Team Building in the snow

Today we hired facilities at Allnacriche for a youth group to do Team Building outside in the snow and indoor Archery. There was also a nice warm classroom to have lunch. They were brilliant at working together to achieve various tasks and keen to accomplish the challenge without any cheating! They were all excellent at the Archery too with hardly any arrows missing their target. We are hoping to work with them again soon.

Laggan

On Christmas Day we went to the wee hill next to the Hill fort at Laggan. Another lovely circuit where we never see anybody and it is always enjoyable. We were kicking through such big hoar crystals that they could have been frozen Christmas Roses. Getting to be a Christmas ritual!!

Carn an Fhreiceadhain

Yesterday we did this Corbett behind Kingussie. Always a pleasant circuit and usually excellent views. Left the car at -12 and summitted at -5. Wonderful dry day with deep surface hoar to kick through.

Creag Dubh again

If we only want to be out for a few hours this is an ideal hill to wander up. Conditions were good underfoot and we had an enjoyable bimble. Looked stormy over the Cairngorms but the Monadliath look great.

Active Kids have fun

Yesterday we met four of our 'Active Kids', all girls, at Alltnacriche for some fun on the Low ropes in the snow and Indoor Archery. It was cold but they were well wrapped up and out to play in the trees. We had a warm room to dive into when snacks were needed but they were keen to get outside again to try all the different elements. Most of the afternoon was spent on Archery at which they all excelled and we could not stop them!

Wild camp

We needed a night out so decided to do the Corbett of Carn Chuineag and stay overnight. The mist was down to about 400m and it rained most of the time, but we loved it! the views would have been superb too. Lots of tame deer about being fed on neeps!

Where has the snow gone?

Crossed the moor between Newtonmore and Kingussie taking in Creag Beag en-route. Big thaw setting in!

Creag Dubh Newtonmore

Always good excercise when walked from the Newtonmore end especially with the snow. Never see anyone either! Hard slab is forming well at higher level and the surface hoar is superb. Another lovely day to be out but back to admin now.

Cross country skiing

First time out this year! More snow fell overnight so we headed up the Glen on our skinnies. It was another glorious day!

Winter Wonderland

Yesterday we walked from the house across Glen Banchor and up the Creag Dubh behind Kingussie. It was hard going breaking trail but such a glorious day that we then continued along a ridge that ended across from the Munro of A'Chailleach. With diesel at 132.9 we are happy that we have such wonderful walking on our doorstep!

Glen Banchor

We only had a couple of hours playtime today so went up a wee hill called Beinn na Loin in Glen Banchor. The snow is lovely to kick through and breaking trail is still easy because it is so cold. Surface hoar building up too.

Creag Beag Kingussie

We walked from the house up Glen Banchor and then cross country to Creag Beag. It makes for a good training day in these deep, snowy conditions. Came back the same way as it was so quiet with nobody about and it would have been a shame to waste it and come back via the road.

winter has arrived!

Yesterday we were at Badaguish with a group of Inverness Brownies, there was at least 10" of fresh snow, it was lovely but a bit cold for the wee ones! This morning we did one of our favourite short walks ie a wee hill next to the Hill Fort at Laggan. Always pleasant, never see anyone and good views.

Christmas comes early at our house too as tree went up last weekend!

Loch an Earba

Today we did one of our favourite bike rides, good excercise in a remote setting and we can ride side by side! 3 Munros easily accessible along this as well as 2 Grahams and the fantastic climbing on Ardverikie Wall. We never see anyone though!

Active Kids Biking

Yesterday we had a day of fun working on biking skills, obstacles and a forest ride with a group of our very 'active kids'. They were all willing to try all the different tasks we gave them and if they could not do something right first time, they just kept on until they could! An excitable, spirited bunch they were too!

River Bran

Friday, Al, Ian and myself set off to paddle Loch a'Chroisg and the River Bran finishing at the Loch Luichart Dam. The weather was good and the scenery superb. The river level was up a bit so there was lots of Grade 1 and a particularly good stretch of Grade 2. It was moving fast and we were on Loch Achanalt within 4 hours. We found a dry spot to camp and had a lovely evening as it was a very starry night. The deer were loud too which added to the splendour of the area. The rest of the paddle was mainly Loch Luichart which is quite wild and remote. A great couple of days.

