SCOTLAND MOUNTAIN SKILLS

Scottish Winter Skills Course

Q: Do I need any prior experience?

No prior experience is needed for the 1 Day course beyond basic hillwalking fitness. For the 2 Day course, some time in the hills is helpful — ideally a 1 day winter course or experience walking in Scottish winter conditions. Neither course requires any technical climbing experience.

Q: What time of year do you run the courses?

Scottish winter skills courses run from December through to April, depending on snowpack and conditions. We monitor conditions closely and always select venues where you will get genuine winter experience on real snow and ice.

Q: Where exactly do the courses take place in the Cairngorms?

We meet at 09:00 in the Cairngorms National Park. The exact location is chosen based on current snowpack and conditions to ensure the best possible experience. Full joining instructions including the precise meeting point are sent with your booking confirmation.

Q: What equipment do I need to bring?

We provide all technical winter equipment — ice axes, crampons and safety gear. You should bring warm and waterproof layered clothing, sturdy walking boots compatible with crampons, a packed lunch, hot drinks and a map and compass. A full kit list is included with your booking confirmation.

Q: Are your instructors AMI accredited?

Yes. All our Scottish winter skills courses are led by Mountain Training qualified Winter Mountaineering Instructors who are members of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI). They have extensive experience teaching in Scottish winter conditions in the Cairngorms.

Q: How do I book and is a deposit required?

You can book directly through each course page. A £50 deposit secures your place, with the balance due before the course date. You will receive automatic booking confirmation and all the information you need by email.

Build the confidence and technical skills to travel safely in winter mountains with our Scottish Winter Skills Courses. Based in the the Cairngorms National Park, our practical winter mountaineering training teaches you how to use ice axes and crampons effectively, navigate in winter conditions and make safe decisions in snow and ice terrain.

Whether you’re new to winter walking or preparing for bigger mountaineering objectives, we offer both 1-day and 2-day winter skills courses in Scotland designed to give you real-world mountain competence.

Book your place here

Winter walking - Scotland

Choose the right Winter course for you:

1 Day Winter Skills Course

View 1 Day Winter Skills

2 Day Winter Skills

View 2 Day Winter Skills

FAQS

Your Scottish Winter Skills Course Questions Answered

What's the difference between the 1 Day and 2 Day course?

The 1 Day course covers the core fundamentals — ice axe technique, crampon use, basic winter navigation and avalanche awareness. The 2 Day course builds on this with more time on steeper terrain, greater skill consolidation and a full day applying everything on a proper mountain journey. If you're new to winter conditions, the 2 Day course gives you significantly more time to build genuine confidence.

Do I need any prior experience?

What time of year do you run the courses?

Where exactly do the courses take place in the Cairngorms?

What equipment do I need to bring?