Have you ever wanted to try running in the Cairngorms, but not sure where to start? Want to explore some rugged mountain terrain in one of Scotland’s most awe-inspiring areas? Two days of guided trail running in the heart of the Cairngorm National Park is the perfect place to start!
We’re lucky to have access to such a great range of mountains to explore from our base in Aviemore. It’s a mountain running paradise, with stunning views of mountains and smaller summits above the tree-line, before reaching the high arctic plateau and the heart of the range.
Because there’s such a fantastic variety of trails and terrains to explore in the Aviemore area, we can adapt our itinerary to suit the group and the weather conditions - meaning no two Cairngorms Mountain Trails courses will ever be the same!
For this weekend we are pleased to be partnering with Ellis Brigham, Aviemore. All participants will benefit from expert advice on kit and equipment and a discount on new purchases made over the weekend.
Each day we will meet in the Ellis Brigham store in Aviemore, before travelling a short distance to start our runs. 
To give you a guide as to what to expect, here is a sample weekend course.
Day 1 Cairngorm ski area to Inverdruie via the Chalamain gap and Loch an Eilein - 21km 360m ascent
Taking advantage of the ski road to get a high start, this is a route skirting the edge of the mountains, without the hard climbing to start. We cross below the imposing northern corries of Cairngorm and through the Chalamain Gap, a narrow, boulder strewn glacial outflow channel. From here we descend a well-maintained trail into the jaws of the mighty Lairig Ghru. After taking a moment to enjoy our surroundings we will blast along one of the best running descents in Scotland, a swooping trail that weaves its way out of the mountains and back into the forest. From here a detour to visit Loch an Eilein and it's castle takes us back into civilisation on the outskirts of Aviemore.
Day 2 Cairngorm plateau and northern Corries - 15km 750m ascent
The high plateau of Cairngorm gives great rewards for runners willing to make the climb. Intimate local knowledge allows us to tailor a route that takes the sting out of the climb, walking a few steeper sections, but also gently climbing on runnable terrain. Once up onto the plateau the hard work is done and we can enjoy flowing trails over the expansive terrain. Visiting a few hidden gems of dramatic viewpoints along the way.
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This two day package does not include accommodation or meals, allowing you the flexibility to choose your own. All guiding is included, but no in-course transport. Depending on the itinerary we may do circular runs, or use public transport to access Cairngorm mountain.
| Date | Price | Spaces | Booking | Your Guides |
| 4&5 May | £100 | Places available | Book now | Abel & Laura |
If you can't wait please get in touch to arrange some bespoke guiding.
This trip is all about the adventure and we will find a pace that keeps the team together and allows time to enjoy our surroundings including food breaks and a chance for photos.
This will be two days of trail running, covering around 21km, a half-marathon, each day. This may sound like a lot, but it will include some nice running and we will walk any steeper sections, so people are often surprised what they are capable of.
The trails will be a mix of easy running and some more technical single-track, so some off road running experience is useful.
A good level of mountain walking fitness along with a base of off road running experience up to steady 20km runs will help you to get the most out of the weekend.
If you have any questions about your fitness please get in touch to discuss your options.
Please refer to our guidance on Essential kit for trail running safely.
We will be aiming for 2 full days of trail running so we will have to be prepared to deal with everything that the Scottish weather can throw us. Whilst we don’t want to be over burdened it is essential that every member of the team has enough equipment to deal with the unexpected. Additional safety equipment will be carried by the guides.
Waterproof jacket (with taped or welded seams and a hood)
We recommend:
Montane Spine Waterproof Jacket (for men)
Montane Spine Waterproof Jacket (for women)
Waterproof trousers (with taped or welded seams)
We recommend:
Montane Minimus Waterproof Pants (for men)
Montane Minimus Waterproof Pants (for women)
Running vest
We recommend:
Spare* synthetic insulated upper layer
*We recommend carrying approximately 300g of synthetically insulated upper layers.
We recommend:
Montane Men's Fireball Lite 360g
Montane Women's Fireball Lite 320g
Hat and gloves suitable for the weather conditions
For cold conditions, we recommend:
Montane Prism Mitt
Montane Via Stretch Beanie
For mild/warm conditions, we recommend:
Montane Minimus Stretch Ultra Waterproof Cap (unisex)
Survival bag
We recommend:
Lifesystems Light And Dry Thermal Bivi Bag
Whistle
Adequate footwear - Fell trail shoes only
We recommend:
Inov8 TRAILFLY G 270 V2
Inov8 Roclite G 275
Food - Enough lunch and snacks to fuel a full day in the mountains
First aid kit
The guides will be carrying emergency first aid supplies but if you can have a small personal kit with blister pack/compeed and any personal medication.
If you have any questions or need advice about any of the equipment please just ask.
When booking you will receive a 20% discount code to use with Montane to help you equip yourself for the weekend.
We will meet at the Ellis Brigham store, Aviemore
There is on street parking and it is 5 minutes walk from Aviemore train station.
We will meet at 10am on Saturday, 9am on Sunday.
Depending on the route we would expect to finish around 2 or 3 pm.
Wigwam accommodation is available at Badaguish at a discount of 15%. Just make a booking through their website and use the code TRS24BADA
We also recommend Hostelling Scotland hostels in Aviemore or Glenmore where you can get a 10% discount by using the code TRAILRUN
Alternatively Aviemore has a wide variety of accommodation options
visitcairngorms.com/accommodation
We can recommend the nearby Rowan Tree Hotel
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Trail Running Scotland Ltd. Company registration number SC786843