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Winter Walking Skills - Scotland and The Cairngorms

winter Mountain skills 

The cairngorms (2 days)

A course for beginner winter walkers looking to develop core skills and build confidence. Day two includes a guided mountain journey, offering the chance to consolidate and apply your learning in real winter conditions.

Ideal for those wanting to gain the skills to access the mountains safely and independently year-round.

 

2 DAY COURSE

 PRICES:£200pp

COURSE OVERVIEW

This Winter Mountain Skills Course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and practical skills needed to move confidently and safely in snow and ice. With a strong emphasis on mountain preparedness, the course covers winter equipment, navigation, avalanche awareness, and emergency procedures.

Day one focuses on core skills and safe practices in a winter environment. On day two, we’ll put those skills into action with a mountain journey — potentially summiting a winter Munro such as Cairn Gorm or Ben Macdui, or traversing the Northern Corries — offering the chance to consolidate everything learned in a real-world setting.

OUTLINE:

  • Gear and Equipment:

Learn how to choose and use essential winter clothing, boots, and equipment for cold, wet, and windy conditions. You'll also cover how to correctly fit crampons and use an ice axe,. 

  • Navigation Essentials:

Develop your map reading and compass skills for navigating in poor visibility. You'll also explore how snow cover affects terrain, route-finding, and overall navigation strategy. All on smaller scale maps - 1:40k & 1:50k. 

  • Route Planning & Avalanche Awareness:

Understand how to plan safe and realistic routes in winter, with an introduction to avalanche awareness. You'll learn to identify hazardous terrain, interpret avalanche forecasts, and make informed decisions in potentially unstable snow conditions.

  • Snow and Ice Techniques:

Practise safe movement on snow-covered slopes, in ascent and descent. Instruction includes the practical use of crampons, ice axes, and key techniques for moving confidently on steep or icy ground.

  • Emergencies on the Hill:

Learn how to look after yourself and others in winter emergencies - from insulating against the cold and using group shelters learning how to call Mountain Rescue.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

  • Two full days of practical, hands-on instruction in a winter mountain environment

  • A focus on essential winter skills including movement on snow, and ice axe & crampon use

  • Training in cold, challenging conditions

  • A supportive and adaptive approach 

  • A guided mountain journey on day two to consolidate skills

  • Consolidation of winter navigation techniques 

  • Plenty of opportunities to ask questions, practise techniques, and build confidencE

winter in the cairngorms

SKILLS COVERED

  • Route planning and decision-making

  • Winter gear, equipment, and clothing

  • Weather interpretation and its impact on the mountain environment

  • Efficient movement and walking techniques on winter terrain

  • Navigation in poor visibility and snow-covered ground

  • Winter kit management and organisation

  • Staying safe and managing yourself in harsh conditions

  • Emergency procedures and hill safety

  • Movement on snow and mixed ground

  • Ice axe use for support and security

  • Crampon techniques for various slope angles

  • Ice axe braking / self-arrest

  • Avalanche awareness and terrain assessment

WHAT YOU NEED:

You will need to wear suitable clothing for winter mountaineering, including a full set of waterproofs, warm layers, hat & gloves, ski goggles and winter mountaineering boots.

These boots should be rigid and rated to B1/B2 standard (we can advise during the booking stage).

Boots can be hired from LDM, subject to sizes and availability of our stocks.

We can provide crampons, ice axe, helmets and other technical equipment.

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?

  • Hillwalkers with summer experience looking to transition into winter mountain conditions

  • Outdoor enthusiasts keen to build confidence using crampons & ice axes

  • Those wanting to improve their winter navigation, route planning, and avalanche awareness

  • Anyone preparing for independent winter adventures in the UK hills and mountains

Suitable for ages 18+

This course is aimed at hillwalkers looking to take their first steps into winter mountain terrain, or those with limited winter experience who want to develop greater confidence and competence.

dates

5th/6th February

2026

21st/22nd February 2026

COURSE RATIOS

1:6 Ratio

6 people per 1 instructor

Min: 2 | Max: 6

Learn with like-minded people in the winter environment​

We can provide additional instructors so if courses are full then please still enquire.  

PRE-REQUISITES

18+ 

Previous experience of hill walking in summer conditions is ideal.

You will need to be fit enough to be able to walk in the snow carrying a rucksack.

Some navigational knowledge will be beneficial but is not essential (map & compass)

Please contact us to discuss regarding any queries.

EQUIPMENT

All technical equipment can be  provided & hired from LDM. 

We will share kit lists with you during the booking stage

Ice axes provided

Crampons can be hired

(£10 per day) 

You will need to wear suitable outdoor clothing and have appropriate mountain footwear 

(B1/B2 boots - these are rigid to take crampons)

Boot hire is £10 per pair, per day

VENUE

Our venues are carefully selected and tailored to get the most out of the programme. 

On the day, we will meet you at Tiso, in the Explorer cafe for meet and greet. at 8:00am.

We will then look to organise your equipment. 

The course is based in the Cairngorms and will use the Northern Coires for all of the training. 

OTHER COURSES OF INTEREST...

WINTER MOUNTAIN SKILLS - LAKE DISTRICT
 

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4 day winter climb/mountain BEN NEVIS/GLEN COE

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2 day winter climb/mountain cairngorms
 

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Hire our Lake District Mountaineering instructors for private and tailored programmes.

Suited to your goals & ambitions to make the most of YOUR time in the mountains. 

Day rates: 

1:1 £250

1:2 £300

1:3 £350

1:4 £400

1:6 £450

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CONTACT

We look forward to hearing from you and working towards your mountaineering ambitions and helping to achieve your goals. 

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Phone or WhatsApp:

07458353048

If calls are missed we will respond when possible, please leave a WhatsApp or text message so we can respond to your enquiry.

Thank you

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