Gear advice Archives - Scot Mountain Holidays

Winter Mountain Walking in Scotland: How to Carry and Use Crampons and an Ice Axe

Rebecca Field — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 15:09:43 +0000

Winter mountain walking in Scotland: how to carry and use crampons and an ice axe

Preparing for winter walking

Winter transforms the Scottish mountains. Familiar paths can quickly become buried, and repeated thaw–freeze cycles can turn an easy summer path into something extremely treacherous. A simple slip can have serious consequences.

For anyone planning winter walking in the Highlands, knowing how to use your crampons and ice axe — and how to carry them properly — is a core part of staying safe.

At Scot Mountain Holidays, we spend a lot of time helping guests build confidence in winter conditions. This blog is not exhaustive, but it outlines some key principles and opinions from our guide, Andy, based on many years of winter experience in the Scottish mountains.

Why winter boots, crampons and an ice axe matter in winter

Winter Boots:

dequately stiff winter boots are the foundation of safe winter movement. In many ways, the boot is just as important a tool as your ice axe.

Stiffness is vital because it:

ensures crampons can be fitted securely

allows you to concentrate body weight and force through specific areas of the boot

A proper winter mountaineering boot enables efficient execution of step-kicking and crampon techniques. Even without consciously employing these techniques, you will notice that your footing feels significantly more secure on snow-covered terrain.

Winter boots also provide better insulation, improved ankle support, and — critically — the uppers are robust enough to allow crampon straps to be tightened properly without restricting circulation.

B1 winter boots are generally not sufficiently stiff for Scottish winter mountain conditions. When front-pointing, the toe can bend upwards and the heel drop, causing you to lose purchase and potentially fall out of the step.

Underfoot conditions in Scotland’s winter mountains are often more challenging than summer glacier crossings in the Alps or Himalaya. Even a fully rigid B3 boot rarely feels excessive on a hill walk in full winter conditions.

Crampons:

Crampons are strong pieces of equipment, but they are not indestructible. Importantly, stiffness should come from the boot, not the crampon.

An inadequately stiff boot can subject a crampon to repeated cyclical stress over the course of a day, increasing the risk of fatigue or failure. Always choose a crampon that is compatible with your boot — the stiffer the boot, the wider the range of compatible crampon styles.

Ice axe:

Putting aside technical climbing axes, Andy does not favour long-shafted walking axes. While there are occasions where a longer shaft is useful, these are generally outweighed by the disadvantages.

Shaft length is always a compromise. A length of 50–55cm suits most winter walking situations well.

An ice axe leash should not be permanently attached. There have been incidents where people have sustained head and upper-body injuries after losing grip of an axe during a slide, with the axe flailing at the end of a fixed leash.

A simple and safer solution is to put a loop in the end of the leash and larks-foot it through the hole in the head of the axe only when a leash is needed.

Check out the crampons – New Year Winter Walking 2022 – 2023

How to carry your ice axe

When not in use, your ice axe should be carried securely but remain quickly accessible.

The conventional rucksack attachment — threading the shaft through the axe loop and securing it with the pick pointing upwards — is not ideal. This often leaves the pick exposed at an aggressive angle.

Preferably, the axe should be stowed under the side compression straps of the pack, with the head uppermost and the pick pointing downwards and away from the shoulder.

It is also possible to carry the axe slipped behind a shoulder strap or between your back and the rucksack. This allows rapid deployment when you reach snow without stopping to remove your pack.

Once on snow or ice-covered slopes, the axe should usually be carried in the hand. Hold it by the head with the pick pointing backwards and the adze forwards.

When traversing a slope, always carry the axe in the uphill hand, enabling self-belay should you lose your footing. Zig-zagging uphill requires frequent hand changes. A permanently attached leash would significantly reduce speed and efficiency in these situations.

5 day and 2 day winter skills courses in the Cairngorms

How we recommend carrying crampons

At Scot Mountain Holidays, Andy is very clear about how crampons should be carried.

We do not recommend carrying crampons on the outside of a rucksack unless there is an integral, secure crampon pouch. Crampons are heavy and can easily work loose. Unprotected on the outside of a pack, they can also be hazardous — particularly in high winds or crowded environments.

Instead, crampons should be stored in a sturdy crampon bag and carried inside your rucksack. This keeps them secure, protects your pack and other equipment, and prevents accidental loss on the hill or injury to other people.

In winter conditions, place the crampon bag near the top of your pack so it can be accessed quickly without unpacking everything else.

Fitting Crampons

Always adjust and fit your crampons to your boots at home. You should be completely familiar with the process before heading into winter conditions, as cold hands and strong winds make everything more difficult.

Do not put your crampons on while sitting down. You need your full body weight on your feet to ensure proper sole-to-crampon contact.

Choose a flat, stable place — firm snow or a rock platform. Lay the crampons on the ground with all straps clear, step into the crampon, and secure it carefully. Do not wait until you are already on steep or icy ground before fitting them.

Moving Safely With Crampons and an Ice Axe

General winter walking technique is straightforward but requires attention. A slightly wider gait is advisable, and you must lift your feet properly to avoid catching a crampon point.

As slopes steepen, more specific techniques are required. These skills take practice and should ideally be learned and refreshed in appropriate conditions with experienced guidance.

Final Preparation Tips

Winter days are short, so plan conservatively and allow more time than you would in summer. Check mountain weather forecasts and ground conditions carefully, and be prepared to change plans if conditions are unsuitable.

Practise using your winter equipment before your trip, and ensure everyone in your group understands when and how crampons and ice axes should be used.

