Hill and Moorland Leader Assessment in Lancashire

The assessment focuses on practical skills necessary for leading groups in hill and moorland areas. Key components include navigation, group management, emergency procedures, understanding weather conditions, environmental awareness, and decision-making skills in remote areas. The assessment is designed to test your competence in all these areas over a 3-day period.

To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old, have attended a Hill and Moorland Leader training course or received an exemption, logged a minimum of 40 Quality Hillwalking Days in at least three different upland areas of the UK and Ireland, and completed a physical first aid course of at least 16 hours. Additionally, you need to be a member of the BMC, Mountaineering Scotland, or Mountaineering Ireland.

Yes! We offer both at our centre. Take a look at all of our courses and book onto them at the bottom of this page. If you would like to book all three as a package, send the adventuro team a message via the online chat and they will help to organise this for you.

Preparation should include revising skills learned during the training course, ensuring you are comfortable with all aspects of the syllabus, honing your navigation and group management skills, and being physically prepared for three full days of assessment in hill and moorland terrain. It's also important to have your logbook up to date with your Quality Hillwalking Days.

You should bring appropriate personal hillwalking gear, including suitable clothing, boots, waterproofs, and any personal navigational equipment. While specific equipment needed for the assessment is provided, you are expected to come prepared with your own gear to ensure your comfort and safety during the assessment. We can provide a full kit list upon booking.

The qualification enables you to lead groups in hill and moorland areas of the UK and Ireland. These areas are typically more remote than those used by Lowland Leaders but do not include the steep and rocky terrain often encountered by Mountain Leaders. It’s ideal for those looking to lead educational, recreational, or adventure activities in upland areas.

A 'Quality Hillwalking Day' is a term used in outdoor leadership qualifications, particularly in the UK and Ireland, to define a certain standard of experience gained during a day of hillwalking. The criteria for what constitutes a Quality Hillwalking Day generally includes the following elements:

• Varied Terrain: The walk should cover a variety of terrains, including some more challenging or complex ground that requires careful navigation and route planning.
• Significant Distance and Ascent: The walk should be of a sufficient distance and involve a reasonable amount of ascent (elevation gain), to demonstrate endurance and fitness.
• Navigation Skills: The day should involve the use of map and compass skills under varying conditions. This could include navigating in poor visibility, such as mist or fog, or off-path navigation.
• Decision Making: The walker should be involved in the decision-making process, such as route planning, assessing conditions, and making navigational choices.
• Leadership Experience: For those training to be leaders, the day may also involve taking responsibility for a group, making it a more valuable experience in terms of leadership development.
• Weather Conditions: Walking in different weather conditions can contribute to the quality of the day, as dealing with adverse weather requires additional skills and judgment.
• Duration: The walk should typically last most of the day. It's not just about distance covered or time spent, but the overall experience and learning gained from the day.

Quality Hillwalking Days are logged as part of the experience required for qualifications including the Hill and Moorland Leader Award. These logged days are a way for individuals to demonstrate they have substantial and varied experience in hillwalking, which prepares them for leading groups in similar environments.

Accommodation is not included in this course. However, it can be arranged upon request and subject to availablity. The majority of our bedrooms sleep between 3 to 4 in bunk beds in each room. Sheets, duvets and pillows are provided. All rooms are en-suite.