Guided wild camping adventure in the Cairngorms (incl. gear)
Experience a proper Great British adventure in one of the UK’s wildest national parks.
With a trusted guide and a small group of like-minded souls, you’ll learn essential skills, soak up the Cairngorms’ breathtaking beauty, and spend an unforgettable night under the stars. Each booking includes a top-quality tent, pad and sleeping bag — so you can try exceptional kit while falling for wild camping.
The adventure
This is wild camping at its most pure. Over two days, you’ll climb your first Munro, share stories by the stove, and drift off beneath a blanket of stars in the heart of the Cairngorms Dark Sky Park. It’s the perfect blend of challenge and wonder — a chance to slow down, breathe deep, and lose yourself in Britain’s wilder side.
What gear can you expect?
To make your trip as easy as possible, we’ll set you up with a premium tent, sleeping bag and pad, selected based on the expert opinion of our members and curated for the unique demands of this adventure. For this trip, you can expect tents like:
The Nordisk Telemark 2.2LW, our top pick as the best four-season tent for the UK.
The Wild Country Helm 1 Compact, our top pick as the best all-round wildcamping tent for the UK.
The MSR Hubba NX, one of the most popular UL wild camping tents on the market.
The Nortent Vern 1, one of the lightest, usable and top-performing four-season tents we’ve ever used.
*Individual items may vary depending on availability. Free to contact us if you’ve any questions or special requests.
Experience a proper Great British adventure in one of the UK’s wildest national parks.
With a trusted guide and a small group of like-minded souls, you’ll learn essential skills, soak up the Cairngorms’ breathtaking beauty, and spend an unforgettable night under the stars. Each booking includes a top-quality tent, pad and sleeping bag — so you can try exceptional kit while falling for wild camping.
The adventure
This is wild camping at its most pure. Over two days, you’ll climb your first Munro, share stories by the stove, and drift off beneath a blanket of stars in the heart of the Cairngorms Dark Sky Park. It’s the perfect blend of challenge and wonder — a chance to slow down, breathe deep, and lose yourself in Britain’s wilder side.
What gear can you expect?
To make your trip as easy as possible, we’ll set you up with a premium tent, sleeping bag and pad, selected based on the expert opinion of our members and curated for the unique demands of this adventure. For this trip, you can expect tents like:
The Nordisk Telemark 2.2LW, our top pick as the best four-season tent for the UK.
The Wild Country Helm 1 Compact, our top pick as the best all-round wildcamping tent for the UK.
The MSR Hubba NX, one of the most popular UL wild camping tents on the market.
The Nortent Vern 1, one of the lightest, usable and top-performing four-season tents we’ve ever used.
*Individual items may vary depending on availability. Free to contact us if you’ve any questions or special requests.
Experience a proper Great British adventure in one of the UK’s wildest national parks.
With a trusted guide and a small group of like-minded souls, you’ll learn essential skills, soak up the Cairngorms’ breathtaking beauty, and spend an unforgettable night under the stars. Each booking includes a top-quality tent, pad and sleeping bag — so you can try exceptional kit while falling for wild camping.
The adventure
This is wild camping at its most pure. Over two days, you’ll climb your first Munro, share stories by the stove, and drift off beneath a blanket of stars in the heart of the Cairngorms Dark Sky Park. It’s the perfect blend of challenge and wonder — a chance to slow down, breathe deep, and lose yourself in Britain’s wilder side.
What gear can you expect?
To make your trip as easy as possible, we’ll set you up with a premium tent, sleeping bag and pad, selected based on the expert opinion of our members and curated for the unique demands of this adventure. For this trip, you can expect tents like:
The Nordisk Telemark 2.2LW, our top pick as the best four-season tent for the UK.
The Wild Country Helm 1 Compact, our top pick as the best all-round wildcamping tent for the UK.
The MSR Hubba NX, one of the most popular UL wild camping tents on the market.
The Nortent Vern 1, one of the lightest, usable and top-performing four-season tents we’ve ever used.
*Individual items may vary depending on availability. Free to contact us if you’ve any questions or special requests.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1
You’ll meet at Strathspey Railway (Aviemore Station) at 10:15 am on Saturday, where you’ll get to know your guide and fellow wild campers. Here, you’ll also be kitted out with your camp gear.
If you need to pick up any last-minute supplies, Aviemore has plenty of outdoor shops. For those arriving early, there’s ample accommodation in town.
From there, you’ll catch a bus to the Cairngorm Ski Centre — the start point of your adventure. You’ll hike up to bag your first Munro and learn how to choose a cracking wild camp spot. Your guide will cover everything from reading the land and leaving no trace to toilet etiquette and basic map-and-compass navigation.
Expect to pause for lunch in a scenic spot around 13:30, before setting up camp around 18:00. That night, you’ll bed down in premium, single-occupancy sleep systems under a sky famed for its stargazing. (Couples can opt for a shared tent if preferred — just let us know in advance.)
Day 2
After a memorable night beneath the stars, you’ll enjoy breakfast at camp before looping back toward the starting point. Along the way, there’ll be another scenic stop for lunch and plenty of time to soak up the breathtaking views.
You’ll aim to reach the ski centre by around 15:00 to catch the return bus, getting back into Aviemore no later than 16:30.
Total distance over the two days will be at least 14km (9 miles) — with the option to tackle a second Munro if the whole group’s up for it.
Getting in
The trip starts and finishes in Aviemore, which is easy to reach by train, car, or even by air.
