Fjällraven Classic UK

A 65km trail, remote landscapes, wild camping and you. This is Classic UK. It’s an epic journey in one of the UK’s remaining wilderness areas, a trek through the magnificent Cairngorm National Park.

With everything you need packed into your backpack, this is the landscape you’ll call home while you walk, surrounded by nature’s giants.

Cairngorms National Park, Scotland
From September 13 to
September 16, 2022
4 days

FESTIVAL PROGRAM

Fjällraven Classic UK

This is a journey like no other. Even though you go at your own pace, you’ll meet other trekkers who, despite different levels of experience, all share the same love for nature; the same willingness to spend time in the outdoors.

Classic UK is the continuation of the Classic legacy. It’s our chance to show you that you don’t need to travel far and wide to find nature. The journey isn’t easy, but the result is worth it. Live simply, move at your own pace and reconnect with yourself, your loved ones and nature. You may even make some new friends along the way and, of course, have a whole lot of fun in the process.

The path takes in truly spectacular scenery that seems to roll and roll into the horizon. A trip of contrasts, the journey will take you from ancient Scottish woodlands, moving through tight valleys, vast glens and surrounded by a roll-call of some of Scotland’s highest and most iconic mountains.

We take care of the logistics – food, transfers, checkpoints, support and even a few little treats along the way – so you can focus on the task of walking, your backpack loaded with everything you need to make the journey of a lifetime.

At the Start

You can arrive on Monday 12th September and camp in the Fjällräven Classic UK basecamp at Mar Lodge. If traveling by car, follow the signs to the dedicated parking area. Parking is free of charge for trekkers.

Registration will be open from 4pm to 10pm on Monday and from 7am to 8:30am on Tuesday.

You will collect your food, fuel, map and Trekking Pass at registration. You can then make any final preparations, weigh your backpack, and consult the trekking hosts.

You will also receive your safety tag to tie to your backpack for the trek. With the safety tag visible, it is clear that you are part of the event and eligible to receive food, fuel and support at the checkpoints.

We will begin the trek on Tuesday 13th September in front of Mar Lodge. Make sure you pass through the Fjällräven tent and get the first stamp on your trekking pass before hitting the trail.

During the Trek

Along the Fjällräven Classic UK route, there are a series of checkpoints that will be staffed to suit expected arrival and departure times. You need to get your Trekking Pass stamped at each checkpoint and fill in the guest book with your arrival time. In case of an emergency where our event officials have to leave the checkpoint tent, the stamp will be placed outside the tent for you to stamp your Trekking Pass yourself.

Wild camping is permitted along the route. The route does not include campsites and is quite wild and remote in places, be prepared to hunt for good camping spots. As with every part of the route, participants should respect the land and any landowner requests. No fires should be lit and all cooking should be with appropriate gas or liquid fuel stoves. Morning start times are up to you, but we suggest you leave camp between 8am and 10am to give yourself enough time to complete the route. We added an extra day to the event, this means you can have a shorter day on one of your trekking days, to stop and enjoy the beautiful surroundings

We will provide you with a trash bag to collect your non-human waste during the trek. It is vital that you use it. Everyone is responsible for keeping the area free from rubbish and in pristine condition. You are not allowed, under any circumstances, to drop litter along the route, at checkpoints or overnight halts. If you are caught doing so, you will be disqualified.

You will need to carry the trash bag with you until there is an opportunity to empty it into a designated bin.

You can abandon Fjällräven Classic UK at any time. However, due to the lack of roads along the route, you will still have to walk to a road to get any assistance. As the route is quite remote this could take a while. Please contact an official at the nearest checkpoint if you decide not to continue with the trek.

Human waste is another matter. This should not go into the trash bag. Most checkpoints and overnight halts along the route have several no-water toilets.

If nature calls when you’re far from a toilet, dig a small hole, relieve yourself and cover the hole with earth. Never relieve yourself in or close to a water source and please take your toilet paper with you.

