Winter Climbs

Winter Climbs Synopsis

Ben Nevis and Glen Coe are among the most celebrated winter climbing destinations in the world, offering routes from straightforward Grade I snow gullies and ridges to some of the hardest traditional winter climbs ever attempted. From the classic lines of Point Five Gully, Tower Ridge and the SC Route to the extreme test pieces of the Minus and Orion faces, Ben Nevis and Glen Coe provide a lifetime of winter climbing inspiration across every grade and style.

Now in its eighth edition, this trusted two-volume Cicerone guidebook covers more than 500 selected winter climbs in and around Ben Nevis and Glen Coe. It is the first guide to categorise every climb by style and to describe in detail how each route forms, helping climbers choose the best objective for the prevailing weather, snow and climbing conditions on the day. Covering hundreds of the finest snow, ice and mixed routes across Ben Nevis, Glen Coe and the surrounding areas, it spans everything from straightforward Grade I gullies to extreme climbs above Grade VIII.

• Choose from more than 500 winter climbs across Ben Nevis and Glen Coe, covering the North East Buttress, Minus Face, Orion Face, Tower Ridge, Carn Dearg Buttress and Coire na Ciste on the Ben, and the Aonach Eagach, Buachaille Etive Mor, Coire nan Lochan, Coire nam Beith and Bidean nam Bian in Glen Coe, with outlying areas including Aonach Mor, the Mamores, Beinn Udlaidh and Garbh Bheinn also covered.
• Select routes suited to your ability and the prevailing conditions using the guide's unique approach of categorising every climb by style, with snow, ice and mixed routes further subcategorised into general, rocky, icy and turfy climbs, helping you make the right choice for the day's weather and climbing conditions.
• Discover iconic route highlights including Point Five Gully, Tower Ridge, the SC Route, Observatory Gully, the Cascades and the Aonach Eagach Traverse, alongside hundreds of lesser-known classics across all grades and climbing styles.
• Navigate every climb with confidence using photographic topo diagrams showing the lines of ascent, detailed route descriptions covering key features, crux moves and descent information, and approach maps showing the best access to each crag.
• Plan a programme of climbs using area, crag and buttress descriptions detailing the character of each venue, with grid references, access notes and route summary tables organised by area and style.
• Prepare thoroughly for winter climbing with extensive advice on climbing styles, weather and avalanche awareness, equipment, safety precautions and access considerations, with Fort William and Glen Coe serving as ideal bases and February and March typically offering the most reliable conditions, although routes can form from December through to April.

From classic Grade I gullies to the most demanding modern test pieces on the Ben's north face, this essential Cicerone guide is the definitive companion to winter climbing in two of the world's greatest mountain venues.