Winter Skills Gold Residential 2027

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Experiencing the Scottish mountains in Winter is an amazing experience. The snow-covered mountains and winter light are really beautiful, and it can be really good fun yet challenging moving through the ice and snow-covered landscape.

Event Features

  • Five-day residential based at a Lodge at Badaguish Outdoor Centre, Aviemore, Scotland
  • Accommodation available (at no extra cost) on Friday 12 Feb 2027, at the Lodge, on the night before the residential starts
  • Learn Winter Skills
  • Explore the Cairngorms, the largest mountain range in Britain
  • Full board accommodation, all meals included
  • Specialist winter equipment included, like Winter boots, ice axe, crampons
  • Max 12 participants
  • Minibus transport from Aviemore train station or bus station
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Trip Overview

5 days
12 participants
4-6 miles, about 6 hours a day
Moderate challenging
£595

Trip Dates

13 Feb - 17 Feb AVAILABLE

About The Residential

The residential will introduce participants to winter hillwalking skills, including:

Each day we will go up into the mountains to practice skills and explore the mountains. In the evening, there will be more learning and activities: slide shows, planning and studying the weather for the following day.

Read about the 2025 residential here. 

Day by Day Itinerary

DAY 1 - Introduction to Snowcraft

Badaguish, near Aviemore
  • Pick up from Aviemore bus or train station on Saturday, 13 Feb 2026
  • Meet up at our Lodge at Badaguish Outdoor Centre at 10 am
  • Issue of Winter boots, crampons, ice axe and other kit
  • Minibus transport to Cairngorm Mountain
  • Outdoor session on winter footwork and avalanche awareness.
  • Evening session on winter weather and hazards.

Day 1 Photos

More Winter Skills

Northern Cairngorms
  • Navigation Skills
  • Avalanche awareness – Key observations to be made on the journey and at key places (group, landscape and snow conditions)
  • Cutting steps with an ice axe
  • Crampon skills – moving on steep ground, ascending and descending
  • Ice axe skills – self arrest

Evening session on cold weather injuries and snow shelters.

Day 2 Photos

Snow Shelters and Ropework Skills

Northern Cairngorms
  • Identifying sites for snow shelters
  • Shovel and avalanche probe use
  • Constructing an emergency shelter
  • Making a group snow hole
  • Use of bothy bags
  • Winter Ropework skills: how to make a snow anchor, belay, and abseil from a snow bollard

Evening session on planning a winter hill day appropriate to the group and conditions.

Day 3 Photos

Mountain Journey

Northern Cairngorms
  • A day journeying through the Cairngorm mountains; summitting peaks, journeying on the plateau, exploring coiries.

Evening task to come up with winter games to play on our ‘Winter Olympics’, on the last day. Sliding, snow sculptures, snowball throwing!!

Day 4 Photos

Winter Olympics

Northern Cairngorms

Competitive team games – ‘Winter Olympics’. Who can build the best snow sculpture, make the biggest snow shelter, slide the furthest etc!!

Debrief and finish mid-afternoon on Wednesday, 17 February 2027. Transport to Aviemore bus and train station.

Day 5 Photos

Accommodation

The residential will be based near Aviemore, at Badaguish Outdoor Centre. Accommodation is in one of the on-site Forest Lodges, comprising a mixture of 2-4 person rooms, you will be sharing with other participants on the course. Breakfast, packed lunches and evening meals are provided as part of the cost of the residential; you will be asked to assist with cooking or clearing up. 

Transport

  • Pick up and drop off at Aviemore train or bus station is provided.
  • Meeting point: Badaguish Outdoor Centre, Glenmore, Aviemore PH22 1AD at 10am on Sat 13th Feb 2027
  • Accommodation at Badaguish on Friday 12 Feb included, for participants who want arrive hte night before
  • https://maps.app.goo.gl/epAGKLER7kXkZkKu7

 

 

Kit and Equipment

We will provide you with the following:

  • Ice axe and crampons
  • Winter boots
  • Ski poles
  • Shovel and avalanche probe
  • Map case
  • Gaiters
  • Rucksack liner

Please bring the following items of kit (for more info see this blog):

  • Waterproof jacket and trousers (or salopettes)
  • Hat, balaclava, neck buff
  • Two pairs of warm gloves (ski glove type). Mittens are a good idea too.
  • Thermal leggings/trousers. Merino wool or Fleece. Polyester (gym-type) leggings are not warm enough!
  • Thermal base long-sleeve top (merino wool) and two thermal jumpers/tops (fleece for example. No hoodies). Your second thermal jumper/top could be a down or synthetic down jacket.
  • 40-litre rucksack
  • Water bottle
  • Ski Goggles
  • Flask (500ml is fine)
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun cream
  • Spare clothes for the hostel (T-shirts, jeans, hoodies etc)
  • Towel and toiletries.

Gallery