Abacus Mountain Guides
  • Home
  • Adventures
    • Ben Nevis >
      • Ben Nevis Winter Ascent
      • Ben Nevis Mountain Track
      • Coire Leis
      • CMD Arete
      • Ledge Route
      • Tower Ridge
      • Events and Challenges
    • Summer Guiding >
      • Glen Nevis Heritage Trail
      • Ring of Steall
      • Glen Coe Walks
      • Curved Ridge
      • Aonach Eagach
      • Rock Climbing
      • Sea Stack Odyssey
      • Private Guiding
    • Skye and the Cuillin Ridge >
      • Cuillin Ridge Traverse
      • Cuillin Munro Bagging
      • Inaccessible Pinnacle
    • Winter Guiding >
      • Winter Walking >
        • Winter Skills Courses
        • Guided Winter Walking
      • Winter Climbing >
        • Intro to Winter Climbing
        • Classic Winter Mountaineering
        • Winter Climbing Progression
        • Classic Winter Climbing
        • Guided Winter Climbing
        • Performance Winter Climbing Workshop
      • Skiing >
        • Intro to Ski Touring
        • Scottish Steep Skiing
        • Ropework for Skiers
      • Avalanche Awareness
      • Women's Winter Festival
      • Fort William Mountain Festival Workshops
      • Winter Resources
    • Qualifications >
      • Mountain Leader Courses
      • Level 2 Mountain Bike Leadership Award
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • About
  • Sustainability
  • Booking
  • Partners
  • Covid-19

Winter Skills Courses

Winter Skills Courses

An introductory winter skills course will give you the basic skills you need to start heading out in the hills in winter. 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.
If you have more time then a multi day course will allow us to go into more depth in all the above skills. We will be able to look at different navigation techniques, the construction of emergency shelters and perhaps take in a summit or two as we head higher into the mountains to practice your new skills. Or you could even go for a winter ascent of Ben Nevis.
If conditions allow we will make use of the Nevis Range gondola to carry us straight up to 650m so we can maximise our time on the hill. There are plenty of other options with short approaches if the gondola is unable to run.
Winter skills
Winter skills course are available with a private guide on any day of the week so get in touch to check our availability and make a booking.
CONTACT US
Winter skills ice axe arrest
Winter skills course
Winter walking skills
  • Prices
  • What's Included
  • Kit
<
>
One Day Basic Winter Skills Course
£100 per person
​Maximum ratio 1:6

28th January 2023 - FULLY BOOKED
18th February 2023 - FULLY BOOKED
18th March 2023
Three Day Winter Skills Course
£300 per person
Maximum ratio 1:6

4th to 6th January 2023
1st to 3rd February 2023
1st to 3rd March 2023
Private Instruction
Prices are per day:

1 person - £275
2 people - £300
3 people - £325
4-6 people - £350
​​Please Contact Us to check our availability or to get a quote for larger groups.
To make sure you get the most out of your day we've included the following:​
  • Kit list
  • Helmet
  • Safety Brief
  • Experienced Mountain Leader
  • Action photos
You will need to organise accommodation, lunch, personal equipment and insurance.
The weather in the Scottish mountains can change in a matter of minutes. Snow is likely and it can regularly feel as cold as -20 degrees Celsius on the summits. Make sure you are ready for your day by packing the items on the list below.
To wear
Thermal base layers – polyester or woollen, no cotton
Warm fleece
Walking trousers – no jeans
Spare fleece or synthetic insulating layer
Waterproof jacket and trousers with side zips
Warm hat and gloves (spare gloves recommended)
Stiff walking boots – B2 or B3 rated
Other equipment
Rucksack – roughly 30 litres
Mountaineering ice axe and crampons
Helmet
Lunch and spare food
1 litre flask or water bottle
Head torch
Ski goggles
Map and compass
Whistle
Walking poles (recommended but not essential)
Sunglasses & sun cream
Mobile phone in a waterproof case
Camera
​Personal 1st Aid Kit - plasters, blister kit, all normal medication including asthma inhaler if you have one
​​If you need winter equipment Scottish Mountain Hire in Fort William hire out winter boots, crampons and ice axes. They can also supply 30 litre rucksacks and clear goggles. ​Please contact them directly to book:
info@mountainhire.co.uk | +44 (0) 7752587388

Picture
Jottnar
info@abacusmountainguides.com
+44 (0) 1397 703563
  • Home
  • Adventures
    • Ben Nevis >
      • Ben Nevis Winter Ascent
      • Ben Nevis Mountain Track
      • Coire Leis
      • CMD Arete
      • Ledge Route
      • Tower Ridge
      • Events and Challenges
    • Summer Guiding >
      • Glen Nevis Heritage Trail
      • Ring of Steall
      • Glen Coe Walks
      • Curved Ridge
      • Aonach Eagach
      • Rock Climbing
      • Sea Stack Odyssey
      • Private Guiding
    • Skye and the Cuillin Ridge >
      • Cuillin Ridge Traverse
      • Cuillin Munro Bagging
      • Inaccessible Pinnacle
    • Winter Guiding >
      • Winter Walking >
        • Winter Skills Courses
        • Guided Winter Walking
      • Winter Climbing >
        • Intro to Winter Climbing
        • Classic Winter Mountaineering
        • Winter Climbing Progression
        • Classic Winter Climbing
        • Guided Winter Climbing
        • Performance Winter Climbing Workshop
      • Skiing >
        • Intro to Ski Touring
        • Scottish Steep Skiing
        • Ropework for Skiers
      • Avalanche Awareness
      • Women's Winter Festival
      • Fort William Mountain Festival Workshops
      • Winter Resources
    • Qualifications >
      • Mountain Leader Courses
      • Level 2 Mountain Bike Leadership Award
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • About
  • Sustainability
  • Booking
  • Partners
  • Covid-19