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Courses and events calendar

We offer a wide range of great value mountain skills courses and climbing coaching workshops, held in locations across Scotland. We also organise talks, lectures and other events during the year to help you grow your knowledge and meet other hill walkers, climbers and mountaineers. Check out the full schedule below and click for more information, booking details and prices.

Please note: We indicate whether courses are fully booked below, but please be aware this is not an automatic update, so the situation may change overnight. 

Waiting lists

We operate a waiting list for most events to fill spaces that become available in case of cancellations. Please add your details to the waiting list for any courses and dates that are fully booked that you are interested in and we will be in touch with everyone on the list if any places become available.


November 2024

Navigation is an essential skill for anyone who intends going into the Scottish hills and mountains. At any time of year low cloud can mean poor visibility, making navigation more challenging. By heading out into the darkness we can practice the techniques required to deal with these conditions and learn to confidently navigate off the hill if caught out by short daylight hours over the winter.

What you'll learn

  • Improve your ability to recognise contour shapes and features.
  • Accurately follow compass bearings and measure your distance across the ground.
  • Learn new techniques to help you relocate and confirm your position.
  • What to do if you get lost.

Venue: Dumyat 

Meeting Place: Pendreich Forestry Car Park, Sheriffmuir Road, Bridge of Allan, FK9 4LT

Read more or book now

Mountaineering Scotland Winter Weather Skills Course in association with MWIS, exclusively for our members. This one day mountain winter weather workshop is designed for members to help discover the science behind the forecasts and learn how to better plan your winter mountain adventures.

What you'll learn

  • Understanding different airflow patterns and their winter characteristics
  • Reading the synoptic weather charts
  • Studying different types of snow
  • Freezing levels and freeze-thaw cycles
  • The winter microclimates in the mountains
  • Why does lightning happen in winter?
  • Different types of 'whiteout' conditions
  • Stormy patterns and weather windows'
  • Alpine conditions' and the road to spring

Venue: Mountaineering Scotland HQ, Perth 

Read more or book now

December 2024

Our winter skills courses offer an opportunity to help improve your skills and confidence for winter walking and mountaineering in Scotland, with our team of qualified and experienced instructors. 

This one-day course is aimed at people who already enjoy walking in the Scottish hills in summer and winter, and wish to improve their competency and learn the necessary skills to enjoy winter in the hills safety.

What you'll learn

Our winter skills courses cover the essential skills of hill walking in winter including:

  • Use of ice axe and crampons
  • Ice axe self- arrest
  • Navigation
  • Winter safety
  • Avalanche avoidance 
  • What to do in an emergency and more

Area: Cairngorms 

Meeting Place: Tiso Aviemore Outdoor Experience Store, Unit 1, Aviemore Retail Park, Santa Claus Drive Aviemore, PH22 1RH

Read more or book now

Navigation takes on an extra dimension in winter, when snow, weather and limited daylight hours all add different challenges to finding your way around the mountains in safety. This course is designed to equip you to face up to these challenges with confidence.

What you'll learn

Nine hours of intensive winter navigation training with particular consideration to avoidance of avalanche-prone slopes and cornice features. 

Techniques will include

  • Timing and pacing
  • Walking on bearings, aiming off
  • Boxing away from cornice edges
  • Attack points 
  • Walking in the dark and experience the challenges of night navigation.

Area: Cairngorms 

Meeting Place: Tiso Aviemore Outdoor Experience Store, Unit 1, Aviemore Retail Park, Santa Claus Drive Aviemore, PH22 1RH

Read more or book now

Our winter skills courses offer an opportunity to help improve your skills and confidence for winter walking and mountaineering in Scotland, with our team of qualified and experienced instructors. 

This two-day course is aimed at people who already enjoy walking in the Scottish hills in summer and winter, and wish to improve their competency and learn the necessary skills to enjoy winter in the hills safety.

What you'll learn

Our winter skills courses cover the essential skills of hill walking in winter including:

  • Use of ice axe and crampons
  • Ice axe self- arrest
  • Navigation
  • Winter safety
  • Avalanche avoidance 
  • What to do in an emergency and more

Area: Cairngorms 

Meeting Place: Mill Cottage, Feshiebridge, Kincraig, PH21 1NF

Read more or book now

January 2025

Our winter skills courses offer an opportunity to help improve your skills and confidence for winter walking and mountaineering in Scotland, with our team of qualified and experienced instructors. 

This two-day non residential course is aimed at people who already enjoy walking in the Scottish hills in summer and winter, and wish to improve their competency and learn the necessary skills to enjoy winter in the hills safety.

