Winter Skills Courses

Lakes Outdoor Experience (LOE) offer winter skills courses in Scotland in the Cairngorms, Glen Coe or near Fort William on Ben Nevis and Aonach Mor. For our Lake District based Winter Skills Courses please go to the Helvellyn venue page at the very bottom of this page.

With Lakes Outdoor Experience you can!

• explore the beauty of the mountains in winter with confidence and in safety whilst accompanied by an instructor
• learn essential skills to keep you safe in winter
• improve your knowledge of winter conditions and avalance forecasting

 LOE have an extensive history in providing value for money winter skills courses that makes the best of the Scottish winter conditions.

Our winter skills courses cover all of the basic skills that you need to know and learn to keep you safe whilst walking in the mountains in winter conditions. Note - Attendance on one of these courses is a pre-requisite before attending any of our other winter courses! You must have attended one of our own winter skills courses or be able to demonstrate attendance on a similar course with another provider.

You will be taught the following during your winter skills course:

• ice axe braking
• using the boot as a tool - step cutting/kicking
• how to use crampons
• moving on steep ground
• snow belays and snow shelters

A winter skills course is run over 2 days and will teach you everything you need to know to get out and adventure with confidence and make the most of those winter conditions.

Winter Mountaineering and Winter Climbing Courses

Having attended a winter skills course you may decide you want to move onto something more challenging such as a Winter Mountaineering Course or learning how to Winter Climb to allow you to venture on to steeper and more technical terrain in safety. Winter climbing days can either be added onto an existing mountaineering skills course or run as a separate course. Attendance at a LOE winter skills course or demonstrable knowledge of basic winter skills is a pre requisite for either our Winter Mountaineering or Winter Climbing Courses.

Our highly experienced instructors can guide you on Winter mountaineering Routes or Winter climbs or we can teach you how to climb yourselves and such courses include coaching you in the technical skills required to climb steep, snow covered or icy ground, place appropriate protection and construct anchor points so you can belay your climbing partner/s safely.

If you don't want to go ice climbing but you want some serious winter adventure, we can take you on a tailor made expedition.

Tailor made winter adventures - just for you!

Journey into remote wilderness areas, learn winter specific navigation techniques, walk some Munros along the way and spend a night in a snow hole. Not as cold as it sounds provided you have the correct equipment! There is nothing like getting away from it all and sculpting your own bed for the night!

Expedition length depends on you; your ambition and existing skills, which we will enhance with gentle instruction along the way. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

Prices for Winter Skills, Winter Mountaineering or Winter Climbing Courses

1 day winter skills course; Lake District based only. £90.00 per person per day. Minimum group size of two persons. Accommodation not included. Learn winter skills as part of a mountain journey day! 

2 day winter skills course; based on a maximum group size of 6 persons per instructor.
£180 per person. Accommodation not included.

Winter Navigation c/w an overnight in a snowhole. Based in Scotland in the Glen Coe area or The Cairngorms. This course consists of 2 days of mountain journeying/navigation with an overnight stay in a snowhole. The price is £200.00 per person (two to three persons) or £180 per person (four or more persons) up to a maximum group size of six persons per instructor. Note - you must have attended a two day Winter Skills Course as a pre-requisite before joining this course.

Winter Mountaineering; try some classic winter ridge routes with our instructors. Be guided by us; or learn the skills to go and do it yourself on terrain up to grade II. Price per day - £300.00 between two persons or £125.00 each for a group of three persons. Accommodation not included. Winter Mountaineering Courses are held in Glen Coe or on Ben Nevis - see the information by clicking the link at the bottom of this page. Note - you must have attended a two day Winter Skills Course as a pre-requisite before joining this course.

Winter Climbing; £300.00 per day between 2 clients working with one instructor. The options are either guided climbing or learning winter climbing skills on up to grade III ground. Accommodation is not included. Winter Climbing Courses are held in Glen Coe or on Ben Nevis - see the information by clicking the link at the bottom of this page. Note - you must have attended a two day Winter Skills Course as a pre-requisite before joining this course.

To book your winter course with Lakes Outdoor Experience contact us here