Winter Mountaineering Course Scotland
Our Winter Mountaineering Course is an introductory course covering the essential skills for winter conditions. This course differs from our Winter Walking Skills course in that there is an emphasis on progression towards steeper ground and the use of ropes. The 4 day course will involve movement on ground up to Scottish winter grade I, while the 6 day course will progress into steeper terrain, aiming to climb some classic grade II/III routes by the end of the week. The course is aimed at those who wish to climb in future.
This course is ideal for the keen summer hill walker, scrambler or climber who wants to progress and learn the essential skills of winter mountaineering.
Previous experience:
A good level of fitness, the enjoyment of exposed ridges and roped climbing experience is useful but not essential. This course is Level 1 of our three winter mountaineering skills courses. The Intro to Snow and Ice Climbing (Level 2) and Improvers Snow and Ice Climbing (Level 3) progress onto steeper, more technical terrain and require previous experience.
The course will cover:
- Use of ice axe and crampons
- Simple ropework and belaying
- Snow & ice climbing skills and classic grade l/ll gullies and ridges
- Use of fixed lines
- Winter mountain navigation and route planning
- Winter weather and avalanche avoidance
Courses run Friday evening to Monday afternoon (4.30pm) giving three quality mountain days, or Friday evening to Wednesday afternoon (4.30pm), giving five mountain days.
Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until you have verified that your course is confirmed to run.
Nick –
Really enjoyed the course. Tough but rewarding!. Mark was a superb instructor and is easy to get on with obviously very accomplished. We really enjoyed the course, although the conditions were difficult. Mark was excellent and supportive, but pushed hard enough when required. I enjoyed the technical skills training and the short abseil! Would recommend this course.
Jacob –
Perhaps the program might have had more detail and variety in the packed lunch, overall the course was brilliant and fulfilled my expectations!! I chose Adventure Peaks because it was so easy to find you and the variety of courses.
The training on the first day in preparation for the second worked really well as we could put our skills to practice.
Anne –
The guide was very experienced in the mountains so was confident in him and we chose Adventure Peaks as my son Euan researched it online and attracted to the raft of expeditions on offer.
Pleased to see the course went ahead on the mountains despite the foul weather. You take 16 years olds – hurrah!!
Julian, Yulia and Tina (verified owner) –
We came as a group of three with different levels of skills and confidence on the mountains and we all took away a lot and enjoyed the course despite the dreadful weather! Our guide Dave was brilliant and not just technically and a good company but also a great judge of character in terms of just how much he could push us as a group. Dave also made a point of tailoring the course to meet our (diverse!) learning needs and abilities. A tiny request to perhaps keep a closer eye on those with more nerves but overall we all had a blast!
We were also impressed by how all other aspects of the course were handled from helping us to choose the right course to dealing with minor logistical issues. Everyone we dealt with at Adventure Peaks was professional and helpful. Thank you lots!
We are also signed up – or thinking about signing up – for a full expedition with Adventure Peaks. Yay!
Sam –
We couldn’t have hoped for a better instructor. Rob tailored the course to our needs and made the weekend fun and challenging. We all learned a lot.
Nakul –
3 words describe this course: Excellent Excellent Excellent!!!
I chose Adventure Peaks as I’m preparing for Denali and they provided the best information & experience. Andy was particularly good, I learnt a great deal from him.
Chris B –
I got more out of it than I dared hope, met group of very good people…[the course instructor] got me through the third day when I was very scared, very supportive and great company, the in-depth experience they have shines through.
George R –
Really enjoyed course, our guides Andy and Ken were fantastic.
Matt –
Great intro to mountaineering…really enjoyed the skills training and putting some of them to use on the final day
Dawn –
Fantastic weekend and experience. Really enjoyed the tuition and skills practice, particularly enjoyed the challenge of the final day on schoolhouse ridge and learnt a lot through the experience! Great course, would highly recommend it. Tired, sore and happy! [Course instructor was] very knowledgeable and experienced, good sense of humour. Was really helpful and provided support. Great location, friendly hotel and staff very attentive.
James –
[Course instructor was] really cool, calming, giving confidence when it’s needed…hotel is generally brilliant. Love the dog…the service is brilliant
Jennifer –
Adventure Peak guides are absolutely fantastic, in particular Chris Harling. We were very impressed with him on our 1:2 day…our experience was great and would recommend the company…we had such a fantastic trip. All aspects met our expectations, the weather was perfect to give an all rounded experience and we were really pushed to the limits of what we wanted to get out of the course. Adventure Peaks have some phenomenally experienced, top guides and we cannot wait to climb our next mountain.
