2-day MOUNTAIN SKILLS course LAKE DISTRICT & SCOTLAND
With Mark Reid FRGS – author of ‘The Inn Way’ guidebooks & Mountain Leader
Our 2-day Mountain Skills courses are personal skills courses, accredited by Mountain Training, that will give you the skills and confidence to plan and follow your own walks across the hills, fells and mountains of the British Isles, including the Lake District and Scotland.
This course is designed for walkers who want to move their walking from valleys and hills to the fells, mountains and Munros. This course is ideal for more experienced walkers who want to explore the mountains safely.
NB: This course is NOT assessed, and so you can relax and enjoy two full days of training and learning in the mountains.
DO YOU WANT TO…?
- Learn new outdoor skills
- Be more confident in the hills and mountains
- Learn navigation skills, strategies & decision making
- Know how GPS / mapping apps back up your map & compass
- Plan your own walks and not rely on others
- Deal with steep, rocky and/or broken ground
- Understand and visualise contours
- Stay safe on the hills and mountains
- Know what to do if the mist comes down
- Increase your enjoyment of the mountains
- Leave feeling inspired and ready to do more
- Connect with other like-minded people
MOUNTAIN SKILLS
Walking in the mountains is a rewarding and exhilarating experience. To stay safe and enjoy your time out on the fells you need some key skills and knowledge to guide you on your way.
From clothing and kit, to mountain weather and route planning we’ll show you how to prepare for your mountain day. From map skills and navigation strategies to relocation and dealing with steep ground, we’ll show you how to safely follow routes across the fells, mountains and Munros.
ABOUT THE COURSE
- Introduction to the key skills you need to enhance your enjoyment of the UK hills and mountains
- Practically based within small groups (max. 8 per tutor)
- 2 full mountain days in the heart of the Lake District or Scotland.
On both days, we will walk classic mountain routes whilst looking at various skills along the way at appropriate opportunities. The course will include route planning and preparation, weather and seasonal effects, map and compass skills, navigation in the hills and mountains, walking skills, dealing with steep ground, clothing & equipment, environmental knowledge, hazards and emergency procedures.
PRE-COURSE
8 Video Tutorials – unlimited access to our online video tutorials. Watching these videos before the course will allow us more practical time outdoors.
- Weather Forecasts & Conditions
- Route Planning (maps & digital)
- Essential Kit & Looking after Yourself
- Understanding OS Maps & Symbols
- Practical Map Reading
- Navigation Strategies
- Understanding Contours
- How & when to use a Compass
Mountain Training Mountain Skills Handbook
Please read through the Mountain Skills Course
DAY ONE
9am: Meet at a village in the Lake District or Scotland. Discuss the day ahead, course learning outcomes, weather and gear check.
9:30am – 5pm: Full day’s mountain walk in the Lake District or Scotland. We usually walk between 7 and 10 miles (11 – 16 km) over the course of the day with between 750m and 1,200m of ascent and descent, with plenty of rest stops and time to practice skills and ask questions.
5pm: De-brief back at the village
Evening: Route planning exercise for the next day
DAY TWO
9am – 5pm: Full day’s mountain walk in the Lake District or Scotland, where each person navigates a section of the route they planned the night before, shadowed by Mark Reid. We usually walk further on the second day and cover around 8 to 12 miles with between 750m and 1,200m of ascent and descent, although this is tailored for each group.
5pm: Course feedback then head home.
NB: This course doesn’t include climbing but will include steep rocky ground and possibly Grade 1 scrambling. This course is NOT assessed, and so includes two full days of training and learning.
