Conservation Residential

Mar Lodge Estate - National Nature Reserve

We look forward to welcoming you to Mar Lodge Estate!

Thank you for booking a place on the Mar Lodge Conservation Residential. We look forward to welcoming you there soon. In advance we have some information about the residential and a form to fill please. If you have any questions please get in touch via residential@hillgoers.com

Please read the following information carefully.

Physical expectations for the week: Some of the project activities could involve an hour's walk each way to the worksite location and the projects may be physically demanding (within limits). We can cater for all abilities within reason, as agreed before booking

Food: Breakfast, lunch and evening meals are included. Preparation, cooking and cleaning up will be a group activity. Example meals for your residential:

Breakfast: A choice of cereals / porridge, toast and jams

Lunches: Sandwiches with a choice of filling, fruit, snack bars and crisps

Evening meals like: Spag bol, pizza night, pie & mash, burger night, mac & cheese, fish & chips, pasta & sauces, curry night and puddings! 

Teas, coffee and juice drinks will be available throughout the day 

Specific dietary requirements will be catered for but may require a supplementary charge. It is suggested that additional snacks are taken by participants if they feel they may need them

There will be potential to purchase items from a trip to Braemar on one of the days too

If you have a speciality meal you would like to cook for the group let us know!

Kit: See our summer hill walking kit list here. You will also need overnight clothes & wash bag as you would for a small holiday. It is probably a good idea to bring old clothes for the conservation projects. You will need outdoor clothing (a few sets), waterproofs (trousers and coat) and good footwear

All bedding is provided in the accommodation but you will need to take your own towels. We will provide working gloves and any safety equipment

Accommodation: There are four bedrooms which sleep up to 12 people. There are 2 four-bedded rooms and 1 two-bedded room (all with bunk beds), and one room suitable for disabled visitors, with two single beds and an en-suite with toilet and shower. There’s a fully equipped kitchen, sitting room, dining room, drying room, showers, toilets and oil-fired central heating (running off a biomass boiler). We expect the rooms will be split on gender. If there are any specific concerns about sharing please get in touch

Safety: The most important aspect! All Hillgoers activities are risk assessed and led by qualified staff who are first aid trained. Our residential team for 2023 is James, Edd, Sarah and Garry. You can read their profiles here. Each residential will have at least two members of staff

Our Golden Rules for a successful residential

  • Have Fun!

  • Leave no trace

  • Follow instructions given by Hillgoers staff

  • Teamwork - help each other, look out for each other and be sociable

  • Behave responsibly and be considerate of others

  • Zero tolerance on alcohol or drugs

  • Phones are fine (if used responsibly), just don’t blame us if you break one!

Terms and conditions: Our T&Cs for our activities can be found here. Let’s highlight some additional terms that are specific to this residential:

  • If you cancel your place within one month of the residential, for whatever reason, your fees are non-refundable (unless we manage to fill the place). Any refunds offered will be in line with our common T&Cs

  • It is recommended that participants take out their own holiday insurance for the trip

  • Hillgoers accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to your possessions whilst on the residential

Please complete the participation form

Please read the information below before completing the form.

Outdoor Activities

Hillgoers activities are planned and supervised in a way to manage the risk of accident to both clients and Hillgoers team members. Outdoor activities contain several natural hazards and risks which can lead to an accident and potential injury. The Hillgoers team will minimise the risks as far as possible and clients can of course choose not to participate in any activity they are not comfortable with. By agreeing to participate, clients accept the risks associated with the activity

The Hillgoers team are responsible for the safety of all participants during the activities. By agreeing to participate and to manage the risks, the participants understand they must adhere to instructions given by the Hillgoers team

Photography & Mailing List

During trips, pictures may be taken by other clients and the Hillgoers team. Please advise the group if you do not wish to be captured in any images or advise if they are to remain private

Data Protection

We protect the information provided by our clients. Only the Hillgoers team will see the participation forms, as they require full details for Health & Safety and emergency contact purposes. These will be electronically deleted and/or shredded after the event. Our full privacy policy can be read via the footer of our website