Winter


15 Things To Do In the Snow in the Cairngorms

The snow has arrived in the Cairngorms – whoop, whoop! To mark its arrival, we’ve compiled a list of snow-inspired activities for you, in addition to traditional snowsports.

1)   Make a snow angel – particularly fun if you jump out of a hot tub into the snow to do this! To find a luxury lodge with a hot tub, check out Seasgair Handpicked Lodges, Igloo, Great North Lodges and Highland Hideouts.

2)   Go Sledging the national park boasts plenty of prime sledging spots such as the Hayfield near Loch Morlich, the playpark in Braemar and the steep hill by the GP surgery in Kingussie. The many golf courses in the area are also firm family favourites.  Read our blog for the best places to sledge.

3) Feed the reindeer – a magical experience at any time, but especially on a bluebird mountain day when the hills are capped in snow.

4)   Build a snowperson

5)    Catch the Siberian Husky Sled Dog Rally the last weekend of January.

6)   Drive the SnowRoads – a spectacular 90 mile route, which as the name suggests, is particularly stunning in the snow.

7) Take a Walk – amazing how a dusting of snow can transform a view and give it a fairytale feel.

8)   Take photos of wildlife playing in their winter wonderland and catch the clear, crisp seasonal light which gives your creations an atmospheric feel. See if you can snap Cairngorms inhabitants such as mountain hares, red squirrels, red deer, stags, grouse or even the Ptarmigan. If you really want to take your winter wildlife photography seriously, book a retreat with acclaimed photographer Peter Cairns, staying in his luxury lodge Ballintean.

9)   Hire Snow shoes – a great option to enjoy the serenity of the snowlaced trails lower down the mountain if it’s wild and windy up top. A good place to do this is at Snowbadgers Rental, affiliated to the cosy, convivial Pine Marten Bar. Snow shoe hire for the day costs £20.

10)   Build a Snowhole
This is definitely not for the faint-hearted and recommended to be done with an expert, such as Andy Bateman of Fraoch Lodge. For more inspiration, see this blog.

11)   Hire a fat bike – snow putting you off jumping on your bike? Don’t let it! Just head down to one of the many bike shops in the park – such as Aviemore Bike’s, Bothy Bikes, Backcountry.Scot or the Bike Station Ballater and hire a ‘fat’ bike, with big tyres that glide across the white stuff.

12)   Go on a zip wire – there’s no better way to see the snowy landscapes than while whizzing down a zip wire at the level of the tips of the pines clad in snow! 

13)   Take a quad bike trek – just like biking, don’t be put off taking a quad bike out in wintery weather, according to the experts, a wee bit of the white stuff only makes it more fun. For treks complete with highland coos try Rothiemurchus Quad Bike Trekking.  

14)   Ski, Snowboard or Ski Tour –  one of the best ways to enjoy the snow and if you tour get into the wilderness, away from the crowds and enjoying the snow serenity.

15)   Winter Climbing – as well as ski touring, another great way to have a mountain adventure and escape the crowds is to get out climbing. Why not consider a winter skills course at the world-renowned Glenmore Lodge? 

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