Cairngorms National Park - Adventure & Explore

Meeting Time: From 9am - your Large Outdoors host will meet you in Glasgow for one of the Pickups (see details below), or you can make your own way to Aviemore if you prefer.

Pickups (Day 1): when booking you can let us know which of the two Pickup locations below you’d like to be collected from.

Glasgow City Centre (Hotel) 9am at the ibis Styles, Glasgow Central, 116 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 7DN. Please note: a discount code for this hotel is available if you plan to stay in Glasgow the night before/after the trip - details will be shown on your booking confirmation email.

Glasgow International Airport 9:30am at the Pick-up & Drop-off area located outside the main terminal building in Car Park 2.

Returning to Glasgow (Day 6): We can return you to Glasgow on the final day. We aim to be back in Glasgow between 3-5pm and can drop you back in the city centre or at the airport. Please book onward travel accordingly, to allow for flexibility with the return time to the city centre or airport - we (sadly!) can’t control the traffic.

Meeting Location (if not booking a Pickup):
Aviemore Youth Hostel
25 Grampian Road
Aviemore
PH22 1PR

Parking: There is parking available at the hostel.

Public Transport: SYHA Aviemore is located 0.4 miles (approx. 9 minute walk) from Aviemore Train Station, with services to/from Inverness, Edinburgh, Newcastle, York and London.

Finish Time: We will aim to leave Aviemore by 10am (Day 6). If you book the Pickup from Glasgow, we can drop you back off there too, between 3-5pm. If you’ve travelled via public transport, please ensure you book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility with the return time to Glasgow - we will allow for stops on the journey but we (sadly!) can’t control the traffic.

We’ll base ourselves at the excellent Aviemore Youth Hostel for this getaway, heading out each day in the Large Outdoors vehicle to explore the Cairngorms National Park. The hostel accommodation offers comfortable rooms, lounge and dining areas (which will also be shared with non-Large Outdoors participants), a handy laundry/drying room and Wi-Fi.

Bedding and a towel is provided, but don’t forget to bring your own toiletries.

Room Types:
You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
Bed in a Shared Female Room
Bed in a Shared Male Room
Twin Room (shared bathroom)
Single Room (shared bathroom)

At this hostel there are primarily Shared Rooms, where you’ll be sharing a room - with bunk beds or single beds - with other participants (room sizes vary and bathrooms are shared).
Twin Rooms sleep up to two participants booking together - with bunk beds or two single beds (bathrooms are shared with other rooms).
Single Rooms are for one participant and have a single bed (bathrooms are shared with other rooms).

Included:

• Pickup service from Glasgow, or you can meet us in Aviemore - see the Meeting Location & Time section above - and all transport during the trip.

• 5 nights’ accommodation at Aviemore Youth Hostel.

• A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you and deal with the logistics for your experience.

• Guided walks to explore the Cairngorms National Park and surrounding areas.

• A DIY breakfast each morning (toast, cereals, fruit and yoghurt provided).

• A DIY packed lunch (sandwich and snacks) for Days 2-5. Please ensure you bring a lunch box or dry bag - to reduce waste, we do not supply cling film or sandwich bags.

• Tea (including decaf and herbal options), coffee (including decaf option), and squash at the accommodation.

• Bedding and a towel - but don’t forget your own toiletries.

• The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.

• Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.

Not Included:

• Travel to and from the meeting location (Glasgow or Aviemore).

• Dinner on 5 evenings - we’ll book a table at a local pub or restaurant to enjoy dinner as a group and you can purchase whatever you fancy from the menu available.

• Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost, e.g. visitor attractions.

• Bottled water - tap water and squash are available at the accommodation, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.

• Alcoholic drinks - there’ll be opportunities to pick up some local tipples during the trip and the hostel sells a small selection.

• Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.

• Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.

Please see our Residential (Walking) Kit List.

The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should be carrying the items listed.

Please note: although the walks on our Adventure & Explore experiences are generally classed as more leisurely options, you will need walking boots. There will be short steep sections and rocky/boggy/slippery ground to navigate, so it’s important you have suitable footwear.

• What level of fitness is needed?
This trip is graded as Leisurely Plus. Our Adventure & Explore experiences are all about discovering the best each area has to offer. They are designed to be great fun for all, with more leisurely walks interspersed with visits to historical and cultural sites, off-the-beaten-track cafés, wildlife-watching, and much more. Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.

• Can I attend on my own?
Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.

• I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me?
Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian meals, vegan meals, provide meals with gluten* free ingredients, and/or provide dairy* free meals - these options can be selected when booking. This particular experience offers a little more flexibility catering wise, as evening meals are taken at local restaurants, so please contact us if you’d like to check whether it is suitable for your dietary needs.
*Please see our general FAQs for more information about dietary options.

• What transport is provided during this experience?
We offer transport with a Pickup service (see Meeting Location & Time section above) and transfers from the accommodation to the activity start points and back.

• Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.

The Cairngorms National Park, nestled in the heart of Scotland, stands as the UK's largest national park, spanning over 4,500 square kilometers. It's a haven for hill walkers, boasting five of the UK's six highest peaks and 43 Munros. The park offers a vast array of walking opportunities, from scaling lofty summits to gentle strolls through extensive forests, including the ancient Caledonian pines, alongside fast-flowing rivers, and around picturesque lochs.

The Cairngorms are home to 9 nature reserves, making it a hotspot for wildlife enthusiasts. The park's diverse habitats support a range of iconic species. Keep your eyes peeled for red squirrels, black and red grouse, capercaillies, crested tits, otters, and salmon. The majestic red deer are also resident, especially notable during the rutting season. Higher up, the rugged terrain provides a backdrop for spotting golden eagles, ptarmigans, and mountain hares.

Interesting Facts:
The Cairngorms National Park contains some of the best-preserved ancient woodlands in Europe, with remnants of the Caledonian Forest that once covered much of Scotland.

The park's high plateau is unique in the UK, offering an Arctic-like environment, which is home to some of Britain's rarest plants and animals.

Loch Morlich, within the park, boasts the highest beach in Britain, offering water sports in an unparalleled setting.

The Cairngorms plays a crucial role in Scottish water supply, with its rivers feeding into major waterways and reservoirs.

It's a year-round destination, with winter sports, hiking, wildlife watching, and stargazing among the many activities visitors can enjoy.