UK Trips

Please arrive by 10:00am on Saturday 2nd March in Fort William.

Fort William has fairly good transport links and there are a various ways to arrive depending on how much time you have and where you are coming from.

Some of the options are

• Drive to Scotland

• Take the train to Inverness and hire a car from there

• Take the Caledonian Sleeper Train directly to Fort William. from £55 each way

Sleeper Train from London Euston

Friday 1st March: 21:15 London Euston → Saturday 2nd March: 10am Fort William

Sunday 2nd March: 19:00 Fort William → Monday 3rd March: 8:00 London Euston

• Fly to Inverness:

There are direct flights from Bristol, Gatwick, Luton, Heathrow and Manchester

From Inverness you can hire a car to get to Fort William or take a bus. If you arrive late, you may have to stay in Inverness one night before travelling to Fort William in the morning.

You can hire a car from Inverness Airport for just over £40 per day.

• Hire a car from Inverness

We would recommend hiring a car for the weekend as once we meet in Fort William you will need to get to the start points of our activities. We have a few spaces in the van but this will be first come first served or you can arrange taxis but it is better if you have your own transport.

If you need any advice on how to reach Fort William, please don’t hesitate to contact us

Please arrive by 10.00am on Saturday 2nd March, exact meeting location tbc. We will have a briefing and kit check, then we will make our way to the start location. You will most likely need your own form of transport (car or taxi) but if you cannot drive, let us know and we may be able to offer a space in the van.

The short answer is yes. We do not have enough spaces in the van to accommodate taking everyone to the hills. It is possible to hire a car from the Inverness airport and in Fort William or book taxis. We will link you up with other participants so you can car share if you prefer.

However, if you cannot drive or need transport once you are in Scotland, please let us know. We have a couple of spaces in the van and potentially a few more but it will depend on participant numbers.

Yes, this course is designed to give you the confidence to enjoy winter hiking and learn how or gain confidence in using crampons. All we require is that you have some experience in summer hillwalking.

The guide ratio on our winter walking trips is 6:1. If we have more than six participants, we will have an extra guide.

We will provide a full kit list once you are booked onto the trip but the main things you will need are:

* Waterproof jacket and trousers

* Insulated synthetic jacket with hood

* Winter Boots

* Gaiters

* Crampons

* Ice Axe

* Helmet

* 40lt rucksack

* Walking poles

Most of these items you can hire from outdoor shops in Fort William if you do not have them or want to wait before purchasing. If you need any advice of what gear to buy or rent, we will be very happy to help.

This is the perfect trip for anyone looking for a great mini adventure this winter. We recommend that you have some summer hill walking experience and that you have a level of fitness that means you can spend two days out in the mountains in winter conditions. If you are unsure whether this is the right trip for you, please get in touch.

If you like the look of this trip but you can’t make the dates work, then our Winter Skills trip on the 17th-18th February would be a great alternative.

Alternatively, get in touch to arrange a private trip on the dates that work for you. If you are a group of family or friends, the price may not be that different.

We recommend that you use B2 or B3 boots for winter hiking. These will take C2 crampons. B1 boots may be too soft or cold for the conditions.

Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions about which boots and crampons you should bring or rent.

There are lots of places in Fort William for a whole range of budgets. It’s worth looking on booking.com and AirBnb to get some ideas and then finding the website or phone number to book directly if possible.

We have listed some suggestions below of places you might want to consider. Let us know if you have any questions.

£:

Fort William Backpackers: from £27.50/night in a dorm

Glen Nevis Youth Hostel: from £24.50/night in a dorm (min stay 2 nights)

Private rooms on AirBnb: from £37/night for single bed (https://shorturl.at/qMNQ9)

Red Squirrel Campsite (30 min drive from Fort William): £15/night

££:

Alexandra Hotel: from £60/night in a single room

Fort William Muthu Hotel: from £50/night in a single room

Nevis Rooms: from £64/night in single room

Highland Stays: from £75/night in double room

£££:

Appin one bed apartment: from £97/night in one bed apartment

Cruachan Hotel: from £107/night in a double room

Nevis Bank Inn: from £75/night in a single room