Winter Walking/Winter Skills Courses in the Highlands of Scotland, UK

Instructor to Client Ratio, 1:6 maximum.

These courses are aimed at introducing people (usually summer walkers) to the skills needed for safe mountain travel in the winter/to provide a refresher to those who would like confirmation that what they are doing is safe or reminding or updating on their skills.

Topics to look at include:

Equipment
Weather and Preparation, Planning your day
Snowcraft and the use of the Ice Axe
Crampon selection and use
Avalanche Awareness
Navigation and route planning
Response to emergencies
Basic Ropework (if appropriate to the experience of the party and the length of the course)

Venues used might include Ben Nevis, Stob Coire Nan Lochain, The Mamores, Aonach Mor, the Ballachullish Horseshoe and Buachaille Etive Mor/Beag

For those looking to a good introduction to winter skills we offer a 2 day course. If you would like a more in depth course it is possible to book a private instructor or to extend your 2 day course on a private basis.

Courses are subject to the needs and fitness of the clients and prevailing conditions but a sample programme might be:

Day 1: Introduction to Winter skills. Topics covered as listed above. Usually a brisk walk in and a fairly static day based in 1 area.
Day 2: Mountain Day. A more mobile day looking at putting into practise and expanding on the skills learnt the previous day.
Day 3: More skills. A mixture of skills teaching and mountain travel, perhaps introducing the use of the rope on moderate ground.
Day 4: Client led day. Clients put their new tools into practise as part of a mountain day of suitable length with the instructor in close attendance acting as advisor/giving further coaching.