Courses

The Firbush specialised skills courses are ideal for people who want to take their passion to the next level.

 

Man ontop of mountain in the snow

Winter courses  

Course aim

This course aims to take the summer hill walker and give them the foundation skills to become a competent winter hill walker. The focus is very much on building a knowledge and skill base rather than summiting named peaks, although this is likely to also happen.

Course content

We will provide you with all the appropriate technical equipment and clothing required for the course. As much as conditions allow staff will look to cover the following over the duration of the course.

  • Navigation & route finding
  • Weather, ground conditions & route planning
  • Avalanche awareness and planning.
  • Safe movement in the mountain environment
  • Appropriate clothing & equipment for winter season hill walking.
  • Using ice axes & crampons to safeguard travel.

Accommodation & Facilities

To maximise learning time on the hill and daylight hours we offer all our winter courses on a self-catering basis. Accommodation will be in our comfortable and well-equipped self-catering lodges, with your course peers. This will be allocated to you prior to the course and will available from 16:00 on the Friday evening of your arrival.

There is a well-stocked cooperative in Killin and a number of pubs serving evening meals. 

Our staff can provide further information should it be required. 

You will have access to our centre drying facilities. 

Pre-requisites

An experienced summer hill walker and fit enough to spend two full days in the mountain environment.

Dates

The Mountain & winter skills courses will start on Friday evening at 20:00 with a welcome talk and kit issue.

  • Friday 31 January to Sunday 2 February 2025
  • Friday 14 February to Sunday 16 February 2025
  • Friday 7 March to Sunday 9 March 2025

Price

UoE Student: £225

Non-UoE: £250


Water Based & Other Courses

Are you looking to develop skills in new a sport or progress from your current level in a chosen area? Explore our range of skills course weekends and choose the course that suits you!

The courses will run over two full days, meeting your instructor in the Firbush reception at 9am on the first morning. All courses are delivered by our qualified instructors and may include some theoretical sessions in the evenings.

The courses are suitable for anyone 16 years or older. 

This course will suit total beginners or those who are keen to learn more following a taster session or two.

Over the two days, we will introduce and teach the fundamentals of windsurfing. At the end of the course you should be able to select the right equipment and in light winds confidently sail to a chosen point.

Previous experience is not required for this course.

Qualified and experienced instructors deliver all our RYA courses.

Dates

Saturday 21st June to Sunday 22nd June 2025

Price

UoE Staff/Students: £252

Non-UoE: £280

Residential Add on: £85


he aim of this course is to get you sailing competently in light winds under supervision.

By the end of the course, you should be able to confidently sail in all directions and have an awareness of how to launch and recover your chosen craft.

No previous experience is necessary for attending this course.​​​​​

Qualified and experienced instructors deliver all our RYA courses.

Dates

Saturday 10th May to Sunday 11th May 2025

Price

UoE Staff/Students: £252

Non-UoE: £280

Accommodation options available, please enquire for more information.


Building on the level 1 course syllabus. This course will really equip you with the foundations of sailing. On completion, you should be able to sail in all directions in light to moderate winds. In addition to the level 1 skills, the course will cover capsize recovery, safety knowledge and help in developing good decision-making skills.

This course will be pitched assuming you have completed a level 1 course or have experience at that level.

Qualified and experienced instructors deliver all our RYA courses.

Dates

Saturday 20th September to Sunday 21st September 2025

Price

UoE Staff/Students: £252

Non-UoE: £280

Accommodation options available, please enquire for more information.


This course is designed to improve and fine tune your sailing. After consolidating skills from the level two syllabus, this course will give you a chance to try new ones in a variety of conditions. You may also have the opportunity to get a taste of advanced modules like day sailing or seaman ship skills.

This course will be pitched assuming you have completed a level 2 course or have experience at that level.

Qualified and experienced instructors deliver all our RYA courses.

Dates

Saturday 18th October to Sunday 19th October 2025

Price

UoE Staff/Students: £252

Non-UoE: £280

Accommodation options available, please enquire for more information.


Staffed by our experienced Powerboat Instructors this course gives you the chance to gain your RYA powerboat level 2 qualification.

Course content includes launching and recovery, boat handling, towing, securing to a buoy, anchoring, leaving and coming alongside and man overboard.

We aim for you to leave the course a self-sufficient Powerboater, aware of your own limitations and of your craft and the prevailing conditions.

This course is run upon request and currently for over 16’s only.

Dates

Monday 21st April to Tuesday 22nd April

Monday 1st December to Tuesday 2nd December

Price

UoE Staff/Students: £292

Non-UoE: £325

Accommodation options available, please enquire for more information.


National Navigation Award Scheme Silver

This two-day course is ideal for hill walkers of all abilities looking to develop their navigation skills. Using the National Navigation Award Scheme structure, we aim to give you the confidence and knowledge to navigate in simple open ground off the path.

Some previous navigation experience will allow you get the most out of the course. However as we will start with the fundamentals of navigation, experience is not a perquisite. We just need you to have the enthusiasm to learn and fitness to spend two full days in the mountain environment.

The course will delivered by an experienced mountain leader and qualified NNAS tutor.

Dates

Dates TBC

Price

UoE Staff/Students: £130

Non-UoE: £145

Accommodation options available, please enquire for more information.


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