Our annual winter trip to the Cairngorms was an incredible experience for all involved, filled with adventure, skill-building and breath-taking Scottish scenery.

Thursday – Arrival and Preparation

After traveling up on Thursday afternoon, we settled into our fantastic accommodation, The Shelter Stone. A hearty fish and chip supper set us up for the days ahead, followed by packing rucksacks and fitting crampons in preparation for the mountain conditions.

Friday – Clear Skies and Cold Conditions

The weather greeted us with crisp, sunny conditions—perfect for both winter climbing and walking.

Winter Climbing – Mr Platt, alongside Josh and Jarema, headed into Coire an t-Sneachda to climb Aladdin’s Couloir (Grade II). This provided a great opportunity to practice stance management—learning how to handle belays and manage the rope while perched on small ledges.

Winter Walking – Mrs Roberts led a team of Joe, Jake, Jacob, Morgan, and Charlie up Cairn Gorm (one of Scotland’s Munros). The group practiced essential winter crampons and ice axe arrest techniques—vital for stopping a slide in icy conditions.

Saturday – Pushing Boundaries

Another day of perfect winter conditions, allowing both climbers and walkers to take on bigger challenges.

Climbing – The team tackled Oesophagus (Grade III) in Coire an Lochain, a step up in difficulty that tested both skill and confidence.

Walking – A stunning ascent up the 1141m ridge to the summit of Stob Coire an t-Sneachda. The group continued their crampon and ice axe training in Coire Domhain, reinforcing essential winter mountaineering techniques.

The evening was a well-deserved celebration for Charlie’s birthday, with dinner out and cake back at the house!

Sunday – Battling the Wind

Despite the challenging windy conditions, the teams persevered and made the most of the final day.

Climbing – Back to Coire an Lochain to climb Ewen Buttress (Grade III,4). A special mention to Jarema, who led the exit pitch—a fantastic achievement and a testament to the skills gained over the weekend.

Walking – The group ascended Cnap Coire na Spreidhe (1,151m), making their way down through the ski area for a well-earned hot chocolate at the ski station.

Throughout the trip, all pupils demonstrated resilience, teamwork and a willingness to learn. Scottish winter conditions can be tough—cold, windy, and demanding—but everyone handled them brilliantly. They carried heavy rucksacks, embraced new skills and supported each other along the way.

Most importantly, they were fantastic ambassadors for the school, making the trip a pleasure for staff to lead. Well done to all involved and a huge thank you to Mr Platt and Mrs Roberts for another outstanding trip!

Windermere School is an Independent Boarding and Day School for ages 3-18, across Junior School, Senior School and Sixth Form. The school offers holiday courses and a summer school programme, as well as short term immersion courses for international pupils, as well as an award winning IB programme. Join the adventure today >