Winter is now upon the Scottish highlands and the prospect of winter walking stirs the spirits of many across the country. In many ways a winter adventure is a more rewarding excursion in our modest Scottish hills, than a summer outing may be across or through the same landscape.
The space seems airier, the horizons vaster, and for the most part signs of mans ruthless wresting of the landscape are covered, and we are granted a glimpse in to deep time. Before us. The window of time is much shorter in order to make safe ascent and exit of the mountain, and this brings with it a type of discipline that we can often afford to neglect.
It’s true to say that with winter brings the prospect of many more serious incidents than during summer months. The understanding that the same Scottish hill offers hiking in the summer and mountaineering in the winter, will keep any intrepid explorer in good stead. One needs to be prepared not to come down, perhaps for days. In the next few short articles I will be covering a range of essential basics one requires before taking on a modest winter expedition. There will be an inventory, a piece by piece gear guide and a ‘how to overcome’ should the scenario of being trapped, lost or injured play out. I will follow these articles with a photographic series of my own excursions through this season, as I make them. I hope you will join me for the journey. Onward.

Winter is now upon the Scottish highlands and the prospect of winter walking stirs the spirits of many across the country. In many ways a winter adventure is a more rewarding excursion in our modest Scottish hills, than a summer outing may be across or through the same landscape.
The space seems airier, the horizons vaster, and for the most part signs of mans ruthless wresting of the landscape are covered, and we are granted a glimpse in to deep time. Before us. The window of time is much shorter in order to make safe ascent and exit of the mountain, and this brings with it a type of discipline that we can often afford to neglect.
It’s true to say that with winter brings the prospect of many more serious incidents than during summer months. The understanding that the same Scottish hill offers hiking in the summer and mountaineering in the winter, will keep any intrepid explorer in good stead. One needs to be prepared not to come down, perhaps for days. In the next few short articles I will be covering a range of essential basics one requires before taking on a modest winter expedition. There will be an inventory, a piece by piece gear guide and a ‘how to overcome’ should the scenario of being trapped, lost or injured play out. I will follow these articles with a photographic series of my own excursions through this season, as I make them. I hope you will join me for the journey. Onward.