SUMMIT BEN NEVIS & LEARN WINTER SKILLS
10th-12th March 2023
Summit Ben Nevis, the UK's tallest mountain whilst learning valuable winter mountaineering skills with your Adventuress fam by your side
- 2 Nights
- Challenging
- Scotland
We have teamed up with the gurus of the Scottish mountains, Atlas Mountaineering to bring you a real winter adventure.
Give yourself a reason to look forward to the cold season this year, by setting off on an unforgettable adventure in the Highlands, with a group of intrepid women. You will be lead by professional guides to the summit of Ben Nevis (1345m), but not before learning all of the winter mountain skills to get you there.
Your evenings will be spent in 4* hotel Nevis Bank Inn, the perfect base from which to explore historical Fort William.
INCLUDED
- Professional Mountain Guide with extensive local knowledge
- 2 x Nights accommodation
- 2 x Breakfasts
- Technical gear including ice axe, boots and crampons
- Transfers from within Fort William
NOT INCLUDED
- Transfers to and from Fort William
- All other meals
- Travel Insurance
- Gear not mentioned (see the kit list)
- Personal expenses
Day 1
5pm You’ll meet your guide and fellow Adventuresses in Fort William, where you’ll be kitted out with ice axes and crampons ready for your coming adventure. In the evening you’ll have time to get to know your new fam over a wee dram in the hotel bar.
Day 2
During your second day your guide will lead you up into the mountains where you’ll marvel at the majesty of the highlands, surrounded by impressive valleys and peaks. Here you’ll learn all you need to know about mountain hiking in winter conditions, including some navigation, avalanche awareness, and how to tackle the terrain with an ice axe and crampons. Feeling badass yet?
Back at the hotel you’ll have the opportunity to warm yourself by the roaring fireplace and tuck into some hearty grub to fuel you for the big day ahead.
Day 3
Hike: 20km | 1345m elevation gain | 8hrs
Today is what we came for! Confidently equipped with all of your knowledge from the previous day, you’ll be ascending Ben Nevis with your guide and Adventuress fam by your side.
It’ll be a long tough day, but your guide will be tailoring the route to the groups abilities, and will add in a lot of breaks to give you plenty of opportunities to rest and drink in the magical views that surround you. Get ready to conquer this winter wonderland!
Do I need to buy technical gear?
Included in this trip is your ice axe, crampons and mountaineering boot rental. If you own this gear and wish to bring your own then please let us know
What should I bring?
40 Litre hiking Rucksack with dry liners
If bringing your own mountaineering boots they must fit crampons
Thermal Base Layers
Fleece mid-layer (Avoid cotton)
Synthetic hiking top and trousers (Avoid highly absorbent materials. No jeans)
High performance WATERPROOF jacket and trousers (Look for Gortex)
Warm hat
Thick waterproof ski gloves with warm liners
Scarf or warm neck buff + spares
Ski goggles
Head torch
Hiking Poles with snow baskets
Flask or water bottle
High energy snacks
Whistle
Sunglasses & sun lotion (Due to reflection from the snow)
Towel
Emergency survival bag (Available from outdoor stores)
Our big trips are provided by expedition experts who support our mission to help women gain confidence and have incredible experiences through adventure. This trip is provided for us by Atlas Mountaineering and their guides grew up exploring the Scottish Highlands.
Yes! You will summit with your Adventuress fam. We endeavour to request female guides wherever possible, however there is a chance your UK & local guide may be male. Your friendly guides will have extensive experience of working with female groups and share our groups ethos of respect and acceptance for all.
A good level of physical fitness is required for this trip. You will be hiking for long distances in winter conditions on mountainous terrain. If you’re a confident hill walker and wish to take your experience to the next level then this is the trip for you. Not recommended for complete beginners.
95% of our trips are made up of solo Adventuresses from all over the UK. Everybody admits to feeling nervous during their first adventure, but by the end of your trip you’ll feel like you’ve made friends for life. Bonds are formed very quickly on our adventures, and every trip is introvert friendly!
You should come expecting some fine Scottish weather, i.e. snow, wind, rain and high winds. At elevation you can expect temperatures between -1 to -6.
You know what they say…. There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear. The better prepared you come the more you will get out of the trip, so come very well prepared!
The dates chosen are to ensure there is snow on the mountain so you can learn the relevant skills, however due to climate change it is now never a guarantee, but the day will be spent learning valuable mountain skills regardless.
Personal Insurance must be taken out to attend this trip. Cover should include personal injury, emergency medical cover, and cancellation cover. The insurance must cover the specific activity you’re taking part in.
We recommend BMC Insurance, specialists in mountain activities.
Atlas Mountaineering will be working hard to provide a female guide to lead your adventure, however this cannot be guaranteed. Male guides used share the Adventuress ethos of total inclusivity and have extensive experience leading women only groups.
When booking a trip with Adventuress, you’ll have the opportunity to speak to others joining your trip in a Whatsapp group. This is where you can discuss travel options, gear and maybe even get together pre-trip! The head of Atlas Mountaineering is in the Whatsapp group to ask answer any questions you may have, and closer to the date your guide will also be added
Start: Day 1, 5pm – Ellis Brigham, Fort William
End: Day 3, 5:30pm, Fort William
Regular trains run to Fort William from across the UK. The nearest airports are Inverness (INV) or Glasgow (GLA).
You will be picked up on Day 1 and dropped off on Day 3 by the transfer service, to and from the station or car park in Fort William.
You will be sharing a room with other Adventuresses. If you wish to upgrade to a private room, please let us know. Upgrades can cost anywhere between £100-200 extra depending on when it is booked.
Your accommodation is the Nevis Bank Inn, a 4* hotel featuring an excellent restaurant, located in the centre of Fort William, and walking distance to the train station.
Breakfast is included in your trip, however if you prefer something else the hotel is walking distance from several supermarkets and delis. Packed lunch will be recommended for your days on the mountain. There is time on the first evening to make lunches for the days to come. For the evenings there is an excellent restaurant in the hotel or plenty of pubs nearby.
There will be a maximum of 12 Adventuresses on the trip, with a 1:6 guide ratio.
I have been on two big trips with Adventuress. From these adventures I feel like I have found a new sense of freedom, and have uncovered new strengths by taking a leap out of my comfort zone. Above all I have shared laughter and soulful talks with beautiful women. Certainly made me look at life in a whole new light
Kam Hunjan
on South Africa Adventure Retreat & Peak District Big Weekend
The whole weekend I felt I had permission to be utterly myself and that's down to the vibe. I don't remember feeling like that in a long time and it was pretty incredible and actually kind of transformational
Sam Kenny
on Portland Climbing & Hiking Adventure
Adventuress made my dream come true of hiking the SW Coast Path. I would never have achieved it without the organisation and support of Adventuress. The thoughtfulness and care put into the whole experience made it truly unforgettable.
Jo Cameron
on Jurassic Coast Multi-Day Hiking Adventure
Conquer your mountains
Adventuress is all about pushing your boundaries to experience life beyond your comfort zone.
Whats waiting for you there? A sense of achievement that’ll leave you filled with confidence, and the realisation that you have it in you to achieve more than you ever imagined.
Our guides and members of the community are super supportive, and above all we love to have fun. Laughter is 100% guaranteed.
Our ethos
We believe that every community matters, which is why we welcome all women and non-binary femmes. We recognise that some of you do not feel like you are represented in the world of outdoor pursuits, and we want to break that barrier and show adventure is for everybody.
- The outdoors is for everybody
- Celebrating every woman's uniqueness
- Respect for Mother Nature
