adventure days
sample adventure day programmes
Samples of Adventure Activity Sessions – half & full days
All of our local friendly, fully qualified instructors are dedicated climbers, paddlers or sailors and who will help you get the most out of your taster sessions. We have a variety of crags, hills, rivers and lochs within a few miles of Fort William – what better location to get to grips with some real adventure! The choice is yours. We have given a sample of rock climbing & abseiling, open canoeing, kayaking, dinghy sailing, hill walking (full day only), sea kayaking, navigation, along with independent mountain biking and fishing trips.
The emphasis is always on having fun and getting a buzz in total safety. Those a little tentative of being on or in the water or afraid of heights will always be encouraged, never forced.
Rock Climbing & Abseiling Taster | Half & Full Days
Max Ratio:- 1:8
Minimum Age:-8 yrs with family. 12 years unaccompanied
Rock Climbing is a traditional outdoor sport with many folks trying their hand at the indoor stuff. Here you get a taste of the real stuff!!
The crags at Poldubh within a few miles of Fort William in the iconic Glen Nevis offer a wide range of climbs, with many classic climbing and mountaineering routes in the area. What better base for your climbing adventure? There is no better way of trying out climbing for the first time than our half day taster session. You will get you kitted up before you leave Snowgoose Mountain Centre, take our minibus up to the Glen – about 6 miles away - and then warm you up with some low level bouldering leading to some single pitch climbs. This is where you will learn how to move about on the rock, weight transference and how to use your legs more effectively.
You will then be shown how to belay (control the rope) and then you will be climbing on some of the classic beginner routes in Glen Nevis These routes will allow you to practice what you have learnt.
We will finish off with some abseiling the classic way to get down the cliffs.
For some, a half day climbing can start the obsession of a lifetime.
Discover Rock Climbing & Abseiling | Full Day
Max Ratio:- 1:8
Minimum Age:- 8 yrs with family. 12 years unaccompanied
A great day on the rock, with time for lots of climbing and bouldering, and with an abseiling thrown in too!
We will start off by introducing you to the techniques that are needed to climb efficiently. Taught while bouldering , which will include, body position, balance, weight transference, reach, hand and feet placements, mantle-shelving, climbing calls, types of holds and how to use them, etc.
Then onto climbing with ropes, utilizing your new knowledge we will get you up plenty of climbs, looking at using technique rather than pure strength to get to the top. You will also be introduced to belaying (controlling & paying out the rope), climbing calls, and types of holds and how to use them, as these are all important parts of going climbing.
We will use different crags in the Glen during the day, so that you get a feel for different types of climbing. As we change the routes being done, you will be introduced to the rigging and the knots and equipment used.
The emphasis on this day is to get you climbing, climbing, climbing, but with enough knowledge that you could enter into the sport and have a basic understanding.
This is also a favourite part of our multi day Activity Breaks and a popular group day at weekends. A favourite day for our instructors too.
Open Canoeing Taster | Half & Full Day
Max Ratio: 1:8
Minimum Age: 8 yrs with family. 12 years unaccompanied
So you want to try open canoeing, but have never been in a boat before – or maybe just “ had a go “ before in a small area of water. This is the perfect opportunity and place to start!
Using one of the many picturesque areas of sheltered water around our base we will introduce you to this exciting sport at a friendly pace. You will be kitted out at our base at Snowgoose Mountain Centre and given a safety brief, guidance on holding and handling your paddle. Depending on the local conditions we will take the boats across the very short distance to the tidal but sheltered water of Loch Linnhe - and then it’s time for lunch! Or we may drive up to our “secret” bay on Loch Lochy. You will get to grips with the basics of control, learn to steer your boat and be able to manoeuvre using a variety of strokes whilst undertaking a short journey!
Discover Sheltered Water Open Canoeing | Full Day
Max Ratio:- 1:8
Minimum Age:- 8 yrs with family. 12 years unaccompanied
This is the course that sets you off on your way as a paddler (canoeist or kayaker). You be fitted up with your personal equipment and look at the basics of how to fit your personal gear from the stores at Snowgoose Mountain Centre - buoyancy aids, helmets, what paddle and boat to choose, fit you into your boat how to adjust all the fittings in the boat so that you are comfy, create power easily and can control the boat more easily. You will be shown how to handle your paddle, launching, lifting and handling the canoe. Depending on the weather we will either paddle on the sheltered, tidal water of Loch Linnhe or (better for a full day) travel the short distance with our minibus and trailer up to Loch Lochy.
Then we look at the skills of paddling, including forwards, backwards, turning, stopping, steering, sideways and getting in and out safely.
This complements the 1 day Discover Kayaking on Sheltered Inland Water course for easy conversion to the generic new BCU 1 star award.
