Overview
This training course is for Mountain Leaders who want to lead groups in winter conditions.
This offers the exciting possibility of leading all year round and the rewards that the challenge of winter presents, for both leaders and groups.
The course will build on your summer leading experience and develop your winter skills so that you can offer the support a group will need in winter conditions, and make suitable decisions in this challenging environment.
DETAILED INFO
AIMS
The six-day course will likely follow a similar format to your Mountain Leader Training course, with leadership a strong theme throughout. However, we aim to focus on the winter environment and the personal and leadership skills that are required to keep groups safe while enjoying the winter experience. You will also leave with a clear plan on how to further develop your experience, whether you want to continue to assessment or not.
PRE-REQUISITES
Prior to booking your Winter Mountain Leader Training:
You need to be a qualified Mountain Leader.
In addition, you need to follow the registration process for the Winter Mountain Leader, outlined below:
- You must have recorded a minimum of 20 winter Quality Mountain Days (ideally on DLog)
- Register for the Winter Mountain Leader Award (cost £75)
- Click the ‘Send to MT’ button to let Mountain Training Scotland know your DLog is ready to be reviewed
- Your logbook will be reviewed by a Mountain Training Scotland technical officer – this can take up to 14 days
- Your Winter Mountain Leader registration must have been approved before booking a training course
All the information you need about the Winter Mountain Leader, including the registration process, candidate handbook, and skills checklist can be found on the Mountain Training website: Winter Mountain Leader (mountain-training.org)
IS IT FOR ME?
If you’re already a Mountain Leader with experience of 20 winter quality mountain days, then this training course is for you. This is a mountain training course specifically created to develop group leaders, however many people also enjoy the course for the personal development gained for their own adventures. This course will be run by some of the most experienced course directors in the UK who will create an environment and experience that maximises your learning in one of the most inspirational winter venues.
Glenmore Lodge has a heritage of decades spent delivering winter skills training of this type, and the Cairngorms offer one of the most reliable winter environments in which to train. We recommend choosing to stay at Glenmore Lodge for the duration of this course, as it means we’re able to fully support your learning on what is typically a demanding course. Due to the nature of the conditions, the programme is highly flexible with the course director often adapting the days to make best use of the circumstances for learning. This is made easier with access to onsite accommodation, brilliant catering, drying rooms, laundry facilities, meeting spaces and a bar in which to socialise and share learning with other candidates.
CONTENT
Although we have a programme that you can download below, the winter conditions and weather usually mean that the course director will move days around to make best use of conditions.
- Kicking steps
- Using crampons in ascent and descent
- Use of ice axe & self-arrest
These skills are developed throughout the course both for personal safety on progressively
steeper ground and to develop your teaching skills for the group.
We will also cover the skills required to look after groups in the winter mountain environment, including:
- Managing steeper terrain
- Emergency procedures
- Shelters & snowholes
Winter navigation and avoiding avalanche hazard will be continually developed, alongside your overall decision-making skills.
There will also be some evening lectures to support the practical elements of the course.
Additional Useful Links:
Where are the mountainous areas of the UK and Ireland?
DATES & PRICES
| 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COURSE DATE | COST (no accommodation) |
PLACES | BOOKING | |
| Date11/01/26 | Cost (no accommodation)£445.00 | Places | ||
| Need a different date? Call 01479 861 256 to arrange your own date, or email [email protected] | ||||
Media Gallery
USEFUL INFORMATION
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Instruction
Use of kit
Packed lunch and afternoon tea each day
In-course transport
WHAT'S INCLUDED IF YOU CHOOSE THE RESIDENTIAL OPTION - AS ABOVE PLUS
Accommodation in an en-suite bedroom.
Breakfast on each course day
Dinner on each course day
Use of the facilities at Glenmore Lodge.
Linen is provided along with a towel, you may wish to bring an extra towel if you would like to use the facilities.
DOCUMENTS
NEED TO KNOW
WHAT WILL I NEED
YOU WILL NEED (Glenmore Lodge can provide if required)
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Insulated synthetic jacket with hood
- Winter Boots
- Gaiters
- Crampons
- Ice Axe
- Helmet
- 40lt rucksack
- Walking poles
EQUIPMENT YOU NEED TO BRING WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE IN THE STORES
What will you need to bring? Listed here are the essentials; this is not an exhaustive list.
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping mat
- Bivi bag
- Stove & fuel
- Personal clothing
- Winter outdoor wear
- Insulating layers
- Winter climbing / mountaineering trousers
- Hat & gloves, several pairs of.
- Whistle
- Compass – Silva type 4 recommended with a 1:40,000 romer ***
- Waterproof map case.
- Headtorch
- Rucksack liner (or sturdy bin liner) / dry bags
- Hydration system (water bottle / flask)
- Box or bag for packed lunch.
- Goggles
Map information – we encourage everyone on mountain courses to have a map covering the Northern Cairngorms with a 10km radius from the ski area. There are now a range of scales and maps available OS 1:50,000, OS 1:25,000 and Harvey Map 1:40,000. For candidates on any NGB course such as Mountain Leader winter, you should have a 1:50,000 map and ideally one other scale. For non-qualification courses any scale is fine, OS 1:50,000 map sheet 36 covers the widest area, but the Harvey 1:40,000 has a lot of additional information on the back of it, however it is useful to have the Silva Mark 4 compass with the 1:40,000 scale on it. If you have digital mapping and can print off map sheets a suggested area would be:
NW corner NH8514 NE corner NJ0314
SW corner NN8593 SE corner NO0393