St Aidans & St Joan of Arcs

Its that time of year again when both these schools pay Aviemore a visit. We always enjoy our time with them and yesterday was no exception. The weather was awful but they still had an Archery session followed by some indoor climbing at Glenmore Lodge. This was particularly successful and there were some unexpected monkeys! They were pretty expert belayers too!

Johns last day

Yesterday we finished off some navigation techniques up Glen Banchor before going back to our house for a classroom session! John planned a route he intends to do in the Lake District using the skills he has been brushing up on. He invited us to The Beeches for a meal which was superb. Jude and Dave really do look after their guests. We had a wonderful evening as there were 3 other guests and lots of things to talk about.

Feshie hills

Today we headed towards Carn Ban Mor as far as the wee little notch and then worked hard on navigation. John is using all the tools and really thinking about where we are going and the best way of getting there whatever the visibility. His compass and map-reading skills are much better than he thinks and his accuracy is superb! Still thinking of what to do tomorrow!

Geal Charn

Today we took John to Geal Charn by Balsporran to start brushing up his navigation skills. He remembered a lot from his time with us before and was very accurate when taking bearings, measuring distance etc. He also put thought into the route we were taking too. Best of all was the craik we were all having, catching up on the stories and jokes! John is staying with Dave and Jude at the Beeches in Newtonmore and we know he is being very well looked after, spoilt we think!!

Shoemakers hill & Canoeing

Yesterday we asked our intrepid 'Active Kids' to lead us to the Shoemakers Hill near Badaguish. On the way we looked at various trees and plants, all the different colours and generally had a pleasant walk. The views were superb! In the afternoon we were out on Loch Morlich in Rafted Canoes making a lot of noise as well as working on paddle skills. Another brilliant day, thanks guys!

Indoor climbing and Archery

More 'Active Kids'! They are a great group of children to work with and do try so hard to get things right, and have fun at the same time. The climbing went really well as did the Archery. Some of them have done these activities with us before and are great at remembering rules, techniques etc. Useful when helping the newer children. Tomorrow we are doing a wee hill followed by some canoeing.

Treasure Hunt

Yesterday a group of our 'Active Kids' had fun on a Treasure Hunt, Den Building and some Team Challenge games. It was cold with showers but they just got on with it all the same!

Duntelchaig

We took a lovely family of Dad plus 3 girls aged 9, 11 and 14 to Duntelchaig today for some Weaselling and Abseiling. We had hoped to do some climbing too but the weather was pretty awful! The girls were amazing and although they were cold and wet they still wanted to do the abseil having had a challenging time Weaselling. Well done everyone!

Loch Insh

Today we met a group from Strathpeffer for a rafted canoe trip around Loch Insh and up the spey towards Kingussie. It was very cold and there was enough of a wind to build up some small waves which added to the day. Considering the weather, they did really well and we had a powerful raft, well done guys!

Aviemore to Grantown

Yesterday we were out with Pat and Stuart. BT Al came along too. Unfortunately we had to leave Louis in the car as he is not ready for a river trip yet, we did have lunch with him at Boat of Garten though. Pat and Stuart pick things up very quickly and work hard to make effective paddle strokes, they were also excellent at picking the best line down the river. It was a great day for all of us and we are looking forward to paddling together again soon.

Loch Insh to Grantown

Saturday Neil & Vanessa came down the Spey with us looking for possible campsites to practise bushcraft. Lovely day and very nice paddle!

Boat of Garten to Nethybridge

Yesterday we took 2 families on the Spey from Boat of Garten to Nethybridge. There was a little nervousness at first within the group but everyone soon relaxed and a lovely afternoon was had.

Today we have hired 2 canoes and kit to a group of 4 guys who are paddling from Boat to Spey Bay and we will catch up with them on Sunday evening. Hopefully all will be in one piece!

More Active Kids

A big group from Carrbridge turned up today for Team Challenge Fun, Archery and Den- Building. It was great fun for all of us. They are very good at remembering how to do things and some were coaching others at Archery! Ian persuaded them to build a den big enough for all of us as you can see!