Introduction to Winter Skills - One day course

Mountaineering Scotland offers one-day winter skills courses designed for those who are new to winter hill travel and want to develop the essential skills and confidence needed to move safely in the mountains during winter.  

The course provides an introduction to the winter environment, covering the fundamental techniques required for travelling on snow and ice. You will learn how to use essential winter equipment, including ice axe and crampons, develop efficient movement skills, and understand the basic principles of safe decision-making in winter conditions.  

Through practical sessions in the mountain environment, you will gain an understanding of snow, terrain, weather, and the challenges that make winter travel different from summer walking. This course provides the ideal foundation for those looking to continue developing their winter skills through further training and experience.  

Fitness level 2

For people who enjoy days out on the hill, but would prefer to train on terrain that is not too physically demanding. At times the course will be off track on the open hillside.

Maximum distance 8km and maximum ascent 500m.

2026-27 courses

Dates & locations:

  • Friday 18 December 2026 - Aviemore (Cairngorms) - Booking opens soon

  • Thursday 11 February 2027 - Glencoe - Booking opens soon


Meeting Points: 

  • Cairngorms - Tiso Aviemore Outdoor Experience Store, Unit 1, Aviemore Retail Park, Santa Claus Drive Aviemore, PH22 1RH 

  • Glencoe - Glencoe Mountain Centre, White Corries, Ballachulish PH49 4HZ 

Cost:

Our courses are for members of Mountaineering Scotland. Your membership fees help us subsidise the costs of our courses and means we offer them at these very affordable rates for all our members. By becoming a member, you also support all the other work we are involved in on behalf of hill walkers, climbers, mountaineers and ski tourers in Scotland.  

  • Cairngorms: £60 for Mountaineering Scotland members
  • Glencoe: £80 for Mountaineering Scotland members**

**The Glencoe Course also includes the cost of the uplift at Glencoe Mountain. If for any reason this is not used (e.g. the conditions are better elsewhere) this portion of the cost will be refunded.  

What you will learn

For one day courses, we aim to cover the following:

  • Clothing and equipment choices 

  • Crampon fitting  

  • Use of ice axe and crampons 

  • Basic movement techniques 

  • Efficient walking on snow 

  • Basic self-arrest awareness (an introduction) 

  • Understanding snow, terrain and hazards 

  • Winter decision making and personal safety 

Our priority is to deliver the course aims and learning outcomes as effectively as possible, adapting to the prevailing weather, snow and mountain conditions. We will aim to cover as much of the course outline as conditions allow. As snow and weather conditions are beyond our control, we cannot guarantee that every aspect of the course will be covered. However, we will always provide relevant training, instruction and coaching. Reaching a summit is not an objective of the course and will only be considered where it supports the learning and conditions are suitable.   

The staffing ratio is 1:6. All our courses are staffed with highly experienced mountaineering instructors who hold either their Winter Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor award or Winter Mountain Leader award. 

Participants aged 14-17 may be accepted on this course where it is considered appropriate for their prior experience, fitness and course aims. Please contact Mountaineering Scotland before booking so we can discuss suitability, previous experience and what the participant hopes to gain from the course. For courses where accommodation is included, participants aged 14-17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is also booked onto the course. If the course is suitable, we will provide instructions from completing the booking. 

If you have any questions regarding the content of our winter skills courses, or you're not sure if it's right for you, please contact info@mountaineering.scot   

What to bring

It is VITAL that you come prepared for a full day in the winter mountains to ensure that you get the most out of the course - download the kit list below. 

  • What's provided: Mountaineering Scotland will provide you with a helmet for the day. 

  • What you need to bring: You will need to be equipped for a full day in the hills in winter conditions with adequate warm and waterproof outdoor clothing, winter boots, ice axe and crampons, as well as plenty of food and drink (ideally some warm drink) - see the full kit list below.  

Not sure if you have the right boots? Read more about winter boots here 

If you have any questions regarding the suitability of your kit or indeed any other questions about the course please contact us in advance. 

Winter kit list (pdf)


Need to hire kit?

If you don't have winter boots, crampons or axe, here are a few options for hiring them - please make sure you pick up kit in advance of the course start time:

Fort William: 

Aviemore: 

How to book

To book onto one of our mountain safety courses, you need to be a member of Mountaineering Scotland. 

  • Already a member of Mountaineering Scotland? Book online in our members’ portal. 

  • If you are not a Mountaineering Scotland member, you can join quickly and easily online in our members' portal. 

 

Our cancellation policy: 

  • Cancellations 7 days or less before the course date are non-refundable and non-transferable. 

  • Cancellations less than 4 weeks before a course date - we will only offer a refund or transfer if we find a replacement to take your place (admin fee applies) 

  • Cancellations more than 4 weeks before the course date will incur a £10 admin fee per booking to cover admin costs. 

By making a booking you are agreeing to our booking and cancellation conditions. 

 

Course Delivery and Cancellation by Mountaineering Scotland 

  • We endeavour to run all courses as planned. However, for operational reasons, we may from time to time need to amend or cancel a booking. Courses will proceed as scheduled unless an Amber or Red weather warning is in place for the meeting location. Where such a warning applies, the course may be cancelled, postponed or have its start time adjusted due to the increased risk associated with travel to and from the venue.  

  • Winter courses are designed to run in a wide range of mountain conditions. Where snow cover, weather or ground conditions are less than ideal, we will adapt the teaching approach, location and activities to ensure the course remains safe, effective and focused on achieving the intended learning outcomes.  

  • In the event of a cancellation by Mountaineering Scotland, participants will be offered either a full refund of the course fee or the option to transfer to another course of the same cost, subject to availability.