This is the question asked by far and few between, yet still questioned. For those who are more comfortable at home and don’t enjoy the thought of dragging bags across countries. Well, we are here to convince you that travelling is about so much more.
Travelling can offer something for everyone, no matter who you are, what you do or what you’re interested in. The world is literally at your feet. We travel for culture and we travel for different food. We travel to meet people, but most of all we travel for experience.
Personally we think Scotland has something to offer for everyone. You’ll quickly discover Scotland is a wonderful destination for travellers. You’ll learn fascinating history, experience food and drink that will comfort and challenge you and enjoy lively music. But best of all, what Scotland can offer is the scenery. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast, enjoy quiet country strolls, challenges mountain hikes or crystal clear lochs. You name it; you can experience it in Scotland. And that is what travelling is really about. The experience.
Understandably, travelling can be a little daunting for those not fully comfortable with it. But it’s certainly made easier for you when holidaying with Scot Mountain Holidays. We understand how stressful planning holidays can be and have packaged our tours to remove the hassle for you. All you need to do is select a tour; and it’s as simple as that. All our packages are inclusive of all meals, accommodation and transport, and in a group atmosphere; it’s perfect for a first time traveller.
Still unsure if travelling is for you? Consider the amazing experiences Scotland has to offer you in both activities and relaxation. Combine this with Scot Mountain Holidays stress free holiday packages and you have the ideal destination, and the perfect travelling experience.
Now you may have heard or even believe the rumour floating around that Scotland’s mountains aren’t considered real mountains. Well we are here to put that rumour to bed once and for all. Scotland is a hikers paradise, and home to some of United Kingdom’s best climbs.
Scotland, the land of mountain and hills truly has something for everyone. No matter what your fitness level, or what kind of challenge you’re after you’ll find it in Scotland. Scot Mountain Holidays offers hiking trips ranging from easy to challenging and will guide you to the best peaks Scotland has to offer.
Known as the highest peak in the United Kingdom, there is of course Ben Nevis. But in additional to this, there are hundreds of other peaks worthy of a mention. The next highest peaks in Scotland are all in the Cairngorms, making Fraoch Lodge, the home of Scot Mountain Holidays the perfect base. If wanting to explore the Cairngorms there are a number of tours to choose from, for families and individuals. Depending on the duration, season and additional challenges, options include, The Gentle Giants, Easter Snowshoeing in the Cairngorms and Cairgorms discovery. For additional guided walking/hiking option in the Cairngorms check out Scot Mountain Holidays tours.
Although the Cairngorms have five of the highest peaks in Scotland you are still rich for choice upon leaving the national park. Skye has a stretch of peaks unlike anything else in the United Kingdom and the views will leave you breathless. Tours such as Superlative Skye are thorough, informative and perfect for the keen hiker. The Munros is another must do hike and a speciality of Scot Mountain Holidays.
So for those who think Scotland doesn’t have real mountains, we suggest you come and experience them for yourself. There are a range of options, challenges and seasons that’ll suit all walks of life.
In May 2015 we were asked to organise a trip for 2 days and 3 nights which had to end at the Craigellachie Hotel and needed to include a hike in the Cairngorms National Park.
We ran a tailor-made trip including a guided ascent of Ben Macdui, which was far more than could have been accomplished without Andy’s guidance. Even in May the temperatures on the high Cairngorm plateau are not much above freezing level. It is essential to wind proof clothing and plenty of warm layers. Fortunately Andy always has spare clothing to loan to walkers in his group and though his supply of hats may not be too flattering, at least they are warm.
On day 2: Diana and Ted walked through to Aviemore along theSpeyside Way, one of Scotland’s waymarked long distance routes. This was a contrasting walk with the previous day on a wide relatively level track facing the mountains they had been exploring the previous day. A wee bit of a warm down walk was needed after the exertions of the previous day.
On day 3: we had very limited time before meeting up with some of the wedding party at the Craigellachie Hotel for a private whisky tasting at the Macallan distillery. Fortunately we left promptly and headed straight out to Culloden Battlefield visitor information centre (Diana was anOutlander fan, keen to see the battle sight and experience some of the atmosphere).
