Mountain Water Expeditions provides assessment courses for the Mountain Training Hill and Moorland Leader award.
Course details
- Course: Hill & Moorland Leader Assessment
- Location: Llangollen or The Peak District
- Cost: £299.00 per person
- Duration: 3 days
- Ratio: 1:4
Who is the Hill and Moorland Leader training for?
This award has been designed for people who wish to lead groups on day walks in Hill and Moorland terrain in summer conditions. Ideal for intermediate hill walks, these routes may take groups off the beaten path without exposing them to steep or rocky hazards. Popular locations include the Berwyn’s Dartmoor, the Peak District, North York Moors, and the Pentland Hills.
It is a nationally recognised award scheme that opens up a natural pathway to other awards and qualifications for leading and working with others in the outdoors, such as the Mountain Leader qualification.
Before you book your assessment place with us, you need to fulfil the following criteria
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You must have completed a Hill and Moorland Leader training course (or a Mountain Leader training course)
- You must be familiar with the syllabus
- You must have recorded a minimum of 40 quality hill days in at least three upland areas of the UK or Ireland
- You must have a current first aid certificate, gained by completing an in-person (not online) course which involved at least two full days or sixteen hours of instruction and included an element of assessment.
How we deliver the course
The Hill and Moorland Leader assessment is mainly practical, with some theoretical exercises and a home research paper. Emphasis is placed on navigation, leadership, and group management to ensure safe and enjoyable hill experiences.
We don’t predefine daily activities, good leaders adapt plans to the weather, group, and conditions, using each day to develop planning and decision-making skills essential for leading in the hills.
Course overview:
- Day 1: Introductions, hill day focused on navigation, access, environment, and emergency procedures.
- Day 2: Hill day developing navigation, leadership, and group management, plus night navigation.
- Day 3: Shorter hill day leading a flowing walk, followed by results and individual debriefs.
During the course, participants deliver a 5-minute talk on a local topic such as ecology, geology, history, or a relevant hill skills subject.
Course Syllabus:
– Leader responsibilities
– Leadership and decision making
– Planning and weather
– Hazards and emergency procedures
– Equipment
– Walking skills
– Navigation
– Teaching and learning skills
– Access, conservation and the environment
– Background knowledge
Detailed guidance notes on the syllabus are available in the Hill & Moorland Leader Scheme Candidate Handbook.
Course Meeting Places
Full joining instructions, including the precise meeting point, will be provided upon booking. Our courses usually run from one of the following locations:
– Llangollen
– Peak District – Hope
| Trip Dates | Course/Activity | Location | Price | Dates TBC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 28th – Saturday 30th August 2026 Monday 26th to Wednesday 28th October 2026 | Hill & Moorland Leader Assessment | Llangollen, North West Wales | From £299.00 per person |  |
Working minimum is four course participants to run this course.
We are happy to run bespoke courses for groups at an agreed location & time. Please contact us to discuss your group needs further.
What we include in our course
The price of the course includes;
– Assessment from highly experienced and helpful coaches
– A single point of contact at Mountain Water Expeditions to provide you with consistent support throughout your experience.
– Pre course information pack with lots of helpful advice, kit lists etc
What we do not include
– Accommodation. This is a non-residential course
– Transport to and from the starting point
– Personal kit and accident insurance
– Items of personal walking kit
– Food or drink
Fitness Level
For a Hill & Moorland Leader assessment course, you require sufficient fitness to be able to spend three full days walking in Hill and Moorland terrain and have some spare energy to cope with any emergencies within the group if needed.
Staffing
Mountain Water Expeditions will provide an experienced Hill and Moorland Leader Course Director
For further information or to book a place on this Mountain Training Lowland Leader assessment course please email info@mountain-water.co.uk
Contact Us
Send us a message with anything you want to know or ask about Mountain Water Expeditions, and we’ll get back to you right away.