Introductory Winter Mountaineering

Overview

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Sunday to Friday, 5 full days' instruction

Introduction

This course is designed for those with no previous winter hill walking or mountaineering experience, or for those who want a refresher in the skills needed to walk or climb safely in Scotland in winter. The course is also excellent preparation for overseas expeditions. Based in the Western Highlands you have access to Ben Nevis, Glen Coe, Aonach Mor and the Mamores, so you can expect to climb a variety of winter Munros.

The Instructors' aim is to introduce you to a range of winter skills. You'll focus on movement on snow and ice with axe and crampons, using the rope to safeguard the party on steep ground, the choice and construction of snow and rock anchors. A theme common to all groups is safety, whether through the teaching of navigation skills, avalanche assessment or the placement of belays.

We do not impose a course syllabus, meaning you get a more tailored and personal course, but by the end of the week, you should have the confidence and the skills necessary to venture into the Scottish Winter Mountains independently.

The course covers:

• Safety in the winter environment
• Basic navigation skills
• Appraisal of avalanche risk
• Refresher of existing personal skills (if appropriate)
• Ice axe arrest
• Use of crampons and ice axe on steep ground
• Basic rope work, including belaying
• The construction and use of snow anchors
• Emergency snow shelters

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Outline Programme

Day 1:	You should arrive by 6 pm on Sunday evening. The course begins at 6 pm with the Course Briefing, which you must attend. The briefing covers essential information for the week ahead, including equipment required for the following day. Dinner is served at 7.30pm. After dinner we will issue hire kit and there will be a short presentation on winter clothing and cold injury.
Day 2:	This is an introductory day concentrating on the use of crampons and ice axe on steep ground. We also include practice of arresting slips and falls. During the day we will look at the practical assessment of avalanche risk.
Day 3-6:	Mountaineering Days. These will be long mountain journeys, where the emphasis is on safety, navigation, mountain weather, snow-craft and general mountaineering skills. As the week progresses you can expect to put these skills into practice on increasingly steeper ground. The days are tailored to suit the abilities of the group, along with your aspirations. The venues chosen by the staff always take account of the prevailing weather and snow conditions.

Typical ascents of peaks on the Introductory Mountaineering Courses in previous years have been:

• Ben Nevis: Number 4 Gully (Grade I) or, The Carn Mor Dearg Arete (Grade I)
• Stob Coire Nan Lochan via The Zig Zags , or Broad Gully (Grade I)
• Bidean Nam Bian
• Many of the Munroes of the Mamores and the Aonachs

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the course or your suitability for it, please phone +44 (0)114 276 3322 or contact us.

Dates & Prices

Date	Accommodation in Ballachulish?		Availability
Sun 25 Jan – Fri 30 Jan 2026	Yes	No	Available Book now »
	£1,025	£625
Sun 1 Feb – Fri 6 Feb 2026	Yes	No	Available Book now »
	£1,025	£625
Sun 8 Feb – Fri 13 Feb 2026	Yes	No	Available Book now »
	£1,025	£625
Sun 15 Feb – Fri 20 Feb 2026	Yes	No	Available Book now »
	£1,025	£625
Sun 22 Feb – Fri 27 Feb 2026	Yes	No	Available Book now »
	£1,025	£625
Sun 1 Mar – Fri 6 Mar 2026	Yes	No	Available Book now »
	£1,025	£625
Sun 8 Mar – Fri 13 Mar 2026	Yes	No	Available Book now »
	£1,025	£625
Sun 15 Mar – Fri 20 Mar 2026	Yes	No	Available Book now »
	£1,025	£625

This course is available to book in GBP, USD and EUR.
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Group size: 3 – 12 people.

Single room supplement: £315

For comparison, this course starts from £205 (GBP) per day (price Without Flights).

What the price includes

• 5 nights' hotel accommodation, on a twin-sharing basis at the Ballachulish Hotel*
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout (if booking selected is 'Include Hotel Accommodation').
• Instructional fees based on the optimum student to instructor ratio for the activity being undertaken.
• Road transport to fulfil the course programme.
• All group mountaineering equipment, such as ropes and other technical equipment.
• Boots, Ice axes, crampons, harnesses & helmets (when reserved in advance).

*Prices without food and accommodation are available. Please select 'Exclude Hotel Accommodation' when booking.

What the price does not include

• Transport to the Ballachulish Hotel.
• Personal climbing equipment and clothing.
• Mountaineering and travel Insurance
• Mechanical uplift costs and indoor climbing**

**The Aonach Mor Gondola is frequently used on all courses.

Course Directors and Ratios

Find out more about our Course Directors, Climber to Instructor Ratios... read more

Photos & Videos

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Reports & Reviews

Have you been on this trip? If you'd like to contribute a trip report then we'll post it up on the site.

Team Member Reviews

• ‘Max and Alex were simply excellent.They were both consummate professionals and great communicators. It was a privilege to have worked with them.’ JL, Introductory Winter Mountaineering Mar '16
• ‘The course exceeded my expectations. Stunning views that you have to see to believe. Great fun combined with good safety and skills instruction.’ Introductory Winter Mountaineering - Feb '13
• ‘The guides were a highlight of the course and largely made the experience what it is. They were all very friendly and enthusiastic and always had time to help out or discuss things.’ SG
• ‘Very professional, excellent instructors and a great bunch of people to spend 5 days with!’ CQ
• ‘The staff were excellent in their approach to clients’ knowledge and being flexible to peoples’ differing needs and requests.’ MR
• ‘Outstanding…an insatiable desire to transfer knowledge on mountaineering skills to clients for the clients’ benefit.’ AR

Leader Reports

• Scottish Winter Courses climbers feedback
  “Our 2001 season was shaping up to be the best ever before foot and mouth cut it short. Here is some feedback from participants of last year's Scottish Winter Course: £It is rare these days that something comes up to your...”
  report added 09/Sep/01