We also hit the Speyside Cooperage to see the Coopers (who make the whisky barrels) at work. The Cooperage is only around the corner from the hotel, but would still have been a wee bit of a challenge to get to on their own.
Without the help of Scot Mountain Holidays, Diana and Ted may well not have been able to hike to the summit of Ben Macdui, despite their previous hiking experience in the States. They would also probably have needed to hire a car and may never have got to Culloden Battlefield.
Self-guided Mountain Biking breaks
Email us if you think we can help plan your vacation in Scotland – we can hit all the Highland hotspots and include some off the beaten track surprises you might not know about.
For inspiration check out our Pinterest board and our Flickr account.
Can you rank these images with your favourite at number 1?
All images taken on the Magical Mull hiking vacation with Scot Mountain Holidays, led by Andrew Bateman in September 2014. We’re heading back again in September 2014. Perhaps these images will persuade you to join us if you have some time free this September …
Mull isn’t all about the mountains as you’ll gather from the range of shots we’ve chosen below. Food, architecture, crafts and traditions play a part as well.
Something you might not know about Mull:
We stay at Torlochan Farm on Mull which is a stone’s throw from Australia. What do we mean? Governor MacQuarie of New South Wales orginally came from Mull. He is now interred in the family mausoleum on Mull which is maintained by the National Trust of New South Wales, so a tiny part of Australia on Mull!
Photo caption: you couldn’t get a more iconic and easily identifiable image of Mull than this one of Tobermory, which is the image most people would most easily associate with Mull
Photo Caption: Some of the rugged coastal scenery which is typical of Mull
Photo Caption: check out the geological formats. These columns are very similar to those found at Fingal’s cave and the Giant’s Causeway over in Northern Island. Much of the Giant’s Causeway can be under water. On Mull though there are quite extensive sections of columns to be seen.
Photo Caption: who doesn’t aspire to see a hairy coo when they come to visit Scotland?
Photo Caption: Duart Castle – one of the top tourist spots on Mull, unfortunately covered in scaffolding during our stay.
Photo Caption: Climbing a hill on Mull
Photo Caption: Amazing scenery – you can see ridge after ridge, rolling away into the distance
Photo Caption: what a spread of seafood from Cafe Fish in Tobermory
Photo Caption: they might not be Munros but they are still imposing mountains – Mull viewed by hikers.
Photo Caption: mystical woodland on Mull
Hiking Vacations across the Highlands of Scotland
Adventure vacation in Scotland for all the family
Highlighting Scotland’s most famous export – Scotch or whisky is a feature of this trip. Link in with the Speyside Whisky festival and join us for the first trip of the year departing soon for Whisky month (May) – https://scotmountainholidays.com/tours/19/4871/mountains-and-malts
A wild and secret exploration in Knoydart, home to Britain’s most remote pub and the mountains where Bonnie Prince Charlie i supposed to have hidden after the battle of Culloden: https://scotmountainholidays.com/tours/7/4871/wild-knoydart
A great all round exploration of Scotland’s adventure and culture. Dress up as a Highlander and sample haggis; hike in the remote hills; mountain bike through glorious forests feasting on wild berries and plenty more – https://scotmountainholidays.com/tours/51/4871/visit-scotland-highland-family-adventure
Other news items from Scotland – scotmountainholidays.com/index.php/blog-search-results/?akID[18][atSelectOptionID][]=2
BBC Highlands News – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/scotland/highlands_and_islands
National Visitor Information – www.visitscotland.com
ROUND AND ABOUT: NEWS FROM THE HIGHLANDS (Spring 2015)
We’ve had a mixed winter – some winter skills and some glorious sunshine. We tried to start our mountain bike season early in March and then the weather went and turned again welcoming the early Easter arrivals with some pretty thick snow showers, interspersed with sunshine. Glorious April sunshine now through has brought the daffs out to follow the snowdrops and encouraged us to start with the potatoes in the garden, despite the overnight frost.
