Ah thanks for that. How well marked/maintained/etc.. are trails? The big advantage of the Swiss alps being well… Swiss was that all of the trails and passages were meticulously maintained. Cost a pretty penny though….
Markings are almost nonexistent. You will sometimes see cairns higher up but if you’re climbing munro’s you need a map or a gps.
The weather changes so quickly and fog/mist is super common. Can come in minutes and be a total whiteout. Don’t get stuck up on a hill without proper equipment and no navigation.
The [Walkhighlands](https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/) website is incredible and will keep you right for all but the most extreme jaunts - everything on there from 2 hour circuits up to multi day missions.
Otherwise, you seem to know what you're doing, just respect the mountains, tell people where you're going to be and when, sensible clothes, map not phone etc. It's not the Alps but they still deserve caution and respect.
The problem with winter in Scotland is that the conditions are very unpredictable.
Over the last 3 years there has been very poor snow cover. Snow will fall and then it will rain and the snow will all melt.
So if you are lucky you could have a beautiful snowy day where you could hike up to Ben Macdui carrying crampons and an ice axe. You are much more likely to have varied snow coverage with rain and cold, strong wind.
It would be worth hiring a guide or doing a course through Glenmore Lodge. They will have great knowledge of the weather, conditions and routes so they can make sure you get the most out of your time. You will be supporting locals and you will get a lot of local information.
Don't underestimate how shitty the weather can be in Scotland in the winter. I would prefer a - 30°C day skiing in Japan to getting rained on up the Cairngorms while it's blowing a hoolie
Lots of good stuff lower down but if you head higher up you must be prepared for anything as weather can change in a heartbeat. In particular winds over 100mph are possible in winter. Climbers have died within a few hundred metres of the top car park on Cairngorm.
So long as you have a bit of common sense there's lots to enjoy but keeping an eye on the weather forcecast is vital. https://www.mwis.org.uk/forecasts/scottish/cairngorms-np-and-monadhliath
This. Do not underestimate how dangerous Scotland can be in the Winter.
Also note that the majority of hikes in Scotland are not signposted. You need strong navigation skills, especially in winter.
I've written software for GPS units and work in underwater survey, we use GPS heavily. The signal doesn't propagate well when the atmosphere is full of snowflakes. That's one reason things that rely heavily on positioning (such as dynamic positioning on ships) have an inertial nav system as a backup and sanity check. Also your phone battery won't last as long in very cold conditions.
Interesting. For context I would normally use my Garmin Fenix watch for navigating in the winter. I believe it supports GPS, GLONASS and Galileo. I'm guessing they all suffer from the same issue though?
Good to know. Would be more of an issue if it snowed more here, I'm guessing it works fine in the rain!
Scotland generally isn't 'freezing cold' but the combination of water, high wind and no sunlight (Ben MacDui is as far north as Port Nelson in Manitoba!) can really overwhelm humans fast, especially with a lack of protective gear, food and drink and most of all: experience.
People die regularly in the hills, including very experienced climbers, keep that in mind when planning adventures.
It didn’t hit me how far north Scotland is until I was there June 2022. It was past 10 and still light out. It was full sun when I stumbled out of bed at 6 for breakfast.
It’s usually bloody freezing. If she doesn’t like the cold I’d say it won’t work.
If you aren’t used to hiking in winter then I would not go yourselves. It would be worth looking at companies like [Dubh Mor](https://dubhmor.co.uk) who can help with equipment and guide you. You can absolutely die in the conditions in the Scottish hills in winter so it’s worth the money for a guide.
Please be aware that the temperatures in Scotland will feel much colder than they do elsewhere. It's a very damp cold. From speaking to friends from countries like Canada and Germany, our -7°C can be worse than -25°C in those countries.
As others have said, there are few paths, the weather can change rapidly, and people have died in these circumstances. Make sure you're well prepared and don't take risks.
Lochanhulley is a great resort near Aviemore and Carrbridge that is amazing in winter. Little log cabins. Also has a restaurant and bar and indoor pool.
if the weather forecast is good (you really need to look closely/ understand the weather here) and you have plenty of daylight you will not struggle with it.
Best to pick a well marked route/ good maps too
showery rain/weather fronts and high winds all very real risk of disorientation and hypothermia, quite a few people do die each year in the hills, not specifically in winter but i guess there is far less people in the hills in winter. MWIS is useful for specifically mountain weather, very useful alongside a broader understanding.
If it's your sort of thing you could consider a mountain guide to take you somewhere
Climbers come from all over the world to experience terrible conditions, short days and dangerous climbing here in preparation for Alaska and the greater ranges. It is not trivial and can be very dangerous.
How much time do you spend in the Cairngorms during the winter? Weather can be extremely challenging in places like the Cairngorm plateau. Cold, wet, no visibility and horrific wind chill. Sometimes the milder conditions can be more cruel - at least in the Alps you're less likely to be drenched when you're out in the snow.
Not in winter. Cold air falls. I live in Aviemore and have seen -32C (yes I know the UK record is above that, yes I'm sure) but it's -15C on Cairngorm. It's often warmer higher up especially if there's not much wind. Thermal inversion.
Buuuut be prepared as the Scottish mountains/hills can turn in almost an instance from quite benign to death inducing condition especially in winter.
Ah thanks for that. How well marked/maintained/etc.. are trails? The big advantage of the Swiss alps being well… Swiss was that all of the trails and passages were meticulously maintained. Cost a pretty penny though….
A lot of them don't have any paths or markings at all.
