Product Description
Highlights
Hike your way through pine forests and paddocks during winter on your quest to locate the UK’s only reindeer herd, together with a local reindeer ranger.. Tasting what the Scottish countryside has to offer is only the beginning. Enjoy an afternoon testing out local beers in Aviemore and whet your appetite with lunch and a whisky tasting in a secluded tipi in the wilderness.. Take on a section of the scenic Speyside Way Trail from Aviemore to Boat of Garten, where on arrival you will have time to peruse this small village.. Learn about the natural beauty and conservation projects of the Cairngorms National Park – such as rewilding – from your expert local guide, ready to answer any questions you may have.
Overview
Scotland is laden with loveable lochs, dreamy mountaintops and verdant countryside, ideal for experiencing in the winter months. Spend five days unearthing the secrets of the Cairngorms, walking between picture-perfect villages, hiking up ranges and past deep lochs and spending the afternoons nestled in a small pub. You’ll endeavour to locate the UK’s only herd of reindeer with a local ranger, enjoy a wilderness whisky tasting in a secluded tipi and stroll a section of the Speyside Way Trail to Boat of Garten. And with your base being the small Scottish town of Aviemore, you’ll neither be on the move nor stretched for time each day, with plenty of time to explore your way. Welcome to the Cairngorms – a gateway into the real Scottish countryside.
Breakfast Included: 4 Lunches Included: Dinner Included:
Aviemore
Welcome to Aviemore! Today is simply a joining day, so make your own way to tonight’s guesthouse accommodation where you will stay for the rest of your trip in the Scottish Highlands. This is located only a kilometre or so from Aviemore’s railway station, however taxis are also available. Meet with your group and tour guide in the late afternoon for an all-important welcome briefing. Here, you’ll also get the local take on the best place for dinner or drinks tonight, so listen up!
Aviemore
This morning, take a short 20-minute drive by private vehicle to the beginning of your trail, where you’ll be met by a local reindeer ranger. Get ready to hike with the ranger as you aim to locate the only reindeer herd in the whole of the UK. If they prove to hard to find, do not fear – you will still enjoy a scenic hike in the Scottish countryside and stop by a paddock where some of the herd are sheltering. Return to Aviemore for some time at your leisure in the early afternoon. Afterwards, head with your group to a local microbrewery or pub for an all-important beer tasting. This afternoon is all about staying cosy in a local watering hole – is there anything more British?
Speyside Way Trail - Boat of Garten - Aviemore
Join your guide this morning for a hike straight from your guesthouse along the renowned Speyside Way Trail, which runs over 100 kilometres from Aviemore to the Moray coastline. Take on a stunning section of the trail, walking with your group from Aviemore to the nearby village of Boat of Garten. You’ll pass by heather moors and Caledonian pine forests to this quaint village with small corner pubs, cafes and an art gallery. It’s just like out of your favourite classic UK dramas. Spend some time exploring Boat of Garten before taking a public bus back to Aviemore in the early afternoon (approximately 15 minutes). After this, the rest of the day is for you to continue to explore this slice of Scotland at your own pace.
Cairngorms National Park
Today brings a quintessential Scottish experience – discovering just one of the region’s famed lochs. Enjoy a picturesque hike around a local loch off the tourist trail, complete with mountains framing the banks, pristine strands of ancient Caledonian Pine forest and a ruined castle sitting on a tiny island in its centre. Continue your wilderness hike on a short detour to a large tipi – a large tent – for lunch inside. A firebox, chairs and table will be set up, and you and your group will enjoy some locally sourced specialties, including sandwiches, fruit, cakes, tea and coffee. After you’ve polished off your lunch, experience a local whisky tasting inside the tipi. It is no wonder Scotland is world famous for this malty spirit. In the early afternoon, return to Aviemore and visit a local pub, settling in by the fire for an evening nestled in the wintery Scottish Highlands.
Aviemore
With no activities planned for today, your Scottish adventure finishes after breakfast at your guesthouse. You’re free to discover the countryside at your leisure, or begin your homeward journey.
