Getting Started
To get started on the Lowland Leader qualification you need to meet the following prerequisites:
You must be at least 17 years old
You should have an interest in leading groups in lowland countryside
If the above applies to you, here’s what to do next:
Register for the Lowland Leader scheme (this costs €69)
Join a Mountaineering Council: Mountaineering Ireland, Mountaineering Scotland or the British Mountaineering Council. €35 for training candidates.
Do you have additional needs?
Do you have a physical or mental impairment or disability which may require a provider to make reasonable adjustments so that you can take part in a training or assessment course? Find out more.
Not quite right?
If this doesn’t sound like the right qualification for you, consider the following:
Hill and Moorland Leader
Mountain Leader
You could also read through our ‘Which scheme is right for me?’ page.
Lowland Leader candidate handbook
The Lowland Leader handbook has full details about the scheme including the syllabus and supporting guidance notes.
Download The Handbook
Training
Lowland Leader training lasts for 2 days and will be run by one of our approved providers in one of the many lowland areas of the UK and Ireland.
- Before you book onto a Lowland Leader training course, make sure you have done the following:
- You must be at least 17 years old
- You must be registered on the scheme
- You must have recorded a minimum of 10 varied walks in Lowland terrain where the use of a map is required (ideally these will be recorded on DLOG) which can have taken place at any point (pre- or post-registration)
- A variety of cost packages are available depending on what's included; food, accommodation etc. so you can choose one that's right for you.
- Be a current member of a Mountaineering Council: Mountaineering Ireland, Mountaineering Scotland or the British Mountaineering Council. €35 for training candidates.
Find a course
Use the Lowland Leader skills checklist
This document can be used during or shortly after your training course to help you identify areas of the syllabus that may require attention.
Consolidation
The period between training and assessment (often referred to as the consolidation period) varies in length for each person and is an opportunity to develop your skills, paying particular attention to any weaknesses identified during the training course. You can use the excuse 'I'm preparing for assessment' to have as many mountain adventures as you like, so get out there and explore this beautiful country of ours! We have also published a book and created an association to support you during your consolidation and after you're qualified.
The Mountain Training Association
Join the
Mountain Training Association and be part of a community of like-minded people on our schemes. The Association offers a range of workshops for trainee and qualified leaders and coaches across the disciplines, as well as a quarterly magazine, gear deals/discounts, a monthly newsletter and an insurance deal. You can join the Association at any point after you have registered on one of Mountain Training's leadership/coaching schemes.
Join nowThe Book - Hill Walking
Hill Walking has been written specifically for people pursuing Mountain Training's leadership qualifications and it includes essential tips and information for those who wish to lead in the hills as well as being a useful learning aid for recreational walkers. The book is split into three parts: Getting Around in the Hills, The Upland Environment and Group Management. Its functional design with easy-reference pages, striking illustrations and images make this book an indispensable guide to the skills required for summer hill walking.
Buy nowE-learning
E-learning modules can be accessed through the 'Awards & Training' tab of your MT CMS account, please contact the office for support.
Mountain weather
Created by the Met Office for Mountain Training, this free module is packed full of useful information about weather systems, forecasts and how to use this information as a leader to plan your journey. The module takes approximately 1 hour to complete and is available to anyone who has registered on one of our schemes.
Geology
These three modules are free for members of the
Mountain Training Association - they have been developed in partnership with Paul Gannon, author of the Rock Trails series of books.
Mountain buildingThis module covers a basic understanding of mountain building and plate tectonics.
Mountain landscapes and rock typesThis module covers a basic understanding of various rock types and how they appear in the landscape.
Mountain destructionThis module explores the ways in which weathering and erosion slowly dismantle mountain ranges and should help you spot signs of the on-going processes of mountain destruction.
Assessment
Before you book onto a Lowland Leader assessment, make sure you have done the following:
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You must have attended a Lowland Leader training course (or have been granted exemption)
- You must be familiar with the syllabus
- You must have logged a minimum of 20 walks in lowland countryside in different types of terrain (woodland, coastal, farmland etc)
- You must have physically attended and completed (i.e. not online) a first aid course which involved at least two full days or sixteen hours of instruction and included an element of assessment
- Be a current member of a Mountaineering Council: Mountaineering Ireland, Mountaineering Scotland or the British Mountaineering Council. €35 for training candidates.
The Lowland Leader assessment is 2 days long (minimum 16 hours contact time).
Assessments are run by one of our approved providers and a variety of cost packages are available, depending on what's included; food, accommodation etc. so you can choose one that's right for you.
If you're interested in taking groups camping in lowland terrain, the
Camping Leader qualification will expand the scope of your leadership qualification.
The Lowland Leader Award sits on the Sport Ireland - Coaching Adventure Sports Framework and is a Quality Qualification Ireland (QQI) Level 5 Award.
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