Climbing, Ski Touring & Winter Skills, Instruction and Guiding

If you'd like to try rock climbing, mountaineering, a winter skills weekend, ski touring or abseiling please get in touch with me.

I can let you experience atmospheric routes on the sunny Galloway sea cliffs, help you learn to lead on scenic and friendly outcrops like Clifton or enjoy long routes in the remote mountain crags of Galloway. I can also organise winter skills weekends, climbing instruction and guiding all over Scotland and northern England, please call or email for details and rates. Contact details appear below and on the index page of this website.

Students climbing on Tower Ridge, Ben Nevis, June 2006.

I can help whether you want easy guided ascents or would like to learn to lead climbs for yourself. I can run abseiling courses and self-rescue sessions, or train you in the essential winter skills of using ice-axe and crampons. I can also help if you just want any other advice, information or instruction related to climbing and mountaineering. I am a professional Mountaineering Instructor and member of the AMI. I hold the highest level of mountaineering qualification valid in the UK, the Mountaineering Instructor Certificate, (MIC). I have been climbing in the Galloway Hills and on the Solway seacliffs for nearly twenty years and know most of the best routes. I have been involved in over 50 first ascents of routes in Galloway.

For any of the above or if you have any other questions about climbing, abseiling or the content of this website please get in touch with me, John Biggar.

Above:- Learning to lead at Clifton Crag.         Below:- Kids climbing for the first time at the Lookout.

Ski Touring, Winter Walking and Avalanche Hazard Evaluation

I can also assist with winter walking, winter skills and ski touring in Galloway and or the rest of Scotland. I hold the MIC, a qualification at a much higher level than WinterML, and also have undertaken the Alpine training course as a downhill ski instructor with BASI. I have over 200 days of experience ski-touring experience in Scotland the Alps and the Andes. I am also a competent snowboarder.

Pictured above is myself skiing into the Howe of the Cauldron, Merrick, Galloway Hills. For those interested in skiing check out our new Skiing in Galloway  page.

Contact me on 01556 503929 or call in at 37a, St Andrew Street, Castle Douglas. Or email me, to avoid spam you'll need to re-type this address:-

Instructor and clients on easy but exposed ground near the top of Curved Ridge, Buachaille Etive Mor.