Learning Winter Skills With Scot Mountain Holidays

Safe winter hill walking represents a genuine step up from summer walking — an expansion of skills and judgement rather than a move into something extreme.

If you are considering developing your winter walking skills, our winter courses and guided winter walking trips are designed to build confidence from the ground up.

On all Scot Mountain Holidays winter courses, we revisit core winter skills, including how to carry and use crampons and an ice axe. Every introduction to winter skills begins with a full equipment check, with Andy personally checking crampon fit and compatibility with boots.

He explains how and why adjustments are made, ensuring guests understand not just what works, but why. This attention to detail helps develop good habits early, avoids common mistakes, and builds long-term confidence in winter terrain.

Good habits learned early make winter walking safer, more enjoyable and far more rewarding.

If you are planning winter walking in Scotland after Christmas and would value experienced guidance while developing these skills, we would be delighted to help you prepare.

The post Winter Mountain Walking in Scotland: How to Carry and Use Crampons and an Ice Axe appeared first on Scot Mountain Holidays.

Top 10 winter skills tips

Rebecca Field — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 18:28:24 +0000

Your ultimate top 10 winter skills tips

Andy Bateman has instructed and guided for over 25 winter seasons across Scotland. At times its blue skies and a winter wonderland but being based in the Cairngorms he is no stranger to the sometimes uncompromising conditions that can be encountered on Scotland’s high mountains during the winter months.

Putting aside the obvious need to dress properly for the conditions, here are a few of his expert winter skills tips:

1. Carry your crampons in your rucksack

Unless your rucksack has a facility specifically for carrying crampons safely on the outside, they should be in a crampon bag inside your rucksack when not on your boots. They are heavy items of kit and can easily work loose when attached with exterior straps or bungee. Crampons carried on the outside can also be a source of injury for other members of the party e.g. in high winds.

2. Rigid B2 or B3 rated boots

The snow and ice conditions can be as varied as the weather that creates them. Don’t limit the techniques at your disposal before you’ve even set foot on the mountain by wearing bendy boots. A key and often overlooked feature of a stiff boot is that it allows you to concentrate your weight on the edges of the sole so you’re able to use them to cut into the snow surface. Your boot is as much a tool as your ice-axe or crampons. B1 “winter” boots are often too flexible to effectively kick steps in hard snow; if you try to front point, the toes tend to bend up and the heel drops causing the wearer to feel unstable. Fully rigid B3 mountaineering boots don’t feel overkill for a winter mountain walk.

Crampons at work

3. …and pay attention to the soles

At the beginning of each winter season, check the condition of the soles of your boots. If they are worn it may be time to get them resoled or replaced. Having sharp(ish) edges to your soles means they will be more effective at cutting into harder snow.

4. Length of ice axe shaft

There are a few situations where a long shaft is an advantage but they are outweighed by the number of situations where a short shafted axe is your best bet. Go for an axe with a relatively straight shaft and no longer than 55cm irrespective of your height.

Picking our way through snow

5. Don’t be too ambitious

Remember in winter trekking your rucksack will be heavier, plus the extra weight of winter boots and crampons on your feet, the underfoot conditions and having to check the map more frequently all conspire to slow your pace. On top of this there are fewer daylight hours. It’s important that you’re not over ambitious with your route plan to prevent being caught out. Always make sure you have a decent headtorch.

Test your limits, within your means

6. Is all that kit you’re carrying necessary?

Your rucksack is already heavier with all the necessary gear required by winter. Heavy boots, crampons and underfoot conditions will sap energy and slow you down. Don’t burden yourself further with superfluous kit by considering whether an item is really necessary for the day. At the same time, be sure you have everything you need.

Full moon Snow-hole Expedition winter gear

7. Hydration bladders can easily freeze

Even with an insulated jacket around the tube, once the temperature drops below -3 deg C hydration bladders tend to easily freeze. You are better off with a water bottle in your sack as close to your back as possible to receive a little body heat. Better still take a thermos flask.

8. Ice axe leashes

There are situations where an ice axe leash is an advantage but there are also a good number of situations where they can be a hazard. Have an arrangement where the leash can be easily added or removed from the head of the axe, i.e. tie a loop in the end of the leash and larks-foot it through the head of the axe. When you aren’t cutting steps or climbing the leash is probably best kept in your rucksack.

9. Cold hands?

Remember, as your core temperature cools your body reduces its circulation to your extremities, like your hands. If you have cold hands, it may well be worth considering putting an extra layer on, as well as warmer gloves. If the body is compensating for a cooling core, to a certain extent, it doesn’t matter how well insulated your hands are, it’s not going to send anymore warm blood to the extremities.

10. Take regular short breaks

Your body can burn up 40% more calories just by keeping itself warm. Underfoot conditions and heavy gear add to your body’s energy demands. Standing around for more than 10 minutes can mean folks start to get chilled. Schedule-in regular breaks where possible. I find a 10 min break after approximately every 80 min of walking is optimal. You need good judgement and one of the most sensitive organs in your body to a drop in temperature or a lack of energy is your brain. It needs to be well nourished by both.

Striding out to conquer the winter Cairngorms

Why do it? Because this is why it’s worth it.

The post Top 10 winter skills tips appeared first on Scot Mountain Holidays.

21 tips to stay warm in the Winter Mountains

Rebecca Field — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 09:21:18 +0000

Staying warm in the winter mountains is a vital winter skill. Andy Bateman has been guiding for Scot Mountain Holidays more than 25 years, so here are his 21 tips on staying winter warm and surviving the cold…

The Strategy

Cold Hands

1, Don’t just think about putting on gloves. Your body conserves the core temperature by restricting the blood circulation to the extremities (e.g. lower limbs, hands & feet). So even though your torso may not necessarily feel cold, still think about adding an extra layer. If your core is “toasty” your body will be happy to send plenty of warm blood to your hands! If it isn’t it doesn’t matter how well insulated your hands are they aren’t going to warm quickly. A warm torso means your hands will be far more resilient against becoming cold.

