❄️ Winter Skills Snow Hole Expedition – 3-Day Course in the Cairngorms
Looking to build confidence in the winter mountains and experience something truly unforgettable? Join our 3-day Winter Skills Snow Hole Expedition in the Scottish Highlands, based in Aviemore, and learn essential winter mountaineering skills – topped off with a night sleeping in a snow hole!
Led by highly qualified instructors, this immersive course blends hands-on instruction in winter navigation, ice axe and crampon use, and snow shelter building with real-world mountain journeys in the Cairngorms National Park.
🧭 What You’ll Learn
- Assessing winter weather and avalanche risk
- Route planning and map & compass navigation in snow and whiteouts
- Essential gear for winter: clothing, equipment, nutrition
- Introduction to pacing, bearings, and map memory
- Walking techniques: kicking steps, traversing, steep ground movement
- Use of crampons and ice axe (including self-arrest)
- Ropework and safety on steep terrain
- Building snow anchors and basic belaying
- Constructing and sleeping in a snow hole (conditions permitting)
🏔️ The Snow Hole Experience
One of the course highlights is learning to build and sleep in your own snow shelter. Our instructors will show you how to safely dig and structure a snow hole using proper tools and techniques. If snow conditions aren't suitable, we’ll adapt the overnight experience using tents and expedition skills – ensuring safety and adventure either way.
🙋 Who This Course Is For
This course is suitable for adventurous individuals with:
- Summer hillwalking experience
- Basic map and compass skills (summer level)
- Good fitness (able to walk for 6+ hours in winter conditions)
- A willingness to learn and embrace cold-weather challenges
It’s ideal for beginners to intermediate winter walkers and mountaineers looking to gain confidence in the Scottish winter mountains.
📍 Course Details
- Location: Based in Aviemore, Cairngorms
- Duration: 3 days (Saturday start)
- Group Ratio: Max 1:6 instructor-to-client
- Minimum Group Size: 3 people
- Minimum Age: 16+ (under 18s must be accompanied)
- Season: Runs January to March
🧰 What’s Included
We provide technical equipment:
- Ice axe
- Crampons
- Helmet
- Snow shovel & avalanche probe
You will need to bring:
- Sleeping bag, sleeping mat, bivi bag
- Large rucksack (to carry all gear)
👉 See our full Equipment List, Boot Rating Guide, and Crampon Info for more details.
⚠️ Important Notes
Scottish winters are highly unpredictable. For safety, we may adjust course activities based on weather and avalanche conditions. If snow holing isn’t safe, we will camp out instead under expert guidance—still a valuable expedition learning experience.
📅 Book Now for a True Winter Adventure
Our Winter Skills Snow Hole Expedition offers a rare opportunity to push your skills, build confidence in snowy terrain, and sleep in the mountain environment you’ve just learned to navigate. Whether you’re preparing for Alpine mountaineering or just want a unique Scottish mountain experience, this course is unforgettable.
