Mountain Skills 1

It is recommended that you have some previous hillwalking experience prior to starting Mountain Skills (MS) training. There is no minimum age limit to MS training or assessment but students need to be hill fit and able to take instruction.

Participants attending this course should ensure they have registered on the Mountain Skills Scheme prior to attending. Click here to go to Mountaineering Ireland Link.

Mountain Skills 1 offers a solid foundation for gaining personal mountaineering proficiency. Mountain Skills training is a recognised series of 2 training courses and an optional assessment which teaches the necessary skills in mountain safety, navigation techniques, knowledge of hazards, and personal equipment, so that a person finishing the course may be in a position to safely, and competently, take to the hills.

Mountain Skills training and assessment also provide foundation training for those who wish to progress to further leadership qualifications, such as the Mountain Leader (ML). Mountain Skills courses are available throughout Ireland.

Participants attending this course who wish to complete the Mountain skills scheme formally should ensure they have registered on the Mountain Skills Scheme prior to attending. Click here to go to Mountaineering Ireland Link.

Those who have registered on the MTUK Hill Skills & Mountain Skills courses may attend Mountain Skills 1 & 2 and achieve recognition on the Mountain Training Board Ireland (MTBI) database.

MS training is divided into three blocks, MS1, MS2 and MS Assessment. MS1 and MS2 are the basic training blocks covering all aspects of hillwalking that the candidate will require to become a self-sufficient hill user.

Planning – how to successfully plan a hill walk in the UK or Ireland.

Walking skills – pace, nutrition, movement skills etc.

Clothing and equipment – being suitably dressed and equipped can make the difference between a great day out and a complete disaster.

Weather – how it affects the hills and your planned day out.

Navigation in the hills – measuring distance and basic contour interpretation.

Environmental knowledge – how to minimise your impact on the hill and information on current best practice and useful organisations.

Hazards and emergency procedures in the hills – how to respond to any hazards you may encounter and what to do in an emergency.

This Mountain Skills 1 course is perfect for the absolute beginner or those with some previous hillwalking experience who have relied on their friends or walking group to make all the decisions before now.

It’s a lot more fun when you know where you’re going!

• First Step Navigation Skills
• REC Level 2 Emergency
• Next Step Night Navigation Skills

Bring any of your own personal hillwalking outdoor clothing and kit such as waterproof jacket and trousers, boots, fleece jacket, hat and gloves, flask, water bottle, Mourne map (1:25,000), and spare clothes. It’s best to bring plenty of lighter layers and avoid cotton if possible as it offers little heat and takes ages to dry out if wet or sweaty.

Please ensure you bring along a device which will allow you to ‘stopwatch’ your time.

Tollymore can supply most of the equipment you require for this course but it is preferable to use your own where possible, even if it’s just a chance for your instructor to comment on your kit and give advice.

The MTUK Hill Skills Course fee includes kit, equipment, in course transport, coaching, food and accommodation.

Course accommodation will be in shared twin ensuite rooms. If you would prefer not to share a room, single occupancy may be available for an additional charge.

The course fee includes full use of the centre equipment, in course transport, coaching, accommodation and catering

The course fee does include accommodation

•   This includes accommodation on Saturday night, evening meal on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday morning. There is also a short instructional session on Saturday evening.

Course accommodation will be in shared twin ensuite rooms. If you would prefer not to share a room, single occupancy may be available for an additional charge.

• Hillwalking by Steve Long MLTUK
• Navigation In The Mountains by Carlo Forte MLTUK