Adventures in Scotland

Win a hiking weekend in Scotland

This month we’re offering the chance to win a hiking weekend in Scotland. On offer is our Gentle Giants weekend at the end of August. A guided hiking break in the Cairngorms National Park with Scot Mountain Holidays for one lucky person (and their chosen +1). The weekend is fully inclusive of accommodation, guiding, transport to the walks, pick up from Aviemore station and all your meals during your stay. The prize is worth over £500.

To win scroll down to the bottom of the page to enter. Hurry though – closing date is 31 March 2017

The varied habitats of the Cairngorms National Park

Gentle Giants – the details

Win a 2 day guided hiking weekend in the Highlands of Scotland with Scot Mountain Holidays.

We’ll provide:

• all your accommodation,
• all your meals,
• a highly qualified, experienced local walking guide
• and transport throughout the trip. We’ll even pick you up from Aviemore station or Inverness airport. (Train/bus/air transport not included.)

All you’ll need to arrange is your transport up to Scotland.

win a hiking weekend in Scotland: the routes

During the weekend in the Cairngorms National Park we’ll hike to Ben Macdui (Britain’s second highest peak) and also go up Cairngorm, the peak which gives the park its name, following a lesser known route to the summit avoiding the ski slopes. Full details are available from the trip information page

Hiking Ben Macdui with Scot Mountain Holidays group tour

win a hiking weekend in Scotland: the accommodation

You’ll stay at our home base, Fraoch Lodge, in the small village of Boat of Garten, in the Cairngorms National Park. Boat of Garten is just 30 minutes south of Inverness and a 10 minute transfer from Aviemore. You and your +1 will have a private room. Fraoch Lodge is our family home as well as the accommodation for our holiday guests. We offer a comfortable lounge with a very full book case and loads of family games but no TV. Instead we have an open fire. We don’t go in for dainty decorations but have chosen to share our memories of great travelling experiences in the photos on the walls and the carvings we’ve collected around the world.

Fraoch Lodge in it’s autumn plummage

win a hiking weekend in Scotland: the food

We’ll cook for you and provide your picnic for heading out into the hills. We don’t go in for Michelin star or nouveau cuisine type food. We provide good quality, hearty home cooked meals suitable for active people. Rebecca is an adventurous cook who likes to provide good, healthy meals made from fresh, local produce. She has travelled widely, particularly in Asia, and often brings these influences to bear in the meals she prepares. She also loves to bake, particularly with chocolate. All the treats we provide for when you come back after your hike are freshly prepared on the premises. Previous guests are often keen to know the secrets of our recipes particularly for the more unusual bakes like green tomato cake.

A classic British favourite which we are doing our best to introduce across The Pond (into the USA).

win a hiking weekend in Scotland: the destination – Cairngorms National Park

Have you ever been to the Cairngorms before? If not, prepare to be surprised and amazed by the sheer beauty and expanse of open land which stretches before your eyes when you reach the summits.

The Cairngorms are also renowned for wildlife. Many rare species make their home here. The BBC Springwatch team are often to be found in the Cairngorms filming such animals as the pine marten or birds like the Capercaillie or Crested Tit. We hope that during the weekend you’ll have opportunities to see the ptarmigan, the mountain hare, red grouse and red deer. Much of the land on our side of the Cairngorms is owned by the RSPB and managed by them to provide excellent habitat for the wildlife.

Wildlife with a view

Go for it – hope to see you in the Cairngorms this summer. Good luck!