Welsh 3000s Winter Challenge – Course Breakdown
📍 Location: Eryri / Snowdonia, North Wales
💷 Price: £495 per person
👥 Ratio: 1 instructor to 4 clients
🕒 Duration: 5 days
Led by Rob Johnson — one of the UK’s top mountain instructors.
Overview
If you’re searching for a powerful training goal or a personal challenge that pushes your limits, the Welsh 3000s Winter Challenge is the perfect choice. Over five guided days, you’ll attempt to summit all fifteen of Snowdonia’s highest peaks — an unforgettable journey through some of the most dramatic winter landscapes in the UK.
Whether you’re an experienced summer hillwalker stepping into winter for the first time, or you already have some winter terrain under your belt, this course helps you build essential skills and confidence. Our instructors provide expert winter mountaineering tuition tailored to your experience level.
Winter weather in Snowdonia can be unpredictable, so the itinerary is designed with flexibility in mind. We allow plenty of time to plan each day safely while still aiming to complete all fifteen peaks during the five days.
Course Objectives
Take on a major winter mountain challenge by attempting all fifteen of Snowdonia’s highest summits.
Experience breathtaking views while covering roughly 30 miles and 14,000 ft of total ascent.
Develop essential winter skills, improving your confidence and ability to move safely in challenging conditions.
What to Expect
Your exact itinerary will depend on weather conditions and group ability. Over the course, we aim to summit the following Welsh 3000s:
Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa – 3559 ft (1,085 m)
Garnedd Ugain / Crib y Ddysgl – 3494 ft (1,065 m)
Crib Goch – 3028 ft (923 m)
Elidir Fawr – 3031 ft (924 m)
Y Garn – 3106 ft (947 m)
Glyder Fawr – 3284 ft (1,001 m)
Glyder Fach – 3261 ft (994 m)
Tryfan – 3011 ft (918 m)
Pen yr Ole Wen – 3208 ft (978 m)
Carnedd Dafydd – 3425 ft (1,044 m)
Carnedd Llewelyn – 3490 ft (1,064 m)
Yr Elen – 3156 ft (962 m)
Foel Grach – 3202 ft (976 m)
Carnedd Gwenllian – 3038 ft (926 m)
Foel‑fras – 3090 ft (942 m)
Why Choose Us?
Rob Johnson and Huw Gilbert bring decades of experience, passion, and professionalism to every course:
Hold the WMCI qualification — the highest instructional certification in the UK
Regular contributors to Trail Magazine
Over 30 years of mountaineering experience
We believe in learning by doing, and our courses are designed to inspire confidence and independence in the mountains.
Experience & Equipment Required
You need to be a fit and active hill walker. If you have done some winter walking before then this will be a great week to consolidate skills. If you are new to the winter environment then we will teach you the skills you need during the week.
You will need your own winter boots, bring them and your summer boots to allow for all weather conditions.
If there is snow and ice on the ground then we can lend you ice axe and crampons.
Weather & Conditions
We regularly get the first snows of winter at the end of November and early December and we have programmed this course with that in mind. Part of the challenge of this course will be dealing with what we are given and this will include short daylight hours, varied weather, the possibility of snow and ice, strong winds etc.
Accommodation & Transport
Accommodation is not included, allowing you to choose somewhere that suits your budget. Snowdonia offers options from campsites to nice hotels.
Meeting Point & Times
After booking, you’ll receive:
A confirmation email
Detailed course notes
A full kit list
Meeting instructions
Courses typically begin at 9:00 AM in Snowdonia and finish around 4:00 PM.
Course Dates
This course runs in December which is when we often have the first snows of winter in the mountains and the daylight hours are shortest.
2026:
7-11 December – 2 spaces