Episode 79: ‘A Coorie Winter’ – A Winter trip to the Cairngorms & Moray Coast
Join me for a winter trip to the Cairngorms and the Moray Coast to indulge in ‘coorie’ (or cosy) winter activities!
‘A Coorie Winter’ is a story about getting cosy (or ‘coorie’) in the great outdoors during the Scottish winter months. We’re heading to the Cairngorms National Park and the Moray Coast for stops in Aviemore, Tomintoul and Findhorn.
In each location, we’re trying another coorie winter activity, from hiking with reindeer on the Cairngorm plateau to sweating in a wood-fired sauna with sea views and star gazing at the Cairngorms Dark Sky Park. Things don’t always go as planned, but that’s part of any winter adventure to Scotland.
After the story, I share my top tips for a slow winter trip to the Cairngorms and the Moray Coast.
Disclaimer: All information provided in this podcast is based on personal travel experiences. Companies mentioned in the story or tips were active at the time of release. If you listen to episodes at a later point, note that this information may have changed in the meantime.
Resources
Find out more about and book a Hill Trip to meet the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd
Watch A Baby Reindeer’s First Christmas on YouTube to learn more about Holey Moley’s story
Read An Arctic Life by Tilly Smith
Learn more about the Findhorn Ecovillage
Book a session at Watershed Sauna in Findhorn or find other outdoor saunas in Scotland
Learn more about the Cairngorms Dark Sky Park in Glenlivet and Tomintoul
5 Travel Tips for Winter in the Cairngorms & Moray Coast
1) Minimise your mileage
Reducing the amount of ground you’re trying to cover is always my first tip when it comes to planning a slower trip to Scotland, but in no season is this more true than in winter. Daylight hours are extremely limited in the winter months, so in order to maximise the time you have to explore each day, I recommend reducing your mileage and the amount of driving you’re doing as much as possible.
On this trip, we did one longer drive at the start to get to Aviemore and another one at the end to get back to Glasgow, but in between that, we never drove more than 40 miles between our overnight destinations.
2) Be intentional about your accommodation
To me, a slow trip in winter is all about getting coorie or cosy once the darkness settles in. Think a roaring fireplace, a comfy armchair and a dram of warming whisky. Where you stay can play a big part in how achievable that is, so either book accommodation that is cosy and comes with a fireplace, or find a place in a small town where you can easily walk to the next cosy pub.
We stayed at Carn Mhor B&B in Aviemore, Rainbow Lodge in Findhorn and the Argyle Guest House in Tomintoul which were all in walking distance to cosy pubs at night.
3) Make time for some unusual activities
One thing I hear over and over again from people who plan a trip to Scotland during the winter months, is that they are worried that things will be closed and there’s not enough to do. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
There are many unique activities you can do in winter, beginning with the obvious things like stargazing and chasing the aurora if the skies are clear, to the more unusual stuff, like hiking with reindeer at the Cairngorms National Park or sweating with a view at one of Scotland’s many seaside saunas.
4) Prepare for the weather
Scottish winters are generally quite mild, but when you’re up in the Cairngorms, you’re about as far from the coast as possible, and you’re also higher up than in most places. That means that the climate here is very different. It tends to be a lot colder and you’re likely to run into snow at some point during the winter months.
When we hiked to the reindeer herd, it was well below zero and the wind made it feel even colder. And on our drive through the Speyside, we had a sprinkling of snow on the road. You definitely have to pack warm winter layers and be prepared for driving in those conditions.
5) Check out my winter travel guide
On my Scotland blog Watch Me See.com you can find a blog post filled with winter travel tips for Scotland, from adjusting your itinerary to the darker months of the year, to driving tips and more inspiration for things to do.
Pictures from my winter trip to the Cairngorms & Moray Coast
PS: We travelled in late February into early March.
