Camping In a 10,000 Year Old Forest: https://youtu.be/0YA1OmuNrOE

I do like the "travelling to the destination before the adventure starts" part of the video

Personally, I really really like the 'traveling to the destination' start. I'm not from Ireland, so it's interesting to see more 'normal' scenes as well. For example, I had never taken a ferry before my trip to Norway (2 years ago), so even something super common for you is quite interesting for others. Overall, it's just enjoyable to watch. Feels a bit like 'behind the scenes'! And IF you decide against it in the long run (I hope not), maybe it's something for your second channel (like a short behind the scenes episode for those longer trips).

My dad has been mountaineering in the Cairngorms for over fifty years, and he always says that the main contributing factor to deaths is bad weather. Not just the severity of the weather, but how quickly it can change. He always described really bad winter storms in the Cairngorms as "not survivable". If you are caught out in those conditions, you can find yourself in a very serious situation very quickly.

You are about 500 yards from Glenmore Lodge, best place in the UK for winter skills courses....

Can't thank you enough for letting my music be a part of such a great video, Stephen! 🥰
(Even if I'm now tempted to rename Sunflower to Psunflower 🤣)
Keep up the great work! ✨️💖💪

I’m glad that you enjoyed your day but you were incredibly lucky with the weather. I’m an old man now but up until i was 62 I winter climbed ice in Scotland and I have been on the Cairngorm plateau  in a white out and it is a truly scary place to be and a very easy place to die. You made the correct call not to push out across the plateau even though you had head torches. Come back, be prepared for disappointment and be careful.

Just in case you’re wondering, best fish and chips in the area aren’t in Aviemore. Try Joe’s in Kingussie.

When I used to ski Scotland the first port of call was always the café, because the people who had been out since first light had been up the slopes and had skied them so you would get a first-class ski report from them, they were usually ski guides or first responders, and when I skied Glen Shee, we always let the rescue team know we were available for extra manpower, which got us priority on the lifts too, this was before mobile phones, so communication was done by lift operators.

The "traveling to ...." section provides nice context. I'm a fan.

I gave up skiing 20 years ago to look after my family but returned to it last year. Before giving it up, I'd been a ski instructor for 22 years. Still makes me giggle this thing people say about "Oh you'll break a leg if you go skiing" - that stems from the 1930's when people skied in leather boots attached to their skis with a steel cable. Ever since the 1980's ski boots (an evolution of the plastic mountaineering boot you were wearing) have been attached with the modern safety binding which ejects your foot if it even slightly twists to prevent injuries.

Best part of this vid is that you stayed within your limits and didn't let barriers stop you from accomplishing your goal. Nice adventure!

Just a wee suggestion Stephen, as an old survivor of hillwalking in Scotland, never, NEVER, EVER go walking alone in the Scottish mountains in winter. Too risky

Wanted to add to all the comments saying they loved the travel info! Really enjoyed seeing the ferry and the drive.

Um, a winter mountaineering course at Glenmore Lodge...? Just an idea 🤔

£360 to get from the north to scotland is crazy

Yep telling the story from the beginning is great. It puts context on it.

It is said that in Scotland every winter there are about 200 avalanches, they are just in places few go.
I was skiing in Glen Shee many years ago at the top of a popular slope when the wind started to blow strong and the snow went to very fine particles. Within minutes, we were on the ground attempting to close our nose and mouth off to fine particles of snow that were getting everywhere and threatening to choke us. Even face coverings were ineffective as it clogged the fabric air channels, and this was only, 2000ft above sea level with facilities all around.
If you are really lucky you may even spot a Highland Wildcat while in the Cairngorms as a release program has been ongoing for a few years, and they are now breeding in the area.

Brilliant video. You got very lucky with the conditions on that walk. I don’t think people realise just how dangerous the Scottish mountains are and not just in winter. The conditions can change so quickly and thoroughly

The joys of "sun disc in sky" when it's a grey-out  (can see the ground racks and shapes, but from about 10m out it's all grey...).
Things are so much better when you have the "sun disc in sky" reference!