fbpx
Close
Articles by Year

<<     >>

Articles by Category
Close
+44 (0)1479 420 020

Activities

Selected Trips

    Locations

    Selected Trips

      Themed Travel

      FAQs

      Wilderness Walking

      High Points of the Cairngorms National Park

      53 reviews

      Next Trip: 27th - 3rd May 2024 Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights

      From £2,395 View Prices & Dates

      Travel Planning & Advice

      Book With Confidence

      Trip created by Stevie Christie
      View Stevie's Profile

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

      Grading:

      Carbon Footprint: 122kg ? 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

      Venture into Scotland’s grandest mountain range – the mighty Cairngorms.

      Hike among the majestic scenery of hills, forests and lochs while enjoying outstanding hospitality on this all-inclusive hiking tour.

      High-level trailheads and a network of good paths mean that accessing the high summits of Cairngorms National Park is more achievable than they may first appear. Based at a private wilderness lodge in beautiful Glen Feshie, we’ll explore the northern and western side of this huge National Park. We’ll focus on hiking to some of the finest peaks in the area and enjoy wild mountain views everywhere we go.

      With summits rising to 4000ft in height, the Cairngorm peaks are vast rolling hills connected by a dramatic plateau, and this high-level tundra is broken by steep-sided glens and corries, where the hills fall away to beautiful pinewoods, still lochs and grassy fields. The National Park is a haven for rare and iconic species such as ptarmigan, capercaillie, red squirrels and osprey.

      Trip Highlights

      • Explore the high reaches and hidden corners of the beautiful Cairngorm Mountains
      • Hike on good trails across the high tundra, looking out for rare wildlife as you walk
      • Enjoy the warm hospitality of our private lodge, with all meals included

      Did you know?


      This trip can be booked as a private departure


      Learn more

      Day by Day Itinerary

      Day 1 – A Small Starter Summit

      We meet at Aviemore railway station at 10.30am and then transfer a short distance to enjoy a hike up a little mountain with big views. A short climb through pinewoods, steep in places, takes us to the summit at 487m. There are prominent views of Strathspey, and we can look across the valley at some of the other peaks we will take on during this week. Descending to pretty Loch Gynack, you will feel like you’re still in the wilderness – but we’re almost back in the village. A short transfer takes us to our private lodge, which is tucked away in an idyllic spot on the banks of the River Feshie. (L, D)

      Walk details: 7km/ 4 miles | 275m/ 900 ft ascent | approx. 3-4 hours

      Day 2 – Classic Cairngorms Hike

      Today we will do a classic Scottish hill walk – the Northern Corries of the Cairngorms, including Cairngorm itself.  Starting from 600m we hike straight into a wild mountain environment. We pass under the cliffs of the Northern Corries keeping a look out for Scotland’s only herd of reindeer, which often graze here. A steady climb brings us to the main plateau amidst ever greater views. From here, we can pick our route, following the tops of the corries and maybe detouring to enjoy an elevated view of remote Loch Avon. A final climb takes us onto the summit of Cairngorm Mountain, the 6th highest peak in the UK. (B, L, D)

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

      Day 3 – Creag Dhubh

      The peak of Creag Dhubh, meaning Black Rock, is a more modest mountain than its neighbours, but it’s a wild and wonderful place. Heading upwards through ancient forest, the path is steep but rewards await as you emerge from the trees to superb views across the Cairngorms. You first reach Clach Mhic Calein – better known as The Argyll Stone before ascending to the summit of Creag Dhubh itself. From the top, admire the superb views down Glen Einich and across to the peak of Sgoran Dubh Mor and beyond. One of several granite tors on the Cairngorm plateau is just below the summit. (B, L, D)

      Walk details: 18 km/11 miles | 650 m/2,575 ft ascent | approx 8 hours

      Day 4 – Western Summits

      Today we head slightly further south, but keep within the boundaries of Cairngorms National Park. We’ll take on two summits offering far reaching views. Despite starting next to a busy road, this is soon forgotten as we follow a trail alongside a bubbling burn, gradually gaining height as we go. A steep pull takes us onto the plateau and then we enjoy a high-level hike, connecting the two peaks and taking in wide vistas across Loch Ericht and Ben Alder, all the way west to Ben Nevis. (B, L, D)

      Walk details: 16km/ 10 miles | 900m/ 2950 ft ascent | approx. 7-8 hours

      Day 5 – Hill of the Shepherd

      At the northern reach of the Cairngorms are several peaks overlooking the wild Abernethy Forest. We choose one of these hills today – Meall a Buachaille  (Hill of the Shepherd). We start our walk by passing through a steep sided pass and the beautiful ‘Fairy Lochan’. Beyond the pass, we turn left at an old bothy and start a steady ascent up a good trail that leads us directly to the summit. On the way down we enjoy the fabulous views of bigger hills to the south and Loch Morlich. (B, L, D)