Markings are almost nonexistent. You will sometimes see cairns higher up but if you’re climbing munro’s you need a map or a gps. The weather changes so quickly and fog/mist is super common. Can come in minutes and be a total whiteout. Don’t get stuck up on a hill without proper equipment and no navigation.
The [Walkhighlands](https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/) website is incredible and will keep you right for all but the most extreme jaunts - everything on there from 2 hour circuits up to multi day missions. Otherwise, you seem to know what you're doing, just respect the mountains, tell people where you're going to be and when, sensible clothes, map not phone etc. It's not the Alps but they still deserve caution and respect.
Thanks for that! I’ll check it out.
Try r/OutdoorScotland
The problem with winter in Scotland is that the conditions are very unpredictable. Over the last 3 years there has been very poor snow cover. Snow will fall and then it will rain and the snow will all melt. So if you are lucky you could have a beautiful snowy day where you could hike up to Ben Macdui carrying crampons and an ice axe. You are much more likely to have varied snow coverage with rain and cold, strong wind. It would be worth hiring a guide or doing a course through Glenmore Lodge. They will have great knowledge of the weather, conditions and routes so they can make sure you get the most out of your time. You will be supporting locals and you will get a lot of local information. Don't underestimate how shitty the weather can be in Scotland in the winter. I would prefer a - 30°C day skiing in Japan to getting rained on up the Cairngorms while it's blowing a hoolie
Lots of good stuff lower down but if you head higher up you must be prepared for anything as weather can change in a heartbeat. In particular winds over 100mph are possible in winter. Climbers have died within a few hundred metres of the top car park on Cairngorm. So long as you have a bit of common sense there's lots to enjoy but keeping an eye on the weather forcecast is vital. https://www.mwis.org.uk/forecasts/scottish/cairngorms-np-and-monadhliath
This. Do not underestimate how dangerous Scotland can be in the Winter. Also note that the majority of hikes in Scotland are not signposted. You need strong navigation skills, especially in winter.
Also, never rely on phone GPS. When it snows hard the signal diminishes.
Really? I've never heard that before. Is it the same for dedicated GPS units? Could you link to some evidence to support your claim?
I've written software for GPS units and work in underwater survey, we use GPS heavily. The signal doesn't propagate well when the atmosphere is full of snowflakes. That's one reason things that rely heavily on positioning (such as dynamic positioning on ships) have an inertial nav system as a backup and sanity check. Also your phone battery won't last as long in very cold conditions.
Interesting. For context I would normally use my Garmin Fenix watch for navigating in the winter. I believe it supports GPS, GLONASS and Galileo. I'm guessing they all suffer from the same issue though? Good to know. Would be more of an issue if it snowed more here, I'm guessing it works fine in the rain!
Very heavy rain has similar issues.
It’s the same, you can look at the various mountain rescue and walk Scotland websites
Link? I've never heard of this.
Scotland generally isn't 'freezing cold' but the combination of water, high wind and no sunlight (Ben MacDui is as far north as Port Nelson in Manitoba!) can really overwhelm humans fast, especially with a lack of protective gear, food and drink and most of all: experience. People die regularly in the hills, including very experienced climbers, keep that in mind when planning adventures.
It didn’t hit me how far north Scotland is until I was there June 2022. It was past 10 and still light out. It was full sun when I stumbled out of bed at 6 for breakfast.
It’s usually bloody freezing. If she doesn’t like the cold I’d say it won’t work. If you aren’t used to hiking in winter then I would not go yourselves. It would be worth looking at companies like [Dubh Mor](https://dubhmor.co.uk) who can help with equipment and guide you. You can absolutely die in the conditions in the Scottish hills in winter so it’s worth the money for a guide.
Please be aware that the temperatures in Scotland will feel much colder than they do elsewhere. It's a very damp cold. From speaking to friends from countries like Canada and Germany, our -7°C can be worse than -25°C in those countries. As others have said, there are few paths, the weather can change rapidly, and people have died in these circumstances. Make sure you're well prepared and don't take risks.
Lochanhulley is a great resort near Aviemore and Carrbridge that is amazing in winter. Little log cabins. Also has a restaurant and bar and indoor pool.
if the weather forecast is good (you really need to look closely/ understand the weather here) and you have plenty of daylight you will not struggle with it. Best to pick a well marked route/ good maps too showery rain/weather fronts and high winds all very real risk of disorientation and hypothermia, quite a few people do die each year in the hills, not specifically in winter but i guess there is far less people in the hills in winter. MWIS is useful for specifically mountain weather, very useful alongside a broader understanding. If it's your sort of thing you could consider a mountain guide to take you somewhere
Climbers come from all over the world to experience terrible conditions, short days and dangerous climbing here in preparation for Alaska and the greater ranges. It is not trivial and can be very dangerous.
Aviemore is okay weather wise in winter, definitely milder than Alps
How much time do you spend in the Cairngorms during the winter? Weather can be extremely challenging in places like the Cairngorm plateau. Cold, wet, no visibility and horrific wind chill. Sometimes the milder conditions can be more cruel - at least in the Alps you're less likely to be drenched when you're out in the snow.
Down in the valley in Aviemore is a lot milder. Live in Moray.
OP is asking about hiking in the Cairngorms, not strolling around Aviemore.
Not in winter. Cold air falls. I live in Aviemore and have seen -32C (yes I know the UK record is above that, yes I'm sure) but it's -15C on Cairngorm. It's often warmer higher up especially if there's not much wind. Thermal inversion.