Scottish Winter Mountaineering
  • Scotland
  • 5 Days
  • 4 People to 1 instructor

Scottish Winter Mountaineering

  • Hike
  • Intermediate
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Overview

Our top-class instructors will combine practical instruction with ascents of many of the finest summits in the Western Highlands to develop your winter skills on steeper snow and winter scrambling terrain. You’ll cover winter navigation, and avalanche evaluation alongside the emergency procedures of building a snow shelter and basic ropework for steep ground. You’ll get masses of practical experience during the day, and we’ll share our expert technical knowledge with you through a series of evening lectures to reinforce what you’ve learned out on the mountains.

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The Objectives

Make the transition from winter hillwalker to mountaineer. Learn practically over five days in the spectacular Scottish mountains, in combination with evening theory sessions. Cover all of the main skills you need to gain masses of confidence in your personal mountaineering ability.

Itinerary

* Please note: Itinerary is subject to weather and availability.

This course will take you progressively through the skills of winter mountaineering. Venues and day to day activities are weather and snow-dependent with decisions regarding each day’s programme being decided by the course director. The whole group will meet for a daily briefing, allowing you to share the decision making process. We will aim to cover the following topics; Use of ice axe and crampons Ice axe arrest Winter navigation Avalanche risk assessment and avoidance Emergency snow shelters/survival Elementary ropework and snow belays Terrain – ridges, rocky steps, cornices, steep snow (Grade 1) Mountaineering decision making These areas will be incorporated into mountain journeys, hopefully taking in some of the major peaks.

Experience Required

Ideally you’ll have completed our Scottish Winter Skills course. Experience with axe and crampons would be very useful on this course and a good level of summer hill walking fitness is essential. You should have a high level of hillwalking fitness with the ability to spend 6-8 hours walking on steep paths and on broken terrain. The days will often include 800 -1000m of ascent and descent. You will also need to carry a rucksack with your spare clothing, lunch and equipment in which will weigh between 8-10kg. This will help you to get the most out of the week and allow you to cope with what at times can be challenging conditions. The days can be long and demanding but, as with all our winter courses, enthusiasm and determination are the key. This level of fitness will be obtained through regular summer hillwalking and 2-3 exercise sessions per week. This could include running, cycling, walking or playing sport, these should feel challenging and tiring sessions. Some upper body strength will be beneficial but the main focus should be on leg fitness and stamina.

You’re a dedicated hillwalker who wants to take things up a level and become a true ‘mountaineer’, tackling the more challenging peaks of Glencoe and Lochaber in winter.

Available Course Dates

Start the booking process by selecting a course date, then adjust your details to suit your requirements.

Course Start Date
Duration
Cost*
Course Start Date
15th February, 2027
Duration
5 Days
Cost*
Residential:
£1,045.00
Course Start Date
22nd February, 2027
Duration
5 Days
Cost*
Residential:
£1,045.00
Course Start Date
1st March, 2027
Duration
5 Days
Cost*
Residential:
£1,045.00
Course Start Date
8th March, 2027
Duration
5 Days
Cost*
Residential:
£1,045.00

Your Booking

Course Start Date
Duration
Cost
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