Scottish Winter Skills Week – Learn in the Highlands
Gain independence to safely enjoy winter walking in Scotland with our Winter Skills Course in Fort William. Over five days, you’ll gain hands-on experience in the Cairngorms, Ben Nevis, and Glencoe, learning how to stay safe and confident in challenging winter conditions.
Location: Scotland – Fort William
Price: £475 per person – includes free kit hire
Length: 5 days
What You’ll Learn
Safe use of ice axe and crampons
Avalanche awareness and decision-making
Winter navigation with map, compass, and GPS
Movement on snow and ice (footwork, self-arrest)
Emergency shelters and cold-weather survival skills
Who Is It For?
Beginners looking to explore winter mountains safely
Summer hillwalkers transitioning to winter conditions
Climbers preparing for Alpine or Himalayan expeditions
Anyone keen to build confidence in Scottish winter mountains
Course Details
Location: Fort William, Lochaber – gateway to Ben Nevis
Duration: 5 days (Sunday–Friday)
Group Size: Max 6 per instructor for personal attention
Included: Kit hire (ice axe, crampons, helmet), instruction, safety equipment
Not Included: Accommodation, meals (recommend local hostels/hotels)
Why Choose Us?
Experienced instructors withholding the highest qualifications in the UK.
Small groups for tailored coaching
Proven track record with 5-star reviews
Focus on practical skills and real mountain experience
Accommodation & Travel
Accommodation is not included, allowing you to choose somewhere that suits your budget. Fort William offers a wide range of options, all within walking distance of our meeting point. Visit this page for travel and accommodation options.
Getting to Fort William
By train: Fort William has a mainline rail station.
By air: Fly into Glasgow, then travel by train, coach, or car.
Fitness & Experience Requirements
This is not a climbing course — no prior climbing experience is needed. However, the Scottish winter environment is physically demanding. You should be:
Physically fit and robust
Comfortable walking long distances with a heavy rucksack
Prepared for wind, river crossings, and challenging terrain
What’s Included
5 days of expert instruction
Use of specialist equipment: ice axe, crampons, and helmet
Meeting Point & Times
After booking, you’ll receive:
A confirmation email
Detailed course notes
A full kit list
Meeting instructions
Courses begin at 8:30 AM in Fort William and finish around 5:00 PM daily.
Ready to Master Winter Mountain Skills?
[Book Your Scottish Winter Skills Course Now]Course Dates
Courses run January through March, the most reliable period for snow and ice in Scotland. We’ve been running these courses since 2004, and they go ahead regardless of weather — we’ll always adapt to make the most of the conditions.
2027
18-22 Jan: Fully booked
8-12 Feb: Fully booked
FAQs
What kit do I need?
Your normal summer layering system can be added too. You will need winter rated boots and we can provide ice axe and crampons. Watch the video above for a full run down on the kit.
Do I need prior experience?
You need to have been out in the mountains in the summer months hill walking. You don’t need to have any climbing or scrambling experience as this course is designed to teach you to enjoy hill waking all year round – it is not a mountaineering or climbing course.
What fitness level is required?
You need to be physically robust to be able to cope with the weather and conditions that we frequently experience in winter. Mountain days in Scotland are bigger than they are in England or Wales and we will be out in all weathers, often with short daylight hours. You need to be fit enough to walk for 7 hours per day with a rucksack and 3000-4000 ft of elevation.
What happens in bad weather?
We will use our experience to find venues that work whatever the weather and conditions.
More Reviews
Scottish winter skills course reviews:
An absolutely fantastic week in the Scottish mountains, great training and guiding from Rusty. Will definitely do this next year By Noel B on Feb 18, 2025
As always, a fantastic mountaineering trip to the Highlands with more summer than winter conditions given the recent thaw in mid-January. However, despite the lack of snow and ice on the Lochaber ridges, Rob, Huw and Rusty were on hand to host a great week of Scottish mountaineering. Knowledgeable and personable (with one of the best mountain CVs in the business), Rusty provided a diverse range of routes over the week with practical tutorials on crampons, ice axe use and avalanche awareness. As with any Expedition Guide course, you are in safe hands! By Alastair M on Jan 26, 2025