WR HIGHLAND WINTER ROUND
SIX DAYS. THREE STAGES. A SCOTTISH WINTER.
Aviemore → Aviemore
3-9 January 2027 - £995 per person
WInter mountain trekking - wr grade: severe
A winter expedition for experienced mountain pairs. Choose your checkpoints, carry your shelter and make the decisions that count—across mountain days, self-supported nights and a final overnight push.
Three score stages. Two supported recovery camps. Routes and checkpoint areas revealed at each stage briefing.
Maximum 16 participants. Enter as an expedition pair.
10% deposit: £99.50 per person.
THE MISSION
The Highland Winter Round is a three-stage winter score expedition, starting and finishing in Aviemore.
Each stage offers a choice of checkpoints with different point values and levels of difficulty, alongside compulsory checkpoints and a fixed finish deadline. Your pair decides what to attempt, which route to take and when to leave points behind.
The first two stages each span two days and include a self-supported overnight camp. Carry your tent, sleeping equipment, food and cooking kit, then reach a supported WR camp for a substantial meal, rest and resupply.
The final stage runs through the night: a 26-hour navigation and endurance challenge, with a compulsory staffed rest and safety stop before the overnight section.
Success demands sound judgement as well as stamina. The strongest plan is one your pair can deliver in the conditions.
Tough mountains - Tougher NAVIGATION - ONE great EXPEDITION
STAGE 1 — INTO THE WINTER
Monday 4–Tuesday 5 January
Start 0800 Monday · Finish by 1500 Tuesday
Leave Aviemore for your first two-day score stage. Choose your checkpoints, assess the conditions and reach the compulsory staffed welfare checkpoint before establishing your overnight camp.
Camp in your own tent within the area briefed by WR. The compulsory rest period runs from 1800 Monday to 0600 Tuesday: scoring and competitive movement stop.
Resume from 0600 and reach supported Stage Camp 1 by 1500 for recovery, supper and resupply. Breakfast is provided before Stage 2.
Carry your own stage food and stove fuel, including supper and breakfast for the wild camp.
STAGE 2 — FURTHER INTO THE ROUND
Wednesday 6–Thursday 7 January
Start 0800 Wednesday · Finish by 1500 Thursday
A fresh briefing reveals the next stage and its scoring opportunities. Plan your route, select your checkpoints and pass through the compulsory staffed welfare checkpoint before your second self-supported night.
Camp in your own tent within the briefed area. The compulsory rest period runs from 1800 Wednesday to 0600 Thursday: scoring and competitive movement stop.
Resume from 0600 and reach supported Stage Camp 2 by 1500. Recover, replenish your supplies and prepare for the final stage, with supper and breakfast provided.
Carry your own stage food and stove fuel, including supper and breakfast for the wild camp.
STAGE 3 — THROUGH THE NIGHT
Friday 8–Saturday 9 January
Start 0800 Friday · Finish by 1000 Saturday
The final score stage gives your pair 26 hours to select checkpoints and complete the round back to Aviemore.
A compulsory staffed rest and safety stop runs from 2000 to 2100 on Friday. The 1800–0600 rest rule from Stages 1 and 2 does not apply.
The overnight section follows lower terrain, with navigation, endurance and teamwork at its heart. It is planned to avoid exposed ridges and steep technical ground.
Carry your tent, required equipment, food and fuel for the full stage. Finish by 1000, then join the expedition for hot brunch, results and medals from 1030 to 1200.
YOUR CAMP. YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
On Monday and Wednesday nights, your pair camps independently, carrying everything needed to shelter, sleep and cook in winter conditions.
A suitable winter tent is compulsory for every pair. Bothies are not part of the planned accommodation, and access to a building never replaces the requirement to carry your own shelter.
WR briefs the permitted overnight areas, restrictions and alternatives. Within those limits, you choose your pitch and manage your camp.
Both self-supported nights include a compulsory rest period from 1800-0600 on Monday and Wednesday nights. Checkpoint scoring is suspended and competitive movement stops. Movement for safety remains permitted and must be reported to WR as soon as practicable.
You must arrive with previous winter camping experience and equipment you know how to use.
SUPPORT where it counts
You manage your pair in the field. WR provides the expedition framework, staffed checkpoints and supported camps around you.
SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
WR issues one satellite communicator per pair for expedition check-ins, communication and emergency use. Device operation and communication procedures form part of the arrival briefing.
STAFFED WELFARE CHECKPOINTS
Compulsory checkpoints on the first two stages allow the WR team to assess your condition and review your overnight plan before you continue.
