- 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 hotels
- 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 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.
21st Jul - 27th Jul 2018
Lorraine McCall
Not happy with just walking up all the Munros, Lorraine walked and kayaked to reach them.22nd Sep - 28th Sep 2018
Gill McMillan
Walking through the woods with Gill may result in some on the side badger watching, but that's no problem - she'll make it up to you with her expert guidance, enthusiasm and knowledge of the area.6th Oct - 12th Oct 2018
Judith Work
Environmental scientist and outdoor leader - meet Jude.11th May - 17th May 2019
Joanna Roberts
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 […]8th Jun - 14th Jun 2019
Keith Miller
Hugely experienced and passionate naturalist. Keith has been guiding for many years.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
Joanna Roberts
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 […]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 country house hotels: 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.
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 hotel 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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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 Alison Farrar 02/07/2018
Trip Comments
Dave was a fantastic guide and I loved the food & hotels that were chosen.
by Andrea Gilbert 01/07/2018
Accommodation and Food
Both B&Bs were run by friendly, helpful people who looked after us and fed us wonderfully well.
Your Guide
Our guide made a great trip so much better with his enthusiasm, local knowledge and the great weather that he seemed to organise for us.
The Bottom Line
Really, really, really terrific!
by Andrew Lechner 25/06/2018
Pre-Trip Service
Ease of finding more details about cost, options, travel connections, etc.
Trip Comments
Our guide, Mr. David Murray Greer, was just the best fit for our small trekking group.
Accommodation and Food
The hosts at the two B&B's used for our group were sincere, hardworking professionals who took our comfort and appetites fully into consideration. These were some of the finest accommodations we've ever enjoyed in such small out of the way destinations.
Your Guide
As mentioned already, Dave Greer was a superbly qualified and even gifted trekking team leader. His deep personal knowledge of the Cairngorms permitted daily and more frequent adjustments in calendar and routes to maximize content and minimize our risks for calamity on the trails. He never approached us as someone who "knew it all" but was eager for our own inputs and dialogue that made the days go too quickly! He earned my highest recommendation and we would very strongly attempt to work with him should we choose another WS adventure on foot or bike.
The Bottom Line
We have already done so, and will very much encourage some of our family and friends to consider joining us on another or organizing their own unforgettable escape.
by Victoria Salvato-Lechner 25/06/2018
Pre-Trip Service
The website was well organized such that as an American I could figure out when to call if I needed more information, had questions about trip insurance or needed details about a particular trip once I expressed interest. I appreciate that so much was handled online and call backs for more information were so prompt.
Trip Comments
It was a rare gift being enveloped in such varied nature, at times birdsong, rushing water or soundless forest paths blanketed in pine needles. Our guide, Dave Greer seemed to conjure up wildlife our group might have clambered past unknowingly, from the tiniest newt crawling through a rain puddle, unexpected oystercatchers, an elusive pine marten or golden eagle, to magnificent herds of antlered deer huddled stoically on a far-flung ridge. Dave seemed to know the terrain and its flora and fauna like the back of his hand. If some unusual plant or bird showed up, he did not give up trying to identify if for us.
Accommodation and Food
I especially enjoyed Coig na Shee Guest House. The rooms were lovely, verging
on luxurious, meticulously clean and the host and hostess were kind and helpful. It was great having plug-ins with USB ports, incredibly delicious breakfasts, and lunch sandwiches.
Your Guide
Dave Greer was fantastic: knowledgeable, sensitive to the varied needs of the group, humorous and well organized with maps and reference materials galore. We might have been startled at first when meeting this man who looked a bit like a blond Justice League Aquaman, with flowing beard, twinkling eyes and matching smile, but his first soft-spoken words let us know we were in for a treat. He was armed with enough regional history, insightful stories, geology and botany to keep our diverse group of trekkers interested. The Cairngorms came alive; the hiking pace was good.
The Bottom Line
Awesome experience for someone like myself, a seasoned traveler and mountain hiker. This terrain offered breathtaking mountain views without the harshness of altitude. From the challenge of stepping stone streams to forests so strew with green lushness one expected a wood sprite to be peaking from behind each knarled lichen encrusted pine, much was unexpected and a delight. Added attractions were the stone bothys, castles, sheep and sheepdogs, osprey center, whiskey tasting, carnivorous plants and the joy of meeting such a diverse group of fellow trekkers.
