Itinerary
- Optional: Meet outside London Euston train station and board the Caledonian Sleeper train for an overnight journey to Aviemore (option of having an airplane-style seat, or a bed in a twin room)
A day of understanding planning and preparation for winter adventures. Covered on this day will include:
- Understanding weather forecasts
- Understanding avalanche forecasts
- Winter terrain traps
- Safe route planning
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Your first day out in the winter wonderland of The Cairngorms National Park. Covered on this day will include:
- Understanding the snow pack
- Basic winter navigation
- Safe use of ice axe and crampons
- Self-arrest using an ice axe
- What to look out for on your winter journey
- Journey to a local summit
A second day hiking in the winter wonderland. Covered on this day will include:
- Recap on previous days learning
- Self-arrest using an ice axe
- Building an emergency shelter
- Develop more advanced winter navigation skills
- Building a snow hole (if conditions allow)
This day will be used as a recap on previous days learnings and to hone the skills you’ve been taught over the previous days.
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- Recap and consolidate course learnings
- Self-arrest using an ice axe
You will end the day in an Aviemore pub for dinner with your guide so you can ask any yearning questions you have about hiking in the winter environment.
Optional: Board the Caledonian Sleeper train at 9pm for a relaxing journey back to London. The train is scheduled arrive at London Euston around 8am on Monday.
| Transport and logistical support in Scotland |
| 3-nights accommodation |
| 4-days instruction and guidance by a highly experienced and qualified mountain leader (3 days outside and 1 classroom day*) |
| Use of safety equipment (ice axe, crampons and helmet) |
| Optional: Return travel on The Caledonian Sleeper Train between London/Birmingham/Crewe and Aviemore |
* The Classroom day will be whichever day has the worst weather
| Personal hiking kit |
| Food and drink |
| Personal travel insurance |
| Travel between home and Aviemore (unless that option is chosen) |
Note: The weather and ground conditions will not be known until closer to the date and full winter conditions, whilst expected at this time of year, cannot be guaranteed. The trip will go ahead regardless of conditions (The only exception being if the prevailing weather is too dangerous e.g. Thunderstorms)
Clicking the ‘Add To Cart’ button is taken as confirmation that you have read and understood the Participation Statement.
Trip Highlights
- Experience the wonders of hiking in a Winter mountain environment
- Learn the skills required for hiking in the Winter mountains
- Crampons, ice axe and helmet all included in the price
- Highly experienced and qualified winter guide
- All logistics taken care of, so just turn up and enjoy
- Optional: Add to the adventure and travel in style on The Caledonian Sleeper Train
5 reviews for Winter Skills Course
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A great trip up in Scotland doing winter skills. Stuart was great, had a huge knowledge base and super friendly. Definitely will be booking more trips! Would recommend to everyone.
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I went on a Winter Skills Course with City Mountaineering’s Stuart in the cairngorms in Scotland. The course itself was brilliant, with many skills learned and fun had. Stuart himself was a gentleman, full of information and knowledge, keeping all in the group right whilst keeping everything enjoyable and fun. Would highly recommend City Mountaineering for any trips planned, as I hope to go on many more adventures with them!
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We have just spent 3 brilliant days hiking in Scotland inc Ben Macdui and cannot recommend Stu/City Mountaineering highly enough. If you are hiking in the UK do not go with anyone else. If you are interested in international trips we also did Kilimanjaro with Stu last September and it was right up there as one of the experiences of a lifetime. In summary Stu is a great leader, is extremely knowledgeable, encourages you to believe you can achieve what you set out to do and offers an experience off the beaten track. You feel very well looked at all times and Stu’s enthusiasm for what he does is so contagious making the experience so enjoyable. We have done 2 trips now both of which lived up to expectations and more – we will definitely be using City Mountaineering again for any hiking trips we do.
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I spent a week with Stu and his fellow guide Katie in the Scottish Cairngorms. Had a fantastic experience, would absolutely book again! I believe that City Mountaineering would be enjoyable for both beginners and people with more competent outdoor skills.
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Excellent experience with city mountaineering once again! After an excellent experience in one of the winter skills trip I decided to use city mountaineering to do a winter ascent of Ben Nevis, and once again it did not disappoint! The lovely guide Katie looked after us and gave us a great experience and fun filled trip. Another one to remember and I will definitely be using city mountaineering again in the future!
