AVIEMORE HIKING FIELD GUIDE
Winter Mountain Skills — Two Days of Ice‑axe, Crampon and Avalanche Essentials in Aviemore
A focused 2-day Winter Skills course that teaches ice-axe and crampon use, winter navigation and avalanche awareness to make you an independent winter mountaineer.
Winter Mountain Skills — Two Days of Ice‑axe, Crampon and Avalanche Essentials in Aviemore.
This two-day Winter Skills course in Aviemore introduces the core techniques of winter mountaineering: selecting and organising kit, moving safely on snow with ice axes and crampons, winter navigation, and developing avalanche and weather awareness so you can travel the UK’s mountains confidently in winter.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Practical winter movement: ice axes, crampons and self‑arrest
Hands‑on coaching covers kicking steps, walking with an ice axe, self‑belay, cutting steps, self‑arrest and using crampons on ascent and descent so you leave confident moving on snow and ice.
Avalanche and weather literacy
The course includes avalanche awareness and weather interpretation plus emergency procedures, equipping you to make safer route and venue choices in winter conditions.
Short, immersive learning designed for beginners and refreshers
A two‑day, flexible itinerary adapts to conditions and group aims, providing a compact progression from kit selection through core techniques to independent winter travel skills.
What the day feels like
What the course feels like
Expect focused, practical days spent alternating short classroom or sheltered briefings with repeated on-snow practice. Instructors guide kit selection and demonstrate movement techniques before you practise kicking steps, applying crampons and rehearsing self‑arrest and emergency procedures under real winter conditions.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this course suits — and who it doesn’t.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Bring winter mountaineering boots (crampon compatible), waterproof jacket and trousers, warm layered clothing (no cotton), wool socks, base layer, gloves (plus spares), lightweight fleece, warm hat (plus spare), spare fleece/top, synthetic quick‑dry trousers, lunch, snacks and drinks. If you own them, bring your own ice axe and crampons.
Included: experienced & qualified AMI guide, ice axe, crampons and helmet. Not included: winter mountaineering boots, waterproof jacket and trousers, warm clothing, lunch, accommodation and transport.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the course?
The Winter Skills course runs for 2 days.
How many hours and how much ground do we cover each day?
Typical mountaineering time is 6–7 hours per day with about 8–10 km covered per day, though specifics vary with conditions and group aims.
What is included in the course fee?
The course includes an experienced and qualified AMI guide, ice axe, crampons and helmet.
What is not provided?
Participants must provide winter mountaineering boots (crampon compatible), waterproof jacket and trousers and their own warm clothing; lunch, accommodation and transport are not included.
Who is the course suitable for?
Designed for people with little or no previous winter mountaineering experience and for those seeking a refresher; minimum age is 16.
What if I already have my own ice axe and crampons?
If you have your own ice axe and crampons you are encouraged to bring them; the operator also supplies ice axes and crampons as part of the course.