Ben Nevis Winter Skills Weekender | West Coast Winter Courses

Course Info

Dreaming of climbing Ben Nevis in winter? Ready for the ultimate adventure weekend on the UK’s highest mountain? Our Ben Nevis Winter Weekender is your chance to take on this epic challenge and experience the thrill of winter mountaineering in Scotland!

Dates Dec - Feb

Duration 3 Days

Start Location Fort William

Instructor Ratio 1:6

Book Today £369 P/Person

Join us for an unforgettable Winter Skills & Ben Nevis Weekend, the perfect introduction to winter mountaineering in Scotland. This two-day course is designed to equip you with essential winter skills before tackling the UK’s highest peak, Ben Nevis.

Day 1 – Arrival at accommodation

Arrive at your accommodation in the evening and meet your instructors and your team members.

Day 2 - Winter Skills Day

Our experienced instructors will teach you key techniques for safe winter travel, including using crampons and an ice axe, moving efficiently on snow and ice, and essential navigation skills in winter conditions. You’ll also learn about avalanche awareness and how to stay safe in the mountains.

Day 3 – Ben Nevis Ascent

Put your new skills to the test with a guided ascent of Ben Nevis, experiencing the challenge of a true winter climb. Under expert guidance, you'll navigate icy terrain, apply your winter techniques, and take in breathtaking views from the summit—weather permitting!

Sunset on Ben Nevis

This course is ideal for those new to winter hiking or looking to build confidence in the mountains. With expert tuition and a small group setting, you’ll leave with valuable skills and an incredible winter adventure under your belt.

Navigating Ben Nevis in winter can be extremely difficult, so we strongly advise those with limited winter experience to hire a knowledgeable winter mountain leader. Our instructors will not only help you reach the summit safely but also teach you how to properly use crampons and an ice axe while providing valuable insights into the winter environment.

YOUR ITINERARY

While we try and stick to the tried and tested itinerary below, the weather sometimes forces a change in our plans. We will always remain as flexible as possible to ensure you get the best out of your time with us.

Day 1 – Arrival at accommodation

Arrive at your accommodation in Glen Nevis.

Day 2 - Winter Skills

Your instructors will brief you in the morning before heading out for an epic day learning winter skills including using axe and crampons, navigation skills and what to do in an emergency.

Day 3 - Ben Nevis Summit Day

A winter summit attempt on Ben Nevis - the highest mountain in the UK. This day will be guided by one of our expert team and guarantees an adventure to remember.
If conditions are unsafe for an attempt on Ben Nevis, a suitable alternative will be offered.

Whiteout on Ben Nevis

ACCOMMODATION

Duration 2 Nights
Beds Shared Bunkhouse
Food Self Catering
Internet WIFI

Nestled at the base of Ben Nevis, Glen Nevis Youth Hostel has been welcoming guests for years and is located just 3 miles from the bustling town of Fort William. It’s the perfect base for outdoor enthusiasts, offering easy access to everything from gentle walks to challenging hikes, as well as mountain biking, kayaking, and a range of other adventure sports.

Our accommodation for this event is shared dorms with self-catering facilities and easy access to the walking trails around Ben Nevis.

If you would like to join this event and arrange your own accommodation, please let us know so we can send you our course-only fee.

Various meal options are available, including continental and hearty cooked breakfasts, packed lunches, and evening dinners. These options can be purchased on your arrival.

Course Dates

COURSE DATE DAYS COST LOCATION BOOKING
COURSE DATE 19-12-2025 DAYS3 COST£369.00 LOCATIONFort William - Highlands BOOKING book now
COURSE DATE 30-01-2026 DAYS3 COST£369.00 LOCATIONFort William - Highlands BOOKING book now
COURSE DATE 27-02-2026 DAYS3 COST£369.00 LOCATIONFort William - Highlands BOOKING book now

YOUR ADVENTURE PACKAGE INCLUDES

Below you will find details about what we include in this package. If you have any questions please get in touch.

INCLUDED IN YOUR ADVENTURE

Fully qualified - expert winter leaders
Winter Skills itinerary to help prepare you for the mountains
Top-quality bunkhouse accommodation
Crampon and Axe hire
Self-catering facilities
TMC Winter Skills Guide
TMC Mountain Buff

Google Review

Mountain Training

Matt Cooper

John Lees

Testimonials

I've now been on two courses with The Mountaineering company. Both courses were great, learnt loads and Matt/Sam were brilliant instructors. I would definitely recommend to anyone getting into mountaineering to book onto intro and development courses. I'm looking forward to doing more courses with them in the future. (Google Review)

Alex Heaps

My partner and I booked Matt for two days mountaineering instruction so we could learn how to use ropes on climbs that were out of our comfort zone. We had a fantastic two days and Matts structured approach allowed us to take it all in and practice all the techniques over and over again. We both now feel more confident to take on more adventurous scrambles. Thanks Matt

Andy and karren

Fantastic day on the Back to Basics Navigation course with Matt. Very well organised and learnt a lot. Matt was very professional and great at teaching the skills with lots of patience and encouragement. Really enjoyed it and will definitely be signing up to other courses in future. Highly recommended.

Chontelle Wright

A great day out learning how to use a map and compass with Matt. His teaching style gave us just the right amount of information without feeling overloaded. I would highly recommend Matt !

Chris

Just got back from a fantastic weekend with Matt on the Welsh 3k and couldn't have asked for a better time. We had blue skies and cool air so it wasn't too hot and the views were simply incredible. Matt set a great pace allowing us to push our limits but never going beyond what we were capable of and we finished in 18 hours 32 mins. Hes a top bloke and I would certainly recommend him and The Mountaineering Company to anybody. Thanks again Matt. You will certainly see us again next year no doubt!

Chris Mansell

We attended a navigation course today with Matt. He was fantastic, can’t rate him highly enough! We had no knowledge at all, but have come home feeling confident and ready to tackle our adventure! Thank you Matt for a fabulous, fun day

Claire Black

I thoroughly recommend Matt as a leader & guide. I experienced an exhilarating & fun day with a super group doing Matt's Ogwen Classics day. Matt managed our mixed levels of ability & confidence with a calm, encouraging, alert & purposeful manner. He inspired confidence through recognition of our efforts & shared his knowledge & experience to support our skill development. The day passed all too quickly!

Ferne Davies

Awesome day with Matt teaching my 11yr old son and I the basics of climbing. Very patient and approachable would highly recommend Matt to anyone with an interest in rock climbing. Really fun day enjoyed by all!

Ian Roberts

Wow ! Where do I start, the best walking/climbing day of my life. Matt you were fantastic with all the members of our group. (Google Review)

Johnny Jones

All I can say is amazing!! Never scrambled before Matt looked after us supported us though the scary bits and made the whole day brilliant.

Karen Williams

Had a fantastic weekend with Matt on the mountain skills course - he is really friendly + approachable, and tailored the two days to what we enjoyed + wanted to learn. Would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to build their confidence with mountain hiking + navigation!

Kirsty

Well. What can I say - one of the best adventure weekends my friend and I have ever had and absolutely 10/10 instruction from Matt training us for our first OMM (Google Review)

Luke Whipps

Recently attended an intermediate rock skills course in the Peak District. Really great weekend and excellent fun. Matt is a top bloke; very knowledgeable and just the right amount of laid back. Allows all the information to really sink in - effective teaching!

Matt Pomfrett

Excellent day out with Matt on my first ever Scramble. I found it pretty tough in places but Matt was always there to put me at ease, offer instruction and with his support I made it to the top. Would highly recommend to others.

Polly Hornby