Search
Trusted for 75 years
For all abilities
Book with peace of mind
LEARN MORE

En-suite bedrooms from £60pn. Book your course and then call us to book your accommodation

Find Out More

Winter Mountaineering (5 days)

Learn LEVEL | 5 day(s) | Ratio 1:4 | From £695.00

Book Now

Overview

Have you ever fancied tackling some of the UK’s classic mountain days in winter but been worried about how to handle steeper snowy/icy rocky steps? Or maybe you want to tackle one of the classic summer scrambles such as Ledge route on Ben Nevis as an exciting winter adventure to the summit. This course gives use the time to introduce the essential skills for these winter mountaineering adventures and develop them through experiencing different routes, whether rocky, snowy, or icy. With 5 days, there’s more time for us to individualise your learning and provide more opportunities for mountaineering adventures on this course.

Course Image

DETAILED INFO

AIMS

This is a winter mountaineering course for experienced winter walkers. This course aims to develop a good level of skill across the broad range of techniques required for independent winter mountaineering. Five days will allow us to develop skills tailored to your aspirations, not just introduce techniques.

Our first objective will be to establish your existing boot, axe, and crampon technique. Initially this will allow us to introduce snow and mixed terrain techniques on short steep sections of mountaineering ground. As the 5 days progress, we’ll also look at and develop methods of using a rope to protect sections of a mountaineering route. This will include the use of climbing equipment, snow anchor construction and rock anchor use. Our approach will support you to progress your skills, starting with friendly and accessible local venues where lots of practice can be had without time pressure. With the advantage of time, we can plan around the weather and conditions and potentially travel to different areas of the Highlands to experience a wider array of locations.

As your confidence and skills increase, we can put the technical skills into context on a variety of longer mountaineering routes that would be difficult to do on a shorter course. Throughout the course we’ll also cover winter navigation, avalanche awareness, and emergency procedures.

PRE-REQUISITES

Summer scrambling useful, winter walking essential. Be comfortable in use of crampons and ice axe. A physically demanding course.

IS IT FOR ME?

Develop an in-depth practical knowledge of all the skills required to tackle winter ‘scrambling’ type terrain, up to grade I/II, on Britain’s mountains. It makes the assumption that you have good solid core winter movement skills e.g. use of an ice axe in both ascent/descent as well as crampons. To get the most from this course previous summer scrambling experience would be useful. Previous winter walking experience (including use of axe and crampons) is essential.

CONTENT

You will usually be in a group of no more than four with one instructor. Meeting your instructor on the first morning provides an opportunity to discuss everyone’s experience and aspirations enabling the instructor to plan the programme based around these. The main topics to be covered are:

  • Establishing core winter movement skills using axe and crampons in ascent and descent.
  • Introduction to movement skills over grade I/II winter snow and ‘scrambling’ type terrain.
  • Mountaineering equipment, ropes, harnesses, rock protection, and snow and ice equipment.
  • Constructing and using snow anchors such as bucket seats, buried axe, snow bollard and Deadman).
  • Selecting and using natural rock anchors.
  • Abseiling using snow anchors.
  • Route planning, route finding and guidebook use.
  • Further skills development and consolidation while on mountaineering routes, developing decision making.
  • Avalanche awareness, risk assessment and implications for safe terrain choice.
  • Winter navigation.

The programme is flexible considering individual needs and aims, weather, etc. Evening lecture topics may include winter hazards and emergency procedures, winter navigation and avalanche awareness.

Step 1

Book your course place online

Step 2

Call to book accommodation. Prices from £60pn

DATES & PRICES

2025
COURSE DATE COST
(with accommodation)
COST
(no accommodation)
PLACES BOOKING
Date06/01/25Cost (with accommodation)Call Us – Prices from £60pnCost (no accommodation)£695.00Places
Date13/01/25Cost (with accommodation)Call Us – Prices from £60pnCost (no accommodation)£695.00Places
Date20/01/25Cost (with accommodation)Call Us – Prices from £60pnCost (no accommodation)£695.00Places
Date27/01/25Cost (with accommodation)Call Us – Prices from £60pnCost (no accommodation)£695.00Places
Date03/02/25Cost (with accommodation)Call Us – Prices from £60pnCost (no accommodation)£695.00Places
Date10/02/25Cost (with accommodation)Call Us – Prices from £60pnCost (no accommodation)£695.00Places
Date17/02/25Cost (with accommodation)Call Us – Prices from £60pnCost (no accommodation)£695.00Places
Date24/02/25Cost (with accommodation)Call Us – Prices from £60pnCost (no accommodation)£695.00Places
Date03/03/25Cost (with accommodation)Call Us – Prices from £60pnCost (no accommodation)£695.00Places
Date10/03/25Cost (with accommodation)Call Us – Prices from £60pnCost (no accommodation)£695.00Places
Date17/03/25Cost (with accommodation)Call Us – Prices from £60pnCost (no accommodation)£695.00Places
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.  If booking as an Individual, you will not be asked to share with a stranger.

Breakfast on each course day.

Dinner on each course day (except the final day, and on one day or back-to-back courses).

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.

NEED TO KNOW

ON YOUR LAST DAY

Check out time is 10am on the final day of your booking, we have changing areas, showers and left luggage facilities on site. All courses will finish by 5pm.

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
  • Climbing harness
  • 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.

  • 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.
  • Personal first aid kit
  • 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.  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

Glenmore Lodge will provide any technical equipment required on a skills course e.g. climbing ropes and racks.

 

Newsletter sign-up

Want to hear from us?

Sign up to our newsletter to get inspiration for your next adventure and to find out about upcoming courses

Sign up to Newsletter

Go Bespoke

Can't find exactly what you are looking for? We are happy to create it for you. You can hire one of our instructors or guides from as little as £280 a day, including any equipment. If you’re a group, all of our courses are available on a date that suits you or if you would prefer we can tailor a course to your requirements. Simply get in touch to discuss your requirements.