A Long Weekend in the Cairngorms
With 4 days off over the Easter break, it seemed like a perfect excuse for a trip up to the beautiful Cairngorm mountain range. We booked into a little B&B in Aviemore (The Vermont Guest House), packed our skis and my awesome Meindl Bhutan boots (thanks to the LD team!) and headed off, up to the mountains
Skiing at Easter can be a little risky in mainland Europe let alone in Scotland, but we couldn’t resist an opportunity to have a final run of the season before hanging up the skis, especially as they had just had a 10cm dusting of snow!
We were not expecting Val Thorens conditions- Scotland is usually cold, wet, windy and you have to be prepared for poor visibility (definitely worth packing your low-vis goggles). However we had a great time, although the weather wasn’t very pleasant, the snow was surprisingly good, a bit on the slushy side, but our snowboarder enjoyed it.
Luckily, we also got some sunshine! This meant we could go for a hike and enjoy the spectacular views, so we headed over to Loch Insh and set off on a route along the river Spey. It wasn’t too strenuous, but just what we needed as our legs were feeling a bit delicate after the hard days skiing before, and the scenery was just beautiful- highly recommended! I was extremely glad to have packed my new boots, as although it was a lovely day, the muddy ground held the reminder of the rainstorms that had occurred over the previous days.
Scotland really is the place to go if you want a fun filled trip in the outdoors with lots of wonderful fresh, Scottish air. Next time we want to check out all the distilleries to try some local whiskey, but we might need a day or 2 to recover after that… Looking forward to the next long weekend!
Essential kit:
Walking boots: Meindl Bhutan MFS
Originating from the original Burma, the Bhutan is the next generation walking boot from Meindl. A 3 season boot that delivers fantastically, in all terrains. Comfortable, durable and topped off with a breathable Gore-tex lining, Vibram sole and innovative memory foam system.
https://www.ldmountaincentre.com/walk-hike-c1/footwear-c18/walking-boots-c19/meindl-bhutan-mfs-p9407
Down jacket: Arc’teryx Cerium Lt hoody
Down jackets are the perfect ‘go to’ jacket for use in the outdoors. Warm, streamline, lightweight, breathable and very versatile for all your outdoor activities. In cool, dry climates they are great as an outer layer and their breathability regulates your body temperature ensuring you don’t overheat. For winter sports, they are a great mid layer to wear between your base layer and your shell. The warmth and breathability of down does not restrict manoeuvrability in any way which is great for skiing and mountaineering. The Cerium Lt is filled with 850 white goose down which is a great warmth to weight ratio in a garment that is only 275g.
Base layer: Ortovox Merino 185 Long sleeve
Arguably one of the most important items of clothing for your outdoor and adventure sports, your second skin ensuring warmth and comfort. For anyone who hasn’t experienced Merino wool you really need to. Natural, ethical, breathable, sustainable, durable and comfortable. Another useful property of Merino wool is its power to diminish body odour and there’s no need to wash it after every use, just simply air it out and it’s good to go another day. Ideal for a week’s worth of snow-sports.
Duffel bag: The North Face Large Duffel
An essential must-have for any adventurer. The bestselling duffel range from the North face is a fantastic, versatile piece of luggage that comes in numerous sizing and colours. They’re extremely simple and durable which is imperative for mountain sports. I have the large 90 litre model which I have owned for a decade now. It’s perfect for skiing holidays, travelling and weekend breaks. One of my favourite features is the fact that it has a soft shell, so completely malleable. This is ideal for squeezing it into the boot of a fully packed car, in airplane overhead lockers or anywhere that space is an issue.
Comments are closed here.