There are currently no dates scheduled for this trip.
We offer private and bespoke group options for all our trips. This trip can start on any date of your choosing, with a minimum of 4 people. To explore this option please don’t hesitate to contact us with your preferred dates, accommodation, and group size.
You can also let us know if you would like to see this walking holiday added to our calendar for the following year. We will accommodate requests from our walkers wherever possible.
Price Guide
B&B – £1,149pp
Hostel – £749pp
Guiding Only – £500pp
Overview
Based in Braemar, in north-east Scotland, this hillwalking holiday takes you through the stunning mountains and glens of the eastern Cairngorms. You’ll have the opportunity to bag a few Munros, explore ancient and regenerating Scots Pine woodlands, and walk in the footsteps of royalty.
With accommodation arranged and expert guiding from one of our UK Mountain Leaders, all you need to do is relax and enjoy the adventure.
Highlights of Upper Deeside
- Summit the stand-out mountain of the area, Lochnagar.
- Walk through the ancient and regenerating pine-woods at the Linn of Dee.
- Visit the beautiful Muir of Dinnet Nature Reserve and Burn o' Vat.
- The chance to bag a 4 Munros in one day!
Itinerary
Each day you will be guided by your qualified and friendly Mountain Leader who will share these storied mountains and glens with you.
We will be with you from the moment you set off in the morning to the moment you arrive at your accommodation in the evening. You will only need to carry your day bag on the mountains, with the essentials to keep you warm, dry, fed, and hydrated for the day.
Everything will be arranged so that you can just enjoying the hills!
Below is our 'Plan A' itinerary. However, it may be necessary to adjust the itinerary to suit the weather and the group. Your guide will let you know their plan for the week at the welcome evening and of any potential changes.
Make your way to Braemar and we will meet mid-afternoon for our first walk, exploring the Morrone Birkwood. This scenic walk provides an excellent introduction to the eastern Cairngorms and a chance to stretch your legs after travelling.
Ascent: 120m
Time: 1.5-2 hours
Accommodation throughout this trip will be in or near Braemar.
Today we head to the dramatic Linn of Dee gorge and onwards to the Linn of Quoich. Our circular walk starts in the stunning Glen Quoich, where the tress are making return under the care of the Mar Lodge Estate.
As we leave the woodland and river behind we will cross to Glen Lui vai Clais Fhearnaig, a narrow cleft in the hills. From Glen Lui we will return to the River Dee and pass Mar Lodge itself on our return to the car park.
Expect woodland paths and riverside trails, with wildflowers, birds, butterflies and historic landscapes.
Distance: 10 miles (16.25 km)
Ascent: 320m
Time: 4.5-5.5 hours
Today we will ascend Lochnagar, famed in Lord Byron’s poem, taking in dramatic cliffs and breathtaking views. We will start and finish at the Spittal of Glen Muick and take a circular route. After reaching the summit we will descend to Loch Muick via the Falls of Glasallt to Glas-allt-Shiel, a royal retreat. We will return to the car park along the shores of Loch Muick.
Distance: 11.75 miles (19 km)
Ascent: 930m
Time: 6-7 hours
You can read more about Lochnagar in David’s piece on our blog.
A challenging day bagging four Munros! Starting from Britain’s highest road, we first ascend Cairn an Tuirc, then continue to Cairn of Claise, Glas Maol, and Creag Leacach, before finishing at Glenshee Ski Centre.
Once the height is gained on the first Munro the ground is a mix of rocky summits and grassy slopes on a route that can be reversed if keeping the weather at our backs is a good plan for the day.
Distance: 11 miles (18 km)
Ascent: 900m
Time: 6.5-7.5 hours
A more relaxed day at the Muir of Dinnet Nature Reserve, with a circular walk around Loch Kinord and Burn o’ Vat. A great opportunity for wildlife watching—bring binoculars!
This is a day to stretch the legs but without the being as strenuous as the previous days in the mountains.
Distance: 6 miles (10 km)
Ascent: N/A
Time: 2-3 hours
Our final walk takes us up the Corbett, Creag nan Gabhar, for stunning panoramic views over the landscapes we’ve explored all week. We will return via Loch Callater with some rougher less trodden ground covered to get there. Callater stables make for a nice rest spot and the stories of the Priest’s Well a reminder of colder winters.
