Walking: The Cairngorms National Park

Your guide will meet you at Pitlochry train station in the late morning, Pitlochry can easily be reached by train from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness by train.  We’ll then transfer north to the charming village of Blair Atholl.

A tour of Blair Castle will give you an insight into the area including the history of the Dukes of Atholl who were a huge influence on the region. This striking castle, with its distinctive white façade and iconic turrets, showcases a blend of architectural styles that reflect its long history, dating back to the 13th century. Visitors can explore its richly decorated rooms, which house an impressive collection of art and artefacts, including portraits of notable figures from Scottish history.

After exploring the castle and its gardens we walk out of the grounds to one of the many ‘follies’ constructed over the years by the Dukes of Atholl to enjoy the views back down to the castle and hills beyond.

Transferring further north, we reach the vibrant town of Aviemore which will be our base for the next 4 nights.

Included meals: Lunch and dinner

Today we’ll head out into the stunning Caledonian pine forests of Rothiemurchus, in the shadow of the Cairngorm Mountains. We will circumnavigate the loch itself where we’ll see the ruins of a castle on an island and learn about the history of the forest. The Rothiemurchus Estate has been in the same family for generations and has a fascinating history spanning centuries.

This evening we’ll visit a wildlife hide where badgers visit regularly and if we are lucky a pinemartin may appear as well.

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

We start the day with a hike on a lesser known trail up a local hill amongst some of the finest old-growth woodland in the Cairngorms. Walk through the granny pine trees, knarled juniper bushes and lichen-covered birches. The views of surrounding mountains are well worth the climb to the top where a 90ft monument to commemorate a local Duke stands.

Later we will arrive at a traditional Highland estate where we will meet some of the team that look after the land before jumping into estate vehicles and heading to a mountain hut for lunch in these special surroundings. The hut is surrounded by woodland and the air is filled with the sounds of the nearby river as it makes its way down the mountain.

We’ll hike back down the track to enjoy the sweeping views over the Cairngorms mountains.

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Glen Feshie is often called the most beautiful of all Cairngorm glens – a reputation that is only enhanced by the pine forests that are regenerating in the glen thanks to the efforts of a sustained re-wilding plan. As we journey through the glen we’ll see how the regenerating pine trees are climbing higher up the mountain sides creating new habitats. We’ll hike the length of the glen to a remote bothy (mountain refuge) for lunch before returning the same way, perhaps making a detour to a nearby waterfall.

Included meals: Breakfast and lunch

This morning we will transfer to the beautiful town of Aboyne on the eastern fringes of the national park.

Spend the afternoon exploring the eastern pinewoods of Glen Tanar.  After having a look around the small visitor centre we’ll head off on foot to hike through the forest. Here we’ll experience one of the largest remnants of the Caledonian pine forest making it a haven for native wildlife.

We’ll make our way to a viewpoint to look over the forest as it creeps up the nearby mountainsides, then descend on to a track that loops through the trees and crosses several beautiful old stone bridges.

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

This morning we’ll embark on a classic hike around Loch Muick on the Balmoral Estate. The loch sits in a dramatic steep-sided glen with moorland and mountain views all around. A patch of pine trees on the loch’s shore indicates the location of a granite house built by Queen Victoria as a holiday lodge. Here the grassy banks of the loch shore make the perfect spot to stop for lunch and enjoy the views.

If time permits, later in the afternoon we may detour to nearby Muir of Dinnet Nature Reserve, here a short walk will take us to an impressive geological feature, the Burn ‘o Vat. Picking our way through a gap in the rocks, we step into an immense carved pothole with towering rock cliffs either side.

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Transferring a short distance, we start our hike today crossing the Old Brig ‘o Dee, a stone bridge built in 1753 as part of the military road network that was designed to exert control over the rebellious Highlanders following numerous Jacobite rebellions.

Your guide will choose a lovely loop hike in the Ballochbuie forest taking in the tumbling waterfalls of Allt Garbh, spanned by a beautiful iron footbridge.

After our hike we’ll transfer through the Victorian village of Braemar and over the high pass at the Glenshee Ski Centre and return to Pitlochry by late afternoon.

Included meals: Breakfast and lunch