Cairngorms National Park, Scotland

BASIC INFORMATION

Fjällraven Classic UK

The Right of Common AccessScotland’s progressive legislation acknowledges the benefits of spending time in nature. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 gives everyone the right to access to most of Scotland’s outdoor areas for non-motorised activities. The key is to be responsible – and Fjällräven takes this responsibility very seriously. It is the guiding ethos of all Classic treks around the world.

Our responsibility is to nature, to preserve and protect it. To leave the area as you found it or, as we at Fjällräven like to do, to leave it in even better condition than when you arrived. This responsibility to nature includes all flora and fauna, as well as all water sources and the landscape itself.

This freedom to roam is what makes Fjällräven Classic UK so special. So please observe it and respect the outdoors as a playground that can be enjoyed by all for years to come. You will receive more information about the right of common access when you check in for Classic UK and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code explains access rights and responsibilities in more detail.

Partners

Fjällräven Classic UK wouldn’t be possible without the support of our partners and suppliers. You can find out more about all of them below.

Primus

Lightweight and ultra functional, Primus stoves are long-distance trekking essentials. Primus is the oldest outdoor stove manufacturing company in the world and the portable kerosene stove was the stove of choice for Tenzing and Hillary on their ground-breaking first ascent of Mount Everest in 1953. www.primus.se

Hanwag

Where do you go for hardwearing mountain trekking shoes and boots? Hanwag. Originally a small family firm of shoemakers who took great care in making high quality boots for outdoor use, Hanwag has now spread around the world. www.hanwag.de

Do I have to have mountain trekking experience and be in good shape?+

Fjällräven Classic UK is no walk in the park. Walking 65km is not easy, but with the right preparation and a positive frame of mind, almost anyone can do it. You don’t need to have loads of experience, more just a willingness to try. But you do need to be comfortable carrying a heavy backpack on consecutive days on stony, undulating terrain.

How should I prepare?+

The main thing is to properly walk-in your hiking boots and get used to carrying a heavy backpack. Start with easy walks in your local area and build up to over-night trips in more challenging terrain. We recommend that you have at least 200 hiking kilometres under your belt before you hit the Classic UK trail.

What equipment do I need?+

We’ve put together a packing list for Classic UK. But basically, a backpack, tent, sleeping bag, stove and trekking clothes for both rain and sunshine. Don’t forget your magnetic compass, torch and first aid kit either.

How will I find the way?+

The Classic UK map provided covers the entire route. The trail is either dirt road or established track and, while there are a few places along the route where you'll come to a junction, there will be clear signs to show you which path to follow. As a precaution, you should always have your map and compass handy, especially in the case of poor weather. There are also checkpoints every 10km or so where you can get help if you need it.

Is there a time limit?+

The route is designed so that most people will be able to finish the walk in three to four days, having travelled around 15km - 20km each day and wild camping along the way. Timings will be updated closer to the event to help you plan your trek.

Where can I camp?+

Participants will wild camp along the route. Some areas will be out of bounds, theses will be highlighted on your map.  As with every part of the route, participants should respect the land and any landowner requests. No fires should be lit and all cooking should be with appropriate gas or liquid fuel stoves.   You do not have to set off at a designated time on any of the mornings, but we would suggest leaving between 8am and 10am in order to make it to camp before nightfall.

Do I have to camp?+

Yes, rules of the Classic mean participants have to sleep in a tent.

Do I have to stop at each checkpoint?+

Yes. Your Trekking Pass will be stamped at each checkpoint by Classic UK staff. Each checkpoint is staffed according to the schedule and, in the case of an emergency where the event officials have to leave the checkpoint, the stamp will be placed in the checkpoint tent so you can still stamp the Trekking Pass yourself.

Are there any toilets along the route?+

Yes, you will find chemical toilets at several checkpoints along the route. At Corrour Bothy there will be alternative arrangements using Go Anywhere waste bags.   If nature calls when you’re far from a toilet, you should bury the faeces in the ground or cover with stones. Make sure to take your toilet paper with you. Stay a minimum of 50m from watercourses.

