Your first stepping stone into winter mountains, based from Fort William or Aviemore.

Winter turns familiar hills into something else entirely. Ice hides under fresh snow, paths vanish, and the skills that get you up a summer hill are no longer enough on their own. This two day course is built for exactly that gap, giving you a genuine first stepping stone into winter mountaineering.

Your qualified and experienced winter mountain leader teaches you how to plan and prepare for a day on the hill in winter conditions, alongside the physical skills to move safely on snow and ice. Everything is taught hands on, on real terrain, rather than in a classroom, so what you learn on day one gets tested and built on by day two.

No previous winter experience is needed, and you do not need to own specialist kit before you arrive, your guide will talk you through what you need and why on day one. You will want a reasonable level of fitness for a full day on changing terrain, since the physical skills in this course are best learned by doing them for real, not by watching a demonstration.

Day one covers the foundations: how to plan a winter day safely, what to pack and why, and the core movement skills for snow and ice, including ice axe and crampon use and how to arrest a slip before it becomes a fall. Day two builds directly on this, moving into winter navigation, efficient movement over longer terrain, and how to read a slope for avalanche risk. By the end of the two days you will have the knowledge and confidence to start planning your own winter hill days.

Choose your BASE

Fort William

At the foot of the UK's highest mountain Ben Nevis, with routes across the surrounding hills and glens chosen to build your skills in real winter terrain.

Aviemore

On the edge of the Cairngorms National Park, with routes across the plateau and glens shaped by conditions on the day.

What's covered

  • Planning and preparation for a winter mountain day.
  • Kit and packing, what you need and why.
  • Movement and travel on snow and ice.
  • Ice axe and crampon use.
  • Ice axe arrest and braking technique.
  • Winter navigation fundamentals.
  • Top tips for being efficient in winter conditions.
  • Avalanche awareness and avoidance.

How the course runs

  • Day one starts with a morning briefing, covering the plan and the day's conditions, before moving straight into hands on skills practice.
  • Day two builds on day one, moving from foundations into longer terrain, navigation, and putting everything together.
  • Small groups throughout, with personal feedback from your winter mountain leader on every skill.
  • A debrief at the end of day two, covering what you have learned and what a next step in winter mountaineering could look like.

This course runs around the weather, we adjust the plan to make the most of whatever conditions we get.

Alternatively why not book our 5 Day Winter Skills course which allows you more time to hone your newly learnt skills and also covers emergency rope skills.