Dare | Scotland 2024

Sold Out - May 11-17, 2024

Seven Days in Cairngorms National Park - A Bonnie Bespoke Adventure

 Retreat Snapshot

When: May 11-17, 2024

Where: Glen Feshie, the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, Scotland

Theme: Our Stories Matter

Investment: $8,647.00 all inclusive (excluding airfare)

Overview

Experience a week-long retreat of adventure and tranquility. Our theme for this one: walking and whisky! From picturesque walks, trying the art of falconry, swimming in lochs, and forest bathing, this retreat offers a perfect blend of nature and excitement. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Scotland through walking tours and the finest whiskies. Join me in May!

Get Inspired with this Playlist!

WALKING & WHISKY IN THE HEART OF SCOTLAND

WALKING & WHISKY IN THE HEART OF SCOTLAND

Castle in Scotland
Whisky Barrels
Woman writing in journal.

 "The connection, the quality, the destination… all exquisite, all what my soul needed. Grateful for the attention to detail and planning to make the experience worth my time, energy, and investment. Will go again 100 times to feel this aligned."

- M.O. | PAST RETREAT PARTICIPANT

Trip Itinerary

Scotland's wild landscapes are at once, both bold and fair. Beckoning loch, mist over the moors and perhaps a wee whisky along a Highland trail. Join me and discover a land of strong traditions, captivating history, and welcoming locals on our bonnie bespoke adventure.

(Note: This trip overview is subject to change due to weather and availability.)

  • • Pick up from Edinburgh Airport (EDI)

    • Private transfer to Cairngorms National Park with lunch along the way

    • A warm welcome at Ballintean Mountain Lodge, where we'll settle in and the Detour begins

    • Dinner at the Lodge

    • Good Night Darlings!

  • • Good Morning! Breakfast at the Lodge

    • Morning walk exploring the Uath Lochans, and climbing a short way to Farleitter Crag

    • An afternoon of forest bathing in Cairngorms National Park

    • Dinner at the Lodge

    • Good Night Darlings!

    Walk Details: 8 km / 5 miles | 186 m / 610 ft elevation gain

  • • Good Morning! Breakfast at the Lodge

    • A short guided hike to explore Glen Feshie and learn about the "re-wilding' conservation project in the Park

    • Following lunch, a celebration of Highland culture and community through story telling

    • Dinner at a beloved pub in Aviemore

    • Good Night Darlings!

    Walk Details: 5 km / 3 miles | 150 m / 492 ft elevation gain

  • • Good Morning! Breakfast at the Lodge

    • An invigorating forest walk in Cairngorms National Park

    • After lunch, we take the plunge and go wild swimming!

    •After a quick shower to warm up after our swim and a bite to eat, we will sample one of Scotland's finest drinks - whisky - at Dalwhinnie Distillery. Perched hig h in the heart of the Highlands, Dalwhinnie draws its inspiration from the rugged beauty of its surroundings.

    • Dinner back at Ballintean Mountain Lodge

    • Goodnight Darlings!

    Walk Details: 9 km / 6 miles | 110 m / 361 ft elevation gain

  • • Good Morning! Breakfast at the Lodge

    • A guided adventure to explore ancient ruins, learn about plants and trees, and the folklore of the landscape of Strathspey

    • After lunch we will vist a small farm, Lynbreck Croft, run by two remarkable women

    • Dinner at the Lodge

    • Good Night Darlings!

    Walk Details: 6 km / 4 miles | 150 m / 492 ft elevation gain

  • • Good Morning! Breakfast at the Lodge

    • Our goal for the day is to conquer one of the Cairngorm's finest summits - Creag a Chalamain. If we're lucky, we may spot the local reindeer herd?! At the summit, we will be able to see three of the six highest peaks in the UK

    • On our descent, we will follow a different path, tracing an ancient drover's trail through the Rothiemurchus Forest back to Aviemore.

    • After the hike, a hands-on immersion with a falconer, and the unique opportunity to fly a selection of birds!

    • A quick drink at a local pub and then back to the Lodge for our farewell dinner

    • Good Night Darling!

    Walk Details: 20 km / 13 miles | 350 m / 1,148 ft elevation gain

  • • Good Morning! Breakfast at the Lodge

    • Farewell to our guide

    • Private transfer to Edinburgh Airport

    • Safe travels home Darlings!

 Accommodations

Ballintean Mountain Lodge

Travel Logistics + Trip Insurance

ARRIVAL

Edinburgh Airport | EDI

Please plan to arrive in Edinburgh by 11am, Saturday, May 11, 2024. If your schedule allows, I recommend that you arrive a day or so earlier to explore Edinburgh. This will ease your travel logistics and give you time to acclimate to the time zone. The time zone in Scotland for our Detour will be British Summer Time (BST). If you do arrive early, we will arrange a time and place to pick you up in Edinburgh.

