About this Event
Based in Aviemore, in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, you'll meet Britain's only free-roaming reindeer herd, walk through ancient pine forests and snowy mountain landscapes, visit the legendary Loch Ness and celebrate Hogmanay at one of Scotland's most spectacular New Year traditions – the Stonehaven Fireballs. We've worked hard to put together a trip that combines winter hiking in the Highlands with some of Scotland's best New Year traditions, while keeping it nice and relaxed, so it's suitable for anyone reasonably fit and active (beginners welcome!). To keep the trip flexible and personal, the group is limited to just 13 participants.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Spend Hogmanay in the Highlands – Scotland's favourite celebration of the year, full of age-old traditions
- Watch the Stonehaven Fireballs – a spectacular Scottish tradition where locals swing blazing fireballs through the streets at midnight, followed by fireworks over the harbour
- Meet the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd – Britain's only free-roaming reindeer herd, living in the mountains since 1952, and hand-feed them on a guided hill trip
- Warm up in an authentic wood-fired sauna on the shores of Loch Alvie, with a refreshing loch dip for the brave
- Explore the Cairngorms, the largest national park in the UK and home to five of its six highest mountains – one of the snowiest places in Britain, with snow-capped peaks, ancient pine forests and frozen lochs
- Visit Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle – one of Scotland's largest and most famous castles, right on the shores of the loch (keep an eye out for Nessie!)
- Hike to the dramatic Coire an t-Sneachda – a glacial corrie beneath the Cairngorm plateau
- Enjoy delicious local specialities and traditional Scottish food – from haggis and Cullen skink to shortbread and a wee dram of whisky
- Walk around Loch an Eilein, one of the Highlands' most beautiful lochs, and its medieval island castle
- Enjoy a stroll around Loch Morlich, with its sandy beach and views of the snow-capped Cairngorm mountains
- Hit the slopes at Cairngorm Mountain Resort, Scotland's best-known ski resort, if you fancy a day of skiing or snowboarding
- See the iconic Kelpies (the world's largest horse sculptures!)
ITINERARY
Day 1 – Wednesday (30/12):
06:45 Meet outside Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR (a five-minute walk from Hammersmith Station)
07:00 Sharp departure
13:00-13:45 Stop for lunch at Tebay Services Farmshop & Kitchen
19:30 Arrive in Aviemore, in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, check in at Aviemore Youth Hostel (twin rooms)
20:00 Dinner in Aviemore and free time
Day 2 – Thursday (31/12):
09:00-10:00 Breakfast in Aviemore (recommended: Ryvoan Café or The Coffee Pot), buy packed lunches
10:05 Depart for the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre
11:00-13:00 Hill Trip to the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd with a herder – time amongst the reindeer, with a chance to hand-feed them (£29.40 – tickets are very limited and sell out extremely fast, so we'll pre-book them for the whole group as soon as they are released)
13:00-13:30 Lunch
13:30-15:30 Circular walk around Loch Morlich through pine forest, with stunning views of the snow-capped Cairngorm mountains (difficulty: Easy, distance: 6km, ascent: 50m) – see here
15:45 Return to Aviemore, free time and dinner
19:15 Depart to Stonehaven
21:45-01:00 Stonehaven Fireballs – one of Scotland's most famous Hogmanay traditions, with street entertainment, a pipe band, fireballs swung through the streets at midnight and fireworks over the harbour
01:00 Depart back to Aviemore
03:30 Arrive back at Aviemore Youth Hostel – Happy New Year!
