What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 9am - 5pm

Arc Guiding

Name: Arc Guiding
Address: Aviemore, PH22, GB
Telephone: +447548272970
Price range: £££
Rating: 5

Arc Guiding is all about nature and adventure in wild places. Run by Malcolm O’Reilly.

Based in the Cairngorms National Park, Arc Guiding provides wildlife and bird guiding, ski touring and mountainbike instruction, hillwalking and winter skills.

21/04/2025

Come and climb one of Britain's highest mountains 🗻

Ben Macdui (1309m /4295ft) is not a small hill, and it lies out on the southern edge of the famous Cairngorm plateau. This is the highest area of subarctic habitat in Britain, and comes with wildlife and weather to match! It's a fantastic (munro) summit to bag, but you'd be well advised to hire a guide because it's nature, stories and paths are easy to miss!

Book online here: https://arcguiding.com/activity/guided-walks-scotland/ben-macdui-trek/

17/04/2025

Book your winter 25/26 ski touring in the Cairngorms! ⛷🏂

Ready to face the adventure that is Scottish winter? This last season has been pretty patchy, there's no hiding it. But we had nice snow, great chat, quality learning and 5 star 🌟 reviews nevertheless. Will we get a break from El Nino/El Nina next year? We're all hoping so, but ski mountaineering is all about a varied skills toolbox, not just hero turns 🧐

For the past few years, we have had pretty reasonable conditions as early as November, then good spells in every month through to April. Sometimes it's wall-to-wall snow. Sometimes we have to hike for our turns. But whatever, I'll always work to make use of the best terrain we have, and any 'teachable moments' as they arise.

Depending on the conditions, we can:

📆 reschedule, or
🚙 relocate, or
⚡ upskill (eg: more on planning, avalanche, transceivers, ropework, etc)
..and I'll cancel only if good learning isn't possible.

(Pics from Jan, Feb, March this season)

Availability and booking at: https://arcguiding.com/activities/ski-touring-courses-scotland/ or click tag in photo

14/04/2025

Layer up for spring paddling 🛶

What outer layers are you wearing on the water this spring? Yeah, it might get a bit sunny, but remember the sun is still relatively low, even at midday. Also, rivers and the sea are still pretty cold right now. If you fall in on a sunny spring day, the cold water is going to come as quite a shock!

Make sure you've got a decent wetsuit or a wind/waterproof outer jacket and trousers. This will help prevent potentially deadly 'cold water shock' at this time of year.

Learn more in my post: https://arcguiding.com/blog/outdoor-gear/wear-sea-kayaking-canoeing/

11/04/2025

Enjoy spring birding...responsibly ⚠️

Spring is a wonderful time of year for birding, with a steady stream of arrivals and departures of birds to and from all over europe.

Our geese are massing to fly north to Iceland and Scandinavia. Ring ouzels, wheatears and willow warblers are on their way to us from Morocco. And our first ospreys are arriving from west Africa.

There's one resident Cairngorms species we shouldn't be looking for, though: capercaillie. It is illegal to disturb these critically endangered birds during the spring display season. Arc Guiding is proudly signed up to the campaign again this year.

Learn about capercaillie and more in the blog: https://arcguiding.com/blog/scotland-highlands/bird-sightings-aviemore-cairngorms/ (link in bio)

08/04/2025

Tuned up for a summer of MTB? 🎵

Maybe you've been riding all winter, maybe not. Or maybe you tweak your setup for different styles of riding. Whatever, before going all in it's worth checking your tyre and suspension pressures from time to time. And when the settings feel right, make a note of them!

Tyre and suspension pressure makes a massive difference to grip, control, pop and speed, but you might have to tweak it for different conditions or styles of riding.

