SCOTTISH WINTER
Mountaineering & Climbing: Courses and Guiding
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Liathach from the ridge of Beinn Eighe - Winter Mountaineer March 2017
SCOTTISH WINTER PHOTO GALLERY
Scottish courses - Frequently Asked Questions
£50 early booking discount on all 5-day and New Year courses booked before 31st Oct
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Our 2018 Scottish Winter courses offer instruction and guiding in essential winter mountaineering skills and technical snow/ice or mixed climbing. We promise unforgettable adventures at grips with the winter peaks plus home-cooking and luxurious relaxation in our course base Coulags Lodge.
Scotland's winter mountains offer a unique beauty and challenge to hillwalkers and climbers. Under snow and ice and the blast of storms all of our hills become serious mountains in the winter season. Scotland is the ideal arena to learn Mountaineering, and Snow, Ice and Mixed Climbing. The skills and experiences acquired with us will prepare you to climb in the Alps and Greater Ranges of the world.
FIVE DAY COURSES
WEEKEND COURSES/PRIVATE GUIDING
NEW YEAR COURSES
Courses are based in the magnificent North-West Highlands (including Torridon, Applecross, Kintail, An Teallach and the Cuillin of Skye) and we can travel to Ben Nevis or the Cairngorms to get the best variety of climbs and conditions |
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Ice climbing on Liathach - Intro Winter Climber (photo: Nathan Christmas) |
On the pinnacles of the Liathach traverse - Winter Mountaineer (photo: Ben Tibbetts) |
New Year Mountaineer team on summit of Liathach - 1st January 2017 |
NEW
YEAR COURSES - 4 DAYS: 28 Dec-2 Jan 2017/18
Four
days of great mountaineering and a relaxing New Year break
in the North-West Highlands;
based in An Teallach and Carron View cottages with superb full-board home-cooking included.
Guided personally by Martin Moran
with his expert instructional team; plus home cooking and
house hospitality. Whatever the weather and conditions these courses give you a great start to your mountaineering year and a perfect antidote to post-Christmas blues! On 1st Jan 2017 our mountaineer teams first-footed the traverse of Liathach in fresh snow while our climbers ascended the East Buttress of Beinn Eighe.
Arrive
on evening of Thurs 28th Dec and depart on morning of Tues 2nd Jan.
Climbing Venues: a superb choice of mountains, with a different venue
guaranteed on each day of the holiday:-
Torridon (45min), Applecross (25min), Kintail and Glen Shiel
peaks (50mins), the Achnashellach and Glencarron hills (20min), The Cuillin of Skye (1hr 15 min), the ski gondola on Aonach Mor (1hr
30min), Northern Corries of Cairngorm (2hr). We will
take advantage of this superb choice to ensure that you get
the best possible conditions and weather.
£50 discount on bookings made before 31st Oct 2017; extra 5% discount for couples
New Year Mountaineer:
Learn and apply your
winter skills:-
- Instruction of all essential snow-craft skills on the Glen
Shiel hills - Grade I/II snow/ice gully ascent
- Ridge traverses (eg Forcan Ridge of The Saddle, Beinn Eighe
or Liathach) involving grade I and II scrambling and mixed
winter terrain.
- Skills training: lead grade I pitches under guide's supervision
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Ropework/Abseiling plus a Winter Navigation exercise
Price: £740 (4:1 max ratio)
New Year Climber:
Offers a 2:1 guide ratio for more experienced climbers who want to develop their skills from grade II upwards on mixed, snow and ice routes; or for couples who want more personal tuition and guiding.
Price: £940 (2:1 max ratio)
Plus evening slideshow/seminar: Winter Mountain Skills,
including Avalanche Hazard, Equipment and Mountain Weather;
2017 highlights from Moran Mountain, incl the Cuillin Ridge,
Alps, Himalayas and Norwegian Climbs
Prices incl of 5 nights Bed, self-serve Breakfast,
Packed lunch, 3 course Evening meal, 4 days Guiding and Instruction
FIVE DAY WINTER COURSES: 13 JAN - 9 MAR 2018
Winter Mountaineer
A superb all-round introduction to winter mountaineering this course has a 25 year pedigree; more than just tuition in skills - we make sure that you go out and put them into practice on adventurous mountain expeditions on Scotland's finest and wildest peaks - including the Torridon "Big Three" - Liathach, Beinn Eighe and Beinn Alligin plus An Teallach, Kintail, Glen Shiel and Skye Cuillin.
Who
is the Course For? All keen hillwalkers and scramblers
who want to learn the skills of winter mountaineering. Previous roped
climbing experience on indoor walls or outdoor rock is helpful but not essential. Good fitness and
an enjoyment of exposed ridge scrambles are more important. The course is a gateway towards mountaineering in the Alps.
What
Skills are Covered and Where do we Go?
- basic
snowcraft, ice axe arrest, cramponning, short ice climbing pitches,
Alpine ropework and belaying
- grade
I/II gullies and classic ridge traverses such as Liathach, Forcan
Ridge of The Saddle or An Teallach
- winter
mountain navigation and routeplanning
- winter
weather and avalanche hazard assessment
Sample itinerary:
Day 1: Snowcraft training (ice axe arrest, crampon skills, snow anchors and belays) followed by roped ascent of a grade I or II gully (eg: Fuar Tholl SE Coire – Access Gully)
Day 2: Alpine-style traverse of Forcan Ridge on The Saddle – roped protection on mixed ridge terrain at grade I/II standard
Day 3: Navigation theory seminar and outdoor training session on the Applecross plateau.
Day 4: Traverse of the Black Carls Ridge on Beinn Eighe (I); indoor ropework,knots and belays session
Day 5: Traverse of Liathach Main Ridge (I/II) - one of Scotland's finest winter expeditions
In suitable conditions and weather the group will mount an overnight expedition using a snow-hole on The Saddle or camp on An Teallach.
