In reply to hamiltonblake: The first thing to say is be paranoid about avalanche risk and cornices - read up about any potential route in detail and check the SAIS regularly beforehand.
Secondly, you don't need to do anything too demanding with complete winter novices for them to have a great time.
Third, in terms of answering your more general question about ropework and routes. That initially depends on numbers (tempered by general advice about playing it safe).
Scottish Winter mountaineering when roped-up, like rock climbing, just doesn't really work other than in a pair or a three (unlike for glacier travel). Provided you have no more than four novices to two expereinced mountaineers you have no immediate restrictions. For easier routes (including pretty much all those on
http://scottishwinterroutes.com/ ) using a single rope with the two novices tied-in on the end a couple of metres apart, when appropriate, will allow a decent balance of safety, simplicity and efficiency. However, even then I would advise that taking two novices up the longer grade II ridge routes is fairly involved and that two novice parties of two/three will not move rapidly. So, if you do have no more than four friends and want them to experience climbing harder than grade I, sticking to short accessible climbs in the Northern Corries, Aonach Mor and Stob Coire nan Lochan is highly recommended.
However, if you are working at a greater ratio than 1 experienced mountaineer to 2 novices then things become more limiting; any pitched climbing or deployment of efficient ropework rapidly becomes impractical. You are pretty much constrained to routes which are tackled unroped in the main, although you would generally still wear harnesses so the rope can be deployed quickly as required. This is no bad things even with smaller groups and potential routes would include:
- Grade I gullies in good snow conditions with difficulties limited to cornices.
- Mountaineering routes with only short awkward sections (in ascent or descent).
- Mountaineering routes with easily avoidable difficulties.
There is still a lot to be gained from grade I gullies (new snow and thaw conditions excepted!), so do not discount them. In the Cairngorms in particular, it is possible to have a superb expedition linking gullies in more than one Corrie. There are also classics like Central Gully on Ben Lui, Raeburn's Gully on Creag Meagaidh and No3 Gully on the Ben.
When it comes to mountaineering routes there are plenty of good options mostly grade I and possibly the very easiest grade IIs: Tarmachan Ridge (one bad step), CMD Arete (straightforward but committing), the Devil's Ridge (avoidable pinnacle & an awkward step down), the East spur of Carn Dearg Meadhonach (couple of tricky descents), Horns of Alligin (very committing & one tricky descent), East Ridge of Beinn a Chaorainn (short rock step).
When it comes to routes with avoidable difficulties, Fiacaill Ridge is unsurpassed. It provides a great opportunity to belay seconds up a series of short rocky steps without the time pressure or commitment of other more serious routes. Unfortunately there are not many other routes so ameniable.
As previously mentioned, regardless of numbers, there is lots to be said for playing it safe especially in January or early February when you are still short of daylight. After an intro day to axes/crampons I would be tempted to go gully climbing (even just grade Is) for a day to introduce ropework and snow belays. I would then look at classic walks or grade I mountaineering routes for your final day or two.
HTH
