Seasons
Winter, and only when conditions are right. But the Cairngorms has the best chance of anywhere in the UK for good winter conditions.
Centres
Access into the plateau is really only via Aviemore and Braemar. Lochnagar is accessed through Ballater; Creag Meagaidh via Loch Laggan.
Difficulty
Routes range from Scottish Grades I to VIII, so covers the full range of winter climbing possibilities.
Must See
Good ice, nights under the Shelter Stone, short days in the northern Corries, very long days further in. A dram afterwards.
This eagerly awaited fifth edition of Cicerone's highly successful Winter Climbs in the Cairngorms guide has been completely updated by the author - climber and instructor Allen Fyffe.
The major climbing areas in the Cairngorms provide some of the finest winter climbing in Britain. From the remote corries of Braeriach and Beinn a'Bhuird to the magnificent cliffs of Lochnagar and Creag an Dubh Loch and the readily accessible Northern corries of Cairngorm, every aspect of winter climbing is to be found.
There are long, varied routes and short technical test-pieces; there are pure ice climbs and buttress and mixed routes to rival any in the country. Building on previous editions of the guide a selection of the best routes in each area has been suggested. Where possible a selection of routes of all grades have been given with, where there is a choice, a few routes at around the same standard to allow for some choice should conditions or availability dictate a change.
When weather, conditions and climb are right, the Cairngorms can offer an unforgettable experience.
