- Hike on ancient whisky smugglers’ trails and visit Scotland’s first licensed whisky distillery.
- Discover the majesty of the deep glens, clear rivers and wild lochs on expertly guided walks.
- Enjoy the huge variety of wildlife to be found in the Cairngorms National Park.
- 6 nights accommodation in comfortable small guest houses
- All meals during the trip (Meals included indicated as B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
- The services of an experienced and knowledgeable guide / driver throughout
- All transport throughout the trip starting and finishing in Inverness
- Entrance fees to a whisky distillery, Highland castle and wildlife reserve
Green Graded Walking Holidays
Green graded walking holidays are suitable for active travellers who are reasonably fit and enjoy moderate hikes. We walk at a comfortable pace and you can expect to be out for 5-6 hours a day. The terrain will be mostly good paths and hill trails but these can still be muddy and rough in places. Some hikes may involve an ascent up to a max of approx 1,500 feet / 450m. Distances will be typically 8-10km but there may be the odd slightly longer day. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary.
11th May - 17th May 2019
Jo Roberts
Travelling in places such as Nepal, Peru, Norway, Poland and now Scotland - learn more about Wilderness Scotland guide Joanna Roberts.8th Jun - 14th Jun 2019
Keith Miller
Hugely experienced and passionate naturalist. Keith has been guiding for many years.20th Jul - 26th Jul 2019
Alastair Goodridge
Meet Wilderness guide Alasdair Goodridge and discover what he loves about the outdoors.24th Aug - 30th Aug 2019
John Walker
John can be found in the hills at all times whether it be on foot, climbing, cycling, or motoring. Amongst other things, he was the 4429th person to complete all the Munros!21st Sep - 27th Sep 2019
Jo Roberts
Travelling in places such as Nepal, Peru, Norway, Poland and now Scotland - learn more about Wilderness Scotland guide Joanna Roberts.5th Oct - 11th Oct 2019
Will Snow
Will has biked further than you can imagine! He's not saddle-sore yet. Read more here.ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
We spend our nights in welcoming and friendly guest houses: three nights in Royal Deeside then three nights in Strathspey. Accommodation is in twin or double rooms with en-suite bathroom facilities. A warm welcome is assured, and you can choose to spend the evenings in the lounge next to the wood-burning-stove or in one of the village’s local pubs.
Food is of paramount importance and our meals are prepared from the best local produce. We’ll enjoy wonderful home-cooked meals each evening, with good, healthy portions. Naturally, vegetarians and other dietary requirements are willingly catered for – simply let us know at the time of booking.
On this trip we generally eat dinner as a group however if you would like to make alternative arrangements you are free to do so. Your guide will have an evening off during this trip where they do not eat with the group. They will recommend options for dinner that evening and will help you make any necessary reservations.
SINGLE ROOMS
There is no single person supplement charged to solo travellers however, you will be required to share a room with another person of the same sex. If you require a single room please request this at the time of booking and we will check availability for you. A single room supplement of £225 is charged if a single room is available – please see booking form terms and conditions.
You will be met by your Wilderness Scotland Guide at Inverness Railway Station at 10.30am on Day 1 of your trip. You will be returned to Inverness station for 5.00pm on the last day. Alternatively, if you are heading South by train, we can arrange to drop you off at Aviemore station around 4.00pm.
Trip Details
Hiking in the Cairngorms National Park is a special experience, as we explore a region named by National Geographic as one of the 50 Must Visit Places on Earth.
From the majesty of Royal Deeside (where the Queen has her Scottish residence at Balmoral Castle) to Strathspey, where the high plateau rises above the charming villages, flanked by some of Scotland’s oldest forests, Cairngorm National Park delights at every turn.
On this walking holiday, we enjoy some of the best easy hikes in the Cairngorms National Park as we explore Strathspey, Royal Deeside and Highland Perthshire on a two-centre circumnavigation of Scotland’s largest National Park. There is a huge variety of possible hikes to choose from but wherever we venture, we’ll enjoy the fantastic scenery, sense of wilderness and rich history and heritage.
