Mountain Water Expeditions provides training and assessment courses for the Mountain Training Lowland Leader Award.
Course details
- Course: Lowland Leader Training
- Location: Rivington, Delamere or Mold
- Cost: £190.00 per person
- Duration: 2 days
- Ratio: 1:6
I recently completed Lowland Leader Training with Mountain Water Expeditions. A complete novice, I immediately felt at ease with the encouraging, positive and professional staff. So many new skills packed into a fabulous couple of days on the West Pennine Moors. An experience that went above and beyond the course syllabus with lots of advice and added extras on nature and local history. Met the needs of the whole group. Can’t wait to come back for assessment.
Who is the Lowland Leader for?
This award scheme has been designed for people who wish to lead groups on day walks in lowland countryside and woodland in summer conditions. The scope and accessibility for this scheme makes it very achievable and appropriate for Duke of Edinburgh leaders, teachers, health walk leaders and volunteer staff.
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 Hill and Moorland and Mountain Leader qualifications.
To get started on the Lowland Leader qualification you need to meet the following prerequisites:
– You must be at least 17 years old
– You should have an interest in leading groups in lowland countryside
If the above applies to you, here's what to do next
Create your account
Create an account on the Mountain Training Candidate Management System or log in if you already have one on the Mountain Training website. > Click Here
Register
Register for the Lowland Leader scheme (this costs £69 – payable to Mountain Training)
Email Mountain Water Expeditions who will then draw you onto the course date you require and send across the relevant booking email.
Before the course starting date for your Lowland Leader training course, make sure you have recorded a minimum of 10 varied walks in lowland terrain where the use of a map is required (ideally these will be recorded on DLOG) which can have taken place at any point (pre or post registration)
How we deliver the course
The Lowland Leader training course is primarily practical, giving candidates hands-on experience in real walking environments, while also incorporating a number of essential theory-based sessions. A strong focus is placed on navigation and effective group management, ensuring leaders can plan and deliver walks that are both safe and enjoyable.
Navigation, in particular, forms a significant part of the assessment process and is commonly the area where candidates find the greatest challenge.
Course Syllabus:
– Leadership skills and group management
– Walking skills
– Planning a walk
– Basic map and route-finding skills
– Equipment
– Hazards and emergency procedures
– Environmental awareness, conservation, access and land ownership
Detailed guidance notes on the syllabus are available in the Lowland Leader Scheme Candidate Handbook.
Day 1
typically starts at 9:00am with a comprehensive introduction to the Lowland Leader scheme, setting the scene for the training ahead. We then take an in-depth look at both personal and group equipment, ensuring you understand what is required and why. This is followed by focused navigation sessions, introducing and developing key techniques before putting them into practice outdoors.
We then head out into the local area, where you will apply these skills in a practical setting. Along the route, we examine how to carry out dynamic risk assessments when encountering a range of common hazards. We also discuss how leadership style and decision-making may need to vary depending on the type, size and ability of the group you are leading.
Day one typically concludes at approximately 5:00pm.
Day 2
builds on the knowledge and practical skills developed on Day 1, with a focus on applying weather information in a real-world context. Using a detailed forecast, we explore how conditions such as wind, temperature and precipitation may influence route choice, timings, pace and overall decision-making, and how they impact both the terrain and your group.
You will then plan and justify a short walk, putting your Day 1 learning into practice. While out on the ground, we continue to develop navigation at a progressive pace, consolidating core techniques and building confidence and accuracy.
Group management remains a key focus, with continued development of leadership style, communication and decision-making to ensure walks are delivered safely and enjoyably.
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:
– Rivington – West Pennine Moors: Rivington Hall Barn
– Clwydian Range (near Mold, North East Wales): Tesco Superstore Mold (Mold Town Centre)
– Delamere: Delamere Forest Visitor Centre
| Lowland Leader Training Date[s] | Course/Activity | Location | Price | Book Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Pennines Moors – Rivington Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th March 2026 Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th April 2026 Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th May 2026 Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th June 2026 Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th September 2026 Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th November 2026 Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th February 2027 Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th March 2027 Delamere – Delamere Visitors Centre Tuesday 24th & Wednesday 25th March 2026 Tuesday 4th & Wednesday 5th April 2026 Tuesday 26th & Wednesday 27th May 2026 Tuesday 14th & Wednesday 15th July 2026 | Lowland Leader Training | West Pennines Moors - Rivington & Delamere | £190.00 |  |
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;
– Instruction and coaching 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 Lowland Leader training course, you require sufficient fitness to be able to spend two full days walking in Lowland terrain and have some spare energy to cope with any emergencies within the group if needed.
Staffing
Mountain Water Expeditions will provide an experienced Lowland Leader course director.
For further information or to book a place on this Mountain Training Lowland Leader training 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.