Skip to content
Last chance to get 15% off all Winter mountain adventures - use promo code 'EARLYBIRDWINTER2024' at checkout!

Gift Voucher: Winter Mountaineering

WINTER HILLWALKING AND MOUNTAINEERING IN SCOTLAND

About Us

We are passionate about the natural world and its beautiful wild places.

We have a deep respect and appreciation for the environment and a love for adventure and silent human-powered sports.

More about us

Experience winter hillwalking in the Scottish Highlands, all equipment and transport included.

Valid for a year the OV gift voucher makes an awesome present!

A serious introduction to winter mountaineering skills. Get your adventure hat on and join us for a days mountaineering deep into the Scottish mountains.

There are 282 mountains in Scotland over 914m / 3000ft. We are in these mountains year round exploring and guiding clients to summits in wild and remote locations.

Scottish winter mountaineering is a serious and highly rewarding undertaking. Reduced daylight, snow and continually changing conditions in wild and remote locations make for a real mountaineering adventure.

There are many and spectacular locations to choose from: The famous and iconic peaks of Glen Coe to the little known mountain wilderness of Black Mount, and Bridge of Orchy.

By Loch Tay there is the spectacular formation of the Tarmachan Ridge and the original home of Scottish skiing Ben Lawers.

The Cairngorms represent the most extensive range of arctic mountain landscape in the UK, and also its second highest mountain Ben Macdui at 1309m. These are just a few of the mountains within easy reach for the day.

You will learn how to use an ice axe and crampons and how to navigate safely through steep terrain often under snow, focusing on winter skills, mountain weather forecasts, accurate decision making and building confidence in the mountains to become your own independent adventurer.

We will supply you with all technical equipment such as ice axe, crampons and helmet, transport to the adventure location and a professional guide.

Go where you feel most alive.

Voucher adventures

Voucher adventures

Voucher adventures

Voucher adventures

Voucher adventures

Voucher adventures

Voucher adventures

Customer Reviews

Just had an amazing morning out climbing with my friend at Ocean Vertical. I didn’t know you could do real rock climbing in East Lothian.

I don’t have much experience but I felt safe and the guys really knew what they were doing. I feel a lot more confident now and it was even sunny! We will be back!

Emily and Tash | London

Just back from a day with Stevie and Adrian. Both are masters of there trade. Making sure everyone was comfortable and understanding the terrain. I felt in very safe hands on my first winter mountaineering day out with the boys.

I would highly recommend Ocean Vertical to everyone thinking of winter mountaineering in Scotland. Both guys’ are very knowledgeable of mountains and the surrounding areas. I’ll definitely be back out with Ocean Vertical very soon!

Kev | Newcastle

Ocean Vertical is brought together by people who live and breathe the mountain and outdoor life to the full extent. I have spent an absolutely amazing time with Stevie and Adrian and Ocean Vertical climbing in the Scottish mountains.

The practical and technical information they pass on to people is truly their passion, and it is felt on the journey, in the mountains and their lifestyle. That you Ocean Vertical – 5 stars :]

Dianaliis | Estonia

Amazing day out winter mountaineering in Scotland in the snow with Stevie and Adrian yesterday. We learned loads of new techniques including how to use crampons and an ice axe! Feeling more confident in managing Scottish winter conditions and looking forward to getting another day out with them soon.

Ciara | Edinburgh

Had a fantastic day out learning basic mountaineering under the tutorage of Stevie and Adrian. Lots of knowledge shared on key skills for the mountain, as well as having a go with crampons and ice axe for the first time.

Felt safe at all times and throughout the day the guys did a fantastic job make sure the pace was suitable for the whole group.

Brilliant value for money, will definitely do again very soon and can’t recommend enough!

Pete | Haddington

Fantastic day out with Stevie and Adrian today climbing Stob Ghabhar. Scottish winter mountaineering at its best! These guys really know their stuff and I felt in very safe hands for my first venture up to this height in winter.

Amazing experience and I learned to use an ice axe and crampons! to be repeated! Highly recommended!

Caroline | Edinburgh

Exceptionally great outings! I have done Scottish winter mountaineering, coasteering and soon paddle boarding in East Lothian with this company.

The team are very informative about the terrain experienced and the activity we’re doing. The team are really kind and pleasant to be touring with, recommend this company 100%.

Fiona | Edinburgh

Enjoyed a great day in early January with Stevie and Adrian bagging 3 Munro’s – Ben Lawers, An Stuc and Beinn Ghlas.

Great to have the knowledge to take us on the less trodden route to the top of Ben Lawers, help negotiate the atmospheric conditions on the day and give us options for climbs. Thanks, guys! Looking forward to the next winter mountaineering in Scotland trip!

Gary | East Lothian

Visiting Scotland and finding myself with a free day and needing a quick mountain fix, Ocean Vertical arranged a 15 km Scottish winter mountaineering experience to Stob Ghabhar by the Little Aonach Eagach for me in typical Fall / winter conditions, lots of grey swirling cloud giving epic glimpses of Rannoch Moor and the Glen Coe mountains.

Highly professional with lots of advice and crucially encouragement; and they got me there and back from Edinburgh. I’d definitively use Ocean Vertical for my next fix when I visit Scotland again; inordinately recommended!

Brian | New York

Had a super day out in the hills (fairly big hills) with OV. Both Stevie & Adrian are experts what they do, complimenting any anxiety with understanding and calmness. Nothing was any trouble for these two.

Myself and those I climbed with were put at ease from the walk in to the walk out. We were given time to eat, rest and to absorb the splendour and majesty of those hills!

I learned so much in one day from map reading, to weather reading, even that apple cores & bananas do not decompose as fast as we think… take them home!

More importantly and as someone who has an irrational fear of heights I was reminded ‘your feet never leave the ground’ Even if the trajectory is steep, your feet are still planted. Thank you, I look forward to my next Scottish winter mountaineering adventure with you OV.

 

Lisa | East Lothian
Accreditations
Adventure Activities Licensing Authority ASI Accredited School - Stand Up Paddle ASI Academy of Surfing Instructors NCC Promoting Safe Coasteering