Winter Skills — Aviemore

Winter Skills — Aviemore

Winter mountaineering skills in Aviemore. Ice axe. Crampons. The skills that open the mountains in winter.

Feb 18–22, 2027 · Aviemore, Scotland

Winter Skills — Aviemore — photo 1
Winter Skills — Aviemore — photo 2
Winter Skills — Aviemore — photo 3
Winter Skills — Aviemore — photo 4
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Winter Skills — Aviemore — photo 6
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Winter Skills — Aviemore — photo 9
Winter Skills — Aviemore — photo 10

About this trip

The Scottish Highlands in winter are a different mountain range to the one you walked in summer. Snow-covered ridges, ice-glazed gullies, routes that go from a straightforward walk to something that demands real skill. This is the version of Scotland people who take mountains seriously talk about — and you can't get there without an ice axe and a pair of crampons.

This isn't really a three-day course. It's the entry ticket. Ice axe arrest, crampon technique, movement on steep snow, reading avalanche risk — these are the exact skills behind a bigger Scottish winter round, an Alpine season, or further-flung ranges. Most people who end up mountaineering somewhere spectacular started on a course just like this one. Same skillset, bigger mountain.

Aviemore is the closest thing Scotland has to an Alpine resort — a proper mountain village with a genuinely good pub scene and a town full of people who spend their weekends exactly like you're about to spend yours. Three evenings among people who get it, not just three days on the hill.

Arrive Thursday, three days on the hill Friday to Sunday, and stay through to Monday morning if you want to make the most of the trip rather than rushing home Sunday night.

Highlights

  • Three days of instruction in Aviemore — real Scottish winter conditions
  • The same core skills behind bigger Scottish winter rounds, Alpine seasons, and further-flung expeditions
  • Ice axe arrest and crampon technique — the non-negotiable skills for Scottish winter mountaineering
  • Self-arrest, movement on steep snow, basic avalanche awareness
  • Based in Aviemore — the closest thing Scotland has to an Alpine village, pubs and all
  • Qualified instructor throughout

Itinerary

Travel to Aviemore. Check into our rooms at Aviemore Youth Hostel. Kit check with your instructor. Evening briefing — the plan for the three days, what to expect, group introductions.

What's included

  • Three days of instruction
  • Accommodation in our rooms at Aviemore Youth Hostel
  • Breakfast and lunch on all activity days (self-prepared — we stock up on sandwich ingredients as a group)
  • A pair of gloves to keep
  • Transport to and from the mountain each day
  • Use of technical kit — helmet, harness, ice axe and crampons

Not included

  • Travel to Aviemore
  • Winter boots — hire locally from Ellis Brigham in Aviemore. Book early, sizes and stock go fast in peak season
  • Evening meals
  • Personal travel insurance — required
Already got the basics? — photo 1
Already got the basics? — photo 2

Also available this weekend

Already got the basics?

Ropework, steeper ground, and a winter mountaineering objective — for those who've already got the winter basics and want to step up. Same base, same dates.

£669early bird · £745 after 3 Oct

Just 4 spaces · £200 deposit on booking

View Mountaineering →

Good to know

  • £640 per person — or £579 if you book by 3rd October. £200 deposit to hold your place, balance due 60 days before.
  • Small group size, fixed by the instructor ratio. Book early.
  • Required personal kit: waterproof mountain boots (hire from Ellis Brigham in Aviemore — book early), full waterproofs and layering system. Ice axe, crampons, helmet and harness are provided. Full kit list sent on booking.

Physical requirements

You need good hillwalking fitness — comfortable walking 6–8 hours in challenging conditions. No prior winter mountaineering experience required; that's what the course is for. You should have done some hill walking and be comfortable with steep ground and variable weather. A good aerobic base and experience of the fells will mean you get more from the instruction.

Meeting point

Aviemore Youth Hostel, Aviemore. Full joining instructions sent on booking.

A note from Freddie

Scottish winter mountaineering opens a completely different world in the mountains. The same summits you've walked in summer become serious objectives — and the skills to do them safely are not complicated, but they do need to be learned in the right environment. If you want to develop as a mountaineer, this is the course. — Freddie, Founder of Jove Club

Freddie, Founder of Jove Club

Freddie Sankey

Founder, Jove Club

Price per person

£640

Reserve with £200 deposit (non-refundable) · balance due 60 days before

Early bird — £579

Book and pay deposit before 3 October 2027

Dates

Feb 18–22, 2027

Duration

4 days

Difficulty

Intermediate

Location

AVIEMORE

Book your place

No pitch, no pressure — the trips speak for themselves.

