Winter Climbing

You can experience the magic of the mountains and enjoy the best of the weather with our flexible schedule, so come ready for stunning sunrises, scenic sunsets, shining stars and the magical moon.

Intro to Winter Climbing – Grade III+

• Ratio: 2 clients to 1 instructor
• Holiday: £895 per person
• Course: £995 per person

Advanced Winter Climbing – Grade IV+

• Ratio: 2 clients to 1 instructor
• Holiday: £895 per person
• Course: £995 per person

If you want a guided mountaineering week in the wonderful Scottish winter, with fun times, relaxing evenings, great company, magical mountain adventures and a friendly guide too, the holidays are for you.

If you want to develop your skills, build your competence and grow in confidence to enjoy your own mountain adventures, with professional coaching throughout and evening workshops too, book onto a course.

“Thanks again for a fantastic week. Both the climbing and the company were top notch.”

Tomas

How to book:

Call 0300 030 1045 or email winter@mountainmagic.org to ask any questions, find out more and book your place. We’re looking forward to enjoying the Scottish Highlands with you this winter!

Dates:

11th – 18th January

25th January – 1st February

8th – 15th February

22nd – 29th February

7th – 14th March

21st – 28th March

Transport

Take the train to Glasgow, followed by a bus to Glencoe, and we’ll pick you up in the village. There’s also parking space if you decide to drive and we can team you up with other clients for a car-share.

“A great set up. They really pushed the boat out to accommodate our needs. Recomended.”

Sam

Instructors

We are all professional members of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors and we all love our work. Friendly guides, patient instructors and experienced coaches, we love to see you enjoying the mountains and developing into competent winter mountaineers.

Group

Only two clients to one instructor on both the course and the holiday, so you can make the most of your adventure time on a holiday, and maximise your learning time with 1:1 coaching on a course.

Skills

Here are the skills we will focus on for your learning and development during a course:

• Selecting the right winter clothing and equipment for your comfort and safety.
• Using avalanche reports, weather forecasts and timing to plan your day well.
• Understanding how snow pack forms and changes to assess avalanche risk.
• Accurately navigating to the start of your route with efficiency and speed.
• Travelling safely on steep snow when approaching and exiting your climb.
• Moving in balance on steep ice, rock and snow with two axes and crampons.
• Building safe anchors in ice, rock and snow for protection, belays and abseils.
• Slick rope work and belay changeovers to save time and prevent problems.

Ability

You can carry a full 30-40L rucksack and walk for up to 8 hours on mountainous terrain. Some prior experience of rock climbing and/or winter walking is useful.

“A fantastic week. Great company, great climbs and great instruction.”

Steve

Arrival

Arrive at 6pm on Saturday evening, in time for dinner at 7pm. Departure is after breakfast the following Saturday.

Daytime

We leave at 8am and return by 6pm or we make the most of the weather: starting with the stars and catching the sunrise or seeing the sunset and finishing with the moon. You can progress onto harder climbs through the week and you can follow the best of the climbing conditions with a rest day mid-week, giving you more energy to maximise your time in the latter part of your week.

The most likely venues you’ll climb in are Glen Coe, Beinn Udlaih, The Bridge Of Orchy, Ben Nevis, Aonach Mor, Creag Meagaidh and The Cairngorms. Here are 20 of the classic routes within just 45 minutes’ drive of our chalet:

• Curved Ridge II/III, Buachaille Etive Mor
• Crowberry Gully III/IV, Buachaille Etive Mor
• North Buttress IV, Buachaille Etive Mor
• Raven’s Gully V, Buachaille Etive Mor
• Twisting Gully III, Stob Coire nan Lochan
• SC Gully III, Stob Coire nan Lochan
• Raeburn’s Route IV, Stob Coire nan Lochan
• Crypt Route V, Bidean nam Bian
• Deep Cut Chimney IV, Stob Coire nam Beith
• Aonach Eagach II/III, Glen Coe
• North East Buttress IV, Ben Nevis
• Orion Face Direct V, Ben Nevis
• Zero Gully V, Ben Nevis
• Observatory Ridge IV, Ben Nevis
• Hadrian’s Wall Direct V, Ben Nevis
• Point Five Gully V, Ben Nevis
• Smith’s Route V, Ben Nevis
• Tower Ridge IV, Ben Nevis
• Comb Gully IV, Ben Nevis
• Green Gully IV, Ben Nevis

“I loved the week and got a lot from it. Ali was great fun and good to climb with too! “

Sharna

Chalet

Our warm and comfortable eco-chalets are situated right in the heart of Glencoe, tucked away in the forest, next to the river and a short walk from the fabulous Clachaig Inn. They each have three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a cosy dining area, under-floor heating, a drying room and wi-fi. They’re also run by two lovely people, Keren and Rob, who enjoy mountain adventures and understand why we’re in Glen Coe.

Evenings

Bringing a group of people together is one of the most enjoyable aspects of our winter courses and holidays. Clients often leave as good friends and get together for their own adventures afterwards. We cook and eat together in the evenings, so help in the kitchen is much appreciated. Aside from banter and trips to the pub, there are documentaries to watch, an extensive library and maps galore.

