Climbers on the Eastern Traverse on Tower Ridge

Explore winter climbing and mountaineering opportunities in the Scottish Highlands, boasting snow gullies, ice climbs, mixed routes, and mountain ridgelines.

Winter climbing demands a higher level of expertise compared to summer climbing. Mastering techniques such as ice axe and crampon use, creating snow and ice anchors, navigating in whiteout conditions, and honing avalanche awareness are essential skills we can teach you.

Explore our course offerings below, or enquire about bespoke options tailored to your needs.

Location of winter activities

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS | Cairngorms, Ben Nevis, Aonach Mor, Glen Coe & More

GUIDED SNOW, ICE & MIXED CLIMBING

Intermediate to Advanced

INTRO TO WINTER CLIMBING

Beginner

GUIDED WINTER MOUNTAINEERING

Beginner to Advanced

LEARN TO LEAD | Winter Mountaineering

Advanced

FUNDAMENTAL WINTER SKILLS

Beginner & Refresher

Guided Snow, Ice & Mixed Climbing

GUIDED SNOW, ICE & MIXED CLIMBING | Two Axe Technical Adventures
Intermediate to Advanced

A client being guided on a mixed route on Ben Nevis

A guide leading an ice climb on Aonach Mor

A client being guided in the Cairngorms during winter

A client climbing a technical mixed climb in the Cairngorms

You need to be fit and motivated. Winter climbing, mountaineering and walking can be cold, wet and tough.

You can answer 'yes' to the following points. Please contact us if you are unsure.

I have some summer and winter climbing experience
Can correctly fit a climbing harness and crampons
Can correctly belay a lead climber
Know how to use technical ice axes
Can remove gear (nuts/wires, cams etc)

The following is included in your booking:

Your Guide & instruction
All technical climbing equipment (ropes and rack)
A harness & helmet (if required)
Axes & leash (if required)
Crampons (if required)

Exclusions:

Personal winter clothing and equipment for a day out in the mountains (you will receive a packing list)
Winter boots (we can recommend hire services if you do not have your own boots)
Accommodation
Gondola pass if climbing at Aonach Mor
Food & drink
Any parking fees
Fuel costs if travelling longer than one hour (we try to car share when possible)
Insurance (medical, cancellation and belongings)

To enquire and book, please contact us to discuss your aspirations.

Intro to Winter Climbing

INTRO TO WINTER CLIMBING | Experience Your First Winter Climb
Beginner

A client on an Intro to Winter Climbing Course

The following is included in your booking:

Your Guide & instruction
All technical climbing equipment (ropes and rack)
A harness & helmet (if required)
Axes & leash (if required)
Crampons (if required)

Exclusions:

Personal winter clothing and equipment for a day out in the mountains (you will receive a packing list)
Winter boots (we can recommend hire services if you do not have your own boots)
Accommodation
Gondola pass if climbing at Aonach Mor
Food & drink
Any parking fees
Fuel costs if travelling longer than one hour (we try to car share when possible)
Insurance (medical, cancellation and belongings)

To enquire and book, please contact us to discuss your aspirations.

Guided Winter Mountaineering

GUIDED WINTER MOUNTAINEERING | One Axe Ridge Lines & Snow Gullies
Beginner to Advanced

A Guide short roping clients on Tower Ridge, Ben Nevis

A Guide and his clients on Tower Ridge, Ben Nevis

Two clients experiencing winter mountaineering for the first time

The following is included in your booking:

Your Guide & instruction
All technical climbing equipment (ropes and rack)
A harness & helmet (if required)
Axe (if required)
Crampons (if required)

Exclusions:

Personal winter clothing and equipment for a day out in the mountains (you will receive a packing list)
Winter boots (we can recommend hire services if you do not have your own boots)
Accommodation
Gondola pass if climbing at Aonach Mor
Food & drink
Any parking fees
Fuel costs if travelling longer than one hour (we try to car share when possible)
Insurance (medical, cancellation and belongings)

To enquire and book, please contact us to discuss your aspirations.

LEARN TO LEAD | WINTER MOUNTAINEERING: Learn The Skills Necessary To Climb Grade I/II
Advanced

Learn To Lead | Winter Mountaineering

Mountaineers learning how to body belay using a bucket seat

Two clients putting their newly learnt winter mountaineering skills into practice

Two clients learning how to create anchors and belay

You need to be fit and motivated. Winter climbing, mountaineering and walking can be cold, wet and tough.

You will have done some summer mountaineering or climbing and have completed a winter skills course or, have learnt these skills independently. You'll have put these winter skills to practice with some winter walking. You will have experience placing protection and belaying, skills that are usually refined during the summer.

The following is included in your booking:

Your Guide & instruction
All technical climbing equipment (ropes and rack)
A harness & helmet (if required)
Axe (if required)
Crampons (if required)

Exclusions:

Personal winter clothing and equipment for a day out in the mountains (you will receive a packing list)
Winter boots (we can recommend hire services if you do not have your own boots)
Accommodation
Gondola pass if climbing at Aonach Mor
Food & drink
Any parking fees
Fuel costs if travelling longer than one hour (we try to car share when possible)
Insurance (medical, cancellation and belongings)

Our learn-to-lead courses aim to gradually introduce you to the safe practices needed to approach and tackle a lead climb. Therefore, we have found that running a three-day course is more productive, as we don't have to rush, ensuring that all individuals are learning at an appropriate pace. We want you to leave the course feeling confident. However, we are always happy to chat further after a course to clarify anything.

