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.

17/05/2025

Standout songbird 🐦

The snow bunting is one of the rarest breeding birds in Britain. To see one in summer plumage in Britain is no easy task, because they nest up near the very highest summits in Scotland. Or in the Arctic! They are quite confiding, but also legally protected, so watch your step (and dog) around them. The males shining black and white plumage really makes them stand out on a spring day!

Learn more in the blog: https://arcguiding.com/blog/nature/snow-bunting/ or hit the link in bio.

Kowa Sporting Optics
Viking Optical

15/05/2025

Wild and remote ⛰️

At 1309m above sea level Ben Macdui is Britain's second-highest summit. It appears barren and lifeless, but it is home to some of the rarest wildlife in the UK. On a sunny day it seems benign, but in the winter mists watch out for the terrifying Grey Man. Lives old and young have been lost in this Arctic-like place, but it still draws adventurous and nature-loving people from all over the world.

Learn more about Ben Macdui in the blog: https://arcguiding.com/blog/scotland-highlands/ben-macdui/ or hit the link in bio.

Earned It Co

11/05/2025

What is a sea kayak? 🛶

Kayaks are an ancient form of transport, dating back to prehistoric times.

Modern kayaks designed for touring on lochs and the sea are roomy, comfortable boats with plenty of space for day journeys and camping trips. Their long length makes them fast and stable on the sea and watertight bulkheads keep everything ship-shape 😁 Plus, they make great vessels for observing marine wildlife!

Find out more in the blog: https://arcguiding.com/blog/outdoor-gear/sea-kayak-ph-scorpio-mini-review/ or hit link in bio.

08/05/2025

Ride high and far behind Aviemore this summer 🚲

The Burma Road is a beautiful, steep and wild ride that can be started and/or finished from Aviemore in the Cairngorms. Its highest point is actually higher than the carpark at the Cairngorm ski carpark and it descends into some beautiful, remote hill and forest scenery. And you might find a monument to a legendary local archer, too.

Learn more in my blog post: https://arcguiding.com/blog/scotland-highlands/burma-road-aviemore/ or hit the link in bio.

06/05/2025

Mega wildife days 🦅

Enjoyed a fantastic couple of days this week with Fi as we went looking for some of the great species in the Cairngorms. Despite some hefty hail showers on day one, we had some wonderful wildlife encounters:

🦅Golden and White-tailed sea eagles hunting on BOTH days
🦜Close views of crossbills with young
🐦‍⬛Crested tit practically at our feet
🦅Osprey both days, including fishing
🦌3 species of deer (plus a reindeer traffic jam)
🐇Mountain hare

Really lovely chats and great banter too 😂

📷 Osprey, crested tit, crossbill, hen harrier (male), reindeer, redstart, red grouse, cuckoo, mountain hare.

Learn more about Scotland's great wildlife in the blog: https://arcguiding.com/blog/scotland-highlands/wildlife/

Private guided birding trips available year round.

03/05/2025

The Scottish Highlands has a wide diversity of hiking. From ancient pine forests, to high arctic-like mountains. There's wide open spaces, stormy coastlines, tranquil beaches and centuries-old villages.

Come and enjoy some wonderful walks this summer. Arc Guiding specialises in private and small group tailored guided hikes, including special interest and navigation skills. Read the blog post for inspiration: https://arcguiding.com/blog/scotland-highlands/hiking/ or click link in bio.

29/04/2025

Explore the coasts and lochs of Scotland 🛶

Scotland has wonderful opportunities for canoe and kayak journeys in beautiful places.

A really diverse coastline, with great wildlife scenery and stories, there are memories to be made and beauatiful places to unwind in.

⭐20 years experience

📍Locally based

👤Small groups and individuals

Learn more at https://arcguiding.com/blog/scotland-highlands/sea-kayaking-canoe/ (link in bio)

26/04/2025

Find great species this spring 🦅

Spring is a great time of year to go birding in the Scottish Highlands 😊

Here in the Cairngorms, we have many of Britain's star wildlife, with many summer migrants already arriving.

Spend 1, 2 or more days exploring a variety of habitats, ranging from ancient pine forest to peaceful lochs, to high mountains.

📍Locally based

⭐20 years experience

📷Shared photos

✅Responsible viewing

Availability and booking here: https://arcguiding.com/activities/wildlife-tours-scotland/ or click tag in photo.

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/

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.