Cairngorm Plateau Snowhole Mountaineering Weekend

Spend two days in the Cairngorms learning essential winter mountain skills with an overnight stay in a snowhole. This course is designed for confident summer hillwalkers who want to build knowledge and confidence in full winter conditions. It's practical, challenging, and offers a unique chance to sleep out on the plateau using the skills you've learned.

Key Details

• Group size: 1–6 people
• Duration: 2 days, 1 night
• Meeting point: Aviemore, 09:00 on day one
• Experience level: Summer hillwalking experience and good fitness required

Key Skills

• Using crampons and ice axe
• Avalanche awareness and decision-making
• Safe route selection in winter terrain
• Snowhole building techniques
• Poor weather navigation and emergency procedures

What to Expect

Day 1: Meet in Aviemore at 09:00 and transfer to the Cairngorm ski centre car park. You'll begin your ascent onto the plateau with a full winter pack, guided by experienced instructors. Skills sessions will run throughout the day and include how to walk safely in snow, use an ice axe and crampons, assess avalanche risk, and plan a safe route. Later in the day, the group will select a suitable site and dig individual or paired snowholes, which will be used for the overnight stay. Dinner is either catered or self-catered depending on your booking option.

Day 2: After breakfast in your snowhole, the day starts with navigation exercises using map and compass in poor visibility, along with emergency shelter techniques and snow anchor demonstrations if conditions allow. You'll finish the descent back to the ski centre car park in the afternoon, returning to Aviemore for a debrief. Optional onward transport to Inverness can be arranged if needed.

Location

This course is based in the northern Cairngorms, with a starting point in Aviemore. From there, you'll travel to the Cairngorm ski centre to access the plateau, which offers some of the UK’s most reliable snow conditions. 

With wide, open terrain and a high-altitude environment, it’s an ideal setting for learning realistic winter mountain skills in challenging but rewarding surroundings.

Prerequisites

You should already be a confident summer hillwalker and feel comfortable navigating uneven ground for multiple hours while carrying a 12–15kg pack. No previous winter experience is required, but you will need good fitness and the ability to manage long days in cold, exposed conditions. 

If you're not sure whether this course is right for you, get in touch for a chat before booking.

Why Choose Us

The centre is run by experienced instructors who specialise in delivering practical, hands-on winter training in the Scottish mountains. They focus on building your skills and confidence so you're better prepared for independent winter adventures. 

With small group sizes and a remote overnight experience in a snowhole, this course offers both challenge and support in equal measure. All technical equipment is included, with the option to choose between catered or self-catered food.