Climbing & Mountaineering

Yes! There are some excellent training centres in the Cairngorms, which people from all around the world visit to brush up their skills, such as Glenmore Lodge. There are also lots of smaller, independent providers who run fantastic courses and group trips to boost your skills. These courses are available all year round. Browse the listings and you’ll find them!

The Cairngorms National Park is a year-round destination and every season has its own unique charm, so it very much depends on personal preference. Some, for example, love the turning of the leaves and the awe-inspiring colours of autumn. Others prefer the longer days and warmer temperatures of summer. If you’re climbing in winter, however, clearly safety is particularly important and you need to have the right skills and equipment for the conditions. If you are at all in doubt of whether you do, hire a guide. There are many walking guide services listed on our site.

In the summer months, midges can be a feature in the Cairngorms! However, when you’re climbing, even in summer, the temperatures can remain quite cold, which keeps their numbers down. They tend to prefer lower levels and damper conditions, such as boggy forests with shelter. So, if you want to avoid midges, climbing is one of the best things you can do!