Winter Mountaineering and Climbing

Overview

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Sunday to Friday, 5 full days' instruction, 1:4 Instructor Ratio (Days 1-2), 1:2 Instructor Ratio (Days 3-5)

Introduction

Our Winter Mountaineering and Climbing course is the first choice for those who aspire to climb graded Scottish Winter routes. You will need to have done an introductory course before or already have some winter experience. Based in the Western Highlands you have access to Ben Nevis, Glen Coe, Aonach Mor and the Mamores, so you can expect to climb routes on a variety of winter Munros.

The course begins with general mountaineering on days one and two, with the focus changing on day three to climbing named routes of grade I, II and III. The instruction centres on the use of ropes and establishing safe belays to allow participants to do their own climbing in the future. The course also provides excellent preparation for expedition mountaineering.

If you would prefer to consolidate the skills you have learnt on an Introductory course, without getting onto pitched climbs, we recommend that you join our Winter Summits course.

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Outline Programme

Day 1:	The course begins at 6 p.m. on Sunday evening with the Course Briefing. The briefing covers essential information for the week ahead. We will discuss equipment for the following day and issue hire kit. After dinner there will be a short presentation on winter clothing and cold injury.
Day 2:	The all-important first day on the hill, refreshing personal skills and efficient movement on snow and ice. During the day we will look at climbing knots, belaying, snow anchors and avalanche assessment.
Day 3:	General mountaineering day on Grade I and II ground.
Day 4-6:	Climbing on pitched routes of Grade II and Grade III.

Typical routes and mountaineering days are:

• A traverse of Carn Mor Dearg Arete to the summit of Ben Nevis (I)
• Castle Ridge (II) or Ledge Route (I/II) to the summit of Ben Nevis
• The Anoach Eagach Ridge (II/III), Glencoe
• Curved Ridge, Buchaille Etive Mor (II)
• Number Two Gully Buttress (III), Ben Nevis
• Left Twin, Aonach Mor (III)
• The Ballachulish Horseshoe (I)
• NC Gully (II), Stob Coire Nan Lochain

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the course or your suitability for it, please phone +44 (0)114 276 3322 or contact us.

Dates & Prices

Date	Meeting in		Availability
Sun 24 Jan – Fri 29 Jan 2027	Ballachulish		Available Book now »
2 places left with £75 early booking offer	£1,195 £1,120
Sun 31 Jan – Fri 5 Feb 2027	Ballachulish		Available Book now »
2 places left with £75 early booking offer	£1,195 £1,120
Sun 7 Feb – Fri 12 Feb 2027	Ballachulish		Available Book now »
2 places left with £75 early booking offer	£1,195 £1,120
Sun 14 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027	Ballachulish		Available Book now »
2 places left with £75 early booking offer	£1,195 £1,120
Sun 21 Feb – Fri 26 Feb 2027	Ballachulish		Available Book now »
2 places left with £75 early booking offer	£1,195 £1,120
Sun 28 Feb – Fri 5 Mar 2027	Ballachulish		Available Book now »
2 places left with £75 early booking offer	£1,195 £1,120

This course is available to book in GBP, USD and EUR.
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Group size: 3 – 8 people.

Single room supplement: £350

For comparison, this course starts from £239 (GBP) per day (price Without Flights).

What the price includes

• 5 nights' hotel accommodation, on a twin-sharing basis at the Ballachulish Hotel*
• Breakfast and dinner throughout (if booking selected is 'Include Hotel Accommodation').
• Instructional fees (1:4 Instructor Ratio (Days 1-2), 1:2 Instructor Ratio (Days 3-5)) .
• Road transport to fulfil the course programme.
• All group mountaineering equipment, such as ropes and other technical equipment.
• Boots, Ice axes, crampons, harnesses & helmets (when reserved in advance).

*Prices without food and accommodation are available. Please select 'Exclude Hotel Accommodation' when booking.

What the price does not include

• Lunches.
• Transport to the Ballachulish Hotel.
• Personal climbing equipment and clothing.
• Mountaineering and travel Insurance
• Mechanical uplift costs and indoor climbing**

**The Aonach Mor Gondola is frequently used on all courses, as is the Ice Factor in Kinlochleven.

Course Directors and Ratios

Find out more about our Course Directors, Climber to Instructor Ratios... read more

Photos & Videos

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• Winter Mountaineering 2015

Reports & Reviews

Have you been on this trip? If you'd like to contribute a trip report then we'll post it up on the site.

Team Member Reviews

• ‘All of the guides were excellent. Sam was my main guide: she was excellent. She gave me a lot of confidence, was very encouraging and so enthusiastic. One of the best guides I have ever had.’ LB, Winter Mountaineering - Feb '16
• ‘Amazing course! Winter skills, Aonach Eagach, Rayburns original route and Ice climbing on Ben Nevis to top it all off. The guides were top notch and I would definately use Jagged Globe again.’ CE, Winter Mountaineering, Feb '11

Leader Reports

• BS, Winter Mountaineering ' March '16
  “All course personnel exuded ability, making me feel in the very best hands. Tremendous energy was put into all aspects of the course from planning to instruction to good humour. I cannot fault the team on any point whatsoever...”
  report added 14/Mar/16