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Winter Skills Training Courses

Mountaineering Scotland offers members the opportunity of either a weekend course or a series of one day courses. All our winter skills courses are currently based at Mill Cottage, Feshiebridge or from the SYHA in Aviemore, and are aimed at Mountaineering Scotland members who enjoy the Scottish hills in winter and wish to improve their competency and skill levels.

Fitness grade

Fitness grade depends on course chosen: single day or weekend.

One day course: Grade 2. For people who regular climb hills/mountains. These courses are delivered on the mountain, sometimes ‘off-track’ on rough terrain. Max distance 12km, max ascent 600m

Weekend course: Grade 3. For people who regularly climb hills/mountains who wish to take it to the next level.  The courses are delivered on the mountains sometimes ‘off-track’ and on rough scrambling terrain. Max distance 12km, max ascent 1000m per day.

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What you'll learn

Our winter skills courses cover the essential skills of walking with an axe and crampons, ice axe self- arrest, navigation, winter safety, avalanche avoidance and much more. It will not involve any use of a rope. The staffing ratio is 1:6. All our courses are staffed with highly experienced mountain instructors who hold their MIC/Winter Mountain Leader

If you have any questions regarding the content of our winter skills courses, please contact Heather on 01479 861241.

Course dates and locations

  

Winter Skills two-day weekend courses are based either at Mill Cottage in Glen Feshie or from the SYHA in Aviemore.  Please note if the course is SYHA based accommodation is NOT included in the price.  If the course is based at Mill Cottage, two nights self catering accommodation IS included in the price.

Sat 5th & Sun 6th Jan 2019 Mill Cottage - start time 8pm Friday 4th FULLY BOOKED

Sat 12th & Sun 13th Jan 2019 Mill Cottage - start time 9pm Friday 11th FULLY BOOKED

Sat 9th & Sun 10th Feb 2019  - start time 8am Sat 9th (SYHA Aviemore - non residential) FULLY BOOKED

One-day winter skills courses based in the Northern Cairngorms meeting at the SYHA in Aviemore (price does NOT include accommodation)

Tue 8th Jan 2019 FULLY BOOKED

Tue 15th Jan 2019 FULLY BOOKED

Tue 22nd Jan 2019

Tue 29th Jan 2019 FULLY BOOKED

You may wish to combine your one-day winter skills course with our winter navigation courses which run every Wednesday following the winter skills days.


Cost

Two-day courses

£80

The cost of the course includes: Two days instruction and self-catering accommodation on Friday and Saturday nights at Mill Cottage. (Please note the weekend course on the 9th/10th Feb 19 does not include accommodation as Mill Cottage was not available.  Participants will need to find their own accommodation for this course).  Participants need to supply all their own kit for the course - a kit list will be provided.

One-day courses

£40

The cost of the one day winter skills courses includes instruction & refreshments at the start and end of the day. Participants need to supply all their own kit for the course - a kit list will be provided.

How to book a place on a course

To book onto one of our mountain safety courses, you need to be a member of Mountaineering Scotland. Thanks to your membership, we can subsidise the costs of our courses and offer you cheaper course prices than most commercial providers.

  • Mountaineering Scotland members can book and pay easily and quickly online in our members’ web portal. 
  • If you are not a Mountaineering Scotland member, you can join and book your course place at the same time quickly and easily online in our members web portal.

Please take a look at our useful course information for booking and cancellation conditions.

Booking is now open

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Previous participants said:

  • Fantastic instructors, well organised course, brilliant accommodation, amazing food, great helpful staff
  • I've done three courses with MCofS and have really enjoyed each one. They are excellent value and I'm always telling people about them!
  • Heather has a brilliant technique for training. Getting the info across in a fun but professional way. Lots of top tips. I have been on a course previously with Heather as the instructor, and on both occasions thoroughly enjoyed my time & learned a lot.
  • Excellent value course and good content covered given that we only had 1 day
  • The course was fantastic. Demonstration of an evolving avalache risk by "getting up close" was something I shall never forget.
  • This was an exceptionally good day especially for the money that it cost - it was a great foundation to build on and it means that we can venture out onto the hill in a safer manner which is in the long run a priceless - makes me very happy to be a member of and support the MCofS if thats the sort of thing that is offered. Brilliant.
  • The instructors were great, the accommodation and food was amazing and it was unbelievably cheap especially considering how great it was.
  • I learned a huge amount and consolidated some of the things I've learned already.  It was also a reminder to be prepared for everything!