Regulate Body Temperature

2, Dress warm on the legs and regulate your body temperature by adding and removing tops. It’s a lot easier to add/remove the latter than it is the former.

Maintain the warmth

3, Try and keep on the move as much as possible since this is the most effective way of re-establishing/maintaining a comfortable temperature in an adequately insulated body.

Breaks

4, Plan regular but short breaks. You will be burning energy and loosing moisture through breathing and sweating. It needs to be replaced. The first organ in your body to be affected by a lack of either of these is your brain. To stay warm in winter mountains you most definitely need your judgement!

5, Keep breaks brief – to a maximum of 10 mins. Any more than this and you can start to get chilled. I find a good balance is 80 to 110 minutes hiking followed by a 10 minute break. From stopping, eating a sandwich, having a drink, to actually being on the move again, 10 minutes is easily taken up.

Plan ahead.

6, Rather than adding a warm layer at the exposed summit, think about doing a little before. You them have the last 5 mins of ascent to warm you back up. You may have a terrain feature to shelter behind where as that may not be an option on the summit.

Discipline

7, Discipline is crucial! Aim to be pro active rather than reactive. Be on top of your game! The first organ in your body to be affected by the cold is your brain and you need your judgement. Don’t fall into of the trap of not wanting to be bothered. Don’t necessarily wait for the next up hill climb to warm you up. Cold and hypothermia are insidious. If you are uncomfortable, seek shelter if it’s close at hand, stop and deal with it! 5 minutes later you’ll be feeling much better. Sadly, people have died from hypothermia whilst carrying enough to probably survive. Don’t let the cold get the better of you!

8, Overheating? Stop and take a layer off. Later on sweaty cloths can have a real chilling effect on the body.

The Gear

Gloves

9, Invest in a good pair of winter gloves. Don’t under estimate the agony of sever hot aches! Spending £70 upwards can seem money well spent. Liner gloves keep them hygienic.

10, A spare pair of adequate winter gloves is crucial. A glove can be easily lost in the wind. An unprotected hand in Scotland’s winter mountains can mean frostbite. Dachstein mitts are old school but they are cheap and they have a long established reputation of working in Scotland.

Belay/Overlay Jacket

11, Consider purchasing an overlay jacket. It’s a very quick and efficient way to add a very warm layer when you take a break in the winter mountains.

Hot Drink

12, Think about packing a vacuum flask of warm drink. If you’re a little chilled, there’s nothing like the uplifting comfort of warm fluid draining down into your core.

Everywhere covered

13, In the coldest conditions place a neck gaiter over the mouth and breathe through the fabric. It will act as a heat exchanger – extracting heat from the expired air and using it to warm the inhaled air. It can be surprisingly effective!

14, Wear Ski goggles (anti fog). No only do they provide physical protection for the eyes but they also help to keep the face a lot warmer.

Windproofing

15, You will be often wear your waterproofs as much for windproofing as you will for waterproofing. Remember increasing wind has more effective on wind chill than dropping temperature.

16, Use the terrain to give you shelter from the wind if you can e.g. walk down the lee side of a ridge.

Footwear

17, Winter boots – Apart from the vital requirement of being adequately stiff, proper winter mountain boots will generally be better insulated.

18, Wear warm (winter) hiking socks and make sure your boots are large enough to accommodate them without impinging your circulation.

19, Gaiters – You need to make sure snow doesn’t go in over the tops of your boots. It’s one of the best ways to get wet (and possibly cold) feet. Generally, I’m not a great fan but in winter some type of gaiter is a necessity. Internal gaiters in some leg wear, in my experience haven’t been up to the job. When interlaced with an appropriately sized conventional gaiter though, they provided a very secure closure.

Clothing

20, Some insulating (duvet) jackets have such a light drape that when you add another layer over the top the air is squashed out of the insulation thus greatly reducing their warmth. Some of them simply don’t have enough insulation in them to be winter warm. I tend to carry a thick fleece that doesn’t compress and still works well when wet.

21, Wear the right fabrics. Do your research and avoid hydrophilic fabrics like cotton which looses a lot of its insulation when wet.

Conclusion

There are a lot of gear options on the market. What works for you is not necessarily what works for your friends, but there will definitely be something out on the market which will be good for you. Remember when you go out on the hill make sure you have enough clothing to keep you warm when you need to stop. In winter, you can’t often stop for long to eat and definitely need to think long and hard about when you’re going to add/subtract layers. The key is not to put off any decisions and if you’re out with others, don’t be shy about asking for help.

The post 21 tips to stay warm in the Winter Mountains appeared first on Scot Mountain Holidays.

Best accessories for hiking

Rebecca Field — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 12:08:33 +0000

OK – we thought we’d have a little fun with this blog and give you a few silly tips along side the more serious suggestions.

It’s Scotland – there weather is always unpredictable, but as they say – there’s no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing and I can vouch for that personally.

Ne’er cast a cloot till May’s out. what it actually means is, don’t take off your winter clothing until May is over!

.1. map & compass

80% of mountain rescue callouts stem from navigational errors. We know that there are mulitpe mapping apps available to help when you’re in the great outdoors – OS maps; Komoot, Outdoor Navigator to mention just a few; or Walk Highlands too if you’re looking for one specific to our area. But these all depend on your phone having good battery power; or you having packed a spare battery to back up your phone.