Read about core MTB skills: https://arcguiding.com/blog/outdoor-skills/mountain-biking-basics/ (link in bio)

05/04/2025

Remember all that snow that melted? ❄️

We commonly get a push of cold arctic air in late spring - we often call it the 'Lambing snows'. How much to expect? Hard to say, but maybe don't put your winter kit away just yet 🌨

Almost impossible to believe after this spell of glorious sunshine, I know! But there's a lot going on behind the scenes this winter...

Currently, we have a 'snaking' Jet Stream, which tends to cause blocking high pressure zones over northern Europe and the UK. This was caused by the weakening or reversal of the Polar Vortex over the Arctic, weeks ago.

As the vortex weakens, its cold polar air rapidly sinks. This is replaced by warmer air above, giving the name Sudden Stratospheric Warming. This 'SSW' event happens far, far up in the atmosphere and is not uncommon. What IS extremely uncommon, is to have 3 occur in the same winter, which is what HAS happened this year. These SSWs are thought to be made more likely by the regular El Nino weather event off South America - which itself happened last year.

We are presently in a cool, dry, high pressure air mass, formed by the bend in the Jet Stream. This airmass is deflecting warmer, wetter weather systems into southern Europe. And where these two meet, we can SOMETIMES get more snow - even more than the regular 'Lambing snows' of late spring. It's really hard to predict and it may not come to much, so watch this space 🎲❄️☀️🌪️

Any actual experts out there who want to correct me, I'd welcome it!

Hiking tips and guiding in the Sottish Highlands at https://arcguiding.com/blog/outdoor-skills/winter-mountaineering/ (link in bio)

Jet Stream map from
Synoptic chart from
SSW info from and Highland, Islands, Moray and Aberdeenshire Weather

02/04/2025

Variable conditions! 🎲

One of the performance strands of the British Association of Ski Instructors is called 'Variable' snow. To most people, that means off-piste - an environment totally removed from predictable, relatively safe 'on piste'.

And now, having taught off-piste in the Scottish Highlands for 10 years, I can say that 'variable' remains as good a description as ever! I tell clients how Scotland's location means our winters have always been changeable, but with climate change now in effect, it's even more so.

This winter 2024/5 has been one of the most trying that any of us can remember. Did we still get powder? Yes. Ice? Yes. Storms? Yes. Rain, limited cover, mist, sunshine and avalanches? All yes.

It just feels like all these things are coming and going more quickly, and to a greater extent than before. Globally, glaciers are retreating but, if anything, MORE people are wanting to escape into the winter mountains.

Ski touring will of course continue, but I believe there's a greater need than ever for a diverse skillset, careful judgement and good training. And a sense of humour 😁

Read about my courses and the skills needed when ski touring: https://arcguiding.com/blog/outdoor-skills/learn-ski-touring/.

30/03/2025

Think about your layers 🧥

Spring is tricky month when it comes to planning for a hike. Although we can get dry, bright, sunny weather, we can also get cold, sharp, snowy showers. Add to that changes in wind direction and late-season snow patches to cross and suddenly layering for a spring hike can get complicated.

I always recommend to clients to have :

🥾 Boots for high-level walks, which can kick into snow if needed

👚👕🧥 Several thinner layers that you can adjust as the weather changes

🧤🕶️🧢 Gloves, hat and eye protection for sun and windblown rain or snow

See the blog for my guided trips in Scotland, and also a quick guide on What to Wear for Hiking (https://arcguiding.com/blog/outdoor-gear/wear-hiking/).

23/03/2025

Early nesters 🐤

We are well into the time of year when crossbills can be nesting.

These fantastic finches, with industrial bills are just about the only bird in Britain which routinely rips pinecones apart for food. Thing is, RIPE pine cones are not only hard to get into, but they can be hard to find.

Specialising on such a tricky food source may be one reason why crossbills breed so early. This maximises the chances of finding enough pine seeds for the chicks. And also that they will be strong and mobile enough to find their own while the weather is good.

Learn more about these great birds, and my guided birding trips, in the blog: https://arcguiding.com/blog/nature/scottish-crossbill/ (link in bio).