Distance: 9 miles (14.5km)
Ascent: 475m
Time: 5-6 hours
Today is departure day and it is time to make our way home or on to other adventures. After breakfast, we will say our farewells!
What's Included?
The cost includes
- B&B or Hostel accommodation for 6 nights
- 6 Days walking
- Qualified Mountain Leader as your guide
- All transfers between accommodation and the walks
- A copy of Nan Shepherd’s ‘Living Mountain’
- Comprehensive Information Pack
- Maximum group size of 8
Not included in our packages
- Lunches and dinners
- Arrival and departure transport
Accommodation Options
Bed & Breakfast
The Bed and Breakfast option provides good standard accommodation, with breakfast included in the price of your holiday. The B&Bs we use are located within Braemar, giving you access to local shops and a choice of pubs for your evening meal.
Hostel
We offer this holiday with the option of hostel accommodation. This will be a bed in a shared dorm within a local hostel. Bathroom facilities are shared and there is access to a communal kitchen.
This is a more basic accommodation option and great for those travelling on a budget.
Guiding Only
For those who are living locally, or travelling in a camper van, or wishing to arrange their own accommodation, we offer this trip without accommodation as well.
FAQs
This trip is graded 4/5 on our hillwalking and mountaineering scale.
Harder hill walks that will include longer days and pathless sections. There may be scree and minor scrambling. This includes the bulk of the Munros. Previous hillwalking experience is recommended, and good hill fitness needed for enjoyment.
This hillwalking holiday involves some steep and sustained ascent and descent over rocks and heather. There are some short boggy sections too but for the most part the trails are good. Taking in numerous Munros and Corbetts this is a trip requiring hill fitness to be enjoyed.
You can read more about our grading system in our Trip Difficulty Guide.
To help you decide if this trip is right for you, please also refer to the itinerary, which includes daily distances, ascent, and detailed descriptions of the terrain.
On this hillwalking holiday you can expect a taste of the Cairngorms landscape and an insight into why Nan Shepherd felt so at home here. You can expect mountainous walking as well as some lower level walks. The paths will be rocky and occasionally boggy, and significant ascents will be required.
There will be plenty opportunities to observe the wildlife and plantlife as well as learn a little about the history of the area.
To make the most of this holiday you will want to have a good level of fitness. The hills we will be tackling will be in parts steep, rocky and boggy. We will be making significant height gains most days.
Previous hillwalking experience would be advisable, but if you are physically fit and want to experience something new then this could be a good choice for you as well.
Braemar can now be accessed by public transport using the electric bus service from Dundee. Arrival by car is also straightforward, and it is a scenic drive whether arriving from Aberdeen of coming from Perth.
Braemar is our base for this trip and your accommodation will be within the village.
Braemar has a small village shop, cafes as well as a pub and a larger restaurant. There is also an excellent outdoor shop should need any last minute kit.
You will be provided with a full kit list, but as a guide you will need:
A medium rucksack (30-35 litres), walking boots, waterproof trousers, waterproof jacket, hat, gloves, a spare warm layers and walking trousers (not jeans or denim), a water bottle, sun and midge protection.
With Thistle Trekking you get a personal service. We are happy to answer any questions and queries and help where we can with all aspects of your trip.
Your point of contact will be the same person from the first enquiry to the final communication before your Lochnagar & Upper Deeside holiday.
Our guides are all qualified, experienced, and fun companions on the hill.
What our walkers said about their Lochnagar & Upper Deeside walking holiday
Our guide David was unfailingly positive, kind, encouraging, accommodating, and knowledgeable! He impressed us with his patience, honesty, and attention to detail. He knew the area well, and did a wonderful job sharing his knowledge of the Cairngorms and surrounding region. And he was an articulate conversationalist, to boot!
Jennifer Y
Our accommodations in Braemar were lovely and comfortable, with a delicious breakfast each morning, and the walks were stunningly beautiful. We feel very fortunate to have discovered Thistle Trekking and hope to do another trip with them in the future.