It is always best, especially if you’re in an area of poor phone reception, to carry a map and compass (so long as you have the skill set to use them effectively). If you do plan to walk on your own it’s probably best to make sure you have some basic navigation skills, before you head out the first time and use your phone as a back up rather than your primary navigation tool.

Further navigation reading:

Winter Navigation and its perils

Understanding navigation

30 top tips and skills

Photo by David Mansell

2. properly fitted backpack

Travel backpacks and school bags have their place, but if you are intending to walk/hike for any length of time (i.e. over 3 hours) you probably want to consider investing in a bag which has a capacity of at least 30 litres and an adjustable strap system. It is extremely important for your comfort, that the bag is adjusted properly for you. If you don’t have a friend who is able to help when you go to choose a backpack; the staff in the shop are usually trained to help.

If you intend to climb, the length of the back system could be very important as the last thing you want while you’re climbing is for your backpack to be hitting the back of your helmet and impeding your vision. This is more likely to be an issue if you are less than 160cm tall.

3. sunscreen

Strange as it may seem to some, sunscreen is important even in Scotland. Our days in summer can be very long which means that you could be out in the sun for more hours than you anticipate and there is often very little shade when you’re high in the hills.

4. sunhat

5. midge repellent

The most commonly available midge repellent is Smidge but there are more and more products coming on to the market which are more enrionmentally friendly and good to your skin. Highland Soaps produce a skin cream scented with bog myrtle. Bog myrtle grows wild in the Highlands and naturally repels midges.

There’s also another natural brand called Beastie Be Gone which you might want to investigate.

6. midge net

Only really necessary as a camping addition. If you’re not planning to stop for long then a midge net will probably not be necessary. Also bear in mind that if you are in a windy situation then you won’t encounter any midges anyway as they can not cope with any more than a light breeze.

7. umbrella (might not be as stupid as you’d think)

8. portable shelter

This might be something which lives in the bottom of your backpack and never gets used – but that’s a good thing. If you’re hiking with a guide, you probaby won’t need one either as the guide will carry one as a matter of course for the safety of the group.

A portable/emergency shelter is not necessarily just for emergencies but can provide you with a wind break when you need to take a break to eat or whatever.

9. portable fan

Seriously? Yes, there are occasions when it isn’t windy and cold!

10. walking poles

You’ll find that you’ll get conflicting advice on using poles, depending on who you speak to. My father is against them; I use mine all the time. They are very useful for river/stream crossings; to help with your balance.

If you check out the photo below though, the vote seems to be in favour of poles when hiking here in the Highlands.

11. compeed (first aid kit)

Possibly the most useful thing to have in your first aid kit. It’s probably worth adjusting your first aid kit if you’ve bought a premade kit. It’s unlikely that you’ll need a huge number of field dressings or slings, but more than likely that you’ll need a stock of compeed for blisters, tweezers (to deal with splinters) , possibly some rehydration tablets and paracetamol.

12. trail mix

You can buy commercial versions but the most satisfying will probably be one that you make up yourself if you have time. We like a home made grain free granola mix. Recipe here.

There’s no chocolate in this particular version but there are plenty of options which contain chocolate: eg white chocolate, cranberry and pistachio.

You could also make a more savoury version or experiment with a high protein mix, depending on what suits your preferences.

13. zip off trousers

Always a good option here in Scotland where you can easily have 4 seasons in one day. Also shorts are not always a good idea if you’re going to be brushing past any undergrowth as you’ll need to be aware of ticks.

14. warm hat

Unfortunately even in what you might consider to be the height of summer (July and August) it can be extremely cold on the mountain tops and it’s not unknown for snow flakes to fall!

15. gloves

You might not need the thickest winter gloves in the middle of the summer season but the wind can pick up at any time and particularly if you’re using poles your hands can be exposed and cool off quite quickly.

16. wool socks (Smartwool)

Wool is worth investing in particularly if you’re going to be hiking for more than one day. It doesn’t smell as quickly as artificial fibres; it breathes and it will be warm even if damp.

17. torch/flashlight

If you’re hiking any time from April to August, the daylight hours will likely be long enough that you might think that you don’t need a torch, but it is a useful piece of kit to have in your bag in case you take a wrong turn or decide to be out longer than you originally planned.

18. dry bag/waterproof pouches

Always a good idea to add a waterproof lining to your bag, even if you have a rucksack cover. Unfortunately rucksack covers can blow off your pack quite easily and then inevitably water will ingress.

19. water

This might seem like an obvious one, but you’d be amazed how many people show up without water bottles for one of our planned hikes. Some kind of reuseable water bottle is always best rather than bottled water from the shops.

20. thermos/flask

A thermos can be used to keep drinks both hot and cold so don’t ignore the opportunity to carry a thermos in the summer.

We’ve covered quite a bit here and you can obviously take all under advisement as the heavier your bag the less likely you are to enjoy the day. It is a balance between weight and what you need to be comfortable throughout the day.

Enjoy!

Playing with lichen

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I’m in my 50s but have never been winter walking before. What are the pitfalls I should be aware of?

Rebecca Field — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:36:09 +0000

Walking in winter

Walking comes in many different guises from dog walking to marathon walking. Perhaps then there’s a reason why “hiking” is becoming much more common usage for wild walking, long-distance and mountain walking. Hiking in summer and walking in winter can almost be classed as 2 different sports.

You might be a keen walker. Alternatively you might have started to develop an interest in walking later in life. You might be walking for health reasons or you might be Munro bagging. Whatever the reason, once you turn to hiking in the mountains, sooner or later you might want to extend your season so you can continue to hike all year round. You’ll want to go walking in winter.