AIRPORT SHUTTLE

The Dare Crew and I will meet you at the Edinburgh Airport at 12pm BST on Saturday, May 11, 2024. From the airport, we will head to Ballintean Lodge in Cairngorms National Park, traveling through the Scottish countryside in a luxury coach. The drive shouldn't take more than 3 hours to reach the lodge, where we will begin our Detour with a proper afternoon tea.

DEPARTURE

We will travel back to Edinburgh from the lodge the morning of May 17th, with our arrival at the airport planned for 12:30pm. If you book return flights on the 17th, we recommend a flight time of no earlier than 3pm. Depending on your flight options, an overnight in Edinburgh may be necessary.

TRIP INSURANCE

Due to the unpredictability of current global events, I require that you purchase flight insurance through the airline when you book your flights AND travel/trip cancellation insurance to cover your retreat investment. Insurance is not offered through Dare to Detour. I recommend AIG Travel Guard Insurance. AIG Travel Guard provides a variety of insurance packages for you to choose from. I ask that purchase travel insurance that includes medical coverage and emergency airlift evacuation. Proof of insurance coverage will be required one month prior to our Detour together.

Visit the AIG website to learn more: https://www.travelguard.com/

Is a Detour for Me?

Dare is for you if…

  • You want to travel with like-minded women.

  • You are curious about solo travel, and want to try it out within the safety of a curated experience.

  • You want to travel with your besties, or your mom and sister, and meaningfully connect through a shared experience together.

  • You want to try something new, like summiting a mountain peak or riding a horse for the first time, or traveling abroad on your own.

  • You're looking to escape the noise of your day-to-day and find ways to be quiet in nature and reconnect with your core values and inner self.

  • You've been planning all the logistics for every aspect of your family's travel and extra curricular, and want to treat yourself to a trip where everything is planned and managed for YOU!

Dare is NOT for you if…

  • You are currently in deep crisis - our Detours are not for those in need of professional help as we do NOT have a licensed clinician on staff.

  • You don't feel comfortable offering your heart-forward, non-judgmental support to others from a wide range of life experiences and identities.

  • You can't hold safe emotional space for those around you, or refrain from offering unsolicited advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • All-inclusive for ALL Detours means that everything accept airfare is covered, from the moment I pick you up at the airport, to when I drop you back off at the airport. My intention is to enable you to plan for your Detour and know that once you arrive everything is handled. Any shopping you may do or service add-on's like a massage or a 1:1 session with myself or one of my experts are your responsibility however, and are things I work to outline before you arrive so you are well aware.

  • Detours are NOT yoga retreats. Nothing against yoga, but Detours are different. They are curated experiences designed to push you just outside your comfort zone to the place where you feel most vibrant and alive. Hopefully, they offer opportunities for you to try things for the first time, supported by a group of like-minded women. And they are intended to provide time for you to reorient yourself back to what matters most to you.

  • My intention behind every Detour is to enable you to arrive knowing that all the logistics and small details have been planned for in advance, and that your safety and comfort given great consideration. Detours aren't necessarily uber luxurious, but they are curated to offer comfortable accomodations and the space for you to truly relax and let your guard down. And most importantly, Detours are fun, with opportunities to play and connect and simply be.

  • For each Detour, you have the option to pay in full at one time, or to pay over a period of 6 months through a payment plan. If you choose to pay over time, you will incur 3% simple interest on the total amount. Payment plans must be completed one month prior to the start of each Detour. Both payment in full and payment plans include a $750 non-refundable deposit. If you need to cancel your Detour, you must do so 30 days in advance to receive your investment minus the non-refundable deposit. Any cancelation within 30 days of departure, means that you will forfeit the entire amount of your trip investment.

  • We do our best to manage all food intolerances and allergies. Each Darling completes a Detour Intake Form, and has the opportunity to outline her dietary needs, which we then share with each Detour location. Should we dine out in a restaurant, it is the Darling's responsibility to inform the service staff of her dietary restrictions.

  • Each Darling completes a Detour Intake Form, and will answer a series of questions about her sleep habits and preferences. I also talk with each woman personally, at least once, prior to our departure to get a good sense of who will work well together. I have to say, my track record has been excellent, as many roommates arrived strangers and left as good friends and remain in touch with each other!

Guides - The Dare Crew

Sheryl Wright

Founder, Dare to Detour

Taylor Lawn

Wrangler, Retreat Communication + Logistics