Saturday was looking to be a pretty special day weatherwise with sunshine, cold temperatures, little wind and complete snow cover. Fantastic winter hillwalking conditions like that don't fall on a weekend all that often in Scotland so I was keen to get out and enjoy the hills. Me, Hua and Ainslie decided upon Glencoe and …
Category: Winter
Kangoo Vanlife
So I got a van. I wasn't gonna. It wasn't for me. Who'd want to stay in a van when you could be in a hammock or tent close to nature? Well.. with winter approaching, my second winter season guiding full time, I reflected on the prospect of 'the choice'. The choice arises from having …
Winter Hillwalking on the Grey Corries
November and December are a quieter time of year for me, time for catching up with friends and some personal hillwalking adventures. I'd arranged to meet my friend Jon Foden (Nettle) on December the 4th for a day on the hill. He's a man of many talents: a paramedic, marine, ski-mountaineer, climber, mountain biker, fell …
Ben Macdui
Ben Macdui is Scotland’s second highest mountain (1,309m) and is a big hill day at any time of year, but particularly in winter. Last Sunday (1 April) I met up with four clients with the aim of reaching the summit and practicing some winter Skills on the way. The forecast was great: cold air temperatures …
Snowshoe Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expedition
This February six 17 year olds from Shrewsbury School became Duke of Edinburgh's Award pioneers, undertaking the first ever snowshoe expedition. Normally expeditions happen between March and October, avoiding the winter. Our expedition however, after a great deal of planning and preperation, took place high in the snowy Cairngorm mountains in February. Here is an account …
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What to take for a winter hillwalk?
Here's an overview of my winter kit for hillwalking in Scotland. In working out what works for me I learnt alot from others, particularly instructors at Glenmore Lodge, Scotland's National Outdoor Training Centre. This blog article is intended to give you ideas so you can decide what winter kit and equipment works for you. There are …
The Coldest Bothy in Scotland
Bothies vary a great deal in terms of cozieness. I like to apply the following criteria in determining whether a bothy has that 'hygge' feel: First, does it have a fire place? If it doesn't - Carnmore in Fisherfield or Callater Stables in the Eastern Cairngorms are examples - then it doesn't get of the …
