When do I go?

The old 'how long is a piece of string question' which is impossible to answer. Snowed up rock and ridge routes are usually in condition from around mid-December onwards (though there's often a good week in November), with the gullies usually having formed by January. As always with Scotland, the best plan is be flexible, keeping an eye on the weather, avalanche and conditions reports (see below) but if you have to fix a date, then sometime in February through to early-March is probably best.

Conditions?

As with all UK winter climbing, the weather dictates what (if any) climbing is possible. The Northern Corries have one of the longest possible seasons of any Scottish winter venues with ascents recorded anytime from September to May. Steep snowed up rock routes, especially those in the slightly higher Coire an Lochain are usually first to come into condition, requiring only a dusting of snow. Gullies on the other hand need heavier snowfall and a few freeze thaw cycles to build up, but once formed are much more thaw resistant than mixed routes, which can strip in a matter of minutes if the temperature rises.

Here are some useful conditions websites:

• UKClimbing.com winter forum
• Needlesports Winter Conditions Page
• Scottish Avalanche Information Service

What counts as 'acceptable' conditions for winter routes, especially snowed up rock is a subject of almost endless debate. Without question, any turf used should be well frozen, while on the issue of whiteness, suffice to say that much of the challenge of snowed up rock is in finding and clearing the hooks and torques hidden in the hoar frost so climbing snow-free rock is cheating the challenge.

Potential dangers?

In spite of the easy access, the Cairngorms can prove to be one of the toughest environments to climb in. The biggest enemy is the wind, as the high open nature of the terrain gives very little shelter - even in the Coire Cas car park the wind can often make moving around difficult. Remember that walking in with the wind to your back is a lot easier than battling against it on the way out especially after a long day. The featureless terrain makes navigation in poor visibility tricky so make sure you're properly equipped - even supposedly experienced climbers (the author included!) have got lost in the Cairngorms in poor weather.

Additionally, beware of avalanches - particularly on the slopes of Coire an Lochain, and early in the season or during a thaw watch out for rockfall as there are unstable blocks on many of the cliffs. Andy Kirkpatrick's staying alive in winter is well worth a read before heading out.

How do I get there?

The cliffs of Coire an Lochain and Coire an t-Sneachda are both approached from the busy tourist town of Aviemore.

The easiest approach is via car on the A9 to Aviemore then on the ski road. There are a number of local bus operators so this is an option, as is the train (Aviemore has its own station):

• First ScotRail – Tel: 08457 48 49 50 or visit their website
• Scottish Citylink operate a regular bus service to Aviemore from their Buchanan Street Bus Station in Glasgow
• Other useful websites for public transport to the area include National Rail and Traveline Scotland

If you are arriving from abroad the nearest airports are Inverness, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Car hire is available from all of the above airport destinations:

• Car Rentals
• Travel Supermarket Car Hire

From the South:

From Perth and the south, follow the A9 northwards (direction Inverness and Aviemore) to turn off right onto the A95 which leads into the south side of Aviemore itself.

From the North:

From Inverness and the north, follow the A9 southwards (direction Perth and Aviemore) to turn off left onto the A95 and enter Aviemore on its north side.

Once in Aviemore follow the ski road (signed) along the edge of Loch Morlich to the ski car park at Cairngorm Mountain. Parking here is free. Both the ski road and car park are operated by the Cairngorm Mountain Ski company, who thankfully allow free access to this parking for non-skiers so please behave considerately.

One factor for early birds to be aware of, is that following heavy snowfall the Coire Cas road is often closed and sometimes not ploughed until mid-morning during the week.

Where do I stay?

As expected for a resort town, Aviemore has plenty of accommodation from camp-grounds in the Rothiemurchus forest to B&B's and luxury hotels. The Visit Aviemore site is a good place to start looking. Not being a great fan of camping in winter I find bunkhouses offer the best budget option, allowing the extra comfort of kit-drying facilities. The Aviemore Bunkhouse next to the excellent, Old Bridge Inn is probably the most attractive option. However, be aware that if the skiing and climbing is good then accommodation, especially at weekends can fill up quickly and sometimes looking slightly further afield in Carrbridge or Kingussie, is necessary.

Wild camping in the corries is possible but given the unsheltered aspect and proximity of the road-head, is not really worth the trouble. If you do plan to stay overnight in the mountains please remember to follow the wild-camping guidelines.

For supplies and passing time off the hill Aviemore has plenty of food and gear shops, restaurants, bars and cafes situated on the main road through town.

What gear do I need?

A single rope is often simpler for the easy gullies and mixed ridges, but for most routes of III and above double ropes will prove helpful, and dry-treated ones will be less heavy to lug out at the end of the day and dry quicker in the valley. Rack-wise, most protection in the Northern Corries is in the generally well-featured rock, so plenty of nuts and hexes is the order of the day. Some routes feature wide cracks so a few big pieces of kit can be useful, while on the harder routes cams can be very helpful- just make sure the cracks aren't icy.

Generally, pegs are either in-situ (back them up with other gear) or not needed on most Northern Corries routes - many of the harder climbs are established summer lines where the use of pegs is to be avoided. With the exception of a few routes, ice-screws and turf hooks are generally not needed. Andy Kirkpatrick's article on winter gear is a good place to start. Rockfax's Winter Climbing + is also a useful reference for those who are new to winter climbing.

Which guidebook do I need?

Numerous guidebooks contain information on the routes and climbing in the northern Cairngorms but probably the two most useful and up to date are the 2007 SMC Cairngorms guide and the 2008 SMC Scottish Winter Climbs. Both feature excellent descriptions and photo topos, with the considerably less hefty Scottish Winter Climbs guide probably the best starting point for the winter visitor.

SMC Cairngorm Guide Book UKC Gear © SMC

Scottish Winter Climbs © SMC, Dec 2008

Are there other areas nearby?

For some, the best thing about the Northern Corries is that they keep the crowds away from the rest of the northern Cairngorms. Just a short walk southwards over the plateau lies the Loch Avon basin, home to some of Scotland's biggest cliffs and most stunning scenery. The south-facing cliffs of Hell's Lum are a mecca for ice-climbers while the great chimneys and faces of Carn Etchachan and the Shelter Stone are home to many superb long adventurous winter routes. See the guidebooks for further details.

What else is there apart from the climbing?

As well as winter climbing, the Cairngorms in winter can sometimes offer excellent skiing - both on piste and off. Equipment can be hired at Cairngorm Mountain or back in Aviemore. If the crags are buried in fresh snow or thawing, the skiing can often rescue an otherwise disappointing day. As befits a tourist destination there are myriad other entertainments on offer in Strathspey, from dog-sledding to tours of the famous Speyside distilleries.

Look after the environment

The Northern Corries lie in the Cairngorms national park, the largest in the UK. Due to their height and exposure, the Cairngorm mountains have a delicate arctic environment unique to the UK. Try to minimise your impact as a visitor by sticking to established paths, treating vegetation with care and taking out everything you take in. For those who need to go on the hill, the Cairngorm ranger station at the Coire Cas now runs a free 'poo-pot' scheme to allow waste to be disposed of properly off the hill, rather than contaminating the mountain.

Further Information:

The Visit Aviemore website has a wealth of information about the local area.