Traversing a ridge line in winter
Cutting steps in neve (snow ice)
Digging a snow shelter
Our popular Winter Mountain Skills course is specifically created for walkers who want to feel completely at home in Scotland's hills once the snow arrives. Many of our guests are experienced summer hillwalkers who simply refuse to put their boots away for four months of the year; others are drawn to the stillness and beauty of the winter landscape and want to explore it safely and confidently. Whatever your motivation, this course gives you the practical tools and quiet self-assurance you need to turn winter into your favourite season in the mountains.
Everything is taught outdoors on real Highland terrain over three consecutive days. There are no classroom sessions – you learn by doing, with constant gentle guidance from a fully qualified Winter Mountain Leader. Each day we cover the topics that matter most:
Because we spend the entire time on the hill, you have repeated opportunities to practise every technique until it becomes second nature.
This course is aimed at fit, active adults who love being in the hills and now want to enjoy them responsibly in winter conditions. Most participants are seasoned summer walkers who wish to keep exploring year-round. A reasonable level of hill fitness is all that's required – we typically walk for 6–8 hours each day at a steady pace. No previous winter experience is necessary; we start from the very basics and progress at the speed that suits the group. This is a non-roped course – our entire focus is on safe, independent travel rather than mountaineering or climbing.
Three days is the sweet spot for genuine, lasting learning. Day one establishes strong foundations, day two consolidates and adds sophistication, and day three is largely given over to putting everything together on a proper winter journey of your own. By the final afternoon most guests tell us they feel genuinely ready – and excited – to plan their own winter days out, whether that's a quiet traverse of a favourite ridge or a first independent visit to one of Scotland's classic snow-covered summits.
View the detailed day-by-day itinerary
The Torridon area is, quite simply, the perfect natural classroom. Its huge variety of terrain – broad lower shoulders, steepening gullies, high plateaux and world-class ridges – means we can select exactly the right ground each day to match the weather, the snow conditions and the group's developing ability. One moment you might be practising ice-axe arrests on a gentle neve slope, the next you're route-finding across a featureless white dome with nothing but a compass bearing to guide you. All of this takes place in scenery that regularly leaves guests speechless: Liathach, Beinn Alligin and Beinn Eighe in full winter coat are among the most striking mountains in Britain. And because Torridon remains remarkably crowd-free in winter, you often have these magnificent landscapes almost to yourselves.
We’re happy to arrange accommodation for you or leave you free to make your own plans; whichever you prefer.
The Old Inn, Gairloch; January to March 2026
We’re delighted to partner with this welcoming, comfortable inn, perfectly placed for our Winter Mountain Skills course.
Please confirm room availability at the time of booking; spaces fill quickly in winter.
Discover more about your dinner, bed & breakfast stay at The Old Inn
View all Winter Mountain Skills course dates & prices
Independent accommodation
Gairloch village itself has the widest choice of cafés, shops and places to eat. Options elsewhere in Torridon, Kinlochewe or Poolewe are very limited in winter, so most guests find Gairloch the most convenient and enjoyable base.
Open courses are the most popular option. You simply choose one of our published dates and join a small, friendly group of like-minded walkers (maximum six guests plus your instructor). They’re a relaxed and enjoyable way to learn, share the experience, and often make new hillwalking friends who you’ll bump into again on the Scottish hills.
Private courses give you complete flexibility and total focus. The day is built entirely around you – whether you’re booking alone, with a partner, or as a private group of friends or family. You pick any dates that suit your diary, and the content is tailored precisely to your current level and personal goals. Many guests choose private tuition for faster progress, to fit around fixed leave, or simply because they prefer the undivided attention of their instructor.
See full dates, prices and booking details
Our three-day Winter Mountain Skills course strikes the perfect balance: thorough teaching, plenty of hands-on practice, and a final day that leaves you genuinely ready to head out on your own.
We start gently but purposefully. After a short morning briefing on winter clothing systems, equipment choice, weather interpretation and the latest avalanche forecasts, we head straight onto the hill.
The focus is on moving confidently and safely:
By the end of the day you'll already feel noticeably more secure on snowy slopes.