Mick C –
Great course, exceeded my expectations. Great instructor, knowledgeable, calm and patient. David adapted the course to cover everyone’s ability and goals
Anon –
Both Andy and Chris were great instructors who took the time to teach us as much as possible. The course was both educational and great fun. They weren’t afraid to push us but made sure we always felt safe and understood what we were doing and why at any given time. They were happy to explain things on an individual level or as a group, whatever was required at the time and show great patience if we were struggling with anything. Both the guys have a fantastic understanding of the different ways that people learn and would tailor the training to suit so that everyone understood. They gave everyone in the group a chance to practise all the skills, not just those who were the best at it. I learned so much from these guys in the space of a week that I don’t think I could do it justice here. They are both a credit to their profession. The highlight for me was climbing Ben Nevis via the Ledge Route on the last day. I’m afraid of heights and wouldn’t have ever been able to do this normally, but the training and guidance the guys gave me for the week meant I understood the climb and trusted the safety gear and procedures, and it was probably one of the most enjoyable mountain days out that I have ever had.
Dominika –
My confidence in basic winter mountaineering increased a lot more than I thought it would over the three day course and I learned much more than I had expected to. Dave was a thoughtful and considerate leader and made sure that we were challenged (at just the right level), resulting in all of us feeling much more confident in the mountains. He was particularly skilled at taking things ‘step by step’ and fine tuning the course as we went along, meaning that all participants could get the most out of it. He was also great company, thus resulting in many laughs along the way.
Derek –
Had a great time, could not really fault the guides’ instruction or the accommodation. Guides were knowledgeable and we were on the mountain in safe hands
Fin –
The big climbs were amazing. Had an awesome course…an excellent guide in David Fisher…all very informative.
Lee R –
Ease of booking, knowledge of staff in the shop but mainly skill/ability/professionalism of instructor…excellent communication and correspendence. [The instructor was] patient, flexible and confidence inspiring.
Course Highlight – ledge route on Ben Nevis
Best Experience – ledge route on Ben Nevis
Scariest Experience – ledge route on Ben Nevis
Worst Experience – ledge route on Ben Nevis
Andrew S –
Great instruction…[the instructor] assessed our ability well so it got to our level, then pushed a bit. Exactly what we wanted. Really appreciated where I was and what I was doing with the stunning views.
Bill M –
Mountain leaders were excellent and accommodation convenient. The course built up skills and confidence needed for a great day’s winter mountaineering in Glencoe.
Jason –
Instructor Andy was excellent. I spent less time with Ian and Bryan but they were both great too. Great to work with and very knowledgeable.
Dan G –
Considering the weather was less than ideal, the instructors were amazing at adapting the course to suit that. Clive was amazing at managing things in the hotel, very informative and organised and let us know exactly what would be happening and got us involved in the decisions as to what to do where appropriate. The instructors were excellent at passing on their knowledge, experience and advice not to mention their friendly and suitably informal approach to the teaching. We never felt rushed or made to feel inadequate. I would also like to give a special mention to John’s encyclopedic knowledge, which kept us all very entertained!
If there was one thing that made the experience exceptional it was the people involved.
The highlight for me was the first actual climb up Gully 3 of Ben Nevis, on my own it would have looked impossible but after the couple of days of instruction and guidance from the excellent leaders it felt almost easy!
Bob –
Great course. Really intense, learned a lot. [Highlight was] scaling a ridge in 40 mph winds and then navigating with 5 m visibility. Instructor was really knowledgeable.
Agathe –
Good rental gear. Very kind and professional instructors…Chris was officially my instructor but I got to trek with Dave as well. They were both very kind and patient. They made us feel comfortable and at ease. I couldn’t have imagined better instructors to discover mountaineering. John was with us a few times as well and he was very kind and helpful as well. Wish I had stayed longer.
Jez –
First rate instructors who provided a great course despite challenging weather conditions. Good comprehensive information. Chris (the instructor) clearly has huge experience and this was invaluable in determining the program through the three days. He was also great with my 14 year old son Jack.
