Winter Mountaineering - West Highlands
Pathway: Winter
Level: Development
Develop winter mountaineering movement, ropework and judgement over three days in the West Highlands.
Level: Development
Prepare for alpine snow and ice with focused winter movement, ropework and equipment practice.
£195 per person
Winter Alpine Preparation is a day built around an upcoming alpine objective. We review transferable skills such as crampon movement, rope transitions, climbing systems, kit organisation and decision-making under time pressure. The Scottish mountains provide excellent technical preparation but do not duplicate every alpine hazard. We will identify where glacier travel, crevasse rescue or local guiding input is still required.
Based in Aviemore, Cairngorms. We choose the exact venue around conditions and the skills being practised.
Small-group workshop (Max 4)
You should have winter mountain experience relevant to your goal. Send details of your planned trip and recent experience before booking.
Winter boots compatible with your crampons; a mountaineering axe and crampons; map and compass; waterproofs and insulating layers; spare gloves, hat and goggles; headtorch with spare power; food, warm drink and personal medication. Bring a mountaineering axe, a helmet, harness and personal climbing equipment if you own them; discuss suitability before buying or hiring.
We can provide a mountaineering axe, crampons, a helmet and a harness. If you have your own, please bring them with you.
You will need suitable winter mountaineering boots: B2-rated boots are our normal minimum, and we can provide B2 boots where needed.
The exact plan may adapt to weather, venue conditions and the group's experience. The stages below describe the intended focus.
£195 per person. This workshop runs on request rather than on fixed dates: for individuals, small groups or bespoke professional development.
Ask about arranging Winter Alpine Preparation privately. Tell us your experience, priorities, group size and preferred dates so we can confirm a suitable format and quote.
Winter Alpine Preparation
This date is held in reserve and is not open for booking yet. Leave your details and we will be in touch if it opens. No payment is taken.
Dates are being finalised. Tell us which dates would suit you and we will be in touch as soon as they are confirmed.
This date is full. A waiting-list request is not a confirmed booking; we will contact you if a suitable place becomes available.
Tell us what you would like and when suits you, and we will come back to you with the options.
Thank you
We have your interest in this date and have emailed you a copy. No payment has been taken, and we will be in touch if it opens for booking.
We have your request and have emailed you a copy. We will be in touch as soon as dates are confirmed.
You are on the waiting list and we have emailed you a copy. A waiting-list request is not a confirmed booking; we will contact you if a suitable place becomes available.
We have your enquiry and have emailed you a copy. To send us anything else, such as an assessment report, reply to that email. We will be in touch soon to talk through the options.
It can be useful where your trip involves snow, ice or crampons. Tell us the objective so we can advise whether this or Summer Alpine Preparation is the better fit.
A Scottish winter day does not reproduce glacier travel. We will be clear about any glacier or crevasse-rescue training needed separately.
Yes. This Development workshop assumes a winter foundation and works on making your movement and systems more effective for a planned trip.
No. It takes place in Scottish winter terrain. We can develop transferable movement and systems, but actual glacier travel requires appropriate additional preparation.
Yes. Send your itinerary and any guide's kit requirements beforehand. We can review how the equipment fits the skills practised and identify questions to resolve before departure.
Contact us before booking or buying kit. We will confirm what you need, what can be arranged and any hire charges for this workshop.
We choose terrain around snow, wind, visibility and the avalanche forecast. Routes and exercises may change; we will discuss the arrangements if conditions prevent the intended activity.
Yes. Public courses and workshops are priced per person, so you can book an individual place and join others. Check the page prerequisites before booking; you do not need to provide a whole group yourself.
Choose the course or workshop, check the date and location, and follow Book now. Complete the requested participant information and payment steps. If you are unsure about suitability or need equipment advice, contact us before completing the booking.
Bookings below £300, or made fewer than 42 days before the start, are payable in full. For bookings of £300 or more made at least 42 days before the start, a deposit option is available, with the balance due 30 days before the start. The booking page confirms the amount due when you book.
Public course and workshop prices are per person. Private delivery is quoted separately for the agreed format and group. Mountain Leader reassessment is priced according to the scope agreed after reviewing your report.
Please read our Booking & Cancellation Policy before booking. It explains the applicable notice periods, charges and options for moving a place. Contact us promptly if your circumstances change, giving your booking name and date.
Contact us as soon as you know you may be unable to attend. Changes, transfers and refunds are handled under the Booking & Cancellation Policy. Let us know before the day rather than arriving unsure whether you can take part.
We will contact you to explain the change and the options available under our booking terms. Read the policy before booking, particularly before making separate travel or accommodation arrangements.
Public dates depend on sufficient bookings. If numbers affect your date, we will explain the situation and the options under our booking terms. The places shown online are availability, not a promise that minimum numbers have already been met.
Use Join the waiting list where it is shown, or contact us with the course and date. A waiting-list request is not a confirmed booking; we will contact you if a suitable place becomes available.
Yes. Use Register interest or contact us with the offering and your preferred dates. We can let you know about forthcoming public dates or discuss private delivery, subject to availability.
Yes. We will honour valid existing vouchers as the booking system changes. Contact us with the voucher details before paying so we can explain how to apply it.
Contact us before arranging a replacement. We need to check the booking terms, the other participant's suitability and their details before confirming whether a transfer is possible.
Check your spam or junk folder, then contact us with the booking name, course and date. Please check with us before making a second payment so we can establish what happened.
Reading to support your learning
Winter Courses with LDM - hints and tips, equipment, gear and recommendations for winter climbing and mountaineering.
Lake District Mountaineering have enjoyed a busy winter season - running skills courses, private guided days and taking lots of great people into the winter mountains.