The Hill and Moorland Leader scheme is perfect for experienced hill walkers who want to lead groups on moorland and hills within the UK but do not wish to lead in mountainous terrain. It is a popular qualification for those leading D of E and Ten Tors, school and recreational groups and is perfect for areas such as Dartmoor, Exmoor, parts of the Brecon Beacons, The Peak District and Yorkshire Moors.
Run over 3 days our courses train and assess the personal and leadership skills needed to safely lead in remote upland environments and offer a quality experience for your groups.
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We aim to make all of our courses enjoyable and informative. We also have a policy of making reasonable adjustments to ensure that our courses are as accessible as possible.
Is it for me?
The prerequisites for registration are as follows:
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You must be at least 18 years old
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You should have at least a year’s worth of experience of hill walking
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You should have an interest in leading groups in the hills
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You must be a member of a mountaineering council: BMC, Mountaineering Scotland or Mountaineering Ireland (you can join one when you register if you're not already a member) - find out why
If you can tick all of the above boxes, here's what to do next:
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Create an account on The Mountain Training Candidate Management System or log in if you already have one.
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Register for the Hill and Moorland Leader scheme.
AWARD STRUCTURE AND COURSES
The award is completed in stages which offers flexibility according to your own experience and confidence. The stages are:
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Previous Experience - before attending the next stage you must have a minimum 12 months hill walking experience and have recorded a minimum of 20 hill walking days. You will also need to be registered with Mountain Training (this is separate to booking your course with us).
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Training Course - The 3 day training course, usually run on Dartmoor, covers all elements of the Hill and Moorland Leader syllabus in practical exercises, examples and discussion. Subjects include:
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Walking and Route Finding
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Navigation
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Hazards and Emergency Procedures
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Equipment
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Responsibilities of the Leader
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Group Management
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Access, Conservation and Environmental Knowledge
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Weather
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Action plan for the next stage.
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Consolidation - during this period (there is no formal timescale) you can execute your action plan from training, practice skills, learn new ones and develop your knowledge. For some top tips check out our blog post.
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Assessment Course - The 3 day assessment will examine your skills and knowledge as a Hill and Moorland Leader in line with the national standard.