SCOTTISH WINTER COURSES
Scotland Courses - Winter Courses - Spring Courses
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Our magnificent wilderness peaks: Looking north to the Torridon hills from Lurg Mhor south of Glen Carron
Courses are based in the magnificent North-West Highlands (including Torridon and Skye) and we may travel as far afield as Ben Nevis or the Cairngorms to get the best variety of climbs and conditions
View our SCOTTISH WINTER PHOTO GALLERY
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Scotland's winter mountains offer a special beauty and a stirring challenge to both hillwalker and climber. Under snow and ice and the blast of storms all of our hills can become serious mountains in the winter season. Our 5 day and weekend courses will guide and instruct you in essential winter walking skills, basic winter mountaineering and technical snow/ice or mixedclimbing. We promise unforgettable adventures at grips with the winter peaks. |
FIVE DAY WINTER COURSES: JAN 24 - MAR 19 2009
Book Early and get price discounts: £25 off any 5 day winter course booked before Dec 31st
Winter Skills and Munros Max Group Ratio 6:1 Price: £470
Who is the Course For? All hillwalkers who want to learn the essential winter skills, practise navigation and spend a night out in the mountains in a snowhole or bivouac. Several Munros will be climbed in the week. Good hillwalking fitness is needed
What Skills are Covered?
- essential snowcraft, use of axe and crampons, ice axe arrest, cramponning on ice
- Munros and Ridges such as Beinn Alligin, Beinn Eighe, The 5 Sisters of Kintail, The Cluanie Ridge
- winter mountain navigation and routeplanning
- winter weather and avalanche hazard assessment
- an overnight expedition - snow-holing or bivouacking
2009 DATES: courses meet Sat evening and depart Fri am
24-29 Jan, 7-12 Feb, 21-26 Feb, 7-12 Mar, 14-19 Mar
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Winter Mountaineer- Max Group Ratio 4:1 Price: £520
Who is the Course For? All keen hillwalkers and scramblers who want to learn the skills of winter mountaineering. Previous roped climbing experience is helpful but not essential. Good fitness and enjoyment of exposed ridges is needed
What Skills are Covered?
- basic snowcraft, ice axe arrest, cramponning, short ice climbing pitches, simple 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
- an overnight expedition to An Teallach - camping or bothying is often included
2009 DATES: courses meet Sat evening and depart Fri am
24-29 Jan, 31 Jan - 5 Feb, 7-12 Feb, 14-19 Feb, 21-26 Feb, 28 Feb - 5 Mar, 7-12 Mar, 14-19 Mar
Introductory Winter Climber- Max Group Ratio 3:1 Price: £590
Who is it for? Those wanting a full week of winter climbing at grades I to IV; some previous rock climbing or winter walking experience is advised.What instruction is given?- personal snow and ice skills
- belaying methods, multi-pitch climbing, protection gear
- 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.
2009 DATES: courses meet Sat evening and depart Fri am
24-29 Jan, 31 Jan - 5 Feb, 7-12 Feb, 14-19 Feb, 21-26 Feb, 28 Feb - 5 Mar, 7-12 Mar, 14-19 Mar
click photo for large image
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Winter traverse of Clach Glas-Blaven looking towards the Cuillin Ridge
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Sunset over Applecross from the summit of Beinn Bhan
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Technical Winter Climber - Group Ratio 2:1 Price: £720
Experience required? Those with previous winter climbing experience or pairs who want the extra personal attention of a 2:1 ratio.What skills are covered? All of Intro Winter syllabus plus- client leading under guide's supervision
- routes of grade IV, V, and VI plus 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
2009 DATES: courses meet Sat evening and depart Fri am
24-29 Jan, 31 Jan - 5 Feb, 7-12 Feb, 14-19 Feb, 21-26 Feb, 28 Feb - 5 Mar, 7-12 Mar, 14-19 Mar
Sunset from summit of Ben Nevis January 2008
NEW YEAR 4 DAY WINTER MOUNTAINEERING SPECIAL: Dec 29-Jan 2 2008/9
Four days of great mountaineering and a relaxing New Year break in the North-West Highlands; based in a warm, spacious and luxurious house in the centre of Lochcarron village www.lochcarronholidays.co.uk with full-board home-cooking included. Guided personally by Martin Moran with his expert instructional team; cooking and house hospitality by Hazel Moran.
Arrive on evening of Mon Dec 29th and depart on morning of Sat Jan 3rd. Earlier arrival from Sat Dec 27th is available if you want to enjoy a day or two on your own before the course begins.
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), the ski gondola on Aonach Mor (1hr 30min), Northern Corries of Cairngorm (1hr 50min). We will take advantage of this superb choice to ensure that you get the best possible conditions and weather.
Outline itinerary (4:1 max ratio) 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 - Ropework/Abseiling plus a Winter Navigation exercise
Plus evening slideshow/seminar: Winter Mountain Skills, including Avalanche Hazard, Equipment and Mountain Weather; 2008 highlights from Moran Mountaineering, incl the Cuillin Ridge, Alps and Norwegian Ice Climbs
and New Year's Eve celebration and musical entertainment at Lochcarron Hotel
Price: £540 incl of 5 nights Bed, self-serve Breakfast, Packed lunch, 3 course Evening meal, 4 days Guided Mountaineering, all local travel with minibus station collection/drop-off. Single room supplement: £50; Extra nights full-board accommodation available if arriving on Dec 27th or Dec 28th for £50 per person; £25 discount for early booking before Oct 31st.
Accommodation; Main accommodation is in the Parrot House on Main Street (accommodating up to 7 in twin, single or double bedrooms) ; depending on demand we may accommodate some clients in neighbouring B&B or cottage.
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WINTER WEEKEND SKILLS COURSES AND PRIVATE GUIDING:
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 Gatwick, Luton 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
2009 Dates: 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25 Jan; 31 Jan - 1 Feb, 7-8 February, 7-8, 14-15, 21-22 Mar - other dates by special arrangement
Prices for Winter Skills Weekends: Incl. 2 days guiding and 2 nights full-board accommodation:-
4 persons : £240 each 3 persons: £280 each 2 persons: £320 each
PRIVATE WINTER GUIDING : All standards from Winter Hillwalking to Technical Climbing tuition, and classic ascents in Torridon, Skye, Cairngorms, Ben Nevis
Prices from £170 to £210 per day; according to itinerary and group size
