THE CAIRNGORM MOUNTAINS ~ 2 Days : Cairngorm Plateau Snowhole Weekend from £260

Duration 2 days ~ For two days and one night this trip allows the best environment for safety skills training over a weekend.

Catered Expedition Option

£295pp

Price Includes
-All expedition meals/hot drinks and provisions - from Evening meal on the first night through until lunch on the final day. cookers and fuel included too - you just need to turn up with a spork, mug and bowl.
-Qualified, local guiding and instruction
-All local transport throughout
- Free pick up/drop off at local rail station (Aviemore)
- collection and drop in Inverness available Sat morning and Sun late afternoon
- Free pick up/drop off at Inverness airport
- All specialist equipment: No hidden hire costs - we will supply a winter sleeping bag, gore-tex bivvy bag, mat, snow shovel and all winter hardwear including an expedition rucsac if needed.

Use the SYHA Hostel in Aviemore on the nights before and after the trip - join and get a discount via their website at https://www.syha.org.uk/

Self Catered Option

£260pp

You need to be self sufficient as regards cooking and meal provision throughout or choose the fully catered option below.

Price Includes
-Qualified, local guiding and instruction
-All local transport throughout
-Free pick up/drop off at local rail station (Aviemore)
-Free pick up/drop off at Inverness airport
-All specialist equipment: No hidden hire costs: we will supply a winter sleeping bag, gore-tex bivvy bag, mat, and all winter hardwear including an expedition rucsac if needed.
-FREE accommodation - shovel supplied to create your snowhole!!

Testimonials

"A spectacular trip through an inhospitable, Arctic landscape. We encountered a full range of mountain weather from blizzard conditions and total whiteout to brilliant sunshine and fantastic views. I didn't expect to be coming back from the hills with a suntan! The hospitality and friendliness shown to me by everyone has made this trip truly memorable." Dave King

Cairngorm Plateau Expedition

"what a boost to my confidence. Felt totally looked after in my first white out. Learned very quickly that my safety standards were no where near what they should have been. Excellent instruction, care, planning and good craic too! Much happier heading into the mountains after the last few days. Hats off to Mike and his calm, professional attitude. I'll be back - hope to try some Torridon mountaineering next season" J. McGilveray

Cairngorm Plateau Expedition

"Did this trip with my son as I didn't feel confident to tackle the Cairngorms in winter with all the resposibility for safety etc. Had a great time with everyone and especially enjoyed a real challenging, memorable experience with my lad. Thanks to everyone at Mountain & Sea Guides who looked after us from the first email to shaking hands and saying cheerio at Aviemore railway station. See you next time" Jonathan Price

Cairngorm Plateau Expedition

"having done two winter skills courses elsewhere previously I approached this trip in the frame of mind that it was just another refresher. Couldn't have been more wrong. It was in depth, challenging and more real than I expected. I got a huge amount out of every day and have to say that there was a strong focus on individual learning that was entirely missing on other courses I'd been on. I can't recommend Mountain & Sea Guides enough" Tom Stone

Cairngorm Plateau Expedition

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The incomparable Cairngorm Plateau. An arctic wilderness in Scotland

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Learning core steep ground skills. It's all about preventing those slips and falls and manageing your hill day correctly.

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Three specks at 4000 feet on a good day. When the cloud descends onto this snowy wasteland would you have the skills to get out?

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Being able to assess the snow and make decisions about descent or ascent - a vital skill for winter walkers and climbers.

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Cosy in the snowhole. -15c outside but comfortable, warm and quiet indoors.

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Well equipped on the Plateau at -11 degrees celsius

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Trip Description

Weekend Cairngorm Snowhole Expedition

This condensed weekend version of our three-day Cairngorm snowhole adventure gives you the chance to reach the Plateau, gain essential skills, and still be back at work on Monday.

Instead of descending at night only to climb back up the next day, we stay high—eating, sleeping, and living like true expedition mountaineers for two full days. Experience the confidence that comes from building your own shelter in a harsh climate, and enjoy the simple satisfaction of a wee dram in your sleeping bag by candlelight.

Our journey includes a traverse of the Cairngorm Plateau’s summits and corries, offering the finest training ground for mountain craft. The draw of Britain’s highest, wildest, sub-arctic plateau is irresistible, and the bonus is hands-on learning in micro-navigation, avalanche awareness, emergency shelters, and technical skills with ice axe and crampons.

We’ll also cover ropework and snow anchors to boost your security on steep terrain. On the Saturday afternoon you’ll help carve out a snowhole—transforming it into a surprisingly comfortable palace of ice and snow.

Whether you’re new to winter mountaineering or already have seasons of experience, this expedition is the ultimate way to sharpen your safety skills, refresh old techniques, and test your readiness in a raw wilderness environment.

Fitness & Kit Requirements You’ll need the stamina to carry an overnight rucksack through deep snow in windy conditions, along with appropriate clothing and personal equipment. We provide all specialist kit free of any extra hire charges - includes crampons, ice axe, winter sleeping bag, gore-tex bivvy bag, sleeping mat and snow shovel! You will need have your own B2 rated winter mountain walking boots - if you don't already own suitable boots then you can hire from www.expeditionkithire.co.uk. They provide a convenient hire service by post to your home address. Full pre trip packing advice is provided upon booking.

View a Typical Itinerary
 

Schedule

Saturday morning meet at Tiso outdoor shop Aviemore at 0900
Saturday and Sunday mountain days
Sunday finish and depart Aviemore late afternoon approx. 1630
Free transfers to/from Inverness & airport.

Instructor Ratio

1:6

Suitable For

Anyone with good summer hill walking experience wishing to learn core safety skills for winter walking/mountaineering.

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 and other 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 the next morning at your accommodation and take you to Aviemore and drop you off prior to flying home - all free of charge.