Do I need to bring my own food?+

We provide you with freeze-dried meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner at base camp at Mar Lodge and then again at the Bynack Mor checkpoint (if required). These meals are designed to be filling and nutritious, and meet the requirements of an average adult.   We recommend you take your own snacks - trail mix, dried meat and energy bars are all great low-weight snacks. There are no shops on the route, so you need to carry everything with you.

Are trekking poles a good idea?+

Yep, we certainly think so. They help with balance over slippery parts or when crossing streams and make going up and down hill easier too. We recommend telescopic poles that you can adjust. You can then shorten them when going up hill and lengthen them when going down. Shock absorbing poles are also a great idea over long distances.

Will my mobile phone work?+

You will find there is no reception whatsoever for most of the journey (you may find the odd patch!), apart from the Glenmore section. Otherwise, it’s pure wilderness.

What should I do if my equipment breaks?+

Help is on hand at every checkpoint, each of which is staffed to suit the anticipated journey times. On average, there’s around 10km between each checkpoint so help is never far away, but you can always ask fellow trekkers.

Can I drink water from streams and rivers?+

In general, when in the Scottish mountains above areas of human habitation, the water is safe to drink. However, you do have to think about where the water is coming from and follow the rules below.

  • Take water from a flowing stream rather than still water.
  • Avoid water sources which are obviously muddied or where there is a lot of livestock.
  • Don't draw water from downstream from where someone has been washing themselves or their mess tins.
  • If in doubt, use a water bottle with a reliable filter system.

Please note there will be a supply of drinking water at several locations during the trek.

Can I bring my dog?+

Sorry, you’ll have to leave four-legged friends at home. Classic UK is taking place during the prime breeding season for ground-nesting birds and dogs can be very disruptive for wildlife.

When is sunrise and sunset?+

Though the days will be growing shorter you’ll get plenty of hours of daylight during Fjällräven Classic UK. In mid-September, sunrise is around 6.30am and sunset is about 8.30pm.

What’s the weather usually like?+

When trekking in Scotland it’s important to be prepared for anything. You could be baked by relentless sun or spend hours in the rain or, most likely, a bit of both. Remember that conditions in the Lairig Ghru at 840m could be very different to the start at Mar Lodge, and the route takes you through a mountain environment, so expect the unexpected.

Environmental Issues

Our main goal is to inspire and enable more people to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. So, looking out for nature, preserving it and protecting it, is a given. We do this in many ways, including how and where we source our materials, how we produce our clothing and equipment, and, of course, how we run our events.

Since 2010, Fjällräven Classic Sweden (the original Classic event) has been labelled as an Eco Event by Keep Sweden Tidy. In essence, this means the event’s environmental impact is as small as possible. Our aim is for all other Classic events to follow the same principles of sustainability and environmental awareness.

Fjällräven Classic events are also our way of educating, informing and inspiring you and your fellow trekkers. It’s all about sharing ideas for how you can minimise your negative environmental impacts.

Environmental Policy

  • Fjällräven Classic UK should be an environmentally-aware event that considers the environment in all decisions, including our choice of partners.
  • Fjällräven Classic UK is an event in a unique mountain environment that we want to preserve and protect for future generations.
  • Fjällräven Classic UK should educate, inform and inspire both officials and participants to be environmentally responsible, and thereby promote sustainable development.
  • Our work with environmental issues should continuously be improved. Fjällräven Classic UK strives to decrease the impact on the environment, prevent pollution and organise an environmentally safe event.
  • Fjällräven Classic UK has the same national environmental quality goals that the Scottish Parliament has adopted as guidance for environmental issues.
  • Fjällräven Classic UK should follow appropriate regulations as well as relevant environmental requirements.

VIDEO

Fjällraven Classic UK