In reply to mcawle:
> 1. Is it right to assume that good winter conditions are not very likely at the end of December?
rule 1 of Scottish winter: Never assume anything! late December can be anything from the biggest freeze in 30 years to a mild wet summers day...
> 2. Is it right to think that the above routes are feasible in most conditions, i.e. even if there hasn't been heaps of snowfall or a proper freeze? (I am aware that a big dump of snow or wet rock would still be problematic and obviously would always review avalanche risk for both climb and approach.)
in short, yes.
> 3. Any other suggestions for easy climbs or scrambles around Glencoe or Ben Nevis that could be worth looking at for that time of year? We are still cutting our teeth really, so the main focus is on just getting out there where possible.
if conditions are favourable and your going well on the likes of ledge route then you could get on castle ridge, but it does have a pitch of proper climbing so probably best avoided unless you are also competent trad climbers...
the very first ramp of ledge route has a slimey wet slab which slopes away above a drop... that being said its not too much of an issue going up as it is very featured. other than that ledge route is very straight forward under any conditions, although powder covering unfrozen scree would be tiresome.
iv not done them but the west face of aonach mor has some good grade I/II mountaineering routes which are doable in most wintery conditions. finding them can be problematic and good nav skills are essential in poor vis once on the summit as you could very easily walk off the east face...