We progress to more challenging terrain and introduce the navigation tools you'll rely on when visibility drops. Key elements:
Everything is practised repeatedly until it starts to feel instinctive.
This is the day most guests remember longest.
With the instructor alongside for subtle guidance and safety, you take the lead: planning the route, making the decisions, and navigating a full winter hill day using everything you've learned.
We review as we go – celebrating what went well and fine-tuning anything that needs it – so that by late afternoon you'll finish with the quiet satisfaction of having completed a proper independent winter journey in one of Scotland's most beautiful ranges. Most people leave telling us they finally feel ready to plan their own winter days with real confidence.
We offer courses with and without accommodation. For courses where we offer it with accommodation you will see this in our pricing table on our dates and price tab.
The accommodation included with this course is on a self catering, twin sharing basis in Kinlochewe at Kinlochewe Mountain Chalets situated at the head of Glen Torridon. This location provides the perfect base for our winter skills courses, being close to the hills and in a beautiful little hamlet that resides next to the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve.
The accommodation includes shared cooking facilities and lounge for you to relax in after your hill days. There is also a private carpark onsite so travel is simple.
Open courses are perfect if you're booking individually or as a pair and would like to join a small, friendly group of like-minded winter walkers on a set date. They're relaxed, sociable and an excellent way to learn while enjoying the shared experience.
We keep every open course to a maximum of six clients with one highly experienced Winter Mountain Leader, ensuring plenty of individual attention and the flexibility to tailor the days to the group's aspirations.
All courses run for three consecutive days, and are available with or without accommodation. When you add accommodation you receive dinner, bed & breakfast at our comfortable partner venue, The Old Inn in Gairloch, starting the evening before the course begins and finishing with breakfast on the final morning.
Additional nights (before or after) at the same inclusive rate:
£85 per person per night (shared/twin) • £120 per night (single occupancy)
All prices include professional instruction and full hire of technical equipment (ice axe, crampons, helmet, walking poles if required).
Our three day open course are perfect for those looking to learn the skills and techniques needed to become safe and efficient on the mountains.
| Dates | Course Only Course | Accommodation Included Accommodation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course + Shared Occupancy Shared | Course + Single Occupancy Single | ||
| 12 - 14 Jan 2026 (Accommodation: 11 - 14 Jan 2026) | £330 | £585 | £690 |
| 16 - 18 Feb 2026 (Accommodation: 15 - 18 Feb 2026) | £330 | £585 | £690 |
| 9 - 11 Mar 2026 (Accommodation: 8 - 11 Mar 2026) | £330 | £585 | £690 |
Prices shown are all per person.
| Ratio | Price |
|---|---|
| 1:1 | £800 |
| 1:2 | £400 per person |
| 1:3 | £300 per person |
| 1:4 | £250 per person |
| 1:5 | £200 per person |
| 1:6 | £180 per person |
Want the course to fit perfectly around your diary and your exact needs? Private Winter Mountain Skills bookings give you total freedom – pick any dates across the winter season, come alone or with your own group, and enjoy instruction that's shaped entirely around your current level and ambitions.
We maintain a relaxed maximum ratio of 1:6 (one fully qualified Winter Mountain Leader to six clients) – the same safe, personal approach we use on our open courses.
Dinner, bed & breakfast at The Old Inn in Gairloch can be added seamlessly to any private booking:
£85 per person per night (twin/double room, shared occupancy)
£120 per night (single occupancy)
See the Private Courses tab above for full pricing and booking options.
Extra nights before or after your open or private Winter Mountain Skills course are available (subject to availability) at the same rates:
£85 per person per night (shared/twin) • £120 per night (single)
| Dates | Price |
|---|---|
| 12 Jan 2026 to 14 Jan 2026 | From £330 |
| 16 Feb 2026 to 18 Feb 2026 | From £330 |
| 9 Mar 2026 to 11 Mar 2026 | From £330 |
Prices shown are all per person.
Personal winter clothing (boots, waterproofs, gloves, etc.) is not supplied – a full kit list will be sent on booking.