Harley
We had an amazing time! Beautiful location and a great guide!
A practical introduction to winter skills in the Cairngorms, this three-day expedition includes two nights in a snowhole built by the group. You’ll learn how to move safely in winter terrain, use essential equipment like ice axes and crampons, and prepare for mountain conditions in a high plateau environment. Ideal for beginners, this experience is focused on skill-building and self-sufficiency in cold weather.
Day one begins with a meet-up in Aviemore where kit checks are carried out, and any loan gear is fitted. After a briefing and packing session, the group heads to a suitable snow-covered area high on the Cairngorm plateau. You'll be introduced to essential winter skills including walking in snow, using crampons and ice axes, movement on steeper ground, and basic avalanche awareness. Once at the chosen snowhole site, the group will work together to dig and shape the snow shelter using snow shovels and saws. The night is spent in the snowhole, where you'll also learn tips on insulation, ventilation, and managing kit inside the shelter.
Over the following two days, the group continues training with a focus on navigation, safe route planning, and decision-making in winter conditions. There may be opportunities to summit nearby peaks or practise ropework on steeper ground, depending on snow and weather. After two nights in the snowhole, the group returns to Aviemore in the afternoon of day three. The itinerary remains flexible to make the most of the conditions while covering key mountain skills across the full duration.
The course takes place in the Cairngorm Mountains, accessed from Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands. The area offers reliable snow cover at higher elevations and is known for its wide, open plateaus, steep corries, and challenging winter conditions.
Training typically takes place in Coire Cas or nearby snow-holding areas, with overnight snowholes built at elevations around 1000–1100 metres depending on snowpack and weather. Aviemore is well-connected by road and rail, with transfer options from Inverness and Inverness Airport available.
Accommodation is in a group snowhole dug by participants during the course. All technical equipment for snow shelter construction is provided. You’ll be supplied with a warm sleeping bag, bivvy bag, and sleeping mats for comfort and insulation. This is a shared group shelter, and the experience is part of the course training in winter survival and cold-weather skills.
You don’t need any prior winter experience, but you should have some general hillwalking experience and be confident walking for several hours at a time on uneven ground. A reasonable level of fitness is expected, as you’ll be carrying a full pack, sometimes through deep snow, and helping to dig the group shelter.
If you’re new to mountain walking, it may be worth trying a summer skills course first before joining a winter expedition.
This centre is known for delivering immersive, hands-on winter skills training in realistic mountain conditions. The focus is on practical learning, with each course designed to maximise time on the hill and give participants genuine experience of what it’s like to operate in full Scottish winter. Instruction is always tailored to the group, ensuring that even beginners come away with a strong foundation and the confidence to plan their own winter outings.
The team is made up of instructors who live and work year-round in the Highlands, and who bring extensive knowledge of local snowpack behaviour, navigation challenges, and cold-weather survival. With a low client-to-instructor ratio, participants benefit from close support while gaining the skills needed to make good decisions in the mountains. These are not set-piece lessons, but responsive days shaped by the weather, the terrain, and the needs of each group.
About the centre
Aviemore
We had an amazing time! Beautiful location and a great guide!
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