The Cairngorms is famous for having a climate unlike anywhere else in the UK, with its high plateaux consisting of sub-arctic tundra and holding snow for longer than anywhere else in Britain.
Climate change has diminished this to an extent: Scotland’s most persistent snow patch in the An Gairbh Coire on Braireach melted just three times in the 20th century, but this year saw it vanish for the fifth time since the turn of the Millennium.
Now winter is back, however, conditions up there will be distinctly snowy again, and there are a number of perils anyone undertaking Cairngorms walking holidays will need to be aware of.
Temperatures can be extremely cold and severe wind chill will make it drastically worse. Add in the distances of most of the highest peaks from safe shelter, and the clear lesson is this is not an environment to take liberties with.
Wearing warm clothes is an obvious step to take, while specialised winter equipment is important. Crampons will be needed for icy conditions, as will an ice axe and knowledge of how to use it. It is also crucial to check out the mountain weather forecast before heading for the hills.
Whiteouts can be a very big risk, and while a compass can help, it will point you in the right general direction but necessarily onto the correct path to safety.
These issues apply to any upland areas, but specific risks include snow avalanches, which are not a common feature everywhere in the Highlands, but are in the Cairngorms. As well as learning how to spot signs of danger, it is important to check the Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecasts for areas like the Northern Corries and Lochnagar in the south of the national park.
Of course, you don’t have to take on the 4,000 ft peaks in the winter, and if you have limited experience of winter conditions, it is worth remembering there are still many lower peaks, mountain passes and forests to enjoy exploring during winter.