Summer Mountain Leader

The Mountain Leader Award (ML) was established to promote the safe enjoyment of the hills and mountains in the UK. The scheme provides training and assessment in the technical and group management skills required by those who wish to lead groups in the mountains, hills and moorlands of the United Kingdom and Ireland, other than in winter conditions. It integrates experience, training, and assessment in a variety of testing conditions in mountainous country.

Our scheduled ML courses are based in Fort William but if you would like a course based somewhere else please get in touch. The prices given below are for the course only including specialised equipment, transport on the course and lecture facilities. Accommodation and meals are not included in the prices.

Stages of the Scheme

Gain personal hill walking experience
Register and be issued with a logbook
Attend a training course
Consolidate experience
Attend an assessment course
Continue to gain and record experience and relevant additional training

Consolidation Phase Support

In your consolidation phase, between your training and assessment courses, you will need to gain further experience, practice specific things and expand your knowledge.

To help you, we have put together some Summer Mountain Leader Resources here.

Summer ML Training

If you are registered on the scheme and have all the pre-requirements you can attend a training course on:

23rd to 25th April & 30th April to 2nd May 2025 (Split course) - 3 SPACES
4th to 9th May 2025 - FULLY BOOKED
24th to 29th August 2025 - 5 SPACES

The training courses are £425 per person for the six day course.
To check if you have the pre-requirements please look at the Mountain Training website.
To make a booking on this course please contact us to check our availability before completing a booking form.

Summer ML Assessment

If you have attended a training course and have all the pre-requirements you can attend an assessment course on:

26th to 30th May 2025 - FULLY BOOKED
27th to 31st October 2025 - 6 SPACES

The assessment courses are £435 per person for the five day course.
To make a booking on this course please contact us to check our availability before completing a booking form.

Summer ML Reassessment

Reassessments can be arranged on a date to suit you. Contact us to check our availability and discuss your reassessment requirements.

£300 per day

Sample Training Course Programme

Sample Assessment Course Programme

Day One
Scheme Briefing and setting up of the course. Discussion on "Responsibilities of a Party Leader". Late morning onward is spent outside looking at core navigation skills. Evening presentation on Mountain Weather and a Leadership Model.

Day Two
Leadership styles, group management and security on steep ground. Evening session on ropes and knots.

Day Three
Unplanned and emergency use of the rope on steep ground. Evening discussion on legal aspects of mountain leadership, access, responsibilities.

Day Four
Managing mountain incidents including emergencies, injury, self rescue, water hazards and river crossings, mountain rescue services and route planning. Evening preparation for expedition.

Day Five
Start of overnight expedition including navigation practice in the dark.

Day Six
Afternoon return from expedition and clean up. Individual debriefs and close of course by 5pm.

Day One
Scheme Briefing and setting up of the course. Assessment of core navigation skills, environmental awareness, knowledge of equipment and what should be carried, management of incidents and accidents including improvised rescue, water hazards and stream crosings. Evening discussion of home paper.

Day Two
Leadership styles, group management and security on steep ground, with and without a rope. Evening session on route planning and preparation for expedition.

Day Three
Start of three day expedition focusing on environmental awareness, navigation, leadership skills and wild camping.

Day Five
Afternoon return from expedition and clean up. Individual debriefs and close of course by 5pm.