Hiking in winter has its own distinct rewards from unending views in crystal, clear air conditions to solitude and glistening fresh snow, unblemished by evidence of other people. There are however also obvious hazards and also some aspects to winter walking/hiking, which you might not have considered.

Walkers striding across the Cairngorm plateau

WINTER HAZARDS

Winter hazard 1: snow

In Scotland the winter mountains will almost invariably have snow on them for at least part of the winter. We live in hope that the season will be longer and the snow will remain, but this year, 2017, even the most stubborn of snow patches melted away completely. It’s nearly the end of October already and there’s as yet no sign of the white stuff returning. Still if you are considering some winter hiking, make sure you have received some formal training in the skills you need to remain safe in winter conditions. There is nothing more sapping than cold weather.

Winter hazard 2: avalanches

There are a surprising number of avalanches in Scotland but most of them go un-witnessed and hence unreported. Fortunately we do have a very good avalanche information service, especially in the Cairngorms. Throughout the winter they produce a daily report of the avalanche risk. With formal training and a bit of experience, you can learn to interpret the report so that you pick the safest route for the day.

Winter hazard 3: boots

Making sure you have the proper boots for winter is essential. “Your boot is as much as tool as your crampons and ice axe” is a sentence often repeated by our own Andy Bateman when he is talking to winter novices. You must have stiff boots rated as B2 or above. However, the problem with the boots is that they weigh a lot more than boots you will be used to walking in and they are so much stiffer that they force you to walk in a slightly different gait from usual. Over the course of a couple of days, the difference in the boots can take its toll on you. You legs and feet will feel a lot more tired than they usually do for the same amount of summer walking.

Take care when wearing winter boots. Try to baby your feet a wee bit and if you have the opportunity a little bit of simulation will stand you in good stead, even if people give you funny looks when you clump along the beach promenade or up and down the city streets in monster boots.

Winter hazard 4: additional gear

Your pack, whether for an expedition or a day walk, is inevitably going to be bigger in winter. Not only will you need more in your lunch, but you’ll also need space for the additional gear: your ice axe, your crampons, thicker, warmer gloves etc. You’ll need to be ready for the extra weight.

TOP TIP: always try to pack your crampons within your pack as if you have them tied to the outside of your pack, you run the risk of losing one or both of them quite easily.

Winter hazard 5: cold &/or severe weather

In winter Scotland’s hills become mountains due to the severity of the weather conditions. There are regularly winds over 100 miles an hour in storms and though you might not plan to be out in conditions like that, even experienced mountaineers can get caught out. A friend of ours was once out in the Cairngorms when the weather turned. He and his party ended up almost crawling out as they were getting blown over when they stood up. The wind was even strong enough to take a head torch off one of their heads.

Wintry conditions on the summit of Cairngorm

WINTER BENEFITS

Winter benefit 1: burning more calories

It’s not only the colder weather which helps to burn up more calories. You do have to carry more stuff with you when you go out hiking in winter. The additional weight will help to burn more calories at the end of the day. But always remember, if you put more calories in than you consume you won’t be losing weight. Just heading out for a hike is not a guarantee that you will lose weight – if that is your aim. You need to balance out keeping warm with the number of calories you consume. You don’t want to be cold, but neither do you want to overeat.

How many calories are burned by being cold?

Calories burned in cold weather

Winter benefit 2: clear air

Cold air carries less moisture than warm air and therefore produces better visibility. It is warm air streams which bring precipitation. There is some truth to the statement that it is too cold in the arctic to snow.

Winter benefit 3: less people

Fewer people enjoy going out in the cold weather despite the fact that we have amazing gear now which can keep us warm in virtually any conditions. However, this means that those of us who do go out can enjoy a real sense of solitude and space.

Winter benefit 4: camaraderie

There’s nothing better than sharing the story of the day. The warmth of a fire and a cup of tea at the end of the day will be appreciated so much more after being out in cold conditions.

When people come back after a day out in the snow, they almost always have a novel story to share. The risks are greater than in the summer, but then this enhances the benefits too.

Winter benefit 5: stay fit

If you stop going out in the colder weather, it may be more difficult to get back to your regular hiking than before. The risk of losing your fitness over the winter is greater as you get older. Walking on the treadmill isn’t really an adequate substitute, but if there’s no other choice …

Winter benefit 6: glorious views

I don’t know why the mountains seem so much more spectacular when covered in snow, but they do. Maybe it’s because they look more pristine. Maybe it’s because if gives them more shape. Whatever the reason, a little snow seems to add some “je ne sais quoi” to the mountain scene.

Winter benefit 7: stunning photos

Typical Cairngorm scenery in the snow

Winter scenery in the Ryvoan valley, taken by Thomas Barrat on a course with Scot Mountain Holidays

We specialise in guided walking holidays and walking skills here in Scotland.

If you’d like to leap in to winter at the deep end, why not think about a snow hole expedition: not an igloo, a snow hole; not an emergency shelter but a deliberate night out in a purpose built shelter. Check it out:

The post I’m in my 50s but have never been winter walking before. What are the pitfalls I should be aware of? appeared first on Scot Mountain Holidays.

Free download: what to pack for a wilderness glamping trip?

Rebecca Field — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 20:21:54 +0000

It’s not easy to know what to pack for a new type of vacation, especially if you’ve got a longer holiday planned. You want to make the most of your trip though so always a good idea to have a check list of things you really don’t want to forget. It’s also nice to know what you don’t need to pack, if some of the gear is being provided for you then that takes the pressure off your bags.