What you'll learn

Our winter skills courses cover the essential skills of hill walking in winter including:

  • Use of ice axe and crampons
  • Ice axe self- arrest
  • Navigation
  • Winter safety
  • Avalanche avoidance 
  • What to do in an emergency and more

Area: Fort William 

Meeting Place: Lochaber Mountain Rescue Base, St Clement, Fort William, PH34 4EN

Read more or book now

The avalanche awareness courses are designed for proficient winter hill walkers and mountaineers wishing to increase their knowledge of snow conditions and avalanche risk, to learn which areas to avoid and to improve their understanding of reports and forecasts. Participants must have attended a winter skills course with Mountaineering Scotland or another provider prior to signing up for the avalanche course. 

What you'll learn

Each course will consist of an indoor introduction to avalanche theory followed by a practical session on the hill. The courses are staffed on a 1:6 ratio with highly experienced Winter Mountaineering & Climbing Instructors.

Topics covered:

  • You will increase your knowledge of snow and avalanches
  • Learn which areas to avoid and
  • Improve your understanding of reports and forecasts. 

Area: Cairngorms 

Meeting Place: Tiso Aviemore Outdoor Experience Store, Unit 1, Aviemore Retail Park, Santa Claus Drive Aviemore, PH22 1RH

Read more or book now

Our winter skills courses offer an opportunity to help improve your skills and confidence for winter walking and mountaineering in Scotland, with our team of qualified and experienced instructors. 

This two-day course is aimed at people who already enjoy walking in the Scottish hills in summer and winter, and wish to improve their competency and learn the necessary skills to enjoy winter in the hills safety.

What you'll learn

Our winter skills courses cover the essential skills of hill walking in winter including:

  • Use of ice axe and crampons
  • Ice axe self- arrest
  • Navigation
  • Winter safety
  • Avalanche avoidance 
  • What to do in an emergency and more

Area: Cairngorms 

Meeting Place: Mill Cottage, Feshiebridge, Kincraig, PH21 1NF

Read more or book now

The avalanche awareness courses are designed for proficient winter hill walkers and mountaineers wishing to increase their knowledge of snow conditions and avalanche risk, to learn which areas to avoid and to improve their understanding of reports and forecasts. Participants must have attended a winter skills course with Mountaineering Scotland or another provider prior to signing up for the avalanche course. 

What you'll learn

Each course will consist of an indoor introduction to avalanche theory followed by a practical session on the hill. The courses are staffed on a 1:6 ratio with highly experienced Winter Mountaineering & Climbing Instructors.

Topics covered:

  • You will increase your knowledge of snow and avalanches
  • Learn which areas to avoid and
  • Improve your understanding of reports and forecasts. 

Area: Cairngorms 

Meeting Place: Tiso Aviemore Outdoor Experience Store, Unit 1, Aviemore Retail Park, Santa Claus Drive Aviemore, PH22 1RH

Read more or book now

Our winter skills courses offer an opportunity to help improve your skills and confidence for winter walking and mountaineering in Scotland, with our team of qualified and experienced instructors. 

This two-day course is aimed at people who already enjoy walking in the Scottish hills in summer and winter, and wish to improve their competency and learn the necessary skills to enjoy winter in the hills safety.

What you'll learn

Our winter skills courses cover the essential skills of hill walking in winter including:

  • Use of ice axe and crampons
  • Ice axe self- arrest
  • Navigation
  • Winter safety
  • Avalanche avoidance 
  • What to do in an emergency and more

Area: Glencoe 

Meeting Place: Alex MacIntyre Hut, North Ballachulish

Read more or book now

February 2025

Our winter skills courses offer an opportunity to help improve your skills and confidence for winter walking and mountaineering in Scotland, with our team of qualified and experienced instructors. 

This two-day course is aimed at people who already enjoy walking in the Scottish hills in summer and winter, and wish to improve their competency and learn the necessary skills to enjoy winter in the hills safety.

What you'll learn

Our winter skills courses cover the essential skills of hill walking in winter including:

  • Use of ice axe and crampons
  • Ice axe self- arrest
  • Navigation
  • Winter safety
  • Avalanche avoidance 
  • What to do in an emergency and more

Area: Cairngorms 

Meeting Place: Mill Cottage, Feshiebridge, Kincraig, PH21 1NF

Read more or book now

Navigation takes on an extra dimension in winter, when snow, weather and limited daylight hours all add different challenges to finding your way around the mountains in safety. This course is designed to equip you to face up to these challenges with confidence.

What you'll learn

Nine hours of intensive winter navigation training with particular consideration to avoidance of avalanche-prone slopes and cornice features. 

