Walk @ The Top - Managed Cairn Gorm Walks in July

The Walk @ The Top is a 90 minute guided walk taking visitors on a circular route to the summit of the UK‘s 6th highest summit – Cairn Gorm . Visitors take the funicular up to the Ptarmigan Top Station and exit the building accompanied by a guide at all times. The route is approximately 2 miles long, on rough, uneven surfaces and includes a steady ascent in altitude of 486ft (148m). Visitors, in small groups of 10 will walk with the guide up onto the largest land mass above 3,000 ft in the UK. You must remain with your guide at all times and return back into the Ptarmigan building. With its ancient glacial landscapes, and weather similar to that nearer the Arctic Circle, the Walk @ The Top is your opportunity to experience the Cairngorms up close and personal. Access to any other parts of the mountain is not permitted.

Am I fit enough to do this walk?

- If you can walk steadily for two hours without a break and do not suffer from any serious medical conditions you should comfortably complete the walk. You will require waterproof outer clothing and walking boots or trail type shoes to participate.

Can children take part in the walk?

- The walk at the top is suitable for children aged 6 years and over. We also recognise that some children under this age are able to walk for two hours without a break and these children are welcome to join the walk too. Toddler & babies in backpacks may also participate as long as weather conditions are deemed suitable by the guide.

- The footpath conditions are not suitable for strollers, buggies or wheelchairs.

Can dogs participate in the walk?

- Registered assistance dogs only.

Why is this walk so special?

- The Cairngorm Mountains are one of Europe’s largest wilderness providing a unique habitat for many arctic/alpine plants and wildlife not normally associated with the UK. Most of the land surrounding the ski area is protected under European and UK Environmental Law.

- CairnGorm Mountain Ltd has been granted permission by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Highland Council (THC) to allow managed numbers of funicular passengers exit the Ptarmigan Top Station to take part in a series of guided walks as part of a carefully managed trial.

- The trial concludes on the 31st October 2010, when the mountain railway operators will report back to SNH and THC. All being well the report will conclude that the managed programme did not impact the heart of the National Park in a negative way. Every participant in the trial Walk @ The Top programme will be invited to provide their own feedback on this trial.

in reference to: Cairngorm Mountain - Walk @ The Top (view on Google Sidewiki)