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Advance notice on new trips and events — and the best place to meet the people you'll be going with.

Led by qualified and vetted outdoor leaders
Small groups — never crowded
Full pre-trip support and kit guidance
Cancel or defer up to 60 days before

£640

Early bird: £579

Book your place

Google Reviews

What they said
when they got home.

5.0· 26 reviews on Google

After taking on the Welsh 3000s challenge with Jove Club I can highly recommend Freddie and his team! Having someone you can trust to guide you through a challenge like this is so incredibly valuable (especially when the Welsh weather isn't on your side). The team of Mountain Leaders and support team that Jove Club put together were fantastic. Even as the weather turned savage they kept spirits high. It was great to be with like-minded individuals for the weekend. Thank you team Jove 🏔

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Michelle Clarke

6 days ago

I was nervous about taking on the Welsh 3000s challenge. I was right to be nervous. It turned out to be the most incredible experience I've ever had! Principally because of the supreme organisation of Freddie, Fran and the Jove Club, who instructed, supported, encouraged, fed, guided and protected me for the entire gruelling 51km, up and down the Welsh peaks in gale force winds, horizontal rain, no visibility and the dark. I loved every minute of it. I could not have completed this as a group of friends on our own. Freddie's skilled navigation (in the dark), mountain expertise, and clear leadership ability made this terrifyingly enjoyable. What hurts most are my cheeks from smiling for 21hrs. I didn't realise I could complete this challenge. What the Jove Club has showed me is I'm actually made of stronger stuff than I thought. Drying out my boots for next year!

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Willow Dawes

6 days ago

I did the Welsh 3000s challenge with Jove Club and absolutely loved it!! Freddie and the team organised everything so well and it was brilliant to be amongst friendly, adventurous people looking to push their limits. I really enjoyed doing something genuinely testing, with the weather, distance and elevation all playing their parts, and at the same time being part of a really supportive group with Jove giving a real sense of confidence and positivity. Jove Club offers loads of different activities and adventures, I'll definitely be signing up for another one soon. Thanks Freddie, Fran, the Mountain Leaders and all those on the challenge 🏔

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James Morgan

6 days ago

I had the best time on the Jove weekend trip to the Peaks. Got there and they helped set up my new tent — very friendly from the off. Zero judgement across the weekend for anything. It was about learning the skills needed to thrive outdoors, without any of the judgement you get with some providers. It gave me my confidence back outdoors, and I've booked onto my next trip already.

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Leah Brunskill

2 weeks ago

Jove are fantastic. I've been going to their weekly strength sessions at Battersea park for a couple of months now and I've felt my confidence and strength for mountaineering and trail running come on in leaps and bounds. Their trips are incredibly good fun and genuinely valuable. Can't recommend highly enough — wish I'd joined sooner!

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Alex White

3 weeks ago

Enjoyed a wonderful weekend of hiking, camping, trail running, navigation & fitness sessions (and some cracking pubs, pie & pizzas!) in the Peak District with a group of wonderful people. We all had different levels of previous outdoor experience & all were catered for. Thanks to Freddie & the Jove club team for leading us safely & challenging us.

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Claire

3 weeks ago

I joined a Jove Weekender Trip to the Peak District for the weekend and had an amazing time! Freddie & the team were very welcoming and knowledgeable and it really gave me confidence to try and do more hiking in the future! I'll definitely be joining for some of the London sessions and hopefully a future trip. Would thoroughly recommend!!

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Bryony Kirby

3 weeks ago

Joined Jove Club for an amazing trip to the Cairngorms to learn winter mountaineering skills! Small group of adventurous people, everyone was super supportive and keen to learn. Perfect weekend spent outdoors!

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Lizzie

2 months ago

Huge shout out to Freddie for sorting out the winter skills training in the Cairngorms. We had an extremely knowledgeable instructor who took us through everything we needed to know about Scottish winter! I had a great weekend away and the group really topped it off as a stand out trip. Would also highly recommend the weekly social bouldering sessions in London.

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Tom Roberts

2 months ago

I could not recommend Jove Club enough for anyone who wants to get outside, explore the country and test their physical and mental limits. I've done things in the past year I would never have done myself, with an amazing group of driven, friendly and kind people — and it's been an absolute blast.