Techniques will include

  • Timing and pacing
  • Walking on bearings, aiming off
  • Boxing away from cornice edges
  • Attack points 
  • Walking in the dark and experience the challenges of night navigation.

Area: Cairngorms 

Meeting Place: Tiso Aviemore Outdoor Experience Store, Unit 1, Aviemore Retail Park, Santa Claus Drive Aviemore, PH22 1RH

Read more or book now

Our winter skills courses offer an opportunity to help improve your skills and confidence for winter walking and mountaineering in Scotland, with our team of qualified and experienced instructors. 

This one-day course aimed at people who already enjoy walking in the Scottish hills in summer and winter, and wish to improve their competency and learn the necessary skills to enjoy winter in the hills safety.

What you'll learn

Our winter skills courses cover the essential skills of hill walking in winter including:

  • Use of ice axe and crampons
  • Ice axe self- arrest
  • Navigation
  • Winter safety
  • Avalanche avoidance 
  • What to do in an emergency and more

Area: Glencoe

Meeting Place: Glencoe Mountain Centre, White Corries, Ballachulish PH49 4HZ

Read more or book now

Our winter skills courses offer an opportunity to help improve your skills and confidence for winter walking and mountaineering in Scotland, with our team of qualified and experienced instructors. 

This two-day course is aimed at people who already enjoy walking in the Scottish hills in summer and winter, and wish to improve their competency and learn the necessary skills to enjoy winter in the hills safety.

What you'll learn

Our winter skills courses cover the essential skills of hill walking in winter including:

  • Use of ice axe and crampons
  • Ice axe self- arrest
  • Navigation
  • Winter safety
  • Avalanche avoidance 
  • What to do in an emergency and more

Area: Glencoe 

Meeting Place: Alex MacIntyre Hut, North Ballachulish

Read more or book now

March 2025

The Scottish Winter Climbing Meet has been a highlight on the international climbing calendar for over 25 years and has attracted climbers from across the world eager to sample the unique Scottish winter experience. The meet has been running since 1997 and was last held in 2023. Overseas guests are paired up with experienced UK-based hosts - an excellent formula that has proved to be very successful. In return for sharing their local knowledge and expertise, UK climbers gain a wider perspective by climbing with their international visitors.

Applications to take part will open in autumn 2024.

The meet is hosted by the Mountaineering Scotland, the BMC, the Alpine Club and the Scottish Mountaineering Club.

Find out more

Our winter skills courses offer an opportunity to help improve your skills and confidence for winter walking and mountaineering in Scotland, with our team of qualified and experienced instructors. 

This two-day course is aimed at people who already enjoy walking in the Scottish hills in summer and winter, and wish to improve their competency and learn the necessary skills to enjoy winter in the hills safety.

What you'll learn

Our winter skills courses cover the essential skills of hill walking in winter including:

  • Use of ice axe and crampons
  • Ice axe self- arrest
  • Navigation
  • Winter safety
  • Avalanche avoidance 
  • What to do in an emergency and more

Area: Cairngorms 

Meeting Place: Mill Cottage, Feshiebridge, Kincraig, PH21 1NF

Read more or book now

Our winter skills courses offer an opportunity to help improve your skills and confidence for winter walking and mountaineering in Scotland, with our team of qualified and experienced instructors. 

This two-day course is aimed at people who already enjoy walking in the Scottish hills in summer and winter, and wish to improve their competency and learn the necessary skills to enjoy winter in the hills safety.

What you'll learn

Our winter skills courses cover the essential skills of hill walking in winter including:

  • Use of ice axe and crampons
  • Ice axe self- arrest
  • Navigation
  • Winter safety
  • Avalanche avoidance 
  • What to do in an emergency and more

Area: Glencoe 

Meeting Place: Alex MacIntyre Hut, North Ballachulish

Read more or book now

This two-day course is aimed at members of snowsports touring clubs affiliated to Mountaineering Scotland, and who either aspire to, or are already taking the lead role on club trips.

This course is suitable for snowsports tourers who have a good level of hill and ski fitness and who are confident on moderate slopes off-piste. Moderate slopes would equate to a red run and the course will involve skinning up onto the Cairngorm Plateau. (a minimum ascent of 600m)

What you'll learn

The two-day course will run on a maximum of 1:6 ratio and, weather and conditions permitting, will cover the following aspects of snow sports touring:

  • Personal skiing and skinning skills
  • Leadership skills Navigation - map and compass and GPS
  • Route choice/weather forecast interpretation
  • Avalanche awareness
  • Emergency procedures

Area: Cairngorms

Meeting Place: Mill Cottage, Feshiebridge, Kincraig, PH21 1NF

Read more or book now