As well as savouring its wilderness, we’ll discover its heritage as we visit a whisky distillery, a 13th century Highland Castle and a wildlife reserve on this memorable walking holiday.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 – Hiking the Whisky Smugglers Trails
From Inverness, a short transfer south-east takes us to eastern Strathspey, Scotland’s most famous whisky-making region. We’ll enjoy a short walk, following the ancient trails once used by whisky smugglers, keen to avoid the law! We finish up at one of Scotland’s most iconic distilleries, where we enjoy a private tour (with samples!) before transferring south into Royal Deeside and our guest house accommodation. (L, D)
Walk details: 6km, 100m ascent
Day 2 – Hiking Royal Deeside: The Shadow of Lochnagar
This superb circular hike explores Glen Muick, which lies in the shadow of the famous peak of Lochnagar. It takes us through ancient pine forest, past one of Queen Victoria’s hunting lodges and beneath towering cliffs as we circumnavigate beautiful Loch Muick. It’s also a great spot for spotting wildlife – look out for red deer and golden eagles! Overnight Royal Deeside. (B, L, D)
Walk details: 12km, 200m ascent
Day 3 – The Cuckoo Glen and the Devil’s Punchbowl
This circular hike is one of the best in Royal Deeside. We follow a good trail north to the edge of the Cairngorm plateau, where some of the highest peaks in Scotland rise from the deep glens. The wilderness is striking and the beauty is all around. The rivers are a real highlight with the striking rock features of the Linn of Dee and the Devil’s Punchbowl most notable. Overnight Royal Deeside. (B, L, D)
Walk details: 17km, 200m ascent
Day 4 – Highland Perthshire and Strathspey
We transfer west into Highland Perthshire, where we make our way to a 13th century castle for a hike on its vast estate. We enjoy a level route through a beautiful forest in a steep-sided glen. We finish back at the castle, with time for a tour of its interior and perhaps the gardens too. A short transfer north takes us into Strathspey and our base for the next 3 nights, a small guest house in a sleepy Cairngorm village. (B, L, D)
Walk details: 9km, 100m ascent
Day 5 – Into Glen Feshie
Despite being considered by many to be the most beautiful of all the Cairngorm valleys, Glen Feshie is overlooked by many hikers, meaning that a walk here is one which has a real wilderness feel. Our circular route follows the banks of the bubbling River Feshie, through ancient pines to an old mountain hut. The route offers great wildlife-spotting potential with red deer golden eagles and even the rare capercaillie being found in the glen. (B, L, D)
Walk details: 12km, 250m ascent
Day 6 – Abernethy Forest and Wildlife Reserve
The Abernethy Forest is thought by many to be the most beautiful in Scotland, with beautiful lochs surrounded by ancient Scots Pine trees and framed by views of the high mountains. We’ll enjoy a circular walk, perhaps taking in a section of the Speyside Way long distance trail, and finishing at a wildlife reserve where we’ll hope to see red squirrels and many bird species including, in the early part of the summer, the osprey. (B, L, D)
Walk details: 8km, 100m ascent
Day 7 – Hike in Cairngorms National Park
There are so many great walks in the Cairngorms that we like to keep the itinerary flexible and decide which hike to take in on the day. One option is a hike close to our hotel, a favourite of the locals. It ventures into the eastern edge of the Monadh Liath mountains on a circular route to Loch Gynack. It’s a wild and beautiful place, so an apt location to end our trip. After the hike, we complete our circumnavigation of the Cairngorms National Park by transferring north back to Inverness for the trip end. (B, L)
Walk details: 8km, 200m ascent
Prices and Dates
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2019 Trip Dates
Trip Reviews
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.
by Michelle Mowery 12/11/2018
Pre-Trip Service
Responsiveness of staff. Alacrity with which the staff responded to questions. We did have one problem with payment that I believe was primarily due to the security issues with my credit card but was unable to resolve immediately due to the time difference but I don't believe there is anything Wilderness Scotland could have done to prevent that outside of having 24/7 service and we don't think that is necessary.
Trip Comments
We loved Jude! She was an excellent guide and attentive to our needs without being overbearing or giving the impression she was mothering us like a group of lost chicks. Her guiding methodology is very subtle while still being very attentive and watchful. The hiking was outstanding and her local knowledge contributed in a big way to how successful each day's hike was executed. Her weather watchfulness and flexibility helped us prepare each morning for the day ahead to ready the gear necessary for the day's adventure.
In addition, as we were able to complete each hike in a reasonable amount of time her knowledge of the Caringormes locals allowed us to see and hike more of the park than we were expecting which was an incredible bonus. Jude read us, as walkers, well and understood that seeing and doing more was precisely what we wanted out of the trip.
Accommodation and Food
The stays, from the pub to the B & B, were outstanding. Really nice to have a nice bed to fall into and to be pampered at the B & B after a day walking in the woods,.
Your Guide
See my initial comments but we would follow Jude anywhere. We had a small group but the two of us had done a far bit of traveling while others in our group had less experience. She was equally attentive and supportive to all of the group's needs. And an excellent van driver!
The Bottom Line
Excellent trip. When we were researching outfitters for hiking in Scotland, two friends gave Wilderness Scotland high marks as well so it was clear to us which outfitter we should select. We were not disappointed.
by Susan Lundahl 08/10/2018
Trip Comments
Walking in the Cairngorms was magnificent. The accommodations and food were above expectations, really excellent. And our guide was amazing. Nothing the slightest bit negative to say about the entire experience. There was no singular highlight. Every day was special.
Your Guide
Gill was amazing. Very knowledgeable and patient.
by Theresa Hall 08/10/2018
Pre-Trip Service
All our questions were answered promptly.
Trip Comments
This trip was definitely one of my most memorable, travel experiences. The Highlands are a stunningly beautiful area and having a fantastic guide - Gil McMillan - made it even better.
Accommodation and Food
Both the Boat Inn and Coign Na Shee were extremely comfortable, quiet and welcoming accommodations. My only very small complaint would be the dimness of the bedside lighting at Coign Na Shee. Overall excellent though.
Your Guide
I can’t praise our guide enough! Gil was superlative in all respects. Right from the beginning when one of our group was late, she exuded calm, and bought us all coffee while we waited. Her knowledge was amazing. From the landscape, history, botany, farming and hunting uses of the land to reading us evocative poetry she kept my interest at all times. She did an excellent job of assessing our groups’ varied abilities and never made anyone feel inadequate. We had to ford two large rivers and her calmness and and quiet confidence made even the most timid among us feel able to get across without a dunking! Also, after having driven in Scotland myself for a few days after our walk, I am in awe of her driving abilities too! From the very beginning I felt safe and secure knowing that Gil was in charge.
The Bottom Line
I have already recommended you to several people and I hope to take another trip with you as well.