      Walk details: 9km/ 6 miles | 550m/ 1800 ft ascent | approx. 4-5 hours

      Day 6 – Wild Cairngorms Peaks

      Today we set out to climb the peak of Sgor Gaoith, which is prominent from our lodge. A good trail takes us through wonderful pinewoods before climbing up onto the plateau. On reaching the pointed summit, the land falls away suddenly and we find ourselves gazing down at remote Loch Einich and across it to the wild corries of Braeriach, the 3rd highest peak in Britain. This is a prized summit and one you’ll remember for many years. (B, L, D)

      Walk details: 14km/ 9 miles | 915m/ 3000 ft ascent | approx. 7-8 hours

      Day 7 – Above the Forest

      We enjoy an easy and reflective final day hike. A stone’s throw from our lodge are the Uath Lochans, favoured by bird-watchers and in-the-know locals. We’ll hike around the lochs and up to the little summit of Farleitter Crag, which offers expansive views across the pinewoods to the main Cairngorm plateau. Afterwards, a short transfer takes us back to Aviemore in time to connect with trains heading north to Inverness or south to Edinburgh and Glasgow. (B, L)

      Walk details: 4km/ 2 miles | 165m/ 540 ft ascent | approx. 1-2 hours

      Download Itinerary

      X
      Wilderness Walking
      High Points of the Cairngorms National Park

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

      Fields marked with * are mandatory

      The phone number field is not required but if you would like us to give you a call to help find the trip for you, then enter your telephone number including the country code.

      Trip Dates & Prices

      Trip Dates for 2024AvailabilityStatusPriceBook
      27th Apr - 3rd May 20244 places leftCONFIRMED£2,395Book Now
      1st Jun - 7th Jun 20246 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,395Book Now
      20th Jul - 26th Jul 20247 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,395Book Now
      10th Aug - 16th Aug 20248 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,395Book Now
      7th Sep - 13th Sep 20246 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.

      Single rooms

      There is no single person supplement charged to solo travellers, however you may 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 can check to see if one is available for you. On this trip there is no supplement for single rooms as we have exclusive use of the lodge.

      Meals Read More

      All meals, from lunch on Day 1 through to lunch on Day 7 are included.

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

      The lodge has an honesty fridge (cash only) which stocks local beers, gin, water, kombucha, diet coke, cheese, crackers, venison salami and chorizo, oat bars and crisps. There will also be an opportunity to stop at a local shop on the first day to purchase any other alcoholic drinks you would like during your stay.

      Inclusions Read More
      • 6 nights accommodation in a private wilderness lodge
      • All meals, from lunch on Day 1 through to lunch on Day 7 (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 Aviemore
      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

      You will be met by your Wilderness Scotland Guide at Aviemore Railway Station at 10.30am on Day 1 of your trip. We aim to be back at the station by 1.30pm on the final day. It’s a small station so you should find the group and guide quite easily!

      Other Read More
      • The services of an experienced and knowledgeable guide/driver throughout
      • All transport throughout the trip starting and finishing in Aviemore

      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
      Chris Page

      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 Chris a Question

      Meet Your Guide

      Dave Greer
      27th Apr - 3rd May 2024

      John Walker
      1st Jun - 7th Jun 2024

      Kirsty Chuchla
      20th Jul - 26th Jul 2024

      View guides for all departures

      Difficulty Grades Explained

      Blue Graded Walking Holidays

      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.

      Compare walking grades

      Trip Reviews

      Rated 4.94 out of 5 based on 53 reviews of Wilderness Walking – High Points of the Cairngorms National Park

      50
      3
      0
      0
      0

       

      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.

      LF

      Lesley Foster

      Reviewed on 17/10/2023

      Age: 70 - 80
      Country: Australia
      Trip Date: 30/09/2023
      Trips Taken: 6

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      I have hiked with Wilderness Scotland a number of times now. The High Points of the Cairngorms will remain with me as a treasured experience of the heights and vistas of this remarkable and beautiful country. Highly recommended.

      Show More
      LA

      Lolwa Alzamil

      Reviewed on 16/10/2023

      Age: 30 - 40
      Country: United Kingdom
      Trip Date: 30/09/2023
      Trips Taken: 1

      The Bottom Line

      Show More
      EM

      Emma Louise McCarroll

      Reviewed on 15/10/2023

      Age: 40 - 50
      Country: United Kingdom
      Trip Date: 30/09/2023
      Trips Taken: 5

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      I’m a repeat customer with Wilderness Scotland, which speaks for itself. The trips are always of a very high standard across the board- the planning & organisation, the accommodation & food, the itineraries, and not least the guides. Every trip feels special (to the point where it feels somewhat indulgent to have done so many of them!)

      Show More
      Load More Reviews

      Want more Wilderness in your life?

      Sign up for our newsletter and be the first to hear about trip news, blogs and offers.