Award Winning Outdoor Activities
Winter Skills Course Scotland (Weekend)
Discover the beauty of winter in the Scottish Highlands with our 2-day Winter Skills Course. Learn essential skills like avalanche awareness, ice axe use and winter navigation
Summary
Our Winter Skills Course offers a full, adventure-packed weekend designed to equip you with the essential techniques to explore the snow-covered mountains safely, efficiently, and confidently. Whether you're a beginner or looking to enhance your winter hill-walking abilities, this course will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to embrace the breathtaking winter environment of the Highlands. Join us and unlock the wonders of winter!
Highlights
- Navigate the beautiful Scottish mountains
- Become proficient with an ice axe and crampons
- Explore Avalanche Avoidance
- Learn essential Winter Skills
Course Overview
Join our popular Winter Skills Course, designed to equip you with essential skills for winter hill-walking. This immersive course covers the critical techniques you'll need, including the use of crampons and an ice axe, winter navigation, avalanche awareness, emergency procedures, and a comprehensive understanding of the winter environment. It's perfect for anyone eager to embark on winter hill-walking adventures for the first time.
Throughout the Winter Skills Course, you’ll engage in daily mountain journeys where you’ll learn and practice essential skills in a real-world context. As you progress, your instructor will provide personalised guidance and encouragement to help refine your abilities. Our goal is to instill confidence and familiarity with these vital winter skills, empowering you to venture into the mountains independently and confidently.
Complimentary crampon and ice axe hire is included.
Our winter courses are based in the scenic town of Aviemore from the Tiso Store.
Enroll in our Winter Skills Course today and take the first step towards mastering winter hill-walking!
Course Outcomes
- Learn how to use crampons and ice axes
- Develop avalanche awareness
- Self-arrests
- Improve your winter navigation skills
- Emergency procedures
- Become independent in the mountains
- Better understand the winter environment
Course Information
YOUR WINTER SKILLS COURSE
08:45 - 16:30
MEET
Your instructor will greet you and check everyone has the required equipment for the weekend before explaining the objective and goals for the day.
COLLECT AND CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT
You'll to check that your rucksack is suitably packed ready for what the weather may throw at you. If you have requested Ice Axe and Crampons, we will have them available. You will also be issued with the appropriate maps for the day's objective.
TRAVEL TO COURSE LOCATION
The exact location will depend on the weather and the aims and abilities of the group. Very often we would head up to the Cairngorm Ski Area, where we can drive high enough to access good snow conditions.
PRACTICAL SESSION
Our winter days are a combination of workshop-style activities along with enjoying a day out in the mountains. It will be based on real life scenarios and as a team you will get to enjoy several amazing days out as you explore the highlands, learning essential skills on the way.
BACK TO THE ADVENTURE HUB
Once we are off the hill we have an informal debrief. We summarise the key learning points from the day's adventure, discuss your progress so far and set some personalised development targets for day two.
We will provide you with a complete kit list upon booking but the key points are:
- All your usual summer hill-walking equipment
- Stiff soled, crampon compatible boots, at least B2 rated (these can be hired locally if required)
- Walking ice axe and crampons (complimentary hire available if required)
- Helmet (provided)
- As a Certified B Corp, we’re one of a growing number of global businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance.
- We encourage car sharing and the use of Public Transport wherever feasible.
- We offer free camping kit for guests looking to cut down on luggage.
- Our staff are trained to prolong the life of equipment used on this course, where it is possible to recycle equipment at the end of its life, we do so appropriately.
- We operate in small teams at low ratios to reduce our impact on the venues we use and other countryside users.
- We donate 5% of the value of all sales to The Pure Outdoor Foundation.
FAQs
Our instructors can be booked privately to deliver this course. Benefit from private tuition, pick a date that suits you and your instructor can design the day to suit your needs. You can hire one of our instructors from just £250 inc vat per day. (Click here to book a private course)