We only instruct small groups, and for this course, the ratio is:

1 Guide: 1-2 Clients

Three days*:

£990 (£495 each)

*Requires two people to book

To enquire and book, please contact us to discuss your aspirations

The focus of this course is for you to feel confident selecting a route (grade I-II) that can be climbed with one axe. There are other factors to consider during the winter, compared to summer mountaineering and climbing, notably assessing snow conditions, avalanche risk, shorter daylight and the use of specific winter equipment, all of which will be covered in this course.

You will learn:

Where to gather and interpret avalanche and weather forecasts
How to use guidebooks to select an objective
Winter mountaineering/climbing ethics
When and how to use a rope
How to place a variety of protection and construct anchors
Snow anchors
Winter navigation
Winter personal admin

FUNDAMENTAL WINTER SKILLS | Kickstart Your Winter Adventures
Beginner & Refresher

Fundamental Winter Skills

A University group completing a winter skills course

A group examining the latest avalanche report from the Scottish Avalanche Information Service

A group practising ascending and descending a snow slope

A client practising their winter navigation in Scotland

clients ascending a snow gully on a winter skills course

This is the start of your winter adventures. Whether you have aspirations to begin winter mountaineering or climbing, these skills are essential, and you'll leave having an understanding of how to plan and have a safe day in the hills during the winter.

Embark on the gateway to your winter adventures. Whether you have ambitions to climb or mountaineer in the winter, it all starts here. By the course's end, you'll feel confident to plan and execute winter days out in the hills.

The following is included in your booking:

Your Guide & instruction
Helmet

Exclusions:

Personal winter clothing and equipment for a day out in the mountains (you will receive a packing list)
Winter boots (we can recommend hire services if you do not have your own boots)
Crampons & ice axe (we can recommend hire services if you do not have your own boots)
Accommodation
Gondola/ski lift pass if using Aonach Mor or Glen Coe ski centre
Food & drink
Any parking fees
Fuel costs if travelling longer than one hour (we try to car share when possible)
Insurance (medical, cancellation and belongings)

To enquire and book, please contact us to discuss your aspirations.

During your three-day course, we will teach you the skills needed to venture out into the hills during the winter.

Where to gather and interpret avalanche and weather forecasts
Winter equipment & clothing & what to pack
Avalanche avoidance & route finding
Winter navigation
Movement on a variety of terrain with & without crampons & an ice axe
Self-arrest
Emergency procedures & shelters
Winter personal admin

If you have previously attended a skills course but would like a refresher, just let us know what you'd like to learn.

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WINTER
ADVENTURES

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS | Cairngorms, Ben Nevis, Aonach Mor, Glen Coe & More

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS | Cairngorms, Ben Nevis, Aonach Mor, Glen Coe & More

GUIDED SNOW, ICE & MIXED CLIMBING

Intermediate to Advanced

INTRO TO WINTER CLIMBING

Beginner

GUIDED WINTER MOUNTAINEERING

Beginner to Advanced

LEARN TO LEAD | Winter Mountaineering

Advanced

FUNDAMENTAL WINTER SKILLS

Beginner & Refresher

GUIDED SNOW, ICE & MIXED CLIMBING | Two Axe Technical Adventures
Intermediate to Advanced

INTRO TO WINTER CLIMBING | Experience Your First Winter Climb
Beginner

GUIDED WINTER MOUNTAINEERING | One Axe Ridge Lines & Snow Gullies
Beginner to Advanced

LEARN TO LEAD | WINTER MOUNTAINEERING: Learn The Skills Necessary To Climb Grade I/II
Advanced

FUNDAMENTAL WINTER SKILLS | Kickstart Your Winter Adventures
Beginner & Refresher

Terms and Conditions

Privacy and Cookie Policy

©2024 by Guiding Solutions |
All Rights Reserved

info@guidingsolutions.co.uk

+44 (0) 781 727 0670

@guidingsolutions

Terms and Conditions

Privacy and Cookie Policy

©2024 by Guiding Solutions |

All Rights Reserved

info@guidingsolutions.co.uk

+44 (0) 781 727 0670

@guidingsolutions

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS | Cairngorms, Ben Nevis, Aonach Mor, Glen Coe & More

GUIDED SNOW, ICE & MIXED CLIMBING | Two Axe Technical Adventures Intermediate to Advanced

INTRO TO WINTER CLIMBING | Experience Your First Winter Climb Beginner

GUIDED WINTER MOUNTAINEERING | One Axe Ridge Lines & Snow Gullies Beginner to Advanced

LEARN TO LEAD | WINTER MOUNTAINEERING: Learn The Skills Necessary To Climb Grade I/II Advanced

FUNDAMENTAL WINTER SKILLS | Kickstart Your Winter Adventures Beginner & Refresher

©2024 by Guiding Solutions | All Rights Reserved

GUIDED SNOW, ICE & MIXED CLIMBING | Two Axe Technical Adventures
Intermediate to Advanced

INTRO TO WINTER CLIMBING | Experience Your First Winter Climb
Beginner

GUIDED WINTER MOUNTAINEERING | One Axe Ridge Lines & Snow Gullies
Beginner to Advanced

LEARN TO LEAD | WINTER MOUNTAINEERING: Learn The Skills Necessary To Climb Grade I/II
Advanced

FUNDAMENTAL WINTER SKILLS | Kickstart Your Winter Adventures
Beginner & Refresher

©2024 by Guiding Solutions |
All Rights Reserved