Beginners Scottish Winter Climbing

Included:

• Guides
• Accommodation (You'll be required to pay a single supplement if there are restrictions in Scotland at the time of your trip)
• All technical equipment
• Safety equipment

Excluded

• All transfers (including to/from the venues each day)
• Food

This trip is aimed at beginners with a good level of fitness. You can expect to be out for up to 8 hours per day in cold Scottish temperatures. This includes ascents of up to 900m and 16 km on average of distance covered. You'll be carrying a rucksack full of your climbing equipment.

None, however, your life may be a little easier if you have worn crampons before and have done some climbing before. But don't worry if you haven't the guides are great at teaching you everything you need to know. 

Clothes

• Thermal base layers top and bottom – polyester or woollen, no cotton 

• Warm fleece Walking trousers – no jeans 

• Spare fleece or synthetic insulating layer 

• Waterproof jacket that you can fit a helmet under the hood. 

• Waterproof trousers

• Warm hat that will fit under a climbing helmet (no bobble)

• Socks and underwear

• 3+ pairs of gloves or mitts

• Stiff walking boots – B2 or B3 rated (the guides can provide these)

• Clothes for the evening at the hotel

Other

• Rucksack (45L or similar)

• Water bottles (2L) 

• Headtorch 

• Ski goggles 

• Map and compass 

• Whistle 

• Walking poles (recommended but not essential) 

• Sunglasses & sun cream

• Mobile phone in a waterproof case

• Toiletries

• Any personal medication or first aid

• Camera (optional)

Your guide will provide

• Helmet

• Harness

• Carabiner and belay device

• Ropes

• Walking boots (better to bring your own)

Please note that it is imperative to bring everything on the kit list. Failure to do so, could result in your guide refusing to take you out into the mountains. There is plenty of opportunities to buy extras from Ellis Brigham’s Outdoor shop in Aviemore if needed.

This is all dependant on how you progress. Your guide will make a judgement call each morning before you head out. Expect to be climbing anything from grade 1 to grade 5. 

You'll be staying in either the Coylumbridge Aviemore Hotel or the High Range Lodge Hotel. The rooms are twin or triple sharing. The hotels have wifi, showers and communal areas. Each room has an en-suite bathroom. 

For those who want their own room, a single supplement is available for £100 for the whole trip. The guide can confirm the exact price when you request it. 

Start: You'll meet your guide at 5 pm Elis Brigham's Outdoor shop in Aviemore, on day 1 of the itinerary.

End: You'll finish at 5 pm Elis Brigham's Outdoor shop in Aviemore, on day 5 of the itinerary. 

Breakfast: included at the hotel each morning.

Lunch: There is a local supermarket where you can purchase food for lunches.

Dinner: There is a restaurant at the hotel. Alternatively, you can head into Aviemore for a traditional pub dinner. 

Absolutely! We often get lots of solo travellers on the trip. 

The minimum age is 18, or 16 if accompanied by an adult

In the mountains, you have to learn to be flexible to get the most out of the weather and conditions, and to be safe. The guides will aim to give you the best time possible and for you to learn lots. The guides work on a 1:2 instructor to client ratio so that you'll get the most of the trip. 

If you require your own room, you can pay a single supplement of £100 for the duration of your trip. You can request this on your Skyhook dashboard and pay your guide directly upon arrival. 

Mountain weather is often very unpredictable, and it is important that you prepare for any eventuality. The Scottish mountains can often bring high winds, rain, snow and Ice. Average temperatures during the winter can range from +3 to -13 degrees celsius, and the wind chill can make it feel even colder. It is important that you read the kit list carefully, and pack everything listed. 

The dates chosen by your guides will give you the highest chance of there being enough snow to practise your winter skills. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to predict, and on rare occasions, there may not be enough snow to learn all the winter skills. Not to worry though, your guide will still ensure that you have a full day of learning mountain skills.  

The First Minister announced that Scotland would be entering a lockdown on 23 March 2020. Under law, the Scottish Government must review that lockdown at least every three weeks, so it's likely that there may be several changes before your trip. Some of these potential changes are as follows:

Hotel

Currently, people from more than one household (or extended household) must not stay in accommodation together while the current restrictions on indoor private gatherings are in place. 

This means, that unless you are travelling with people from your household, you'll be required to pay an additional £69 single supplement charge. This also includes solo travellers and can be paid directly to the guide upon arrival. Please inform your guide of this, immediately after booking when completing your participation form, found on your Skyhook dashboard.

Please note: if you are travelling with at least 1 other member of your household, then this does not currently impact your trip and you will not be required to pay a single supplement.

Transport

People from more than one household (or extended household) must not share transport. This means that you'll be required to make your own to/from the mountain each day. If you do not drive, then there are several options available:

- Bus: the Nevis Ranger costs £4 each way. This option is only available on one of the days of your trip.

- Taxi: the cost of the taxi depends on availability, demand and time of year. You can expect to pay £5 - £20 per trip, one way. 

- Car hire: available from companies such as 'Easy Drive' from Inverness, Glasgow Airport and Fort William.