The Only Way Is Up: Fourth-Years Take on the Cairngorms

Spring may be in the air in St Andrews, but for fourth years Flore Bindel and Rosie Ruane, winter adventures have only just begun.

The pair had long wanted to climb more Munros and had spent plenty of time hiking in the mountains. But with many Scottish peaks still snow-covered, they knew enthusiasm alone was not enough.

As Bindel and Ruane put it, they did not want to end up as “those two girls in the news rescued from the mountain in Gymshark shorts.”

Instead, they travelled 125 miles north to Aviemore to spend a day learning winter hillwalking at Glenmore Lodge, Scotland’s national outdoor training centre. Keen to explore more of Scotland before graduating, the course offered the perfect starting point.

“We were really keen to do the Munros,” they explained, but wanted to gain some experience first.

The one-day course introduces the key skills needed for winter hillwalking. For Bindel, the hands-on nature of the day was exactly what she was looking for.

“The key thing about me is that I learn by doing,” she said.

After a short drive into the Cairngorms, the St Andrews students and their instructor spent around six hours on the mountain practising different techniques as they walked. Crampons went on and off, bearings were checked, and ice axe skills were put to the test.

The weather provided a full Scottish mountain experience. One moment, the hills were bright with sunshine; the next, they were standing in what felt like a blizzard. Rather than being a challenge, it became part of the lesson, showing just how quickly mountain environments can change.

Their instructor, Iain Ballantyne, shaped the day around what the pair wanted to learn. He began with a long conversation about avalanche risk and the websites that walkers should check before heading into the mountains.

Although courses can run with up to six participants, Bindel and Ruane were the only two booked in, meaning they had plenty of time to ask questions throughout the day.

Their experience also highlights the accessibility of outdoor adventures in Scotland. The course costs just over £100 per person and includes accommodation, breakfast, a packed lunch, snacks, and tea and cake. Travel to Aviemore can even be free using the Young Scot Card on the FlixBus.

Glenmore Lodge also provided all the equipment needed for the day. Bindel and Ruane ended up borrowing most of what they wore after realising their ski gear was not quite suitable for hillwalking.

One of the most memorable parts of the day was simply being in the mountains. The pair were surprised by how many people were out walking on a random Friday, with hikers of all ages enjoying the Cairngorms.

At the same time, they noticed there were not many women around and that they were among the youngest people on the hill.

By the end of the day, any nerves about winter conditions had been replaced with excitement. The experience exceeded their expectations and left the pair feeling far more confident about heading back into the snowy mountains.

Looking back, their biggest regret was simple: not discovering Scotland’s mountains earlier during their time at university.

At least now, with crampons on their boots and ice axes in hand, Bindel and Ruane are confident they will not be those girls in the news after all.

Photo by Iain Ballantyne