On November 4, 2026
By Rebecca Field
Andy loves walking in the Scottish mountains in winter. There’s something special about seeing familiar hills transformed by snow, enjoying crisp winter air and looking out across a landscape that can feel completely different from the one you walked through in summer.
But winter walking isn’t simply summer hillwalking with warmer clothes and shorter days. Snow, ice, strong winds and rapidly changing weather bring additional challenges. Routes that are straightforward in summer can become much more demanding, and decisions about where and when to walk become particularly important.
If you enjoy walking in the hills but would rather have someone else take responsibility for planning the route and making decisions in winter conditions, joining a guided walk or winter walking holiday can be a good solution.
So what should you look for in a winter walking guide, and what sort of experience might suit you?
Andy getting excited about snow in the Cairngorms
Why go winter walking with a guide?
There are several reasons why people choose to walk with a guide in winter.
Perhaps you are an experienced summer hillwalker who hasn’t yet developed the confidence or skills to tackle Scottish mountains in winter. You might have some winter experience but prefer to leave the planning and navigation to someone with more local knowledge. Or perhaps you simply enjoy sharing the experience with other people rather than heading out on your own.
Winter conditions introduce a number of challenges:
- Weather: Conditions can change quickly, with strong winds, poor visibility and falling temperatures affecting what is possible.
- Snow and ice: Snow-covered slopes and icy paths can make familiar routes considerably more difficult.
- Navigation: Snow can obscure paths, tracks and other familiar features. Poor visibility makes navigation more demanding.
- Avalanche risk: Snow conditions and the underlying terrain need to be assessed before choosing a route.
- Daylight: Shorter days mean that timing and route planning become particularly important.
A good winter walking guide brings experience of dealing with these conditions. They will assess the weather, snow conditions and the group’s capabilities before deciding where to go.
Importantly, that may mean changing the original plan. The best winter days aren’t necessarily the ones when you reach the summit you had in mind.
What qualifications should your winter walking guide have?
If you are booking a guide to take you into the Scottish mountains in winter, it is worth checking their qualifications and experience.
The Winter Mountain Leader qualification is designed for experienced mountain leaders who want to lead groups in mountainous terrain in UK winter conditions. It covers the skills needed to manage groups, including navigation, snow and avalanche awareness, movement on steep ground and winter decision-making.
Other qualifications include:
- Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor: Covers instruction in mountaineering and climbing, including technical skills.
- British Mountain Guide: A professional qualification for guiding and instructing in mountaineering and climbing environments, including more technical mountain terrain.
The appropriate qualification depends on the type of activity you are booking. For ordinary winter hillwalking, look for a guide qualified and experienced to lead groups in winter mountain conditions.
Qualifications are important, but so is experience. Familiarity with the local mountains, an understanding of changing weather and snow conditions, and the ability to make sensible decisions are all part of good winter guiding.
You can find out more about the different qualifications through Mountain Training.
Would you prefer a guided walk or a winter skills course?
These are two quite different experiences, although both can help you enjoy winter in the Scottish mountains.
A winter skills course is for people who want to develop their own ability to travel safely in winter conditions. You’ll learn how to use an ice axe and crampons, move efficiently over snow, assess conditions and develop your winter navigation skills.
A two-day course is a useful introduction, while a longer course allows more time to practise and develop your skills.
A guided winter walking holiday is a different proposition. Rather than spending your time learning technical skills, you can concentrate on enjoying the mountains while your guide takes responsibility for choosing appropriate routes and managing the day’s plans.
You will still learn a great deal simply by spending time with an experienced guide and seeing how they approach different conditions.
Neither option is necessarily better than the other. It depends on whether your aim is to become more independent in the winter mountains or simply to enjoy some memorable days walking with an experienced leader.
Can’t beat these views! New Year Winter Walking 2022 – 2023
What sort of winter walking holiday would suit you?
Not everyone wants the same thing from a winter walking holiday. Some people are keen to tackle Munros and challenging mountain routes, while others would rather enjoy shorter days, perhaps with the occasional summit when conditions allow.
There are also differences in the amount of experience and fitness needed.
At Scot Mountain Holidays, we run several different types of winter walking holiday in the Scottish Highlands.
Our Classic Winter Cairngorms week is based at Fraoch Lodge in Boat of Garten. It offers a varied programme of winter mountain walking in the Cairngorms, with routes chosen according to the prevailing conditions and the group’s interests and abilities.
For those who enjoy being out in the hills but don’t necessarily want a full week of demanding mountain days, Winter Gentle Giants offers a shorter introduction to winter walking, based around the Cairngorms.
Winter Munros
If you have more experience and are keen to tackle some of Scotland’s higher summits, our Winter Munros programme offers a more challenging week in the mountains.
A chance to spend the New Year in the Highlands, enjoying winter walks and the company of a small group.
We also run more specialised winter expeditions for those looking for something different, including snowhole experiences and winter journeys into more remote parts of the Highlands.
The important thing is to choose a holiday that matches your experience and expectations. You don’t need to be an experienced winter mountaineer to enjoy a guided winter walking holiday, but you do need to be comfortable with the physical demands of walking in potentially challenging conditions.
All kinds of natural sculptures appear in the hills during winter
Why walk with Scot Mountain Holidays?
One of the advantages of joining a small guided group is that you get to know the people you are walking with, rather than simply joining a large organised party.
Scot Mountain Holidays is an owner-led business. Andy has spent more than 25 years exploring and guiding in the Scottish Highlands. His knowledge of the mountains and local conditions helps him choose routes that make the most of whatever winter weather brings.
We don’t work to a rigid itinerary where reaching a particular summit is the only measure of success. The weather, snow conditions and the group’s interests all influence where we go.
Some days that might mean heading for a high summit. On others, a lower-level route or a different part of the Highlands will offer a much better day out.
We also keep our groups small. We think this makes a real difference in the mountains, where flexibility and the ability to respond to changing conditions are important.
Would you prefer a private winter walking guide?
Perhaps you already have a group of friends or family who enjoy walking together but would like the reassurance of an experienced winter guide.
We can also arrange private guiding for individuals and small groups. This gives you more flexibility over the dates, location and type of walking you want to do.
It can be a particularly good option if you have a specific mountain or area in mind, or if you want to build your winter walking experience with a guide who knows the local hills.
Striding out across the plateau, Cairngorms (New Year Winter Walking 2022 – 2023)
Find your winter walking experience
Whether you want to develop your winter skills, tackle some challenging mountain routes or simply enjoy walking in the snow with a knowledgeable guide, there are plenty of ways to experience the Scottish Highlands in winter.
Take a look at our winter walking holidays or get in touch if you’d like to discuss private guiding or which trip might suit you.
We’d be happy to help you find the right way to enjoy the Scottish mountains in winter.
