Nearly there....... Crunch, crunch!................... Your crampons bite into the hard snow......... Heart pounding.......Cloud drifts in and out, losing the horizon........This feels like a different mountain to the summer.........there's something rising ahead....... It's the observatory....... We're there, 4,435 feet high......Nowhere higher in all of Britain.............. Big smiles...........The summit of Ben Nevis in winter!

If you are a 3 season hillwalker and looking to get into winter, this is the course to give you the essential skills needed for safe winter walking. It is not a mountaineering or winter climbing course.

We use Fort William, the "Outdoor Capital of the UK" and the Cairngorms as our course bases, which gives us good access to the surrounding mountains as well as a selection of accommodation and outdoor stores offering winter gear hire.

We'll be making the most of the prevailing winter conditions to introduce you to the wonder of Scottish winter hillwalking. You'll leave fitter, wiser, more experienced and full of great memories from your two Scottish winter days.

Course Outline

Winter Preparation
Winter equipment, food and clothing
Selection and use of ice axes and crampons
Ice Axe arresting
Movement on snow and Ice with and without crampons and ice axe
Avalanche Awareness
Next Steps

 

Course Price

£ 130 course only.

This course includes all instruction and guiding and operates on a maximum ratio of 6 clients to 1 instructor. Travel around the local area will be shared.

You will need ice axes, winter boots and crampons, which can be hired locally in Fort William or from ourselves.Download our Winter Equipment list here (Requires Adobe Reader)

Client Testimonials

 

"Excellent course, taught well the skills needed and gives me the confidence to go out in winter with my own ability. Instructor and staff excellent" Simon, February 2008

"Really enjoyed the weekend...damn good fun" Phil, February 2008

 

Previous Experience/Fitness Required

To get the most from the 2 days, you need to be reasonably fit. That means hillwalking regularly or doing some form of regular weekly exercise.

Summer hillwalking experience desirable.

Available Dates Christmas 2008 & Winter 2009

Email or phone us (01492 531475) for availability of your preferred date or to arrange a private course for you or your group or a winter ascent. All dates are Saturday/Sunday unless indicated otherwise, please note where they are based.

December 27/28, 29/30 (Monday/Tuesday),

January courses - 3/4, 10/11, 17/18, 24/25, 31/1

February 7/8, 14/15, 21/22, 28/1

March 7/8, 14/15, 21/22, 28/19

Useful Information and links

 

Accommodation in and around Fort William

The Lime Tree - 3 star hotel in central Fort William run by local mountaineer and artist David Wilson.

Old Pines Hotel - 4 star hotel and restaurant in Spean Bridge, just outside Fort William

The Corrann Inn - Sitting on the shores of Loch Linnhe, beside the Corran ferry, The Corran Inn is just 10 minutes from Fort William and Ben Nevis and 10 minutes from Glencoe.

Birchwood Lodge - Self catering. A cosy garage flat with its own side entrance. It has every modern convenience and is perfect for two people. Located 3 miles from Fort William, near the Caledonian canal and Banavie.

Scottish Tourist Board - Search facility for different types of accommodation from Hotels to guest houses and self catering

 

Equipment hire - Aviemore and Fort William

We hire out ice axes and crampons. In addition, these stores hire out axes, crampons and winter boots. See our winter equipment notes and advice for further information on what you need.

Ellis Brigham - Fort William and Aviemore

Nevis Sport - Fort William

Cairngorm Mountain Sports - Aviemore

Travel to Fort William and Aviemore

Fort William is located approximately 2 hours drive north of Glasgow & 2 hours drive southwest of Inverness. See map here

Aviemore is located around 1 and a half hours north of Glasgow/Edinburgh and 1 hour southeast of Inverness. See map here

A number of airlines fly into Scotland.

Aer Lingus - to Glasgow & Edinburgh
British European - to Glasgow & Edinburgh
British Airways - to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness & Aberdeen
British Midland -to Glasgow, Inverness & Edinburgh
Easyjet - to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness & Aberdeen
Eastern Airways - to Aberdeen & Inverness
Ryanair - to Glasgow Prestwick, 3 hours from Fort William

Train and coach (bus) travel

For train timetable & fare information click here

For coach information click here