By train: Aviemore has excellent rail links, making it straightforward to arrive from across the UK.
By car: It’s about a 45-minute drive from Inverness Airport, or around three hours by car from both Glasgow and Edinburgh.
By air: You can fly into Inverness, pick up a hire car or hop on local transport, and be in Aviemore in under an hour.
If you can, we recommend arriving the night before to make the morning meet-up stress-free. There’s plenty of accommodation in town, from cosy B&Bs to hotels.
Other information
Group size: Small groups of no more than four campers, keeping things friendly and personal.
Gear: Top-of-the-line camping kit is provided by us, carefully selected by our members to suit the specific demands of the Cairngorms — the rugged terrain, unpredictable climate, and the nature of this adventure.
Guides: Experienced, trusted guides who know the Cairngorms inside out.
Fitness: Expect two days of moderate hiking with a Munro summit. The pace is steady, with plenty of breaks to catch your breath, enjoy the views, and learn from your guide. You don’t need to be an ultra-runner, but you should be in reasonable physical shape and comfortable walking for several hours with a pack on your back. A bit of hill training beforehand won’t go amiss — and will help you enjoy the adventure all the more.
Flexibility: Routes can be adjusted depending on weather and group ability, always keeping safety and enjoyment top of mind.
Kit List
-
To make sure your trip is as comfortable, safe and memorable as possible, we’ve hand-picked a shortlist of tents, sleeping bags and pads that stand up to the unique demands of the Cairngorms — from the tough terrain to the famously unpredictable weather.
All our selections are based on countless hours of testing and the expert opinions of our members. For this adventure, you can expect to use tents like:
The Nordisk Telemark 2.2LW — our top pick for the best four-season tent for the UK.
The Wild Country Helm 1 Compact — our favourite all-round wild camping tent for the UK.
The MSR Hubba NX — one of the most popular ultralight wild camping tents on the market.
The Nortent Vern 1 — one of the lightest, most versatile four-season shelters we’ve ever used.
Here’s what we provide for your trip:
A premium, specialist one-person tent, lightweight yet tough, chosen specifically for wild camping in these conditions. If you want to share a tent with another participant, please let us know in advance.
A sleeping bag rated for the expected temperatures. If you know you sleep particularly cold, just let us know — we’ll make sure you have an even warmer option.
A sleeping bag liner. All participants are required to use a liner to keep our bags fresh and clean.
A warm, high-quality inflatable sleeping mat, designed to give you the best night’s sleep possible on the hill.
A pillow and pillow case, because even under the stars, a bit of comfort goes a long way.
It’s gear we’d happily trust on our own adventures — so you can focus on soaking up the mountains.
-
Clothing & footwear
Walking boots (broken in — not fresh out of the box)
Walking poles (recommended, but optional)
3 pairs of socks (2 for walking, 1 spare)
Sufficient underwear
Waterproof jacket & trousers
Gaiters (optional but useful)
Warm layers for the evening — it gets chilly once you stop moving
Appropriate clothing for a day and a half in the hills
Hat & gloves (even in summer)
Sunglasses & sunhat
Backpack & kit
60L+ backpack, suitable for hillwalking, with a waterproof cover
Sitting pad (optional, but keeps your bum dry)
1.5L of water
Water filter (the water’s generally safe, but we still recommend filtering)
Stove & gas (we recommend a small 100g gas canister, easily bought at the start point)
Cooking pot, mug & cutlery
Small washing-up sponge & biodegradable soap
Food waste bag (to carry out all rubbish, including scraps)
Lighter/matches
Food & drink
Sufficient food for two full days, including:
1 evening meal
2 lunches
1 breakfast
Snacks
Tea, coffee, or hot chocolate
Toileting
Trowel
Toilet paper / wet wipes
Hand gel
Plastic bags to carry used paper/wipes
Safety & essentials
Personal first aid kit (guides carry a kit, but bring your own for blisters & small scrapes)
Foil survival blanket (tiny, light, could be a lifesaver)
Whistle
Head torch
Personal medication (and let us know about any allergies or conditions)
Miscellaneous
Mobile phone
Debit/credit card (for bus fare & emergencies)
A bit of cash (just in case)
Insect repellent
Don’t worry, we’ll email you the above in advance of your trip, including links to recommended products, so you can get set up as easily (and cheaply!) as possible.
-
You’ll need to be fit enough to manage an 8km hike carrying around 18kg over undulating terrain. The pace and intensity can vary depending on the group, and we’ll always do our best to accommodate everyone — but a reasonable level of fitness is essential.
We’ve got several stunning routes to choose from, and on the day your Mountain Leader will pick the best option based on the weather (some spots are better in certain wind directions or conditions) and the overall fitness and preferences of the group.
About your Guide
Jack – Qualified Mountain Leader
Jack’s passion for the mountains began early—he summited his first Munro at just seven years old and hasn’t looked back since. His adventures have taken him from the rugged peaks of the Scottish Highlands to the dramatic summits of the Alps, the Himalayas, and the Canadian Rockies. Despite his global experience, Jack believes nothing quite compares to the wild beauty of Scotland.
He’s happiest outdoors, whether navigating big boulders, setting off on alpine starts, or sharing his enthusiasm for Clubmoss (he never misses a chance to point it out). As a qualified Mountain Leader, Jack combines his deep love for nature with expert guidance, ensuring you’re always in safe and knowledgeable hands on the hill.
Got Questions?
Feel free to contact us with any and all questions. We always aim to reply within 24 hours.