We’ve put together the ideal kit list of the wilderness glamping trips just so there isn’t anything vital that you forget to bring because it’s not like you can stock up while you’re out on the adventure: there aren’t any stores around.

You might be surprised to find that you there’s little or nothing you need to buy to come on this trip. Hint: All the camping/glamping gear is provided by Scot Mountain Holidays.

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What’s all the fuss about Tweed?

Rebecca Field — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 13:06:27 +0000

Can you imagine hiking or mountaineering in a Tweed suit?

That’s how they used to do it. Here is an image of Sir Hugh Munro himself, styling a fetching tweed trouser on the snowy Highlands mountainside. Not exactly Gore-Tex technology but, for decades prior to the 1970’s, Tweed was the activity-man’s gear of choice. Certainly man vs. mountain.

Full on tweed suit – on trend in those days!

You cannot be more true to tweed than the Harris. Defined in the Harris Tweed Act of 1993 as cloth that is “Handwoven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the Outer Hebrides, and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides”.

Authenticated tweed fabric from Harris must contain this badge or it is not guaranteed Harris tweed

Where does the name come from?

The original name of the cloth was tweel, Scots for twill, it being primarily woven in a twilled rather than a plain pattern. It’s a rough, woolen fabric with a flexibility due to the close weave. The patterns can be striped, herringbone or tartan. The wool yarn is dyed before weaving to enable the multiple combinations of pattern and colour.

Whether myth or truth, the tale of the name came about by chance. Around 1830, a London merchant received a letter from a Hawick firm about some tweels. The merchant read the handwriting incorrectly, assuming that the name was taken from the river Tweed, that flows through the Scottish Borders, and the items were advertised as Tweed. The name stuck!

Why is tweed so important to the islanders?

The sheep fleece has been used for centuries to provide comfort and shelter. Then came the skills and equipment to separate the fibres; to comb the fleece, spin to produce wool yarn and weave into fabric.

Records states that surplus cloth was frequently used as a barter eventually becoming so important that it was considered a currency amongst the Islanders; paying rent in lengths of cloth or blankets.

By the end of the 18th century, this was a staple industry for crofters. Finished handmade cloth was exported to the Scottish mainland and traded along with other commodities such as dry hides, goat and deerskins.

Trademarking

As popularity grew, legal protection of the tweed was essential. The trade mark, the Orb, was granted in 1911. Over the years the practices changed, there were disputes over the definition. The true Harris Tweed is made by all Islanders of the Outer Hebrides – Lewis, North and South Uist, Benbecula and Barra, as well as Harris. The decision being that the tweed was made in exactly the same way in all those islands.

Tweeds are an icon of traditional Scottish informal outerwear, the benefit of the material being durable and would provide a warmth against the wind of the mountainside. I’m not so confident in the snow – I’m guessing the fabric could get heavy and would dry slowly but I think the men were far hardier ‘back then’. Of course, the female mountaineer was not the done thing in the 20s and 30s.

How mountaineering gear has changed through the ages – from tweed to gortex.

Popularity of tweed

Fast forward nearly 100 years, the demand skyrocketed in 2012. Previous production was an average 450,000 metres in a year but in 2012, the weavers and mills of the Harris Tweed industry produced one million metres of Harris Tweed!! The highest production figures in 17 years. That is just shy of enough fabric to reach from John O’Groats in the north of Scotland to the Isles of Scilly, off the Cornish coast line.

Tweed in fashion and accessories as you’ll see today.

Harris Tweed remains a sought-after fabric used in both High Street fashions and on catwalks in couture collections and the increase in popularity has led to the training of a new generation of weavers to meet production demands. A fantastic continued tradition and island industry.

A visit to the Outer Hebrides is an eye opener! Tour the local weavers shops or factories is just one activity that these stunning islands offer.

One of the cultural highlights of our Western Isles Wilderness is a visit to see a Harris weaver at work.

Check out our other blogs about the western isles:

Visit Hebrides – the western isles

Top images of the Hebrides

Wild Camping in Scotland: a personal perspective in the post COVID era

Rebecca Field — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 14:23:42 +0000

We are so lucky here – wild camping in Scotland is a perfectly legal activity. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code allows us remarkable freedom, but as a result of coronavirus there seems to have been a resurgence in irresponsible access to the outdoors. Lockdown has inspired many to head out into the countryside and enjoy nature; exercise outdoors etc – especially as the gyms have been and remain shut in Scotland for now. Many have turned to so-called wild camping – much of which is a result of people touring in their own motor, caravan and motorhome. Not what we call wild camping. For us, if you’re wild camping you’re unlikely to see any other people at all and you won’t have the luxury of motorised transport.

What is wild camping? – our personal definition

We’re seeing an increasing number of reports in the local and national press these days about rubbish & fires. All these reports relate to what the press call “wild campers”. Social media is full of images of heaps of rubbish collected by local residents from walks in local beauty spots. It seems that there is an increasing problem with camping equipment being left behind and human waste not being properly disposed of. Of course, this is more of a problem at the moment as public toilets have been slower to open up in this age of coronavirus pandemic.

All this though is not due to “wild camping” in its truest sense. By rights wild camping and roadside camping should not be confused.

To wild camp you must:

be at least 30 minutes walk from a road
leave no trace
be independent and self-reliant
use no motorised transport
no fire

Wild Camping v roadside camping

“At Mountaineering Scotland, we continue to promote responsible access and behaviour to our members and the mountaineering community through our communications and campaigns. We believe that the problem is the behaviour, not the activity of camping, and that the creation of additional legislation will not be the solution. The existing legislation already deals with irresponsible and criminal behaviour; what is needed is more investment in low cost facilities, improved public information and councils, communities and police working together to find local management solutions.”

