This morning I scraped frost from the windscreen for the first time this autumn.
There has already been some snow on Cairngorm this week too, although that certainly doesn’t mean that winter has arrived. October in the Cairngorms doesn’t follow a timetable, and conditions can vary enormously from one year to the next.
So far, this October has brought some beautiful sunny days, particularly in the mornings. The days are beginning to shorten, though, and both mornings and evenings are drawing in. The sunrises have been spectacular, with mist lying along the River Spey and plenty of colour in the sky.
It’s a lovely time to be in the Cairngorms, but it is also a time of year when families need to be prepared for the weather to change.
And that’s actually one of the things we like about an autumn break here. You don’t need to plan every day around one particular activity. Have a few possibilities in mind and make your plans according to the weather.
Make the most of the good weather
If you wake up to a clear morning, get outside.
Autumn mornings can be particularly beautiful in the Cairngorms, with low sunlight, mist in the glens and changing colours in the woods. You don’t necessarily need to set off on a full day’s walk. A shorter woodland walk can be enough to get everyone outside before lunch.
Cycling is another good option. There are quiet roads, forest tracks and cycling trails throughout the area, with possibilities ranging from family-friendly rides to more challenging mountain biking.
If you have brought bikes or are hiring them locally, an autumn morning can be an excellent time to get out before the weather changes.
Add a little adventure
Not every family holiday needs to revolve around walking and sightseeing. There are plenty of more adventurous experiences in the Cairngorms too, and autumn can be a good time to fit one into your plans.
Depending on the weather and the time of year, families can try mountain karting on Cairngorm, take a Coo Safari around Rothiemurchus, or head into the trees at TreeZone for a high ropes experience.
There is also the zip wire with G2 Outdoor, as well as activities such as mini Land Rovers and go-karting.
These are the sorts of experiences that can become the part of a family holiday that everyone talks about afterwards. They also give you a useful alternative when you’ve had enough of walking but still want to get outside and do something.
It’s worth checking individual opening arrangements, age and height restrictions and weather requirements before you book, particularly later in the autumn when some activities operate on a more seasonal basis.Don’t worry if the forecast changes
Don’t worry if the forecast changes
One of the advantages of staying somewhere for several nights is that you don’t have to make the whole holiday depend on one particular day.
A forecast showing rain doesn’t necessarily mean that it will rain all day. Equally, a beautiful morning can turn into a wet afternoon.
Rather than planning an itinerary where everyone has to be at a particular attraction at a particular time, leave some flexibility.
Go for a walk while the weather is good. Have lunch somewhere warm. Visit an attraction in the afternoon if the rain arrives. Or change your plans completely.
For families in particular, this can make a holiday much less stressful.
Have a few rainy-day options
There are plenty of things to do in and around the Cairngorms when the weather isn’t suitable for being outside all day.
The Highland Folk Museum at Newtonmore is a good example of somewhere where you can spend time exploring local history and how people lived and worked in the Highlands. Knockando Woollen Mill and Auld Mill Alpacas offer a very different look at Highland life and crafts.
There are also cafés, restaurants, galleries and other attractions to explore, so a wet afternoon doesn’t have to mean sitting in your accommodation wondering what to do next.
For families, places such as Landmark Forest Adventure Park and the Highland Wildlife Park can also provide a change of pace from walking and cycling.
Short walks still count
Autumn isn’t necessarily the time for the longest day out.
As the daylight hours shorten, there is something to be said for choosing a shorter walk and taking your time. Look at the autumn colours, investigate the woods, watch for birds and wildlife and stop for a picnic or hot drink.
For children, a short walk where there is plenty to discover can be far more enjoyable than a long hike simply because you’ve decided that you need to cover a certain distance.
And if everyone is getting cold and wet, there’s nothing wrong with turning around.
Take advantage of the early evenings
One of the noticeable changes as autumn progresses is how quickly the evenings draw in.
That might sound like a disadvantage when you’re planning an outdoor holiday, but it can give a family break a different rhythm.
There’s time to come back to Fraoch Lodge, get warm, have something to eat and settle down for the evening. We have books and board games in the lounge, and autumn is when the fire starts to become a much more regular part of the evening.
After a day outside, children don’t necessarily need another organised activity. Sometimes playing a board game, reading or simply talking about what you’ve done that day is enough.
And if the weather is really good…
Take advantage of it.
The temptation with a family holiday can be to stick to the plan you’ve made before you arrived. But if you wake up to one of those crisp, sunny autumn mornings, that’s probably the day to head outside.
Go cycling. Walk beside a loch. Explore the forest. Have a picnic. Look for wildlife. Stay out a little longer.
The weather might be different tomorrow.
Autumn in the Cairngorms isn’t predictable – and that’s part of it
The frost on our garden this morning and the first snow on Cairngorm are reminders that winter isn’t far away. But they aren’t a guarantee that the rest of October will be cold and snowy.
We’ve already had some beautiful sunny days this month, and autumn can continue to bring relatively mild, bright weather as well as rain, wind and the occasional early taste of winter.
That’s why we don’t think a good autumn family holiday needs a rigid itinerary.
Come prepared for changing conditions. Have a mixture of outdoor and indoor ideas. Make the most of the good weather when it arrives and don’t be too disappointed when it doesn’t.
And perhaps leave a little room in the plans for those unexpected autumn moments – a spectacular sunrise, mist lying along the river, frost sparkling on the garden or the first glimpse of snow on the Cairngorms.
Those are often the things that make a family holiday memorable.