The Mountain Leader Qualification is designed for experienced hillwalkers aged 18 and over who want to develop the navigation, leadership, safety and decision-making skills required to guide others in remote mountain environments.
The scheme is administered by Mountain Training, the official body responsible for walking, climbing and mountaineering qualifications across the UK and Ireland.
The Mountain Leader award prepares candidates to lead groups safely in non-winter mountain terrain, including:
- Advanced map and compass navigation in poor visibility
- Route planning and group management on steep or rocky ground
- Mountain weather interpretation and environmental awareness
- Emergency procedures, incident management and river crossings
- Safe use of equipment and leadership decision-making
Alongside these requirements, leaders will need to create a positive experience for participants whilst in the mountains.
Duration: 6-day training course, 5-day assessment course
Location: CCAT Capel Curig, Snowdonia National Park
CCAT Halton near Lancaster, Lake District & Yorkshire Dales National Park
Course fee: £50
Eligibility: CFAVs
Prerequisites: Prior to attend the MT Mountain Leader (ML) training course, candidates must meet the following prerequisites:
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You should have at least a year’s worth of mountain walking experience
- You should have an interest in leading groups in the mountains
- You must be a member (club or individual) of a mountaineering council (BMC, Mountaineering Ireland, Mountaineering Scotland)
- You must be registered on the Mountain Leader scheme
- You must have recorded a minimum of 20 quality mountain days (ideally these will be recorded on DLOG) which can have taken place at any point pre- or post-registration
Meeting these requirements ensures that candidates have a foundational level of experience and are ready to build on their skills in a structured training environment.
Prior to attend the MT Mountain Leader (ML) assessment, candidates must meet the following prerequisites:
- You must have completed a Mountain Leader training course
- You must be familiar with the syllabus
- You must have recorded a minimum of 40 quality mountain days in at least three regions of the UK or Ireland
- You must have logged at least 8 nights camping, including at least 4 nights wild camping
- 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
Course Certification: Mountain Training qualifications are widely recognised throughout the UK and show others that you have reached a nationally accredited standard recognised by:
- Health and Safety Executive (UK)
- Health and Safety Authority (Republic of Ireland)
- Adventurous Activities Licensing Authority (UK)
- Coaching Ireland
- Ofqual (England)
- SQA (Scotland)
Please speak to your detachment or contingent commander if you are interested in attending this course.