Our first international visitors are starting to trickle through the door: we had 2 American couples visit in mid-March, who came up to us after starting St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Edinburgh; they were keen to explore the landscape that helped to inspire the popular series already on their screens and just released in the UK – “Outlander” based on Diana Gabaldon’s books. Despite being published in the 1990s these books are now enjoying a second round again and are to be found much more pre-dominantly in the bookshops at the moment. We’ve read a few and are ideally placed to explore some of the main sites described in the book. We haven’t considered adding “Outlander” tours to our programme but if there’s any interest?
Something to look forward to: we hear there’s another series planned by the BBC of the programme “The Mountain” which featured life on and around Cairngorms Mountain in the winter season. The new programme will show Cairngorm in the summer season.
NEWS AND ARTICLES FOR SPRING 2015
Highlighting Scotland’s most famous export – Scotch or whisky is a feature of this trip. Link in with the Speyside Whisky festival and join us for the first trip of the year departing soon for Whisky month (May) –https://scotmountainholidays.com/tours/19/4871/mountains-and-malts
A wild and secret exploration in Knoydart, home to Britain’s most remote pub and the mountains where Bonnie Prince Charlie i supposed to have hidden after the battle of Culloden:https://scotmountainholidays.com/tours/7/4871/wild-knoydart
A great all round exploration of Scotland’s adventure and culture. Dress up as a Highlander and sample haggis; hike in the remote hills; mountain bike through glorious forests feasting on wild berries and plenty more – https://scotmountainholidays.com/tours/51/4871/visit-scotland-highland-family-adventure
A quick weekend away in the Cairngorms National Park suitable for almost all ages and using the Strathspey Steam Railway to help you explore through Abernethy, Aviemore and beyond –https://scotmountainholidays.com/tours/34/4871/under-your-own-steam
Explore the culture and adventure which makes the Highlands a special place like no other –https://scotmountainholidays.com/tours/54/4871/cairngorm-discovery
Other news items from Scotland –scotmountainholidays.com/index.php/blog-search-results/?akID[18][atSelectOptionID][]=2
BBC Highlands News – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/scotland/highlands_and_islands
National Visitor Information – www.visitscotland.com
A taster of winter skills, but the only way to really learn how to ice axe arrest is to do it yourself under the guidance of a winter mountain leader or other qualified instructor. Imagine taking a tablet or smartphone out in the snow to try and teach yourself … pretty much a lost cause at the end of the day and you’d be terrified of smashing your technology to pieces. Bit the bullet and book a course.
We found this video on YouTube, produced by the MCofS. Here Roger Wild introduces ice axe arrest and explains the basics which you’d learn on the hill with Andy (lead instructor with Scot Mountain Holidays). If you’re comtemplating a winter skills weekend, bear in mind that this is one of the core skills you’ll be learning, which many people have heard about before they book a skills weekend; however, as Roger Wild says: there’s a lot more to the full range of skills to keep you safe in winter and you should consider ice axe arrest to be the last in a series of skills aimed at preventing a sliding fall.
Check out our Top Ten Winter Skills tips: https://scotmountainholidays.com/blog/top-10-winter-skills-tips/
You may not have much freedom of choice when it comes to picking the dates for your holiday. However, if you are retired, or if you have a flexible job, or if you don’t have any kids – you may be able to choose freely. We’ve lived in the Cairngorms for nearly 20 years now. Over the last 20 years, we’ve noticed highlights in every season. We’ve picked a few out for you, which might help you decide when to come and visit.
February is perceived to be the best of all the winter months to come to the Cairngorms. This perception is helped by the fact that the schools have a break in mid-February. Many families utilise this time to go on a ski holiday. In Scotland, February is not always the best time to catch the snow conditions. There is usually skiing available. Some years conditions can be pretty thin in February but March and April have phenomenal snow cover. January & February can also be affected by winter storms bringing winds well in excess of 100 mph. However, when the weather does play ball, you can have the most glorious winter day out with views of over 50 miles in crystal clear air.