There are no doubt many people who camp close to the road and leave no trace. Unfortunately as per normal, it’s the minority who could spoil it for the rest of us. It is especially important in the time of a hugely infectious pandemic, to make sure that you do not leave any waste behind you. By this I am not referring only to plastic, cardboard etc, but also to any bodily waste. If you’re going to go and camp outside a camp site where public toilet facilities are not available, you need to either take your poo away with you to dispose of properly or bury it in a safe site. If you do not know the protocol, make sure you find out before you leave.

Our personal choice

When you work for yourself, from home and your home is your business, it is difficult to get quality time away from work. Our choice is usually to head out for an overnight wild camp – maximum enjoyment for minimum time away. It often feels as if we’ve been away for a week after we come back from an overnight in the hills. The only problem is that we don’t go often enough!

We think it’s such a great way to relax and get away from the stresses of daily life, that we’ve incorporated a luxury version in our programme which you could enjoy too.

Wild camping with Scot Mountain Holidays

We’ve taken the wild camping concept one step further and made it more of a glamping experience. However, we’re still conforming with all the principles of “wild camping” above. No motorised transport; more than 30 minutes walk from a road; self-reliant and independent. Check it out.

Respect a few simple rules or run the risk of losing the right to camp responsibly: check out this article

For a more in depth article covering wild camping across Scotland check out Alex Tiffany’s article on JustgoExploring

Resources:

Camping – a beginner’s guide by Fiona Outdoors

Wild Camping: Scotland’s top 10 spots

Guide to Wild Camping in Scotland (WatchMeSee)

Visit Scotland guide to Wild Camping

Scottish Outdoor Access Code

MC of S – concerns about Wild Camping

Lockdown encouraged surge of interest in nature

The post Wild Camping in Scotland: a personal perspective in the post COVID era appeared first on Scot Mountain Holidays.

What to pack for a walking holiday in Scotland

Rebecca Field — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 14:25:10 +0000

What to pack: our top packing tips for a walking holiday in Scotland

Julia Bradbury recently published her tips on what to pack for walking holidays in the Express. We thought we’d compare our packing lists. Let’s have a look at Julia’s top picks.

This is not by any means intended to be a comprehensive kit list. Don’t use it to pack for your next walking break, but we just wanted to highlight one or two things which have been essential on our own trips plus have a quick look at items we’d consider non-essential/luxury items as we think it’s essential to have something in your pack which gives you some additional pleasure at the end of the day.

Essentials on the what to pack list:

No 1: Waterproofs

First up on Julia’s walking holiday packing list are waterproofs. “Wherever you’re going, whatever your destination, pack your waterproofs,”

“Even if it’s a hot climate and you think it’s very unlikely it’s going to rain. Even in hot countries – and certainly in tropical countries – you can have tropical rains storms.”

It seems obvious to an experienced walker that you should always pack your waterproofs, particularly if you are an experienced walker in the UK. You expect the weather to change. However, if most of your walking has been done in a continental climate, you might be forgiven for expecting the weather to be consistent. On our recent holiday in the Sierra Nevada (Spain), we did meet some hikers (even on the highest peak, Mulhacen, at over 3000m) who set out without waterproofs.

Lack of suitable clothing could cause you to have to turn back from your objective.

Be a scout when it comes to a hiking vacation and “be prepared”.

No. 2. Walking boots

Julia also emphasises the importance of good walking boots – and you might want to consider investing in more than one pair.

“Make sure you’ve got the right kind of boots for the terrain you’re going to be walking through,”

“If you’re going for a boot that will suit all walks then an ankle boot is vital,” she said.

It might seem obvious to talk about boots for a walking trip, but not everyone thinks to pack walking boots. There are many who think that trainers will do. There are also extensive discussions and debates online in various walking/hiking forums as to the benefits and disadvantages of boots versus walking shoes. Those who have opinions either way are quite vociferous about the benefits on their side of the argument.

The most important thing is that your feet are comfortable.

Uncomfortable feet is the worst experience you could have if you’re committed to a hiking vacation. Feet can be uncomfortable in different ways but in our experience along with boots an essential item to pack is foot cream.

No. 3. Approach shoes

Another option is approach shoes which are becoming more popular. These are good for rough track terrain but not for steep inclines.

She added: “It’s good to have them in your backpack if you get your boots wet or you cross a river or your feet get wet for whatever reason.”

A second pair of footwear is in our opinion essential to the comfort of your feet. The last thing you want to do after a day out hiking in your main boots is to put them back on to go out in the evening

You must look after your feet as they are bearing the burden all day and to keep going you need to pamper them.

WHERE WE START TO DISAGREE

4. Lip balm

A more surprising item Julia likes to take is a tinted lip balm. “It gives you sun protection and a splash of colour on the lips as well.”

5. Wet wipes or hand sanitiser

are also a must for a walking holiday, said Julia.

And other items

The walking enthusiast also advises taking a single strap rucksack, and weighing scales.

What would we add?

We’d have to agree with Julia’s top 2 picks. It seems really obvious to pack your boots and waterproofs if you’re heading off for a walking holiday (particularly if your destination is Scotland) but believe me sometimes people leave out the water/windproofs if they think they’re heading off to a warm destination, but if you’re going mountain walking anywhere you should always be prepared for the weather to turn.

On our recent trip to Spain there were other walkers who were caught out by the weather turning on Mulhacen. We all walked up in glorious sunshine, but woke up to drizzle. The higher up the mountain we went, the windier and colder it became. Those without waterproofs really suffered in the wind.

