About the event:
At a Glance...
Dust the boots off after winter and get some spring mountain air!
4 days out in the Southern Cairngorms on the Munros around Braemar
Come one day, come for all four!
Bikes will allow us to explore further afield on good tracks
Bike hire is available at Braemar Mountain Sports
Numerous options available depending on weather and interest
Big days (Lochnagar circuit), Remote days (An Socach & Carn an Fhidlier), Shorter days (Glas Tulaichean, Carn Bhac) and the Glenshee Munros too!
Accessible by bus and road from Perth, Dundee or Aberdeen
Where is the adventure?
Braemar is truly at the heart of the cairngorms with links to the Royal family going back to Queen Victoria when she bought Balmoral Castle. This picturesque village is remote however - accessible by bus or car from Aberdeen to the east or Perth to the south passing through the high Glenshee pass and ski centre.
The Munros here are more rounded and typically more gentle than their more western counterparts. But where they typically lack the narrow ridges, they are vast and huge.
In summer, Braemar hosts the Highland Games - frequented by the Royal family. In Spring however, it offers a range of adventure sports, hotels, hostels, cafe's and restaurants to suit everyone.
About the Adventure
This trip is about heading out to the hills to dust off the boots after winter. It's a social weekend over Easter as the season changes from the winter storms to the calmer alpine season in Scotland - typically blue skies, snow capped mountains and most importantly = no midges, deer clegs or keds!
We'll aim to use bikes where we can to speed up access along the low level tracks. You can hire a bike in Braemar for a day if we need to or you can bring your own.
Spring is often the best time to visit the highlands. If you are an avid Munro bagger, you can absolutely list your preferred Munros - but please note that this isn't a trip with specific targets in mind. The time of year means the weather even more than in summer will dictate what is possible. Although the days are getting longer, we are still constrained by daylight hours!
There are options however:
The Lochnagar circuit - taking in 5 Munros. This is a big day that will require setting off with head torches and likely getting back to the car with a headtorch on!
The remote Carn an Fhidhlier and An Sgarsoch, cycling into Geldie Bridge, these spectacularly remote Munros can be a tricky one for baggers!
Carn Bhac, Beinn Lutharn Mhor and An Socach - Any of these or all three make a magnificent day out with a good bike ride in.
Carn an Righ and Glas Tulaichean - Fine Munros accessible from Glenshee by bike
The Cairnwell Munros - Three under-rated Munros once the ski centre devastation of the Cairnwell summit is behind us.
The Glenshee 6 - Arguably another epic day out if the weather is good and the snow not soft powder!
Meeting Point:
Difficulty:
These mountains are not technically challenging, but we may encounter snow higher up. I have a limited supply of crampons and ice axes on a first come first serve basis. These can also be hired from Braemar Mountain Sports along with a bike should you wish to hire one. You will not need to have attended a full winter skills course. Any use of crampons and an axe will be demonstrated if they are needed. You will need to be competent at cycling on gravel landrover tracks. It is the start of the spring and summer season so we'll fully appreciate some of you may not have been out for months. We're here to enjoy ourselves and get warmed up rather than destroyed! If in doubt, please get in touch.
Prerequisites:
You'll need a good level of general hill fitness with experience of repeated ascent and descent. Being comfortable on a bike is essential. It's useful to have walked in snow before and have attended a winter skills course in the past, but that's not essential.
Cost:
To come for one day costs £60 To come for two days costs £114 To come for three days costs £162
To come for all four days costs £212 There are discounts for booking more than one person if choosing the 4 day option. Please specify on booking your preferred Munros if applicable. Bear in mind this isn't a specific Munro bagging trip with a set agenda.
Numbers:
We can take a maximum of 8 and a minimum of 4 for the trip to take place.
Equipment:
Please see the All Activities section of the kit list here. Walking poles are recommended. I can provide strap-on crampons, goggles and an ice axe should they be needed on a first come, first serve basis. You may need to hire them nearer the time from Braemar Mountain Sports if needed.
You will need to provide your own transport (though we always encourage car sharing), hill kit, accommodation and travel insurance. You will need a hybrid / mountain bike with a lock, helmet and spare inner tubes.
Images from Past Events
To Book
If you want to chat to me about the event then please feel free to do so - email is a good start as I'm often out and about with limited phone reception. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions too.
To book simply click 'Register Now' and follow the instructions (or on mobile, the link below). You'll get an automated confirmation reply but I'll follow that up when I get back to civilisation to say thanks and with more detail about the event.
Please ensure you've read the booking Terms and Conditions and you are aware of what you need to bring by downloading the gear list.
Please check carefully which tickets you are booking and for how many. We try and be flexible but of course that brings loads of options!