Tarmachan Mountaineering

01/09/2024

In the last week or so I've been getting plenty of winter course enquiries & bookings.

The finest period in the year isn't far away!

Booked this week from keen folk:

Winter skills & guiding

Snowshoeing

Winter wildlife photography

13/08/2024

I'm out guiding in the Alps, 2 Walkers Haute Route trips back to back.
Here's just a few photos so far. It's been very hot and great fun with groups.

07/07/2024

Sunday 7th July.

Nice to have a sunny, calm winds & warmer day in the Cairngorms.

06/07/2024

I'm running a 1 day workshop on conservation, environmental awareness and wildlife day in the Northern Cairngorms.

This is an ideal opportunity to gain some essential knowledge prior to your ML assessment.

Date:

Saturday 13th July

Price: £40 for ML registered individuals, £60 for everyone else. Priority given to ML trainees.
Group maximum is 8 people.

* UPDATE. This workshop is definitely running with first booking just joined.

Please contact me for further details.

[email protected]

Gary is an highly experienced IML, WML & ML based in Aviemore. Wildlife and conservation is a passion which I've a vast amount of knowledge and expertise.

23/06/2024

This weekend I was on a 2-day CPD course with Scotch on the Rocks. Continued Professional Development is a compulsory part of the IML ( International Mountain Leader) award.

We focused on security on steep ground on Saturday, which included various techniques of keeping groups safe in more challenging terrain.

Today we were covering teaching techniques and creating games for groups whilst leading.

A beautiful weather weekend, just like Alpine conditions. Warm sun, light winds snd dry weather throughout.

Thanks to Sandy of Scotch on the Rocks for 2 quality days.

08/05/2024

Wednesday 8th May.

A beautiful, sunny morning in Coire an t-sneachda, Cairngorms.

06/05/2024

1st - 4th May.
A terrific spell of weather last week. We suddenly went from winter to summer with hot weather and wall to wall sunshine in the NW Highlands, the best spot to be in the UK.
I had 4 days of fabulous walking and wild camping in the remotest area that we have in the Highlands - The Fisherfield Forest. A forest refers to a deer forest, not a forest of trees.
A' Mhaighdean is regarded as the most remote Munro and it is also said that it enjoys the finest view from any Munro. I'll not disagree with that. I have visited these hills many,many times and it is one of the special places that we have for walking, wildness and spectacular. I was up early every morning to capture sunrises from the tops. We now enjoy 17 hours of daylight per day and your last chance to get some camping in before the dreaded midge arrives 🙂. Despite the hazy conditions, I enjoyed some spectacular temperature inversions, sunrises and sunsets on fire and a distinct lack of people 🙂
If you ever moan and tire of walking in this area then it's time to hang your boots up and start doing jigsaw puzzles.

18/04/2024

A fully inclusive 6 nights, 5 day wildlife photography holiday. All meals, accommodation transport and my expertise are included on this amazing holiday on the spectacular Ilse of Mull.

03/04/2024

Some images out of the proper camera from a camping trip in the Fisherfield Forest on Easter Sunday. Fabulous sunset.

02/04/2024

Tuesday 2nd April

The lovely Kuradagi family were out with me in the Northern Cairngorms today. Age range was from 6 to 60. None of them had ever been to Scotland or stepped foot in snow before. They were after a taste of winter. We headed into Coire an t-sneachda and found some easy slopes of snow before the boulders to 'play in the snow'. List of essential skills were: Snow Angels, digging tunnels, rolling about, building snowmen and throwing snow balls.

A top day of fun on a grey, misty, drizzly day.

The rain was just turning to snow at 800m and a few more cm's of snow high up. Next few days more snow and lower temperatures.

Winter will be with us for some weeks ahead. If you think it's going to be warm, snow free and pleasant up in the high Cairngorms then best think again.

01/04/2024

Easter time activities.
A top weekend over Easter.
Saturday - Mountain Hares
Sunday & Monday - A wild camping trip in the fabulous Fisherfield Forest.
Tomorrow - back into the snow with winter skills.
Proper photography out of the camera later.

13/03/2024

My blog from the last couple of weeks.

It's Still winter.

Fabulous mid afternoon light, CMD arete, Ben Nevis My blog has been getting a bit neglected in the last couple of weeks. I've been busy on...

12/03/2024

Tuesday 12th March.

Day 2 on Darren & Shelley 's Cairngorm Munro week with Tarmachan Mountaineering .

Today we went up on Bynack More. It was another low cloud day so views were limited to below 800m. It was very quiet on the hill, only 3 other folk on the way up. Despite the fact it looks 'snowless and spelling like' from down below it is still very much winter conditions above 800m. We were in poor visibility and full snow cover from 800m to the summit. The beautiful rime iced rocks were the highlight of the scenery again. Temperatures were very slowly rising through the day but it is still winter :) .

Another top effort from the Canadians and great company as always.