2018
DATES: arr Sat and depart Fri am: 13-19 Jan, 20-26
Jan, 27 Jan-2 Feb, 3-9 Feb, 10-16 Feb, 17-23 Feb, 24 Feb-2 Mar, 3-9 Mar; Course
ratio: 4:1 max
Price: £750 |
Price includes all Guiding, local transport,
up to 6 nights Full-board accommodation at Coulags Lodge |
Introductory Winter Climber
The best introduction to winter climbing to grade III standard; coaching skills in snow, ice and mixed climbing and climbing classic routes in remote and adventurous mountains of the North-West Highlands
Who
is it for? A more technical course for those wanting a full week of winter climbing
at grades I to III; for winter climbing beginners who have previous outdoor rock climbing and winter walking experience.
What instruction is given? -
personal snow and ice skills
- belaying methods, ropework, multi-pitch climbing, placing protection
- ice and mixed climbing techniques at grade III standard- clients
can have the opportunity to develop leading skills on grade I and
II routes
Where
do we climb? The great corries of Liathach and Beinn Bhan
in Torridon, ridge traverses on the Cuillin of Skye, mixed climbs
in Glen Shiel; Beinn Dearg and the Fannichs and the magnificent gully
climbs of An Teallach are all possible venues plus Aonach Mor and
Ben Nevis in Lochaber.
Typical itinerary:-
Day 1: Snowcraft and icecraft instruction and training session in Fuar Tholl SE corrie, followed by ascent of a grade I or II gully
Day 2: Buttress climb – eg A’Chioch Ridge of Beinn Bhan, Applecross – pitched grade II mixed climbing
Day 3: Client leading day under guide’s supervision: grade I and II pitched climbing; eg North Gully of Sgurr na Forcan on the Saddle followed by Alpine-ropework practise on traverse of the Forcan Ridge
Day 4: Snow and ice gully ascent at grade III standard (eg George, Liathach in Torridon)
Day 5: Winter traverse of Sgurr nan Gillean on Skye (grade II and III snow, ice and mixed climbing).
2018
DATES: arr Sat and depart Fri am: 13-19 Jan, 20-26
Jan, 27 Jan-2 Feb, 3-9 Feb, 10-16 Feb, 17-23 Feb, 24 Feb-2 Mar, 3-9 Mar; Course
ratio: 3:1 max
Price: £850 |
Price includes all Guiding, local Transport,
up to 6 nights Full-board accommodation at Coulags Lodge |
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Above: Forcan Ridge of The Saddle in alpine-conditions - New Year Mountaineer
Left: Topping out on Right-End Buttress (III,5) on Fuar Tholl, Glen Carron - February 2017 (climber: Aoife McNally)
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Technical Winter Climber
Our premier winter climbing course, guided by expert winter climbers; designed to improve your personal skills and introduce you to new venues and styles of winter climbing.
Experience
required? Those with previous winter climbing experience
to grade III or pairs who want the extra personal attention of a 2:1 ratio.
What
skills are covered? All of Intro Winter syllabus plus:-
development of leading skills under guide's supervision
- routes of grade III, IV, V, and VI, according to conditions and experience of clients, plus possible pioneering of new winter climbs,
- teaching of advanced techniques of ice and rock protection, torquing,
and dry tooling
Where
do we climb? All venues in Torridon and Skye eg. Corries
of Beinn Bhan (March Hare's and Mad Hatter's Gully, Silver Tear),
Beinn Eighe Triple Buttresses, North Face Liathach (Poacher's Fall),
Beinn Dearg (Emerald and Penguin Gully), Pinnacle Ridge of Sgurr nan
Gillean; Aonach Mor; Ben Nevis for ice climbing classics
2018
DATES: arr Sat and depart Fri am: 13-19 Jan, 20-26
Jan, 27 Jan-2 Feb, 3-9 Feb, 10-16 Feb, 17-23 Feb, 24 Feb-2 Mar, 3-9 Mar; Course
ratio: 2:1
Price: £1,020 |
Price includes all Guiding, local Transport,
up to 6 nights Full-board accommodation at Coulags Lodge |
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Starting the traverse of Sgurr a'Ghreadaidh on the Cuillin Ridge - Winter Climber: February 2017
Right: Martin Moran leading the exit of George (III,4), Coire Dubh Mor. Liathach (photo: Ben Tibbetts) |
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WINTER
WEEKEND COURSES
For
groups/friends/couples: 2 to 4 persons; larger parties
by arrangement. Drive up from central Scotland or Northern England
or fly up from London or Bristol to taste the
thrill and learn the skills of Winter hillwalking, mountaineering
and climbing. Arrive Friday night, climb Sat and Sun and depart
Sun evening or Monday morning
2018 Dates: 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28 Jan; 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 Mar - other dates by special arrangement
Price: 4
persons : £320
each; 3 persons: £380
each; 2 persons: £430 each |
Price includes all Guiding, local Transport,
2 nights Full-board accommodation at Coulags Lodge |
PRIVATE
WINTER GUIDING
All standards from Winter Hillwalking to Technical
Climbing on technical testpieces and the grand classics of Torridon, Skye, the Cairngorms and Ben Nevis; tuition and instructional sessions in snow- and ice-craft. Outside of peak-season we can make our private guiding service flexible to weather and conditions.
Dates by arrangement - please enquire
Price: from £210 to £280 per day; according
to itinerary and group size |
Prices quoted will cover Guide's transport; and use of Ben Nevis access track key |
ACCOMMODATION at COULAGS LODGE: available during main course periods with private guiding: £60.00 per person per night, twin sharing, full-board incl packed lunch; £70.00 per night with single room
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