Looking for your first taste of hill walking—or independence in the mountains? Learn the skills you need to stay safe and have fun in summer or winter. Need to impress at an assessment? Get tailor-made coaching to help you pass.
Pick the level that’s right for you.
Never experienced a walk in the hills of Scotland? Or is it simply a long time since you did? Get started (or re-started) with an introductory taster day.
Find out what hill walking is all about. Get an introduction to the basic skills with a day’s hill walking. Whet your appetite for more—or rekindle your passion for the mountains!
Sounds like what you want?
Want to be more independent?
New to hill walking? Want to explore the hills on your doorstep, plan and follow your own routes and get familiar with the equipment you’ll need? Join a Hill Skills course for a good grounding in walking the lower hills of Scotland.
You’ll learn:
- How to plan a hill walk, including choosing the right clothing and equipment
- Things you need to consider while out walking, such as pacing yourself and nutrition
- Navigation in the hills
- How to minimise your impact on the natural environments you visit
- How to deal with hazards and what to do in an emergency.
Courses can be arranged on request or you can check for existing course dates using the button under 'More about this course'.
More about this course
The course lasts two days and you’ll be out walking for around 4 to 5 hours each day, mostly on footpaths or trails that are rough underfoot.
This course is part of a nationally-recognised training scheme run by Mountain Training. As part of the course, you’ll receive the following from Mountain Training:
- A copy of the British Mountaineering Council’s Safety on Mountains handbook
- Access to an online logbook for recording all your mountain-related activities
- A navigational timing card
- A participant’s handbook and a certificate of attendance for completing the course.
Want to get started on the Munros or develop your walking skills for mountainous terrain? Take your first steps to independence in the mountains with a Mountain Skills course.
The Mountain Skills course expands your hill-walking skills so you can go higher into the mountains. For instance, you’ll develop your navigation skills so you can avoid cliffs and similar hazards in low visibility. The course covers:
- How to plan a mountain day, including being prepared for the weather conditions
- Choosing the right clothing and equipment
- Things you need to consider while out in the mountains, such as pacing yourself and nutrition
- Navigation in the mountains
- How to minimise your impact on the natural environments you visit
- Managing risk in the mountain environment, how to deal with hazards and what to do in an emergency.
You’ll also get valuable, personalised advice on which mountains would be ideal for you to do next!
Courses can be arranged on request or you can check for existing course dates using the button under 'More about this course'.
More about this course
On this two-day course, you’ll be out in the mountains, moving away from marked paths and into steeper, rockier terrain. Expect to be out in the mountains for between 5 and 7 hours each day. The course also includes one evening session.
This course is part of a nationally-recognised training scheme run by Mountain Training. As part of the course, you’ll receive the following from Mountain Training:
- A copy of the British Mountaineering Council’s Safety on Mountains handbook
- Access to an online logbook for recording all your mountain-related activities
- A navigational timing card
- A participant’s handbook and a certificate of attendance for completing the course.
Want to tackle the mountains in winter? Little or no experience with ice axe and crampons? Learn the techniques you’ll need to make your winter walking days safe and enjoyable.
Get familiar with the equipment you’ll need for winter walking. Learn to use your ice axe and crampons effectively, discover how to use your boots as tools for walking on snow and how to avoid slips. Find out how to Be Avalanche Aware.
This bespoke course is geared to your needs—you can book from 1 to 5 days.
Sounds like what you want?
Got this already?
Preparing for your summer or winter ML assessment? Build on your experience and develop solid, simple systems for dealing with the scenarios you’re likely to face.
Boost your confidence—brush up on any areas you’re concerned about, from emergency rope work, group management and navigation to mountain hazards such as river crossings and anything in between! Choose what you need to work on and optimize your chances of a pass.
Sounds like what you want?
Personalised training adapted to your needs
Small group sizes and individual attention.
You’ll learn in small groups, from two to six people, so individual coaching at your pace is assured.
“I liked the amount of hands-on activities we did right from the start. Navigating independently and in pairs was especially useful. The frequent opportunities for input and discussion from the group were good as well.” Mountain Skills course participant
“It was an extremely informative but also very entertaining course with enough time to practice the newly acquired skills! Definitely worth attending!” Mountain Skills course participant
“This was a great course, and I would highly recommend it for anyone who wants to gain more confidence on the hill and expand their mountaineering skill set.” Mountain Skills course participant
Coaching from a qualified expert.
I’m a qualified Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor (MCI/MIA) and a full member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors and the Mountain Training Association, with a lively enthusiasm for coaching. I began hill walking back in 2000 and gained my Mountain Leader qualification in 2004. As well as running my own coaching business, I’m a freelance instructor at Glenmore Lodge, Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre.
Where can you learn?
From the hills of the Pentlands, Campsies and Scottish Borders, to the mountains of the Cairngorms, the West Coast, Torridon and Skye—get in touch and we’ll find the right venue for what you want to learn.
Costs
Get started hill-walking tasters
Half day: £190 per group (maximum 6 people)
Full day: £320 per group (maximum 6 people)
Hill Skills and Mountain Skills courses
Two-day course: £160 per person (depending on venue)
Winter walking skills
£320 per day for 1–2 people (£160/day each for 2)
£400 per day for 3–4 people (£100/day each for 4)
£480 per day for 5–6 people (£80/day each for 6)
Discounts available for some multi-day courses
Preparing for qualifications
Half day coaching: £150 per group
Full day coaching: £260 per group (discounts available for some multi-day courses)
Student/club discounts available on request. Get in touch using the button below!