Day 3 – Friday (01/01):
10:00 Breakfast in Aviemore
11:30-13:00 Authentic wood-fired sauna experience on the shores of Loch Alvie, booked privately for our group
13:15 Depart for Loch Ness
14:30-16:15 Urquhart Castle – one of Scotland’s largest and most famous castles, right on the shores of Loch Ness. Free time to explore the ruins, browse the souvenir shop and have lunch
16:15 Depart for Aviemore
17:30 Back at Aviemore Youth Hostel, free time for dinner
Day 4 – Saturday (02/01):
09:00 Breakfast in Aviemore, buy packed lunches
10:00 Depart
10:15-15:00 Cairngorm Mountain Resort – for those who'd like to, a whole day of skiing or snowboarding, with over 30km of pisted runs and equipment hire on site – see here
10:15-12:30 For those who prefer hiking, a walk from the resort to the beautiful Coire an t-Sneachda (difficulty: Moderate, distance: 7km, ascent: 300m) – see here
12:30-13:30 Lunch and transfer to Loch an Eilein
13:30-15:30 A walk around Loch an Eilein, with its medieval island castle and fantastic views of the Cairngorm mountains (difficulty: Easy, distance: 7km, ascent: 70m) – see here
18:00 Check in at Holiday Inn Express Stirling, dinner and free time
Day 5 – Sunday (03/01):
07:00 Breakfast at the hotel (included)
08:30 Depart
09:00-09:45 Photo stop at The Kelpies – Scotland's iconic 30-metre horse-head sculptures (largest horse sculptures in the world!); time for photos, a quick coffee and souvenirs from the visitor centre
12:30-13:15 Lunch at Tebay Services Farmshop & Kitchen – a great chance to pick up local Cumbrian and Scottish produce to take home
19:00 London, Hammersmith
DIFFICULTY & EQUIPMENT
This trip is suitable for anyone reasonably fit and active. Hiking boots, warm layers, waterproof and windproof clothing, a hat, gloves and micro spikes are essential for a Scottish winter. We'll share recommendations for micro spikes (good ones cost around £20) about two weeks before departure, so you have time to buy them and try them on.
ACCOMMODATION
The default option is a twin room, shared with one other person of the same gender from our group: three nights at Aviemore Youth Hostel (shared bathrooms) and one night at the Holiday Inn Express Stirling (en-suite). Aviemore Youth Hostel is very well reviewed, and has a well-equipped kitchen with fridges, microwaves, hobs and other appliances, comfortable lounges, and washing machines and dryers should you need them.
TRANSPORT
As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus.
LUGGAGE
You may bring two bags with you: one cabin-size personal item bag (maximum 10kg, 55 × 40 × 20 cm) and one hiking backpack. Please note that luggage space is limited, so suitcases larger than cabin size cannot be accommodated. During the hike, you can leave your luggage in the minibus.
BOOKING
You’re welcome to book and pay via Eventbrite. However, to get the best price and avoid the Eventbrite commission (around £68), we recommend booking directly through our Meetup page or emailing us at [email protected]
THE PRICE OF £798 INCLUDES
- Transport throughout the trip
- Two experienced, professional PSV minibus drivers
- Guiding on all hiking routes by an experienced and qualified Mountain Leader, who has also completed Winter Mountain Leader training
- Three nights' accommodation at Aviemore Youth Hostel in twin rooms, shared with one other person of the same gender from our group
- One night's hotel accommodation in twin rooms, on the same sharing basis
- Full cooked buffet breakfast at the hotel on Sunday
- Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders
- Admin fee
- 20% VAT
THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
- Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects, and personal trekking insurance)
- Cairngorm Reindeer Herd Hill Trip (£29.40) – we'll pre-book everyone's tickets as soon as they are released so no one misses out; you can pay us later
- Sauna experience (~£15-20 per person)
- Urquhart Castle entry (£14 if booked online)
- Skiing or snowboarding, lift passes and equipment hire (if you choose to ski)
- Meals, other than Sunday's breakfast
HOW TO CONTACT US
For all enquiries, please email us at [email protected] We'll usually get back to you within 4 hours.
WHAT TO BRING
- Waterproof hiking boots with ankle support
- Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers
- Warm layers
- Warm hat and gloves
- Micro spikes (we'll share recommendations)
- Nuts and energy snacks to last you during the trip
- A flask or water bottle
- Head torch – it gets dark around 16:00
- Walking poles (optional)
REVIEWS ⭐
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REFUND POLICY
Tickets purchased via Eventbrite are strictly non-refundable and non-transferable.
Event venue & nearby stays
Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, London, United Kingdom
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