Workshops

If you’re on a course, there’s an informative workshop every evening too. After dinner, we check the Met Office and MWIS weather forecasts, and the detailed SAIS avalanche report before helping you to plan for your next day. Developing your avalanche awareness, map reading and safe planning skills are a key part of this invaluable time. It’s estimated that 90% of what keeps you safe happens before you step outside.

“Thanks again for such an amazing and inspiring week!”

Tom

Food

We love healthy, nutritious and tasty food, that’s prepared with love and ideal for mountain days too. Meals are sourced as ethically and locally as possible, with quality ingredients and tailored to your needs with vegetarian and vegan options. We want you to enjoy your food, so please tell us if there’s anything you’d like and we’ll get it for you.

Breakfast

Scrambled eggs with chilli, slow-cooked spinach with olive oil and garlic, baked tomatoes with balsamic vinegar, Kalamata olives and wholemeal or rye bread toast with butter. Creamy coconut porridge is also available with banana, cinnamon, honey, nuts, seeds and dried fruit. Quality coffee and a wide range of teas are available too.

Lunch

Sandwiches with any fillings of your choice, hard-boiled eggs, oatcakes, apples, bananas, oranges, dark treacle flapjack, a trail mix of nuts, seeds and dried fruit, chocolate and anything else you would like… just tell us about your favourite mountain munchies and we’ll make sure you have them. We leave you to put your own packed lunch together so it’s just the way you like it.

Dinner

One of these evening meals will be served each day;

• Baked salmon or nut roast. Served with steamed broccoli and a sweet potato and carrot mash.
• Spinach, chickpea, carrot, cauliflower and creamed coconut curry. Served with wholemeal rice.
• Free-range, organic chicken or smoked tofu and spicy vegetable stir-fry. Served with egg noodles.
• Meat or vegetarian haggis and gravy. Served with steamed broccoli and a parsnip and swede mash.
• Scottish lamb and root vegetable stew with swede, parsnip, herbs and curly kale. Served with bread.
• Smoked mackerel or egg-fried wholemeal rice with peppers, garlic, chilli, lemon, ginger and marjoram.
• Three bean vegetable and cacao chilli burritos. Served with a spicy salsa, sour cream and guacamole.
• Rich and saucy Scottish beef or Portobello mushroom spaghetti Bolognese. Served with a green salad.

“I was really impressed with our instructor. I learned a great deal and had a great time.”

Michael

Equipment

Ice axes, crampons, a harness and a helmet are all included in the price of your course. You will need to bring or hire your own winter mountain boots, plus waterproofs, warm clothing, a head torch and a rucksack. If you’re on a course, please bring a map, a map case and a compass to make the most of the navigation opportunities.

Kit List

• Lightweight Base Layers – Synthetic or wool for wicking sweat and moisture away from your skin.
• Warm Mid Layers – One thin and one thick. Made from fleece, synthetic fibres or wool. No cotton.
• Waterproof Jacket & Trousers – Also windproof with a good hood to close around your face in a storm.
• Warm Hat & Balaclava – You need to cover your head and your face in a blizzard. A ‘Buff’ is great too.
• Warm Gloves or Mittens – Hand protection must be very warm and windproof. Thin liners are also good.
• Warm Walking Socks – Thick, comfortable, with space for your toes to wiggle in your boots and no cotton.
• B3 Mountain Boots – Comfortable fit, well insulated for winter, waterproof and compatible with crampons.
• Gaiters – These prevent deep snow and water from getting inside your boots. Well worth it in winter.
• 30-40 Litre Rucksack – With room for all your kit, fits your back well and feels comfortable when full.
• Waterproof Rucksack Liner – A robust waterproof bag that will last. Rubble sacks are OK. Not bin liners!
• Sunglasses – To protect your eyes in bright sunlight on highly reflective snow. Essential on sunny days.
• Cheap Ski Goggles – To help you see in blinding blizzards that blow sharp snow crystals into your face.
• Water Bottle – At least one litre, leak proof and easy to use with gloves on. Hydration tubes will freeze up.
• Hot Flask – Not essential but very welcome on cold winter days and useful to increase your fluid intake.
• Head Torch – To enable you to see in the dark and still have your hands free for safe movement skills.
• Spare Batteries or Spare Head Torch – Running out of battery power is a problem that slows everyone.
• Map, Map Case & Compass – Please bring OS Explorer 384, OS Explorer 392, and a Silva compass.
• Walking Poles – Not essential but highly recommended and very helpful when walking in snow.
• Waterproof Protective Phone Case / Bag – Essential if you want your phone to survive a soaking.
• Personal First Aid Kit – Just a small one with items like a blister kit, plasters and cleansing wipes.
• Blizzard Bag – a brilliant bit of emergency kit and so much better than an orange, plastic ‘survival’ bag.
• Suncream – Sunburn does occur in the Scottish winter. Sometimes it can feel like the Alps in summer!

“Not a minute wasted with Paul as the long approach to the climb was spent learning avalanche awareness and navigation basics. What a spot on approach to learning Scottish winter climbing.”

Zibi