If you do plan to visit the area with your family during the half-term weeks in February, we would strongly advise that you prebook your accommodation
If you think it would be advisable to join a guide at this time of year, check out these options:
Classic Winter Cairngorms – a guided winter walking holiday
5 day winter skills course – to improve your own techniques and safety in the hills
It’s definitely still winter in March but the daylight hours have already extended. You don’t have to make an early retreat from your hike, but neither do you have to rise unsociably early. In mid-winter, early rising is necessary to get to the start of your route so that you can finish it before dark.
It’s often a good time to go out for a Snow Hole Expedition as the snow cover will have accumulated significantly at this point, most seasons. We do run other winter expeditions between January and March. These expeditions require a high level of fitness. They are the most strenuous and rewarding of the trips we do.
Trips include: The Cairngorm 4000ers in winter, the Southern Cairngorms Winter Odyssey, Winter Affric Shangri-La, Loch Nevis Winter Expedition, Knoydart Winter Walking. For full details contact us.
Prime time for birdwatchers as you may have seen on BBC Springwatch. This is when the Ospreys return to Loch Garten along with the beginning of the Spring migrations for most of our summer visitors. It’s also your best opportunity to see a Capercaillie or Black Grouse lec. The RSPB open up the Osprey hide at Loch Garten at 5.30am to help keen birdwatchers see the Capercaillie.
April and May can be quite cold months here. It is still common to have snow fall down to village level in April. Fortunately the sun is that bit stronger than mid winter. So when you’re in a sunny spot it will feel pretty warm. It’s a great time to be out in the hills as the air is often clear, the daylight hours are a wee bit longer and the sun can be out for long periods Watch out for the April showers which often fall as snow or sleet rather than rain.
April/Easter often mark the start of the tour season here in the Highlands. Pre-booking for accommodation, especially during the school Easter holidays is highly recommended.
When the weather is right in April, you can get very warm when out hiking in the Cairngorms.
Snow patches remaining on the high hills can mean that sun burn is a serious risk due to the reflection of sunlight on the snow.
The weather can change incredibly in April – you always need to be prepared for any season. It can go from this:
To this within 24 hours:
April is generally when the caravans start to visit the area. The campsites open up again. There are more possibilities to get outdoors without worrying about too much snow everywhere.
We’re going to run our first Outlander Adventure Experience in April. How about it? A chance to get out in the outdoors – try a piece of the experience Clare and Jamie would have lived here in the Highlands.
You’re also more likely to be able to find tourist sites open once April starts. You can visit places like:
– all without travelling more than 1hr from Fraoch Lodge.
This is a fantastic time for the wildflowers and also a good time to spot birds such as eagles and Scottish crossbills. We’ve had families of crossbills visiting the garden in June. It’s not quite such a good time for going to the wildlife hide to spot the nocturnal night life as dusk is so late in the day, if it arrives at all!
Weather can be variable in June. It has been known to snow on the high mountain tops. Some people have skied on Cairngorm on mid-summer’s day – more for publicity than good quality skiing though.
Don’t forget June 21st is mid-summer’s day – in the Highlands, including the Cairngorms, this means the sun hardly sets. June is a great time to get all those Munros with long walk-ins done. Watch our for the June Monsoon though.
We have in the past couple of years had glorious weather in July. We often have a week of clear skies and warm weather with temperatures in the high 20s or low 30s. It is by no means guaranteed. The better weather is usually earlier in the month, before most of the English schools are out for their holidays.
August is a great month to catch the Highland Games but is the busiest for all accommodation businesses across the Highlands. Pre-booking is almost essential at this time of year unless you want to be trawling round the country at 9pm still looking for beds. August can also be very showery with the highest chance of thunderstorms
Bonus: glorious colours of the heather out in full bloom turning the hills purple.
Top tip: Most of our local Highland Games take place between mid- July and mid-August. Check the dates: Abernethy Highland Games (2nd Saturday in August), Newtonmore Highland Games (1st Saturday in August) etc and make sure if your visit coincides with the Games that you pre-book your accommodation.
Some of our most reliable warm, dry weather happens in September. In addition, the end of the Highland Games season can be experienced by attending the Braemar Gathering at the beginning of the month.
Some of the best edible mushrooms start to appear in September. If you’re not familiar with the area, join one of the guided ranger walks with an expert to start to get your eye in. Make sure you follow the mushroom picking code.
