Winter skills training courses

Mountaineering Scotland offers members the opportunity of either a two course or one day course to help improve your skills and confidence for winter walking and mountaineering in Scotland, with our team of qualified and experienced instructors. 

Our winter skills courses are 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.

Fitness Level

One day Course - Fitness Level 2: This course is 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.

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

Course dates and locations

2024-2025 Winter Skills Course Dates 

One-Day Winter Skills Courses  

**Please note: Accommodation is NOT included in the one day course fee** 

  • 7 December 2024 - One Day Winter Skills Course - Cairngorms - Bookings open
  • 17 February 2025 - One Day Winter Skills Course - Glencoe - Bookings open


Two-Day Non Residential Winter Skills Courses  

**Please note: Accommodation is NOT included in this two day course fee** 

  • 4 & 5 January 2025 - Two Day Non Residential Winter Skills Course - Fort William - Bookings open


Winter Skills Two-Day Courses  

**Two nights self catering accommodation (night before and first night of the course) included in course fee**

  • 21 & 22 December 2024 - Two Day Winter Skills Course - Cairngorms - Bookings open
  • 9 & 10 January 2025 - Two Day Winter Skills Course - Cairngorms - Bookings open
  • 29 & 30 January 2025 - Two Day Winter Skills Course - Glencoe - Bookings open
  • 4 & 5 February 2025 - Two Day Winter Skills Course - Cairngorms - Bookings open
  • 18 & 19 February 2025 - Two Day Winter Skills Course - Glencoe - Bookings open
  • 18 & 19 March 2025 - Two Day Winter Skills Course - Cairngorms - Bookings open
  • 22 & 23 March 2025 - Two Day Winter Skills Course - Glencoe - Bookings open

Women's Winter Skills Two-Day Weekend Course

  • 21 & 22 January 2025 - Women's Winter Skills Two-Day Course Course - Glencoe - Bookings open

One Day Course 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

Two Day Course Meeting Points 

  • Fort William - Lochaber Mountain Rescue Base, St Clement, Fort William, PH34 4EN
  • Cairngorms - Mill Cottage, Feshiebridge, Kincraig, PH21 1NF
  • Glencoe -  Alex MacIntyre Hut, North Ballachulish

What you will 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. 
It will not involve any use of a rope. 

We will aim to cover as much of the above as possible, depending on the snow and weather conditions. 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.

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 an appropriate map, map case and compass where needed.
  • 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

Winter kit list (.pdf)

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

Prices

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.

One-day Cairngorm Courses: £60

One-day Glencoe Courses: £78 - The Glencoe Course includes: the cost of the uplift at Glencoe mountain (£18). If for any reason this is not used (eg the conditions are better elsewhere) this portion of the cost will be refunded. 

  • The price includes: One full day of instruction only. 
  • It does not include: Kit (see kit list above), accommodation, food or transport. Please be prepared to share your transport with others - for the purposes of car sharing, a list of attendees will be circulated a couple of weeks prior to the course.  If you do not wish to be included in this list, please advise at the time of booking.

  • To book our mountain safety courses you must be over 18 and have a valid membership of Mountaineering Scotland. Not a member? Click here to join

Two Day Non Residential Fort William Course: £128 - The Fort William Course includes: the cost of the uplift at Glencoe mountain (£18). If for any reason this is not used (eg the conditions are better elsewhere) this portion of the cost will be refunded. 

  • The price includes: Two full day of instruction.  
  • It does not include: Kit (see kit list above), accommodation, food or transport. Please be prepared to share your transport with others - for the purposes of car sharing, a list of attendees will be circulated a couple of weeks prior to the course  If you do not wish to be included in this list, please advise at the time of booking.

  • To book our mountain safety courses you must be over 18 and have a valid membership of Mountaineering Scotland. Not a member? Click here to join

Two Day Course Mill Cottage Courses: £145

Two Day Course Alex MacIntyre Hut Courses: £163 - The Glencoe course includes: the cost of the uplift at Glencoe mountain for one day (£18). If for any reason this is not used (eg the conditions are better elsewhere) this portion of the cost will be refunded. 

  • The price includes: Two days instruction and two nights self catering accommodation (night before and first night of the course) at either Mill Cottage in Glen Feshie or the Alex MacIntyre Hut in North Ballachulish.
  • It does not include: Kit (see kit list above), food or transport - please be prepared to share your transport with others. For the purposes of car sharing, a list of members will be circulated a couple of weeks prior to the course.  If you do not wish to be included in this list, please advise at the time of booking.
  • To book our mountain safety courses you must be over 18 and have a valid membership of Mountaineering Scotland. Not a member? Click here to join

How to book 

Pre-booking is essential. Please take a look at our course information and booking and cancellation conditions - by making a booking you are agreeing to these terms. 

  • 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 at the same time online in our members web 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.

If you have any questions please get in touch.

Book online

Previous participants said:

  • Fantastic instructors, well organised course, brilliant accommodation, great helpful staff
  • I've done three courses with Mountaineering Scotland and have really enjoyed each one. They are excellent value and I'm always telling people about them!
  • Ben and Kirsty were absolutely amazing and managed to teach us everything we need for fun and safe days in the Scottish winter despite extremely challenging conditions on both days. 
  • Excellent value course and good content covered given that we only had 1 day
  • The course was fantastic. Demonstration of an evolving avalanche 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 Mountaineering Scotland if that's the sort of thing that is offered. Brilliant.
  • The instructors were great, the accommodation 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!