Winter Courses and Trips 2021

We are so looking forward to the winter of 2021/2022. Very few people got to enjoy last winter, so here are some great ways to make sure you get the most out of the coming winter.

Intro Winter Skills £80 1 day
Ben Nevis Winter Ascent £80 1 day
Women's Winter Walking £80 per day

Intro to Winter Climbing £340 3 days
Winter Climbing Progression £300 2 days
Performance Winter Climbing Workshop £260 2 days

Classic Winter Mountaineering £540 5 days
Classic Winter Climbing £800 5 days

Winter Skills Courses and Winter Ascent of Ben Nevis

If your are just starting out in winter an introductory winter skills course will give you the basic skills you need. In a one day course we will cover all core skills such as what to wear and how to wear it, how to use your winter boots and ice axe to aid walking, crampon use, self-arresting a slip with your ice axe, avalanche awareness, navigation and emergency response.

Then you can go on a  winter ascent of Ben Nevis We follow the Mountain Track from Glen Nevis and usually meet the snow line around half way up. More often than not it is from this point that crampons and an ice axe are required.

Navigation on Ben Nevis can be incredibly tricky in winter conditions. Not only will we help you to safely reach the summit, but you will also learn how to use your crampons and ice axe correctly, and pick up valuable knowledge on the winter environment.

We understand that for many women, participating in sports and activities is often more about having fun, feeling good, and developing or learning new skills than pushing themselves physically or mentally, or being competitive, and this is why we are introducing our Women's Winter Walking. The main aim will be to go for an enjoyable walk, preferably in winter conditions and hopefully taking in a summit, but we will go wherever the weather and snow conditions allow.

​There will be plenty of opportunities to learn new skills and brush up on old ones, so whether you don't yet know what crampons are or already have some winter experience, we would love for you to join us.

Climbing Courses

The Aonach Eagach. Ledge Route. Curved Ridge. Do you want to take your winter walking to the next level and start tackling classic mountaineering routes like this? An Intro to Winter Climbing course will give you all the skills needed to operate in winter including ice axe and crampon use, avalanche awareness, navigation, basic rope work and emergency response. A three day course is ideal to give you chance to look at the rope work, different snow and rock anchors, then put it all into practice on an appropriate route.

With our Winter Climbing Progression course you can benefit from the experience of our instructors and make the most of every day you get out climbing. Learn new skills or develop those you already have on routes at grade III and above and gain the skills to start tackling these routes on your own.

Our Performance Winter Climbing Workshop will give you expert coaching in ice climbing and dry tooling, followed by the chance to climb a challenging route to put your new skills into practice straight away. We will help you choose the right climb on the right day and to tackle it in the right way.

​It can take many years to judge the formation of each different type of climb according to the prevailing weather. Learning from a local guide with many years experience of getting it right (and wrong) will save a few wasted trips!

Guided Winter Climbing Trips

This coming winter we are running Classic Winter Mountaineering weeks on set dates where you can join other like-minded people to enjoy some of the finest single ice axe routes in Scotland. Routes might include Ledge Route, Forcan Ridge, Curved Ridge, Golden Oldie, Sron na Lairig, Dinner Time Buttress, Dorsal Arete.

Have a go at those classic routes you have always wanted to do but never quite managed on a Classic Winter Climbing week. Routes such as Tower Ridge, Crowberry Gully, Green Gully, Number Three Gully Buttress, Raeburn's Route and North Buttress on Buachaille Etive Mor might be what you get up to in the five days. The ratio for this is two people with one guide and previous climbing experience is essential.

​And if you don't see exactly what you are after here, we can organise Guided Winter Climbing on the dates of your choice, on the routes of your choice.