Escape to the Cairngorms
London Business School Alumni
Day by Day
Day 1 - Travel to the Cairngorms National Park
This morning, catch the train north into the enchanting beauty of the Cairngorms National Park. Disembark in Aviemore, where your Wilderness guides will be waiting on the platform. Visit the ruins of Ruthven Barracks (an impressive fortification built after the 1715 Jacobite uprising) before exploring Insh marshes which is home to curlew, lapwing, redshank and snipe. Settle into your comfortable accommodation and enjoy a relaxing evening.
Overnight: Cairngorms | Cairngorm Hotel (or similar)
Room Type: Twin/Double to share
Meals Included: Lunch
Day 2 - Hike in the 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 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 and a fabulous way to start your first full day in the park.
Overnight: Cairngorms | Cairngorm Hotel (or similar)
Room Type: Twin/Double to share
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 3 - 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. A short drive takes you to The Cairn, an innovatively built distillery with a turf roof that looks out over the River Spey. Enjoy a private tour, chatting with an expert distiller and tasting a number of whisky expressions that emulate the character of future whiskies to come.
Overnight: Cairngorms | Cairngorm Hotel (or similar)
Room Type: Twin/Double to share
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4 - 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.
Overnight: Cairngorms | Cairngorm Hotel (or similar)
Room Type: Twin/Double to share
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5 - Above the Forest
We enjoy an easy and reflective final day hike. A short drive away 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 south to Edinburgh, Glasgow and beyond.
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Trip Details
- Inclusions
- All accommodation from Day 1 to Day 5
- Most meals as indicated above
- Services of an experienced and knowledgeable qualified guide from Day 1 to Day 5 (4 guides total for a group of 30)
- Ground transportation from Day 1 to Day 5
- All guided hikes and activities mentioned in the itinerary
- Distillery visit
- Personalised trip design and delivery
- Snacks throughout the trip
- 24 hour in-country support from the Wilderness Team
- Exclusions
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Meals not mentioned in the inclusions
- Activities and entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions
- Gratuities for the guides
- Pricing
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The price above is based on a group of 30pax, in accommodation of a similar standard to the one mentioned. If availability at the time of booking means alternative accommodation is to be used, or if the group size decreases this price is subject to change.
