On January 31, 2018
By Rebecca Field
Winter walking holidays and courses in the Highlands of Scotland
January 2018 has been a very busy month which Andy is currently rounding off with (another) snowhole trip into the gale-bound Cairngorms with a team from the BBC Travel Show. Nerves were displayed by the newbies presenting the programme. I think they were daunted by the Triathlon enthusiasts who’d been drafted in to help dig.
New Year Winter Walking
We welcomed in 2018 in the company of our select winter walkers. The group all brought in the New Year with a great deal of good-humoured and crowded dancing in the street in Grantown on Spey. Dancing was followed by a magnificent firework display. Great fun for everyone which topped off some fabulous snowy walks.
Striding out across the snow before bringing in the New Year in the Highlands of Scotland
Andy was even able to get out the tentipi and show off it’s capabilities over a cosy whisky in the evening. His market research (which might be skewed by the whisky and warmth inside the tentipi) shows some demand for his pony wilderness glamping proposals.
Checking out the luxury tentipi wilderness glamping beds – deemed superior and mattress-like
5 Day Winter Skills
5 younger enthusiasts joined us on January 1st for the first winter skills and navigation course of 2018. We think the photos tell most of the story. Great fun and quantities of cake kept everyone happy throughout.
Winter Skills group hamming it up for the camera
Striding out into the Cairngorms to practice ice axe and crampon skills – January 2018
Practising cramponing techniques in the Cairngorms, Scotland. There’s nothing more fun than legitimate play in the snow.
Putting their crampon techniques into play on the slopes of the Cairngorm mountains
January snow cover in the Cairngorms (2018)
Tumbling down the mountain, alternatively known as ice axe arrest on a 5 day winter skills course with Scot Mountain Holidays
Successfully stopping a sliding fall on an ice axe arrest – 5 Day Winter Skills course
Head first ice axe arrest – what fun!
What’s going on here? This is part of the navigation instruction on the 5 day winter skills course
Work or pleasure? Heading up into the mountains.
Classic Winter Cairngorms
Back for some more trailbreaking through the snow-decked Cairngorms. Our blog advice on how to keep your hands warm and how to keep your phone going in the cold were of great help this week.
Atop Bynack Mor deep in the heart of the Cairngorms National park. Not everyone goes on to see these magnificent “barns”. Quite a feat of climbing to get to the top, especially after the walk in!
The view you’d be rewarded with for the challenge of pitting yourself against potentially the worst conditions nature can throw at you. When you come out on top, you can feel the adrenaline.
Walking through the snow – January 2018. Winter walking is a completely different experience and a different challenge. If you haven’t tried it, maybe this is your time.
Cairngorms (January 2018) Spectacular views are the reward for challenging yourself to a winter extravaganza.
A winter wonderland here in the Cairngorms
Getting a workout through the snow in the glorious outdoors. Plenty of fresh air and stunning views.
Glorious winter walking on the Classic Winter Cairngorms week with Scot Mountain Holidays this January (2018)
Lucky or what? The views of the Classic Winter Cairngorms week were stunning at times as this shot shows.
A view for miles – the snow brings this landscape alive.
Snowhole Expedition
Lorna chose to encourage her friends and family to join her on a Snow Hole Expedition with Andy to celebrate her 50th birthday. We felt honoured. Lorna herself must have enjoyed the experience because she’s back right now helping the BBC to dig in tonight. Let’s hope they get to see the blue moon despite the snow showers.
Heading out into the Cairngorms fully prepared for a night out on a Snow Hole Expedition with Andy Bateman
Snow mascara! Who would have guessed?
Lorna is enjoying the break through moment. Now they can see that their overnight residence is a real possibility
Dinner in the snow hole – carrot soup and vegetarian bolognese
If you’d like to join us for a winter walking extravaganza or to learn new winter skills, there’s still plenty of time. Winter in the Highlands lasts well into March and sometimes even April.
Plenty of choice of walking holiday or skills course