George –
Fantastic guides
Anon –
There are many reasons why I gave high scores, however, the main reason is because of the professionalism and willingness of the instructors. Although extremely warm conditions for Scotland in February, the instructors, particularly Chris, used their extensive knowledge to choose appropriate venues for a progressive yet exciting and enjoyable course. Chris would often offer his time in the evenings for additional training. As well as providing an excellent course of instruction, Chris also provides in-depth knowledge of other Adventure Peaks courses and expeditions, and suggesting suitable and appropriate pathways to progress onto their desired goals. I cannot thank Chris and the rest of the team enough for the course that they delivered. Every day was extremely enjoyable. I was particularly impressed with how progressive the course was. Each day progressed to slightly more challenging terrain, whilst continuing to learn and consolidate skills.
Loz –
Have had consistently good experiences with Adventure Peaks. For the Scottish course, our guide Clive was very experienced, patient and helpful showing us techniques that will be important for Denali. The ice climbing and then reaching the summit on the second day [was] utterly beautiful, a good challenge, and quite scary at times!
Anon –
Friendly and experienced instructors. The course was adapted to suit our needs and experience level.
Joe –
The instructors were great, especially considering the conditions (complete lack of snow) and the mixed ability of the group. Very helpful and knowledgeable, really friendly. Really good and informative weekend.
Fabian –
Excellent, skilled instructors. Very good alternative program – due to missing winter conditions the course plan was adapted and more shifted to scrambling and rock climbing, which perfectly fitted our group. Instructors were very flexible and took our existing skills into account. Very fun and humorous overall atmosphere. [There was] a focus on development of new skills and self reliance for each person. The alternative grade III rock scramble on the Northern Buttress of Buchaille Etive Mor and the trad climbing in Glen Nevis were an excellent adaptation of the course due to missing winter conditions!
Jonathan –
Brilliantly run courses. Great instructors. Well balanced. Good fun. Great pre-course information and communication. Experienced instructors who knew their subject well and also made the course fun. In spite of the challenging weather the course was able to be adapted so we got a lot out of each day.
Tim –
Ticked every box. The instructors were fantastic. Food in the hotel was good. I spent most of my time with Rob (instructor), very patient and knowledge is exceptional – exactly what you’d expect from a man who has climbed Everest and K2. Couldn’t have asked for more, loved every minute of it…the highlight had to be climbing up small cliff shoulders while moving together on the third day. Looking back up at what we had climbed when we got to the bottom was quite surreal.
Anon –
The guides Chris and Rob were absolutely brilliant and are the reason I will be using Adventure Peaks again.
Dave –
Info before course was very comprehensive and course content was excellent
Liam –
Phil, Dave & Robin were great instructors who provide a great course at the right level in challenging environments for us to learn the required skills…everything was great. The explanations and demonstrations were informative and interactive pitched at the right level for our group. The whole three days were fantastic! The progression of skills and technical explanations gave the maximum fun, safety and practical application in a beautiful environment.
Steve –
Really enjoyed the weekend, guides did a great job and asked us what we wanted to do, kept us safe, taught us new skills and took us on awesome routes (weather was pretty fantastic too). Hotel was welcoming and comfortable with good food and easy going atmosphere, in a great location. Guides, but especially Phil, were first class, whilst they got their point over and checked for understanding and watched our moves after, they also made it fun. [The room had] a great shower and fantastic view, good tea/coffee making facilities in the room. Highlight was the ledge route up to Ben Nevis – awesome. Many thanks
Martin –
Fantastic weekend had by all the group…roping up and heading up Ben Nevis with crampons and ice axe – felt like Ranulph Fiennes!
Jon –
I had a fantastic weekend which was extremely educational along with some unexpected extra skills learned. The awesome instructors were very experienced and both great guys who were happy to discuss and explain pretty much everything.
Gavin –
Had a great weekend, fantastic, from booking to departure. Very well organised. Course instructors were professional and knowledgeable.
Jonathan –
Really impressively well organised and run, the instructor Chris Harling was great and I got three really good days covering a lot of aspects and was really confidence inspiring.
Jonathan –
We had a good variety of terrain and weathers! – and thanks to Andy and Chris for taking care of us during the blizzard on Ben Nevis
They were both very helpful – thank you – see you again for another course in the future 
The highlight was School House Ridge in the snow.
Ron –
Thoroughly enjoyed it, despite very testing conditions. Tom [our instructor] was really encouraging, helpful and pushed us on. Learnt so much. Really enjoyed the abseiling and climbing rockface using crampons. Amazed by the ability to climb in those things.