Blairgowrie Walking Festival
Cairngorm Adventure Triathlon
Grantown Try Tri
Glenmore 24 Trail Race
Loch Insh Highland Splash-In – first waterplane event to be organised by the model flying club in Scotland, now on the 31st consecutive event.
Check out the colours and light in October. It is the perfect time for a photography extravaganza.
Quieter times and shorter days but with the right weather conditions. It is the perfect time to get those early morning and later evening quality light shots with a touch of winter, if the first of the snow showers have arrived.
Ask what you might need in advance; don’t be worried if you’re not an experienced mountaineer as there will still be lots available to do; go for it!
Most Scots don’t question the origins of Hogmanay, just as you wouldn’t question the traditions associated with any of your big national celebrations such as Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or Easter. I’m sure a lot of kids in the local schools would be hard pushed to tell you why Hogmanay is such a big deal; so much so that all Scots have an extra bank holiday at the beginning of the year that the English don’t get.
Hogmanay – as a word – is said to have either French or Norse roots. There is some confusion and argument as to which of these influences has the strongest claim to being the root of the word. The French word means the act of giving a gift to bring in the New Year or the children’s tradition of asking for sweets or small treats to bring in the New Year – a bit like trick or treating at Halloween.
Many of the traditions though are associated with ancient fesivals like the Gaelic “Samhain” (which also has close ties to Halloween as it marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter) and the winter solstice.
Of course any cause for celebration here in the Western Hemisphere and we break out the alcohol and dance!
When Protestantism under John Knox was gaining support in Scotland, it was turbulent times across the whole of Britain. Catholicism was under attack and the festivities of Christmas were seen by Knox as a very Catholic tradition and as such despised. He moved to abolish the celebration of Christmas in Scotland as being too Catholic by far.
Of course this did not mean that the celebration went away completely, it was just transferred somewhat over to New Year. After all, everyone needs a reason to celebrate something in the depths of winter.
There are many traditions related to Christmas in England and the rest of the continent that are only visited once a year at Christmas time. Many wonder why – for example, why are brussel sprouts so strongly associated with Christmas? Watch this hilarious video from Michael Mcintyre about his interpretation of Christmas traditions.
Nowadays we have reason to thank John Knox as his ban has meant that in Scotland we get an additional public holiday to bring in the New Year and the differing traditions associated with Hogmanay bring many a visitor to Scotland:
In Edinburgh they have one of the biggest street parties in the world with an amazing firework celebration which has been in the Guiness Book of Records.
In Stonehaven, there is a fireball parade.
Across the country people visit each other from midnight onwards to “first foot”. It brings good luck for the year for a visitor to be asked in on New Year’s Day. You should take a piece of coal, whisky and black bun i.e. food, drink and warmth/comfort.
Here at Fraoch Lodge we head out into the snow and bring the New Year in with a walk across the high peaks of the Cairngorms using all the cramponing and ice axe techniques learnt during our guests stay leading up to New Year’s Day.
Funny though – when you look through the other images on Flickr no one else seems to think about New Year celebrations in quite the same way!
Reference:
The Great British Bake Off explains Hogmanay food
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogmanay
The advantage of the Cairngorms with kids in tow is that the walking opportunities are almost endless at all levels depending on your child’s level of interest and energy. Almost every village in the Park has had a network of paths put in with the support of the National Park to give both locals and vistors extensive opportunties to explore through the woods, across the moorland, around the lochs etc. And if you want to do a wee bit more of an adventure you could try one of the Treasure Trails or try the permanent orienteering course at Glenmore.
There’s as wide a range of walks to do with the kids as you have time for here in the Cairngorms and the majority of the walks are circular so you don’t have to retrace your footprints. Walks vary in length but the majority are aimed at being no more than a half day’s activity so you could also do something else with the rest of the day – visit a castle, see Dolphins, go to Landmark Forest Adventure Park, go for a wild swim or a swim/slide in the swimming pool, try another activity, visit the polar bears and tigers at the Wildlife Park ….. The plethora of opportunities mean that we have trouble understanding why anyone would only want to spend one night with us; but perhaps not everyone is into the scenery and the outdoors.
