Scot Mountain Holidays

29/09/2026

Autumn in the Cairngorms: choose your own Highland break… 🌲 🍂

By September, the Highlands begin to change. The days are getting shorter, the evenings are drawing in and the landscape gradually moves from late-summer greens towards the colours of autumn.

We’ve written quite a lot recently about autumn walking, fungi, wildlife and some of our favourite places to explore at this time of year. But there is another way to enjoy autumn in the Cairngorms.

You don’t necessarily need to join a scheduled walking holiday.

This year, we’ve opened up some of our autumn activities so that small groups can choose their own dates. So if you’re looking for a few days in the Highlands this autumn, we can help you put together something that suits your group rather than expecting you to fit around a fixed itinerary.

https://scotmountainholidays.com/news/autumn-in-the-cairngorms-choose-your-own-break/

28/09/2026

Finally managed to complete our newsletter which should have arrived in your inbox for some lunchtime reading (if you're already signed up). Please feel free to share it far and wide if you know anyone else who'd enjoy reading out our endeavours.

https://view.flodesk.com/emails/6ab26983f365e4a9903c2aa3

25/09/2026

Join us for a cosy weekend of knitting, wool and Scottish textile heritage. A small women only retreat limited to eight guests… 🧶

Step away from the rush of everyday life and spend a cosy winter weekend immersed in wool, warmth, creativity and Scottish tradition. Enjoy the opportunity to start a new project in the company of fellow crafters
Combine your knitting with gorgeous inspirational surroundings;

🧶 Yarn included
🛌 Accommodation and full board included
📖 Knitting from the North book included
🦙 Visit to Auld Mill Alpacas
🚌 Visit to Johnsons' of Elgin
🎤 Informal talks with the Crafty Guid Wives of Speyside

Book now:

https://scotmountainholidays.com/walking-holidays-uk/guided-walking-weekend/?re-product-id=319109&rwstep=product

24/09/2026

When did Gardener’s Question Time recommend composting in a fridge? 🤔

Banana skins, orange peel and other “biodegradable” waste can take a very long time to break down in the cold conditions of our mountain environments.

And leaving food waste behind isn’t harmless. It can attract and encourage species that wouldn’t otherwise be there — with knock-on effects for native mountain wildlife, including species such as Ptarmigan and Dotterel.

So please don’t leave biodegradable waste on the hills.

If you brought it up, take it home. 🍌⛰️
The mountain summits aren’t a compost bin!

23/09/2026

Happy Valentine's

23/09/2026

Are you coming to the Cairngorms for the winter half term? We've loads of snow here.

23/09/2026

Have you been getting out and about since Christmas? We all need to keep the exercise up even though winter can get in the way. Why not plan some activities to train for?

There are endurance events coming up in the Cairngorms - hiking, cycling or open water swimming - take your pick.

You could also create your own endurance event like hiking the Lairig Ghru (though there is a formal event raising funds for the Mountain Rescue team too); cycling from Cairngorm to coast; cycle the Dava Way to Forres, cycle or hike the length of the Speyside Way ......

23/09/2026

We thought we'd share an example of one of innumerable biking opportunities around Fraoch Lodge for World Bicycle Day.

This is on a part of the Speyside Way, not far from Glenlivet Trails
(Unusually cold for May biking at the time.)

23/09/2026