Scottish Winter Courses
List Trips
Scotland is a superb training ground for hill walkers and mountaineers preparing for the Alps and mountaineering in the Greater Ranges.
The unique combination of weather and terrain makes for an unparalleled, challenging mountain experience. Our Scottish Winter Courses cover instruction from introductory winter walking to more advanced winter mountaineering.Read more about our Scottish Winter Courses »
Introductory Long Weekend
A taster course for those with no experience of winter hill walking or mountaineering. You should come away having learnt cramponing, ice axe arrests and avalanche awareness, as well as having practiced safe movement over steep ground.
Difficulty
Prices
from £645.00 from £465.00 Deposit £75.00Duration
3 Nights(3 days guided)
Region
Scotland
Introductory Winter Mountaineering
This course is designed for those with no previous winter hill walking or mountaineering experience, or for those who want a refresher in the skills needed to walk or climb safely in Scotland in winter.
Difficulty
Prices
from £920.00 from £705.00 Deposit £120.00Duration
5 Nights(5 days guided)
Region
Scotland
UK Private Guiding (Scottish Winter)
We frequently arrange private guiding in Scotland, often as an add on or as a precursor to one of our courses. You might wish to spend some time having 1:1 or 1:2 instruction. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Difficulty
Prices
quote on requestDuration
5 Nights(5 days guided)
Region
Scotland
Winter Mountaineering and Climbing
Our Winter Mountaineering 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.
Difficulty
Prices
from £1,120.00 from £950.00 Deposit £120.00Duration
5 Nights(5 days guided)
Region
Scotland
Winter Summits
A course for those who have already attended our Introductory Winter Mountaineering course who would like to consolidate their skills, rather than moving onto steeper graded climbs using ropes.
Difficulty
Prices
from £920.00 from £735.00 Deposit £120.00Duration
5 Nights(5 days guided)
Region
ScotlandIntroduction
Our Scottish Winter Courses are designed to provide you with the skills to venture into the mountains more confidently on your own, tackle a more challenging climbing course, or join an expedition or tough trek.
Ben Nevis and Glen Coe
Our base is strategically located in the Western Highlands, at the foot of Glen Coe with access to Ben Nevis. This is the best location in Scotland for reliable mountaineering conditions. You will experience a variety of venues, normally including Ben Nevis and Glen Coe, as well as Aonach Mor and the Mamores. Mountaineering conditions can be fickle in Scotland, but compared to the Cairngorms in the east, the Western Highlands win out season after season for good days.
High calibre Guides and Instructors
We have a professional, dedicated and experienced Instructor core. They know the mountains extremely well and some of them choose to live there year round. They pride themselves in their flexibility and desire to maximise your time in the mountains. We do not impose a course syllabus on them that they have to deliver, meaning you get a more tailored and personal course. Most of our guides and instructors also lead expeditions for us further afield and are able to advise you about your future mountaineering plans.Superb accommodation
You are accommodated in the 3-star Ballachulish Hotel. The hotel has everything you need to relax after an energetic day on the hill with en-suite rooms, comfortable bar and restaurant. You also have free access to indoor leisure facilities, including swimming pool and sauna at the nearby Isles of Glencoe hotel. The course price includes full-board accommodation (breakfast, lunch and dinner) at the hotel on a twin-sharing basis. If you would like a single room, a supplement is payable (subject to availability). Additional hotel nights can also be booked - See course PDFs for up-to-date prices.
The Ballachulish is a 2 hour drive from Glasgow airport or a 20 minute taxi ride from Fort William...read more »
Calendar
January 2027
- Available
- Full
-
Sun 24 – Fri 29 Jan
£995 (from Ballachulish)
Early booking offer available
-
Sun 24 – Fri 29 Jan
£1195 (from Ballachulish)
Early booking offer available
-
Fri 29 Jan – Mon 1 Feb
£695 (from Ballachulish)
Early booking offer available
-
Sun 31 Jan – Fri 5 Feb
£995 (from Ballachulish)
Early booking offer available
-
Sun 31 Jan – Fri 5 Feb
£1195 (from Ballachulish)
Early booking offer available
February 2027
- Available
- Full
-
Sun 7 – Fri 12 Feb
£995 (from Ballachulish)
Early booking offer available
-
Sun 7 – Fri 12 Feb
£1195 (from Ballachulish)
Early booking offer available
-
Sat 13 – Tue 16 Feb
£695 (from Ballachulish)
Early booking offer available
-
Sun 14 – Fri 19 Feb
£995 (from Ballachulish)
Early booking offer available
-
Sun 14 – Fri 19 Feb
£1195 (from Ballachulish)
Early booking offer available
-
Sun 21 – Fri 26 Feb
£995 (from Ballachulish)
Early booking offer available
-
Sun 21 – Fri 26 Feb
£1195 (from Ballachulish)
Early booking offer available
-
Sun 28 Feb – Fri 5 Mar
£995 (from Ballachulish)
Early booking offer available
-
Sun 28 Feb – Fri 5 Mar
£1195 (from Ballachulish)
Early booking offer available
March 2027
- Available
- Full
Details
Instructors
“The overwhelming knowledge of Mungo and Alex was fantastic. Any question asked was answered with incredible detail and also with extra valuable information.” AT, Introductory Long Weekend
Ed Chard directs our programme in Scotland every Winter. Ed splits his time as The Head of Operations in Sheffield and being out on the hill with clients across all the courses. Ed holds the Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor qualification (WMCI) and has been working in winter in Scotland for over 25 years. He has been a key personality on our Scottish Winter Courses since 2002 and great fun to be with on the hill. Ed has also led numerous expeditions for Jagged Globe in Asia, Africa, South America, North America and Europe.... read more »
Climber to Instructor Ratios
Introductory Winter Mountaineering, Introductory Long Weekend and Winter Summits
- General mountaineering - 1:4
Winter Mountaineering and Climbing
The Instructor to participant ratio varies during the course, depending on each activity being undertaken. Outline activity ratios are:
- General mountaineering - 1:4 (days 1 and 2)
- Graded climbing (II/III) - 1:2 (days 3 - 5)
Venues and Travel
Course timingsThe 5-day courses start at 6pm on Sunday evening and finish at 6pm on the evening of the following Friday. The 3-day weekend courses start at 6pm on Friday evening and finish at 6pm on the evening of the following Monday.
The Ballachulish Hotel
“Breakfast and dinner was plentiful and the lunch flapjack and snickers bar well received. Also hot Ribena kept me going! Service was brilliant too.” SD, Introductory Winter Mountaineering
“The hotel staff were very helpful. The hotel was situated in an amazing location. Warm and comfortable and relaxing.” DN, Winter Mountaineering.
Travel arrangements
Course members should make their own travel arrangements to and from Ballachulish, which is approximately 12 miles south of Fort William and 1.5 - 2 hours drive north from Glasgow. Fort William is well served by Rail, including a sleeper service. A regular coach service also operates from Glasgow and Inverness to Glencoe village, Ballachulish and Fort William. Both Glasgow and Inverness can be reached by air, or train. Taxis and car hire are available locally. There is easy access by road (A82) from the south and north.
Equipment
A detailed equipment list is included in the course information PDF, which can be downloaded for each course on this website. We provide all communal climbing equipment for each course. For all courses you need to provide your own clothing and some items of personal equipment, including boots. If you do not have boots then these are available to borrow, but please reserve them in advance.We provide Crampons, Ice axe, Helmet and Harness, free of charge on all courses.
