Appendix 1: What to Make of the Sleeper to the Cairngorms?

The sleeper did work well for this kind of short break. Three days walking, and wild camping, in the Highlands did feel like a real break. I did feel that I got more value out of this three day that I would have done out of many others.

My return ticket, and sleeper birth one way, cost me £150. You can reduce the cost of the trip significantly by booking a seat rather than taking a cabin. The book-able seats a rather like airline seats. Nevertheless, I thought they sleeper birth was good value for money. I could have taken a 3 day walking break using B&Bs and that would certainly have been expensive. Probably even a weekend using youth hostels would have cost more. A flight from Birmingham to Inverness would have been faster but by the time the additional costs of taxis and train connections were taken into account I doubt it would really have been cheaper.

So, the service worked for a three day break. But I could have extended it.

To thu-hike the low tracks more extensively would probably have meant adding another couple of days in order for me to walk on and still be able to return to Aviemore, but this would have put this trip into more than a long weekend category. I could have returned on a sleeper, giving me an extra day, but I quite appreciate the relaxing journey back and I don't really fancy being pitched back into the real world immediately after a sleeper trip.

Adding just another day would have allowed me some more munro climbing. The tent could have been pitched at Derry Lodge and I could have taken a day pack up to pick up some more of the peaks around Ben Macdui.

A Longer Break?

This last option could easily be extended for a 7 or 10 day break. For example, I could have walked from Aviemore to Derry Lodge with four days food, set up base camp there and explored the tops. It would then be a short hop to Braemar for a rest day and a chance to pick up new supplies. From Braemar I could easily return to Derry Lodge or maybe even take in Lochnagar before returning. Getting to anywhere from Braemar means a day and it only takes a couple of easily walk back to Aviemore. This might be a nice break and one that I'll certainly use at some point.

So, the sleeper trip north must be rated as a success!