20/03/2025

Finishing on a high 😎

This whole past week has seen bright blue skies and a last-minute blanket of snow in the Cairngorms National Park. It's not widespread amazing skiing (bits have been pretty good), but it's been a welcome change from gale-force winds and bare hills.

David was looking for an intro to the basics of ski touring for an upcoming trip to Norway. We sure did that, plus superb views, decent skiing and a bit of dehydration thrown in for good measure 😀

That's the weather on the change now. The snow should stick around for a few days, but it's gonna go fast. If you're keen, we might still be able to arrange a touring day here and there, but get in quick. And bring your trainers 👟

Thanks for trusting me with your hire gear 😬 and David for embracing Scottish skiing!

See https://arcguiding.com/activities/ski-touring-courses-scotland/ for availability.

18/03/2025

Brilliant sunshine and company in the Cairngorms backcountry 😎🏔️

Great day yesterday with Kate exploring the east side of Cairngorm. Backcountry skills was the focus, so we dialled in skinning, transitions, bootpacking with axe and crampons and route planning. Also good to get eyes on Saturday's avalanche site - a spot that doesn't often slide, but we treat with a healthy dose of respect nevertheless.

Snowpack is pretty crispy everywhere, even at midday. But despite being a thin crust, it's actually pretty supportive most of the time. Rock sharks not far away in some places, but there's still some good turns to be had.

Thanks Kate for bringing smiles and stellar splitboard skills 🏂

Check out my guided backcountry courses and days at https://arcguiding.com/activities/ski-touring-courses-scotland/ - hopefully the snow will hang around until Easter 🤔

Jones Snowboards
Voile
Fritschi Swiss Bindings
contour Skins
Cab9 Eyewear
MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT

13/03/2025

Cairngorms ski touring and winter skills ❄️

Get it while you can! The death of Scottish winter this year has been greatly exaggerated!

Yeah, maybe not. But anyway, the snow's back for a limited time only. Temps go back up next week and then, who knows? Maybe winter part 5. Or spring part 3. Or something.

(Pic from almost exactly 2 months ago, when Matt and I were wading through knee-deep windslab for 2 days on an Intro Ski Touring course 😂)

Availability live on the website now: https://arcguiding.com/activities/ski-touring-courses-scotland/

11/03/2025

Snowline spikes are great for patch-hopping 😊

The to-and-fro weather at the moment is pretty typical for this time of year in the Scottish mountains. Just this year there's been more 'to' than 'fro'...

Means that we have a very patchy and sometimes hard snowpack to deal with. Putting on and taking off crampons multiple times a day is a bit tiresome. Using an ice axe to cut steps is OK, but is also a pain over longer distances.

Enter microspikes, mini-crampons, whatever you want to call them. These packable and lightweight bits of kit stretch over your boots in seconds, giving you a very welcome boost in traction.

I've been using these for a while with walking and wildlife clients and they have been absolutely flawless. Highly recommended ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Remember, they've only got short points, so not for steep, consequential terrain!

Learn what to wear for snowy conditions, and see my guided hikes in the blog: https://arcguiding.com/blog/outdoor-gear/wear-winter-hiking/ (link in bio)

08/03/2025

Transition from winter to spring 🌷

Although I'm all for spring conditions, it's better when it feels like we've had a proper winter.

January 2025 was declared by EU climate scientists as the warmest ever, globally. Plus, these last two years have been influenced by El Nino/El Nina off south America.

So, we might get a final dump of snow, certainly. But it looks like it's time to embrace the beautiful views and textures of spring walking.

Pic is Coire an Lochain, Cairngorms, in late February.

For inspiration and guided walks, check out my guide to hiking in Scotland, in the blog: https://arcguiding.com/blog/scotland-highlands/hiking/ (link in bio)

05/03/2025

Tubeless tyre hack 🤓

Riding tubeless is kinda standard for many MTB riders nowadays. And rightly so, cos they offer loads of advantages.

