Introduction to Winter Mountaineering, Scotland

• dates: Fri 12 Mar - Mon 15 Mar 2010
• duration: 3 nights
• adrenaline rating: 3
• fitness rating: 3
• max group size per instructor: 6
• location: Onich show map
• price: from £159.00 pp
• availability: Places Available

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• About the Break
• What's Included?
• Itinerary
• Destination
• Travel
• Reviews

• About the Break

  This course is aimed at the summer hill walker who wants to be out in the hills on those wonderful crispy winter days.

  From our base in the Scottish Highlands this weekend Introduction to Winter Mountaineering course has been specially designed to give you real winter mountain experience in the company of expert instructors. You’ll learn the skills to make the very best of winter months in the mountains, including:

  - using crampons
  - using an ice axe
  - ice axe arrests
  - planning winter walks
  - navigating
  - calculating risk
  - making good decisions
  - understanding winter weather
  - avoiding avalanches

  Our base for the 2010 Winter Season is the Inchree Centre in the picturesque village of Onich, mid way between Ben Nevis and Glen Coe. Inchree offers a combination of self-catering chalets, rooms & hostel accommodation, all complimented by an on-site Pub-Restaurant. The accommodation is purpose-built and offers a high-quality, good-value base. If you prefer non-residential we offer a course-only option. 

  Arrive Friday night, enjoy Saturday and Sunday in the winter hills, and depart Sunday evening or Monday morning.

• What's Included?

  Course Only

  • 2 full days instruction and guiding
  • Fully qualified expert instructors
  • Crampons, Ice axe, helmet
  • First aid cover
  • Digital photos of the course (put on a special website for you to access)
  • 15% Discount Voucher for Cotswold Outdoor

  With Lodge Accommodation:

  All of the above plus:
  
  
  • 3 nights self-catered accommodation at the Inchree Lodge, Onich, near Fort William
  • Transport from the accommodation to each day's venue
  • N.B. Full Board option also available - please contact us for details

• Itinerary & What to Bring

  • Friday

  • Make your way to Fort William, Scotland
  • 7:30pm: Drinks, Welcome briefing, Introductions at the Four Seasons Pub & Restaurant, Inchree Centre, Onich, near Fort William

  • Saturday

  • 8:00am: Meet your instructor at the Centre. Depart for a day in the winter hills
  • 12:30pm: Lunch break
  • 1:15pm: Continue with the day
  • 4:30pm: Return to Centre

  • Sunday

  • 8:00am: Rendez vous with your instructor. Depart for the day's chosen route
  • 12:30pm: Lunch break
  • 4:00pm: Return to Inchree Centre
  • 7.00pm: Evening get together, drinks, dinner, farewells

  • Monday

  • Guests depart

  What should I bring?

  Please remember to bring the following clothing and equipment with you.

  • Boots - quality leather or leather/Gore-Tex combination, must be rigid enough to take a crampon (B2 or B3) - local hire available
  • Lots of warm outdoor wear - fleeces, thermals, leggings etc.
  • Good quality walking socks
  • Waterproof jacket and over trousers
  • Gaiters
  • Warm hat and at least two pairs of gloves or mitts
  • Balaclava
  • Ski goggles
  • Large Day Rucksack for your daily use (35 - 50 litres)
  • Rucksack liner (bin liner)
  • Map, compass & whistle
  • Headtorch with spare battery and spare bulb
  • Survival bag (plastic is fine)
  • Water bottle
  • Flask for hot drinks
  • Emergency food
  • Personal first aid kit

• Destination

  The Fort William and Lochaber area is a fantastic winter playground with some of the most breathtaking mountain scenery in the world including Glencoe, The Mamores, Ben Nevis, and Aonach Mor.
  

  This choice of venues allows us a great deal of flexibility and also the option of mechanical uplift (Gondola or Chairlift) in order to reach the Snow and Ice with the minimum of effort.

  The Inchree Lodge, Inchree, Onich, near Fort William, PH33 6SE

  Our base for the 2010 Winter Season is the Inchree Centre in the picturesque village of Onich, mid way between Ben Nevis and Glen Coe. Inchree offers a combination of self-catering chalets, rooms & hostel accommodation, all complimented by an on-site Pub-Restaurant. The accommodation is purpose-built and offers a high-quality, good-value base.

  You will be allocated someone to share with or you can pay a single supplement for your own room. All of the rooms are well fitted out with plenty of hanging & storage space. All bedrooms have flat-screen TVs with Freeview channels.

  There is a well equipped large kitchen & common area with all facilites - crockery, cookers with ovens & grills, microwave, ample fridge space, toasters, water boiler, etc. Also a freeview TV and DVD player available in kitchen.
  There is an efficient & large drying room with racking, wall heaters & dehumidifier.

  

• Travel

  Fort William is the largest town in the west Highlands of Scotland . The area is well serviced with good rail and road links, and Glasgow and Inverness airports are 98 and 70 miles respectively from Fort William.

  Drive up from central Scotland or Northern England, or fly from London Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton or Bristol to Glasgow or Inverness, followed by a 1 - 11/2 hour drive or a connection by coach or train.

  Alternatively Scotrail operate a train service Fort William, with sleeper services from various cities in England. Contact Scotrail on 08457 48 49 50 or at http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/

  You will be picked up and dropped off every day at the Inchree Lodge, so it is possible you can do without your own transport.

• Reviews

  Just a quick email from Janet and myself to say what a wonderful weekend we both had.You made us feel welcome and very much at ease and although a little stiff this morning at work, it has spurred us on to do more of these activities and hopefully more with yourselves. Many thanks once again.

  Steve and Janet: Winter Walking Weekend for Two

  Thanks for your enthusiasm and patience, I enjoyed the trip thoroughly and learned a heck of a lot. I'll definitely come again and will certainly pass on my recommendation in the future. Until next time.

  Sean: Winter Mountaineering

  I would like to extend my thanks for the time we spent with you up in the mountains last weekend - an amazing amazing weekend..... I really did learn a lot....viva snow, viva ice!

  Olly: Winter Mountaineering

  read more testimonials

• Call: 01248 671 177
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• Snow & Ice
• Hill Walking

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