Treasure Trails have produced a series of mystery/adventure stories where you solve the clues/puzzles along your walking route. The trails are available all over the UK, even in the Cairngorms National Park. We have a stock of the local trails here at Fraoch Lodge so if you want to spice up a local walk instead of just admiring the scenery and seeing what nature you can spot (giant anthills, ripe bilberries, raspberries, mushrooms, red squirrels etc) you can try one of these trails or purchase your own from http://www.treasuretrails.co.uk/scotland-northeast/things-to-do.html There are trails available in Aviemore, Kingussie, Newtonmore, Forres & Grantown on Spey among others – all of which are easily accessible from our base in Boat of Garten.
Loch an Eilean – voted Britain’s most popular picnic spot. The Loch is a very attractive spot with a ruined castle on it. The path around the loch is a forest path. There are rocks and tree roots along the way but then that’s nature. The root is not really suitable for push chairs but can be managed by relatively young children. Full details are available on the link provided.
Craigellachie Nature Reserve – a lovely wee walk for all the family which passes a wee lochan and can be extended up the hill if the enthusiasm is there.
Loch Garten and Loch Mallachie – Just a wee stretch of the legs, but in season the break can be extended to include either a loop through the forest or visit to the RSPB visitor centre (open Apr – Aug) to see the Ospreys.
Farleitter Crag and Uath Lochans – This route must be access by car as there is no public transport down Glen Feshie.
There are several way marked routes in the woods behind Fraoch Lodge and they are all marked out. You can even see the Capercaillie statue made from wood with the help of the pupils at the school. We also have a woodland ranger who leads walks and produces a blog for the village (on the website). The walks have a minimal charge associated with them but are extremely informative. Examples of the routes are: The Salmon trail – or the Red Squirrel trail.
Further details:
Walks around Boat of Garten woods – no transport required as these can all be accessed from our front door
Information about the Boat of Garten area
The Speyside Way (sections)
1. Boat of Garten to Aviemore – This is a lovely section of the Speyside Way which if done from Boat to Aviemore means you’re facing the Cairngorm Mountains the whole way and if you’re lucky the steam train will puff past you as you walk. The route comes into Aviemore past the Spey Valley Golf Course and Cairngorm Brewery before getting close to the centre of Aviemore.
2. Boat of Garten to Nethybridge (or extend to Grantown on Spey) – the main problem with extending the walk through to Grantown on Spey is the number of gates you have to go through along the way – but you never know that could turn it into more of an adventure for the kids. There are also several fixed information points through Balliefurth Farm explaining a little more about the countryside and the bonus is that you’ll come down to Grantown past Spey Valley Smokehouse where you can view the workers producing packs of smoked salmon to be distributed across the country.
Anagach Woods in Grantown on Spey – http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairngorms/anagach-woods.shtml
Glenmore to Aviemore – can be accessed by bus. Ask for details while staying at Fraoch Lodge.
Ord Ban – http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/sub2000/ord-ban
Carn Eilrig – see Andy for route description and full details. May be for older kids or for a bike/hike combination.
Meall a’Bhucaille – http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairngorms/meallabhuachaille.shtml
Cairngorm – from the ski car park to the summit. Children from age 5 or 6 can probably manage this walk on a fine day. The bonus is that they or all of you can summit your/their first munro without actually climbing up 3000ft.
This is by no means a comprehensive list. A great many other options are available. Andy will be very happy to discuss with you as many options as you wish when you come to stay. He’ll then be able to tailor all his suggestions to your experience, ambitions and weather.
For some other options which you may like to read about before you visit, you could always try the Walk Highlands website. We have worked closely with Helen and Paul Webster who run the site. They too are experts on the walking opportunties in this area as they live in Grantown on Spey.
Scot Mountain Holidays (Ltd),
Fraoch Lodge, Deshar Road,
Boat of Garten,
PH24 3BN
All content © Copyright Scot Mountain Holidays 2024
Responsive web design by Summit Web Solutions