But getting them set up can involve a bit of pain, especially if you don't have a compressor or air tank.

This one was refusing to seat again after maintenance. Then I remembered the ol' strap trick...

1 ➡️ Seat the tyre loosely, both beads on the wheel rim.
2 ➡️ Spray or brush on loads of really soapy water to help seal
3 ➡️ Wrap a ratchet strap/canoe strap around the tyre circumference (keep it central)
4 ➡️ Tighten the strap - enough to squash the centre of the tyre 1 or 2 cm all round
5 ➡️ Inflate carefully with a track pump (more volume)
6 ➡️ Stop pumping when both tyre beads have snapped into place and the tyre is holding air
7 ➡️ Breathe sigh of relief
8 ➡️ Remove strap, remove valve core, fill tyre with sealant and re-inflate 🎉🏆🎆

Once it's seated you should be able to inflate/deflate the tyre hassle-free 👍

Learn more MTB skills at https://arcguiding.com/blog/outdoor-skills/mountain-biking-basics/ (link in bio)

02/03/2025

Finding turns with fab folk 😊

Great Intro to Ski Touring day with Catriona and Pete yesterday. The sun put in an appearance in the afternoon and we enjoyed spring turns on the sheltered side of Cairn Gorm, with skis on from the mid station ⛷️

Short hike up with skis on backs (made so much comfier with trainers). And it was great to see bustle at the top, with the Funicular running again!

Although the Scottish snowpack is on life support at the moment, this goes to show there are some sweet turns to be found. Go look in the right places, work the forecast and time it well.

And take Fruit Pastilles 🍬

Availability and booking at https://arcguiding.com/activities/ski-touring-courses-scotland/

VisitCairngorms
VisitScotland
Fritschi Swiss Bindings
contour Skins
PANDA Optics
Osprey Europe
Salomon
Cairngorm Mountain Resort

26/02/2025

Finding wildlife in the winter mountains ain't easy 😳

Strong winds, rough terrain and rain and snow make things difficult for humans. Plus, the winter mountain environment favours highly adapted animal species that are masters of camouflage and can cover big distances efficiently.

All in all, it's no easy task finding things like ptarmigan and mountain hare. And inhospitable conditions mean you have less time in which to do so.

That's why I pack a ton of safety gear, plenty of food, high-power optics and a very healthy attitude to risk when leading birding trips above the snowline ❄️

Learn more about wildlife watching and check out my guided days in the blog: https://arcguiding.com/blog/tag/wildlife-watching/

(Pic from this week in the Northern Cairngorms)

21/02/2025

Windy days in the Cairngorms 🌪️

The Cairngorms are experiencing big southwesterly winds just now - unfortunately, a bit of a death-knell for our snowpack.

When we get winds from the south, they're usually pretty punchy. Current windspeed near Cairn Gorm Summit is showing a steady 78mph, with gusts to 96mph.

For context, that rates as number 12 (the highest rating) on the Beaufort Scale.

This scale was devised by Royal Navy officer Francis Beaufort in 1805 and is used globally. Number 12 is classed as 'Hurricane Force'.

There's no way I'll be guiding in those windspeeds! To achieve anything, we would need to drop height and pay a lot of attention to our route choice, shelter points, personal gear and comms. And even then, the southerly direction can sometimes mean the wind is even stronger LOWER DOWN the hill 🙄

Stay safe out there.

Check out my guide to winter hiking in Scotland: https://arcguiding.com/blog/scotland-highlands/winter-hill-walking/ (link in bio)

Address

Aviemore
PH22

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+447548272970

Website

https://arcguiding.com/

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Sharing the skills and nature of wild places...

Based in the Cairngorms National Park, I guide and instruct throughout the Scottish Highlands and Islands and further afield. I work with a number of excellent outdoor providers and also run my own company Arc Guiding, which provides a wide range of adventure sports and guided wildlife trips throughout the year.