Preparation for Scottish Winter 

This course based in the Mournes will take full advantage of the shorter, colder days to look at the skills and preparation for operating in the mountains in poor visibility and snowy conditions.

Who Is This Course For?
This course is for those planning a winter trip to Scotland or similar destination. You may have a reasonable level of experience in summer and Irish winter conditions but are not familiar with the equipment and skills required for safe travel in Scottish winter conditions. 

Course Aims
The aims of this course are:

• To develop a comprehensive level of understanding and independence in winter/snow conditions
• To learn new skills for use in more challenging conditions and terrain.
• To become familiar with and aware of the equipment needed for Scottish winter travel.
• To provide an individually tailored learning experience with nationally qualified coaches and instructors
•  

Skills Covered
This course will provide a comprehensive level of instruction in all the necessary areas, in order to develop a level of independence.  Students will be   

Areas generally covered include:

-          Use of equipment specific to winter travel in the mountains - what is available and what should you have, how to be more efficient in choosing what we bring

-          Route choice and poor visibility navigation.

-          Moving over snow and ice in the mountains

-          Basic use of crampons and ice axes

-          Route planning.

Outline Programme

It is important to note that the above outline programme is a guide.  Times may vary due to weather conditions or other reasons.

Our Staff
The instructor(s) who will work with you are all highly experienced and qualified.  Tollymore prides itself in the knowledge and experience that its full time and part time staff bring to its courses.  Our staff are all keen hillwalkers and mountaineers and know the Mournes very well.  You may well have met them in the hills in the past or will bump into them in the future on days when they are not working!

All are obliged to attend annual staff updates and training courses

What do I need to bring?
The following list is a suggestion of what you should bring.  Waterproofs, walking boots and rucksacks may be borrowed from our extensive stores.  We advise you not to rush out and buy kit for the course, but use it as a chance to find out what would best suit your needs. You should bring the following:  Walking boots, gaiters, waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, warm outdoor wear (fleece is ideal), hat, gloves or mitts, 1:25000 Maps of Mournes, compass (Silva type 4 or similar), headtorch, plus spare battery, day rucksack, waterproof rucksack liner (bin liner is ideal), small first aid kit, water bottle, vacuum flask, personal medication, notebook and pen, camera and film.  If you have technical equipment, please bring it along.

Tollymore Information
Tollymore Mountain Centre, on the edge of the Mournes, is Northern Ireland’s National Centre for Mountaineering and Canoeing Activities.  It is funded and managed by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland as a National Centre. The Centre is an attractive, purpose-built facility of log construction with accommodation for 30 people in 2, 4 and 6 berth bedrooms.  Quilts, pillows and bed linen are all provided.  The Centre is well appointed with toilets, showers, modern kitchen, lecture room, workshop and drying room.  Outside there is ample parking space, a ropes course and a floodlit granite-climbing wall.  A modern indoor climbing wall is open year round.  The centre is ideally situated on the edge of the Mournes, with quick and easy access to the hills.

The Central Council for Physical Recreation opened Tollymore Mountain Centre in 1969.  In 1974, it passed to the newly established Sports Council for Northern Ireland Trust.  In 1995, Tollymore achieved the management standard BS EN ISO 9001:2000 for the quality systems it operates.   However, as part of Sports Council for Northern Ireland’s ongoing commitment to the development of the National Centre, Tollymore will be undergoing a major redevelopment, commencing in 2006.  The facilities will be improved and expanded, to ensure that Tollymore remains as an example of best practice in the provision of mountaineering, hillwalking, climbing and canoeing courses in Northern Ireland.

Accommodation
Accommodation is included in your course fee.  Accommodation is in comfortable dormitories, and you will have full use of all Tollymore Mountain Centre facilities, including drying room, lounge and access to a wide range of instructional and inspirational videos and books for any spare time. Tollymore has a number of comfortable meeting rooms, where the instructors will meet the group prior to the start of the course each day.  We will also meet here over a cup of tea or coffee for reviewing the course on Sunday afternoon.

Catering
Your course is fully catered, so all you will need to bring is some additional snack food.

What next?
Having completed this course, you should have a sound understanding of basic winter navigation and the equipment required for safe route planning and travel.  You may decide to develop your skills further, and could look at Winter Mountaineering, Mountaineering Skills, Scrambling Skills or some of our other courses.  You may wish to try your hand at rockclimbing (See our Climbing Courses section) or extend your experience even further and travel to Scotland or Wales.  Contact us to discus any of these options.

You may choose to join a hillwalking or rambling club, or join the governing body for hillwalkers, climbers and mountaineers – the Mountaineering Council of Ireland (MCI).

A full list of clubs is available from the MCI.

Useful Books
Recommended by and available from Tollymore:

Hillwalking by Steve Long (published by MLTUK)

Rockclimbing, by Libby Peter (published by MLTUK)

Useful contacts:

Mountaineering Council of Ireland,
Sport HQ,
13 Joyce Way,
Parkwest Business Park,
Dublin 12.
Tel +353-1-6251115
Fax +353-1-6251116 

Email mci@eircom.net