Winter skills weekend in the Cairngorms, Scotland (2 days)

Join UIMLA certified mountain leader Will for this fantastic 2-day weekend winter skills course that takes place in the breathtaking Cairngorms of the Scottish highlands!

Group

Highlands

2 Days

Jan - Mar, Dec

Intermediate

Beginner

Highlights

Discover the spectacular Cairngorms National Park in the highlands of Scotland
Learn the fundamental winter skills to see you thrive in the Scottish outdoors
Join a certified & highly experienced guide who's passionate about the landscape

Description

A wonderful opportunity lies before you, a weekend of learning winter skills in the Cairngorms National Park. Just spending time in this magical location is enough but to combine it will practical and fun skills is to double the reward!

This will be a structured course but also flexible enough to be based around the needs of the individual. If the group is of mixed ability or experience I will work hard to make sure everyone is accomodated.

The Cairngorms is a famous region of wondrous natural beauty. These Scottish highlands in winter provide the perfect terrain and climatic conditions in which to practice key outdoor skills!

We will cover all the fundamentals to ensure that you will leave the course feeling confident about braving the wilderness in winter.

I will cover skills that include:

How to use an Ice Axe
How to use Crampons
How to carefully choose your route through the terrain
How to use effective winter navigational skills

If you have years of experience out in the mountains but never learnt the essential skills then this course will be perfect. Additionally, if you learnt the skills years ago and need a refresher course or are completely new to the scene, this course has got you covered!

Although beginner’s are welcome to join this course, you should still be of a reasonable level of fitness. You should be comfprtable hiking in the snow at a steady pace with a pack back.

If you’re eager to get on the mountains and sharpen your outdoor knowledge and pratical skills then sign up now becuase I can’t wait to share this picturesque landscape and fun with you!

Price includes

Guiding fee

Price details

Price per person to join a group.

FAQs

What is the average distance and altitude gain that we will hike each day?

Distance ~ 10km, altitude ~ 600m

What experience do I need to have? How fit do I need to be? Is this program suitable for children or older people?

The winter skills course aimed at adults over 18 with a good of summer mountain walking fitness and experience

How can I get to the trailhead/meeting point?

Self travel

How will accommodation and meals be handled during the trek?

By you

Are there any other special requirements such as permits/insurance/vaccines that I need to consider before the tour?

What is the best time of the year for this hike?

Jan to March

Can I join a group?

Yes

What happens in the event of bad weather?

We will try to make the best of the cons but if conditions are too dangerous, an alternative date will be available

About the guide

Will

Mountain Leader

I am a member of the British Association of Mountain Leaders and the owner of Mountain Energy, the guiding company I run with my wife, which has been in operation since 2009.

We started by offering summer and winter expeditions in the UK but then moved on to Europe and Africa in 2010. My work has taken me all over the world, including Peru, Bolivia, Lesotho, South Africa and Morocco.

Apart from holding an International Mountain Leader certification (IML), I am also certified as a Winter Mountain Leader. In 2008, I was awarded the Life Saving Medal of the Order of St. John after participating in a rescue expedition in the Pyrenees.

At Mountain Energy we offer a select number of programs that we have been guiding for years and know well. Join us for a truly unique experience!

Languages

English

Certificates

UIMLA

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What people are saying about Explore-Share

Man

Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!

Maxine

Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.

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