Mont Blanc Preparation Course in the Lake District
Build the fitness, scrambling ability and rope skills you need for Mont Blanc
£300
2 Days
This course combines scrambling instruction with big days in the hills, helping you move efficiently and confidently on the terrain you’ll meet on Mont Blanc.
INSTRUCTIONAL COURSE
BEGINNER LEVEL COURSE
No scrambling or mountaineering experience is needed. Just some hillwalking experience, a good level of fitness and the enthusiasm to learn.
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Our Mont Blanc preparation course in the Lake District will give you the skills, fitness and confidence to get the most out of a guided ascent of Mont Blanc. Through detailed instruction from your guide, you’ll learn to move efficiently over steep, rocky and exposed ground.
We’ll use the mountainous terrain around Langdale to recreate the challenges of Mont Blanc, especially the rock scrambling between the Tête Rousse and Goûter refuges. You’ll get plenty of mileage on real rock, getting used to rope work, exposure and the steady pace you’ll need to keep up on the day. We’ll also work on your movement technique when scrambling, so you feel smoother, more balanced and more in control on steep exposed ground.
We’ll go through everything you need to take, and test out all your kit before heading out, so there are no surprises in the Alps. We’ll also practise lowering and abseiling, as these techniques might be used on your trip. The course runs at a 1:2 ratio, so you can book with a friend or climbing partner, or meet someone new who’s heading to the Alps too. By the end of the course, you’ll know what to expect on the mountain and feel ready for it.
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Prior to the course: We’ll be in touch after you book to learn more about you and your plans for Mont Blanc. We’ll talk through your fitness, your experience and your dates, and set out a plan for the two days. We’ll also double check that you have everything you need and that the course works for you.
Day One: We’ll start with a full kit check, going through everything you’ll need on Mont Blanc. We’ll explain what needs to be taken and why, practise taking kit on and off, and make sure your kit is appropriate. From there we’ll head into the hills around Langdale for a day of scrambling. We’ll focus on movement technique, looking at footwork, balance and body position to help you move more smoothly and conserve energy. You’ll get used to working with a rope, which feels a bit strange at first. Your guide will talk you through how the rope systems work and why we use different rope lengths and systems on varied terrain, which will help build your confidence. We’ll climb some interesting grade 1 to 3 scrambles and you’ll spend the day getting comfortable with exposure. We’ll also practise lowering and abseiling, going through different techniques and when you might use them in the mountains.
Day Two: This is another big day out in the hills. We’ll link up longer scrambling routes and steeper ground, getting you used to the pace, the mileage and the sustained effort that Mont Blanc demands. You’ll put everything from Day One into practice, with tips and feedback throughout the day. We’ll finish by talking through what you’ve learnt, how to keep building your fitness before your trip and what to expect on the day itself.
After the course: You’re very welcome to stay in touch, and to message whenever you’re unsure about something or want some advice before your trip.
Course content may vary depending on weather, experience and personal goals.
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This course is perfect for anyone with a guided Mont Blanc ascent coming up or planning a guided mountaineering trip to the Alps. No prior scrambling experience is needed, just a sense of adventure and some hillwalking experience.
It’s a great fit if you want to know what the climbing and exposure on Mont Blanc is really like, if you’re a bit nervous about exposure, or if you want to arrive in Chamonix knowing your kit works and your fitness is on track.
If you’re unsure whether this course is for you, get in touch and we can answer any questions and point you towards the right course. We’ll build things up gently and tailor each day to you.
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This course is based in the Langdale Valley, in the heart of the Lake District and a short drive from Ambleside and Windermere. With big mountains, rocky ridges and scrambling terrain right on the doorstep, it’s one of the best places in England to train for the Alps. We’ll always aim to work around Langdale, though conditions sometimes mean we need to head elsewhere in the Lakes. We’ll do our best to limit driving and maximise time on the hill, but this may occasionally be necessary.
We run this course in spring, summer and autumn, so you can fit it in whenever suits your Mont Blanc dates.
This course runs at a 1:2 ratio, so if you’re not coming with a partner, you’ll be paired with another person of similar ability.
Prices are for the whole course (2 days):
1 person: £250
2 people: £500Please get in touch for a quote for larger groups.
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Expert guiding with a qualified and insured instructor - who has guided Mont Blanc
Help planning your Mont Blanc kit and trip, including a full kit check and testing everything out before we head out
All technical equipment: ropes, helmets, harnesses and crampons
Course photos on request
Advice and support before and after the course, we’ll set up a WhatsApp group where you can ask us any questions about your trip
What’s not included:
Personal clothing, check out our kit lists
Personal food and drink
Accommodation
Transport (there’s a possibility we may have to drive to other parts of the Lake District because of conditions or weather)
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We provide all the technical equipment, including harnesses, helmets, ropes. You’ll need to bring suitable clothing (plenty of warm layers and a waterproof jacket and trousers), food and drink.
The best thing you can do is bring the kit you plan to use on Mont Blanc, especially your boots and rucksack. The course is the perfect chance to test it all in real conditions and make sure it’s comfortable, so there are no nasty surprises when you get to the Alps. We usually spend around 8 active hours outside, so make sure to pack a good lunch, some snacks and at least a litre of water.
If you’d like advice on what to bring, feel free to get in touch and for more info check out our comprehensive kit lists.
Want a private scrambling adventure? Check out our scrambling page
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A good level of fitness really helps. Mont Blanc is a long, tiring mountain, and fitness is a big part of why people struggle on it. We’ll have long days in the hills on this course, and we’ll talk you through how to keep building your fitness before your trip.
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Absolutely. No scrambling experience is needed, just some hillwalking experience and a sense of adventure. We’ll build things up gently and tailor the course to you.
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We’d suggest booking a few weeks to a couple of months before your trip, so you have time to put what you’ve learnt into practice and keep building your fitness.
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Yes. The course runs at a 1:2 ratio, so you can book with a friend or climbing partner. If you’re coming on your own, we’ll pair you with another person of similar ability.
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We can usually run this course if it’s wet or windy, so make sure you bring good waterproofs and warm layers. If conditions aren’t safe to run the course, we’ll reschedule it for a date that works for you.
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If you need to cancel more than 4 weeks before your booking, you’ll receive a full refund. Cancellations between 2 and 4 weeks incur a 50% refund, minus a £10 admin fee. Unfortunately, cancellations less than 2 weeks before the course are non-refundable.
No fixed plan? Just tell us what you're after
Lots of people come to us with just a rough idea, and that's fine. Just tell us:
What you're interested in (e.g., "trying outdoor climbing for the first time")
Your current experience level (e.g., "complete beginner" or "trad leader")
Who's coming with you (e.g., "just me" or "me and a mate")
We'll take it from there, matching you with the right instructor and building an itinerary around you.
