THE CAIRNGORM MOUNTAINS ~ Winter Mountain Safety Weekend from £190

Start your winter on the right foot whether you've got a little experience or none at all. These weekends are informative, fun and will increase your confidence in the mountains allowing you to get more out of your future trips.

Trip Only Option

£190pp

Price Includes
- 2 days of mountain activity
- Qualified, local guiding and instruction
- All local transport throughout
- All specialist equipment: No hidden hire costs
- free transfers from Inverness or the airport

On this price option you are free to decide whether to use local bunkhouses, SYHA hostel, B&B or local hotels. We'll pick up and drop off at locations each day free of charge in Aviemore.


- Note: Great option if you want to organise your own accommodation. We can make local recommendations for B&B, Hotel, campsite or bunkhouse/hostel options. Just drop us an email.

Testimonials

" joining this weekend was a no brainer. Amazing area, And I can not believe how much we packed in to 2 days of training and experiences. Hats of to instructor Mike for providing such a busy, fun, informative and ultimately safety enhancing weekend.Can't get enough of the Scottish mountains. Planning my next trip already. Hoping to do the Torridon mountaineering week with you guys. Thanks again for a great welcome and surpassing all my expectations" John Roberts

Winter Skills Weekend

"Well, your website promises unique, crowd free, wilderness mountains and you delivered in spades. It's a long way to come and worth every minute for making the effort. This trip has set the standard for all my future mountain trips. Great confidence boosting training and instruction. You'll see me again next summer.
The Cuillin of Skye calls. Thanks." Sue Williams

Winter Skills Weekend

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map skills training

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approaching 4000 feet on Cairngorm summit

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great fun,like minded explorers!

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The expanse of the Cairngorm plateau

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Ice axe arrest

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Wind eroded snow - will your nav route cross the avalanche risk ?

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Big mountain days need safe management and decision making every step of the way

Trip Description

Winter Mountain Safety & Skills Course

Safety in the winter mountains comes down to the right training and knowing the skills you need to move with confidence. Having the proper gear is important, but do you have the awareness and techniques to manage a full winter day in the hills? With one of our experienced guides, you’ll benefit from years of hard-earned knowledge.

Forget the classroom—this is hands-on learning from the start. We’ll take you straight onto the winter hillside, working through real scenarios across varied snowy terrain. Over two days in the raw beauty of the Cairngorm Plateau, you’ll build essential skills and sharpen your decision-making for future adventures.

And yes, it’s great fun too. These weekends are the perfect way to blow away the cobwebs, with time to relax in Aviemore before heading back out for day two.

Whether you’re new to winter mountaineering or a seasoned visitor looking to refresh your skills, these weekends are an ideal way to kick off the season or boost your confidence. Running from November through until the end of March, dates are flexible—join an open weekend or arrange a private course for groups of three or more.

Skills Covered

  • Winter Micro Navigation: contour work, pacing, compass use, night/whiteout navigation, GPS backup

  • Equipment Choice: route planning, day management, group leadership, incident scenarios

  • Emergency Shelters & Survival Equipment

  • Ice Axe Techniques: cutting steps, anchoring, self-arrest

  • Crampon Skills: movement on frozen snow and water ice

  • Snow Anchors & Ropework: security on steep ground and low-grade mountaineering terrain

  • Avalanche Awareness: planning safe routes, identifying snow types, avoiding danger zones

 

Schedule

Meet Aviemore Tiso outdoor shop Sat morning at 0830
Saturday and Sunday Mountain days
Sunday depart after hill day - from Aviemore approx. 1630
Free transfers to/from Inverness & airport.

Instructor Ratio

1:6

Suitable For

Anyone with good summer hillwalking experience wishing to learn skills for winter walking/mountaineering. Also good for those who've been in the hills infrequently for years needing to brush up on confidence and skill levels.

Dates DEC 2025 - MARCH 2026

DEC 6-7 , 13-14 , 20-21

JAN 3-4 , 10-11 , 17-18 , 24-25 , 31-1 FEB

FEB 7-8 , 14-15 

MAR 7-8 , 14-15 , 21-22 , 28-29

Note: other dates may be available with demand. Email first, before booking, to check space as above dates may already be full.

Groups & Discounts

if you are in any of the following categories then you'll get a discount of 10% per person off this trip :

Fire , Police , Armed forces , nurses & paramedic workers or NHS staff , students , Parent & kids - just chat to us by email and we'll apply the discount.

Private Guiding

If you don't want to join an open trip with other people, or have a family/friends group of your own, then private instruction and guiding will meet your goals. Pricing is per person and will depend upon activity, distance travelled, peak or low season. We can email you a quote. Simply let us know where, when, what and for how many people. 

Need a Transfer to get to us?

Fly to Inverness and stay in the city on the evening prior to the course - we can pick you up in the morning at your accommodation and take you to Aviemore and drop you off after the course prior to flying home - all free of charge.

 

  • Please email to arrange transfers after booking and place a note in the booking form detailing your requirements.