Hillwalking in Scotland, 2-day Winter skills course in Aviemore (Cairngorms)

Would you like to know what skills it requires to brave the Scottish winter? Do you want to explore the beautifully wild Scottish highlands? Well, here’s your chance and all within the Cairngorms National Park, a landscape that epitomises Scottish wilderness!

This region is my home and although I’ve explored many parts of the world, the Cairgorms is my favourite.

It’s a majestic landscape summer or winter, but the intrepid explorer is never more rewarded than after a long walk in the cold through the beautiful and pristine snowscape!

This walk will provide you with all the fundamental knowledge of how to prepare and conduct yourself on this terrain in winter.

Some of the topics to be covered are the following:

• How to plan your trips – interpreting weather and avalanche forcasts

• Avalanche Awareness and the Scottish Avalanche Information Service

• Winterproof gear- Prepare clothing and equipment for cold, wind and snow

• What items to take and how to carry them

• How to move on the snow – good footwork

• Winter navigation

• How to use an ice-axe proficiently and halt a slip as it starts

• How to create steps

• Use of crampons

• Ice-axe self-arrest (technique to stop yourself mid-slide)

• Emergency shelters and procedures

We will meet at Costa Coffee in Aviemore at 8:15am, discus the itinerary, check the forecasts and have a coffee.

We will begin the walk from the Cairgorm ski car-park and aim to finish walking on both days at 16:00.

You don’t need a high level of technical skill to join this trip but you should be comfortable hillwalking for about 6 hours at a steady pace.

So if you want to learn winter skills whilst at the same time discover the famous and magical beauty of the Scottish highlands, then sign up now for an unforgettable visit!

If you’re more excited by the walk then consider joining me on this wonderful 2-day summer hike in the Cairgorms, reaching 850m you will enjoy unparelleled views of the gorgeous landscape!