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Richard Scothern

4 months ago

I had such a great time on the Peak District climbing trip! Having joined for their London bouldering sessions for a couple of months, it was great to put my new skills to use outside. We had an amazing instructor who made me feel so at ease. The group was great fun — everybody was so positive and supportive of each other. Can't wait to join more trips next year!

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Emily Elizabeth

4 months ago

I did the Welsh 3000s challenge with Jove Club in July and it was unreal. Freddie is a fantastic leader — he makes everyone feel comfortable and welcome. Looking forward to my next Jove Club adventure!

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Emily

8 months ago

Before Jove, I never really thought of myself as a runner. But within weeks of joining, I was running 5Ks, then 10Ks. My first proper test was our Brecon trek — two days, 35km, 1,300m of elevation. It was brutal, but it was also the moment I realised how much the people around you shape the experience. Jove isn't just about getting fitter — it's about pushing your limits in a way that actually feels fun.

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Vevek Shah

8 months ago

I love Jove Club. On paper, I had everything I needed to be happy, but it wasn't until I joined Jove that I realised something was missing — adventure! It's so easy in London to get stuck in a rut. Jove gets me out of the house with like-minded people and gives me things I didn't even realise I was missing. Join, you won't regret it.

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Christopher Sykes-Popham

1 year ago

I went on the Peak District Climbing adventure not knowing any of the group but felt immediately welcomed by everyone. The group was very supportive given my lack of any prior climbing experience and definitely pushed my limits. The trip itself was extremely well organised — everything was covered from food and instructors to what gear to bring. Immediately came home and booked myself on another adventure!

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Olly

1 year ago

I had an absolutely incredible experience on a walking adventure weekend with Jove Club! From start to finish, everything was brilliantly organised. Freddie's enthusiasm and leadership created such a positive, welcoming atmosphere — making the weekend about more than just the hike. If you're looking for a well-organised, exciting outdoor experience with great company, I can't recommend Jove Club enough.

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Henry Lort-Jones

1 year ago

Can't express enough how glad I am that Freddie has created Jove Club! The recent Brecon trip was epic — a tough challenge that we all pushed through. In only a couple of months I've made significant strides towards my fitness goals. The regular adventure challenges add purpose to the training in London and the people in the club are top quality.

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Harry Webb

1 year ago

The Peak District climbing weekend was meticulously planned by Freddie and Jove Club. I felt a massive sense of achievement on the Sunday afternoon walking off the crag. If you are considering a weekend away with like minded people to push yourself beyond your comfort zone then I wouldn't hesitate recommending Jove Club.

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Connor Herrington

1 year ago

The mix of classes — in particular the run and fitness sessions outdoors — is absolutely amazing and unlike anything else I've found in London. The sessions are inclusive of mixed ability but with enough challenge for everyone. Really look forward to putting my fitness to the test during one of the trail runs and adventure trips!

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Francesca Richards

1 year ago

Joining Jove is the best thing I've done for my fitness and health this year. Anyone looking to get fit, get outdoors and meet great people — this is where it's at. In just a few months I've met some great people, built confidence, and lost 3kg whilst getting stronger and running faster.

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Joseph McEachron

1 year ago

Jove is the missing piece of London life. Such a welcoming and friendly club with a fantastic range of activities. Everything geared towards adventure trips is such a great way to train and get fit with a proper functional goal. The Peak District climbing weekend was fantastically well organised — can't wait to do another.

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Tom Frew

1 year ago

I've had a great time with Jove — it's got a great mix of challenging and fun activities. The Peak District climbing trip was super well organised, great instruction provided, and a great way to get out of London for a weekend and learn some new skills.

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Vito Tomasi

1 year ago

The Jove Club climbing weekend in the Peak District was a fantastic experience, filled with great routes and even better company. Everyone from beginners to seasoned climbers felt included and challenged. A brilliantly run weekend that captured the spirit of adventure.

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John Cain

1 year ago

Great sessions which are well planned and adaptable to fitness levels. Welcoming atmosphere at meets and easy to use site for booking.

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Calvin Freese

1 year ago

I have attended fitness and climb sessions and would really recommend Jove. Accessible and tailored to your fitness but with plenty of challenge and very social!

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sioned press

1 year ago

Attended a session last week — great and welcoming atmosphere, the PT was very knowledgeable and provided alternative exercises. Will be back!

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Elin Wilde

1 year ago