Which winter course is for you?

Winter in Scotland offers truly unique and memorable experiences for those who plan adventures in our landscape. Whether you’ve recently discovered Scotland’s hills and want to continue exploring them all year round, or are a seasoned mountaineer or climber, going on a winter course can enable you to develop your skills and build the confidence for new adventures.

Glenmore Lodge has been delivering skills courses in the Cairngorms for over 75 years, and winter has always been special to us. We offer a wide range of courses to help you achieve your aspirations and suit your experience level. To help you find the right course this winter, we’ve put together this guide.

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What experience do you already have?

If you’re wondering whether a course is suitable for you, then the first place to check is the ‘pre-requisites’ section of the web page. Each course will specify the necessary experience you need to make the most of it.

• Summer hillwalking: you walk in Scotland’s hills & mountains through much of the year, but have not yet used winter boots, crampons, and an axe for walking in winter conditions.
• Summer mountaineering/climbing: You are comfortable on scrambling terrain, and may have experience of roped outdoor climbing.
• Winter walking: you walk Scotland’s hills and mountains in winter conditions, and are confident in the use of crampons and an axe when necessary.
• Winter mountaineering: you have ventured onto technical graded terrain in winter conditions, using crampons and an axe to undertake mountaineering journeys, potentially including ropework.
• Winter climbing: you have experienced winter climbing in Scotland with technical ice tools, crampons, and ropework on a variety of mediums (rock, ice, snow, turf).

If you aren’t sure whether your experience matches the pre-requisites of a course you’re interested in, the best option is always to get in touch for a chat with our team.

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What do you want to get out of a winter course experience?

It’s hard not to feel inspired when we see photos from amazing days out on the mountains in winter. It’s also an environment in which we’re always learning. Spending the time developing skills, building confidence, and gaining experience to plan the adventures you’re dreaming of is worthwhile.

• Winter walking: you would like to plan and enjoy walking Scotland’s hills in winter, and feel confident in the use of crampons & axe, know what to wear and carry, how to plan a suitable and safe day, how to avoid avalanche hazard, and navigation essentials
• Winter mountaineering: you want to plan and undertake mountain adventures on more technical ground, and feel confident in the required movement & ropework skills, route finding, planning and decision making, and avalanche awareness
• Winter climbing: you want to undertake graded winter climbing route (potentially seconding or leading), be confident with the use of gear, ropework, axes and crampons on a variety of mediums (rock, ice, snow, turf), and planning, route finding, and avalanche awareness

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What comes next?

You can book a course on a date that suits you, or if you’ve got any questions you can always speak to a member of our team. When you arrive at Glenmore Lodge, on the first morning of your course the Instructor will always take the time to understand everyone’s previous experience and what they’re looking to get out of the day. Working with that information (and the conditions and weather!), they’ll adapt the course to give you the best skills training to meet your needs.

If you’re trying something new and don’t yet have all the kit, don’t let that put you off; we have an extensive Stores facility, full of high-quality equipment for you to borrow. This is included in the cost of your course, and is a great opportunity to try things out before committing to any purchases. If you are looking to buy some new outdoor gear, our customers receive a discount code at Ellis Brigham once they’ve booked their course place.

We also offer a range of accommodation and serve delicious meals to ensure you’re well rested and fueled up for your days out on the hills with us. Throughout winter our team also deliver additional lectures on avalanche awareness, winter navigation, and mountain hazards in the evenings, so we recommend booking your accommodation in advance to get the most out of your experience.

We hope to see you soon!

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