      5th Aug - 11th Aug 2023

      View guides for all departures

      Difficulty Grades Explained

      Blue Graded Wilderness Retreats are suitable for active travellers who are reasonably fit and enjoy time in the outdoors regularly. During your trip, you can engage in various activities, including hiking, foraging, wild swimming, yoga and meditation. The walking will be at a good pace, and you can expect to be out for 4-8 hours a day. You will not always be on a path, and the terrain underfoot can be rough and boggy, including boulder fields and mountain tops. Some of the daily walks will involve a mountain ascent of over 3000ft / 900m high. Daily distances will typically be between 5-15km but may be longer occasionally.

      Trip Reviews

      Rated 4.94 out of 5 based on 16 reviews of The Highlands

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      Every client receives a feedback survey when they return from their guided, self guided or tailor made holiday with us. Once completed the review is published on our website just as soon as our database updates. The little touches and details are important to us and where issues are raised we make positive changes to our trips to improve your experience.

      That’s why we read each of our client’s reviews and although we don’t respond to all of them, if it’s glowing feedback then we get the satisfaction of helping to make your holidays truly memorable.

      MC

      Marcia Carr

      Reviewed on 10/10/2022

      Age: 60 - 70
      Country: United States
      Trip Date: 24/09/2022
      Trips Taken: 1

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      Completely enjoyed this trip (the first that I've done like this) and liked that it was a small group of 8. The other guests were great, like-minded, the location was wonderful, lodging equally wonderful, and it certainly helped that we were able to mostly avoid bad weather. Very happy to have done this trip.

      Show More
      JW

      Joann Wallace

      Reviewed on 05/10/2022

      Age: 70 - 80
      Country: United States
      Trip Date: 24/09/2022
      Trips Taken: 1

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      This was an incredible experience that encourages me to want to broaden my hiking experiences with Wilderness Scotland/England/Ireland.

      Show More
      HM

      Heather Mackenzie

      Reviewed on 03/10/2022

      Age: 50 - 60
      Country: United States
      Trip Date: 24/09/2022
      Trips Taken: 1

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      The Women's Wilderness Retreat is an amazing experience. Everything from the activities to the food to the amazing guide felt perfectly curated. Cairngorms is a wonderful location to experience the beauty of the Highlands and to challenge yourself---hiking Cairn Gorm and wild swimming. I highly recommend Wilderness Scotland and hope to plan a future adventure.

      Show More
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