Dachstein mitts don’t necessarily mean that you won’t be able to use a compass or to navigate, as shown by our director Andy Bateman

For the other 3 items – are they really necessary? Are there other more important things you should make sure you have first?

Our top tips to you personally would be:

bring a map and if you have one a GPS &/or compass

Even on a guided trip it is useful to have your own map. These days you can quite easily get digital mapping on your phone. Personally we don’t like to rely on this as we don’t have the most up-to-date phones and the screen size can be really irritating. It is useful to be able to enlarge portions of the map though, especially as your eyes start to find the small print a bit more of a strain. However, if you’re going to rely on digital images, make sure you have an extra power pack for your phone. Personally this would rank higher up on our own list than flipflops or lip balm.

Because we can’t go on holiday in the main summer season (a dream for the future maybe), and therefore we are almost always away in October, we always pack gloves and hat. If you’re travelling in the main part of the summer season we’d recommend always packing a sunhat and sunscreen (even in Scotland) but not necessarily a midge net. Check our blog on how to have a midge free vacation

Be sure to have at least one item for yourself which you would consider a luxury (a bit like Desert Island Discs).

Our luxury items include:

a book/kindle

a knitting project

a teddy (perhaps only a consideration for the youngest member of your group)

chocolate

your favourite hiking snack which you buy at home

tea (for the British audience) or your favourite coffee

But don’t forget to leave a wee bit of space (if you can) for souvenirs!

What would your luxury item be?

The post What to pack for a walking holiday in Scotland appeared first on Scot Mountain Holidays.

Top tips: what to pack for a day hike

Rebecca Field — Wed, 08 May 2019 20:21:18 +0000

Top tips: what to pack for a day hike in Scotland

We are frequently asked what to pack for a day hike in the Highlands, usually by our guests preparing for their guided walking tour with us. People often ponder on whether they should pack shorts, a sun hat, sunscreen. What gloves to bring etc – the list goes on.

Bear in mind, that if you are planning to head out on your own or at least without a guide, then you will also need to pack the following gear and be familiar with how to use it.

map & compass: you will need a good quality, local, walking map such as Harveys or Ordnance Survey (we stock the 1:50,000 OS map for our area). Do not rely on your mobile phone mapping.

You should also always pack some food (even small snacks) and some water. It is possible to refill your water bottle along the route, but take care if you are following a low level popular path. If there is a lot of livestock in the area, it would be best not to refill your bottle unless you have a water purifier with you.

Long or short pants (trousers)

Always tempting if you happen to strike the good weather to whip out the shorts to go for a hike. It is however worth bearing in mind that Scotland is not without its pests. There are ticks in Scotland which hang on the undergrowth, particularly at low levels waiting for someone or something to come past. Ticks are often carried by deer who rub them off on the vegetation. The ticks wait there for the next host to continue their life cycle. They can wait for years.

If you do pick up a tick it is not the end of the world. There is Lymes Disease in the UK which can be treated with antibiotics – but early removal of the tick is key to the prevention of the disease. We have tick removers here at Fraoch Lodge. Make sure you check yourself over at the end of the day. However, you can minimise the risk of picking up a tick by wearing long trousers and gaiters over the top of your boots. Generally speaking dog walkers and golfers are often at more risk than hikers of returning with ticks.

Long or short sleeves

Unless you’re going to be battling through particularly overgrown parts of the countryside, the length of your sleeves is not too vital and the rate at which you get cold will determine whether you think long or short sleeves suitable for the day.

Boots or approach shoes

There are not many well graded, smooth paths in the Scottish hills. Most tracks are relatively rough with loose stones and rocks. It is usually sensible to use over the ankle walking boots to protect your ankles from turning and also to keep your feet as dry as possible. Leather boots, though heavier, should provide the best protection and will be generally more waterproof than gortex lined fabric boots.

Gortex or Nikwax Analogue/Paramo waterproofs

Waterproof shell jackets are by far the most popular. Most shops stock a wide range of jackets designed with gortex fabric. Andy himself prefers to wear Paramo clothing or Cioch direct waterproofs. Both these companies use the same material. Cioch Direct specialise in made to measure clothing. The advantage that the Nikwax analogue material has over gortex is that it is designed to be reproofed after washing so is likely to last you longer. The jackets can also be returned for repairs at little or no cost. The disadvantage is that the material is heavier and can prove to be too warm in the height of the summer – though at an average year round temperature of 0oC, the Paramo jackets are usually suitable for the Cairngorm plateau.

Hat and gloves

Always useful to include a warm hat and gloves at the bottom of your pack as it can be cool on the hill tops even in August.

Base/Mid layers

The most sensible attitude to your clothing for hiking is to make sure you have several light layers which will provide maximum flexibility rather than one or 2 choices. Make sure that your layers are not cotton options as you could cool off very rapidly, should your cotton layer become damp whereas synthetic or wool layers will either dry more rapidly or stop you from cooling down too much.

Rucksack/Backpack

The most useful size of packpack to bring with you is a 35 litre pack. This will be large enough to take all excess clothing, camera, packed lunch etc. Smaller than this may mean that you have to limit what you take on the hill, particularly in winter.

Wandering into the Cairngorms

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any queries about the clothing/gear you are intending to bring with you for your Scottish vacation.

Want to get more out of your hike?

If you’d like to book a guide for your day hike, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Andy is extremely knowledgeable about the Highlands of Scotland from history to nature and everything in between. A hike with him is an introduction to everything you wanted to know.

Email: info at scotmountainholidays.com

Tel: +44 1479 831 331

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