SUPPORTED STAGE CAMPS
On Tuesday and Thursday nights, return to WR tipis, supper, breakfast and field-team support. Access your resupply bags to replenish your own stage food, stove fuel and other essentials.
CONDITIONS-LED PLANNING
WR reviews weather and mountain conditions throughout the expedition and can change checkpoint areas, camps, timings and stage arrangements.
BUILT AROUND THE CONDITIONS
The Highland Winter Round is planned with mountain objectives and lower alternatives, allowing WR to select the ground appropriate to the conditions.
When conditions allow, stages can offer access to high mountain terrain and Munro objectives. When they do not, the challenge shifts to lower routes, navigation and expedition judgement.
Stage locations, checkpoint areas and overnight arrangements are revealed at the relevant stage briefing. You then build your plan around the information provided.
WR reserves the right to vary routes, checkpoints, camps and timings in response to weather, snow, avalanche hazard and other mountain conditions. Stages may be shortened, relocated or suspended where necessary.
IS THIS FOR YOU?
WR GRADE: SEVERE
This expedition is for experienced winter hill walkers and mountaineers who can operate independently as a pair in a Scottish Winter.
You should already be confident in:
Navigation and micro-navigation in darkness, poor visibility and severe weather.
Winter mountain route-finding across snow, ice and mixed terrain.
Appropriate use of an ice axe and crampons.
Rope techniques appropriate to the terrain, where required.
Winter camping, pitching your tent and managing cold, wet or frozen equipment.
Risk Management and Planning, recognising when to change your plan, turn back or seek assistance.
Mountain Fitness, carrying a multi-day winter pack and sustaining effort over successive days. Expect approximately 35–60 km and 1,000–2,500 m of ascent across each two-day stage, depending on your checkpoint choices and the conditions. Distances are indicative: WR may shorten or relocate stages in response to winter weather and mountain conditions.
This is not an introductory winter skills course. Applications will be reviewed for relevant experience.
Your expedition pair remains your core team. WR may combine pairs into groups of four for particular sections where conditions require it.
KEY ADMINISTRATION
DATES AND ARRIVAL
3–9 January 2027. Registration and briefings begin at 1600 on Sunday 3 January in Aviemore. Arrival-night accommodation, supper and breakfast are included.
Plan your travel to arrive in good time for registration. The exact meeting point and joining instructions will be issued before departure.
STAGE TIMINGS AND REST
Stage 1: 0800 Monday 4 January to 1500 Tuesday 5 January.
Stage 2: 0800 Wednesday 6 January to 1500 Thursday 7 January.
Both stages include a compulsory overnight rest period from 1800 to 0600. Pairs must be camped for this period; checkpoint scoring and competitive movement are suspended. Movement for safety remains permitted and must be reported to WR as soon as practicable.
Stage 3: 0800 Friday 8 January to 1000 Saturday 9 January, including a compulsory staffed rest and safety stop from 2000 to 2100 on Friday.
ACCOMMODATION
Sunday: WR arrival camp.
Monday and Wednesday: self-supported camping in your own tent.
Tuesday and Thursday: supported WR tipi camps.
Friday: final overnight stage, including a compulsory staffed rest and safety stop.
There is no overnight accommodation provided on Saturday 9 January.
FOOD AND RESUPPLY
WR provides supper and breakfast at the Sunday arrival camp and the supported stage camps on Tuesday and Thursday. Hot brunch is included at the finish on Saturday.
Participants provide all food and stove fuel needed during the stages, including snacks, meals for the self-supported camping nights and food for the final overnight stage.
WR transports your resupply bags to the supported stage camps, where you can replenish your food, fuel and other essentials. Packing and fuel transport requirements will be detailed in the expedition brief.
EQUIPMENT
Each pair must carry a suitable winter tent, cooking equipment and the required shared safety equipment. Each participant needs their own winter sleeping system, clothing and mountain equipment.
One WR satellite communicator is issued per pair. A full mandatory equipment list will be provided before the expedition.
FINISH AND DEPARTURE
Finish in Aviemore by 1000 on Saturday 9 January. Hot brunch, results and medals follow from 1030 to 1200.
Allow time after the finish programme for collecting equipment and onward travel. Check rail services before booking.
PRICE
£995 per person. A 10% deposit of £99.50 secures your place following acceptance, with the remaining £895.50 payable in stages.
TAKE ON THE HIGHLAND WINTER ROUND
Bring winter experience, a trusted partner and the judgement to make good decisions when the plan meets the weather.
Aviemore · 3–9 January 2027
£995 per person · Maximum 16 participants