Kayaking Taster | Half & Full Day
Our half day or full day learn to kayak courses are aimed at those who have never been in a small boat or who have kayaked but never had any formal instruction. During the course you will spend plenty of time on the waters around us on the sea or inland loch, improving skills and enjoying the scenery. Our sessions can run from wherever the conditions suit the nature of the trip. Depending on this new skills will be learnt and old ones put to good practice. You will get to grips with the basics of kayak control, learn to steer your kayak and be able to manoeuvre using a variety of strokes whilst undertaking a short journey!
These courses are run in small groups to allow you to gain the most from the course.
Previous experience | None required
Discover Kayaking on Sheltered Inland Water | Full Day
Max Ratio: 1:8
Minimum Age: 8 yrs with family. 12 years unaccompanied
This is the course that sets you off on your way as a paddler (canoeist or kayaker). You be fitted up with your personal equipment and look at the basics of how to fit your personal gear from the stores at Snowgoose Mountain Centre - buoyancy aids, helmets, what paddle and boat to choose, fit you into your boat how to adjust all the fittings in the boat so that you are comfy, create power easily and can control the boat more easily. You will be shown how to handle your paddle, launching, lifting and handling the kayak. Depending on the weather we will either paddle on the sheltered, tidal water of Loch Linnhe or (better for a full day) travel the short distance with our minibus and trailer up to Loch Lochy.
We look at the skills of paddling a controlling a kayak, including forwards, backwards, turning, stopping, steering, sideways and getting in and out safely.
This complements the 1 day Discover Sheltered Water Open Canoeing course for easy conversion to the generic new BCU 1 star award.
BCU Generic 1 star course. This is a one day session which can be run as part of a BCU 1 star course which is now run in canoes and kayaks, so that you learn the best way to control a craft floating on the water. If you wish to gain the 1 star Award we would suggest that you also do at least a further half or full day kayak or open canoe course to get the full benefit of this.
On top of gaining the skills and experience toward the one star award, you will spend a gorgeous day messing about on water in a variety of boats. This is a great fun safe introduction to the sport.
Mountain Walking | Full Day Only
Max Ratio: 1:8
Minimum Age: 8 yrs with family. 12 years unaccompanied
If you have never been on a mountain – still less been up a mountain before, and nervous of heading out on your own then this could be a major change to how you view mountain environments.
With professional support we can take you on a mountain journey, at right level, enabling you to experience the mountain environment, but without the worry of route planning and navigation. Once on the hill, we introduce you to the walking and other skills that you will need to develop, should you want to head out under your own steam in the future. Along the way, we can discuss the clothing and kit that you will need. Routes are always tailored to your own aspirations and that of the group area and the general level of fitness.
Our Easy Hill Walks explore the less challenging lower slopes of our local mountain ranges and give an additional option to sample an Adventure Walk as part of one of your days out. If you don't do much regular walking or exercise; are either a beginner or want to get started into hill walking; or you may be used to do some walking in the past and want to make a comeback – then our Easy walks are suitable for you.
They are comparatively short and are all taken at a comfortable pace (always able to chat) with as many rests as required by the party. They range…
- From: Easy gentle strolls for a distance of no more than about 6 – 8 miles. These routes will be through forested areas on easy woodland tracks, glen (valley) walks or coastal paths over fairly easy terrain that has no really steep or rugged, rough sections, will not involve any really steep uphill walking, usually on good paths. Time spent walking will be about 3- 4 hours. There may be some gentle hills to climb up to about 2000’
- To: Easy Walks subject to the groups wishes these walks can be up to about 10 miles in distance with some gentle hills to climb. Time spent walking will be about 4 – 5 hours up to 2 – 3000’
On our full one day Mountain Walks we'll introduce you to basic navigation and map-reading skills such as measuring distance, taking bearings, interpreting contours and using them to visualise ground shape, working out grid references, understanding map symbols and scales, and using a compass.
Max Ratio: 1:8
Minimum Age: 12 years with family, 14 years unaccompanied
- To: Moderate Mountain Walks which are an ideal way to experience the more challenging hills & mountains locally and usually take in some 8 - 12 miles of walking on the hills and glens up to and over 3000’. This is an ideal Mountain Adventure Day. They are usually over rougher terrain with some steeper sections to get to the tops but will not require the use of any ropes. If you have maybe done some hill walking before and want to go up a gear – or just want the chance to experience a more remote mountain environment – then this could be for you!
Dingy Sailing Taster | Half & Full Days
Max Ratio:- 1:4
Minimum Age:- 8 yrs with family. 12 years unaccompanied
By the end of a full day course you will have experienced handling the dinghy, even have a go at helming (steering) the boat, handle the sails, some ropework & knots and be aware of safety on board.
You learn about:
- Wind direction and how to sail in different directions;
- The dinghy and its main parts
