Top 10 Things You’ll Learn On A Mountain Training Skills Course

Interested in a Mountain Training Skills Course, but not sure what to expect? Through their Hill and Mountain Skills courses, delivered by approved providers across the UK and Ireland, we want more people to find the skills and confidence they need to explore.

Here are the top 10 skills you’ll learn to help build confidence for your hill and mountain adventures. 

Sometimes it’s great to be a trail-blazing explorer, and sometimes it’s nice to chill out and relax. Choosing the right location and route is the foundation of a rewarding day of walking.

You’ll learn how to plan a route that provides the right level of challenge and adventure, while allowing time and opportunities for wildlife spotting, creative inspiration or anything else you enjoy doing outdoors.

Hill and mountain weather is a level up from what you might experience in the valley, and it’s worth knowing where you can access mountain area forecasts. The skill is then to use that information to still have a lovely day out.

Gale force winds from the west? No problem, instead of an exposed slog up a ridge, you can enjoy a sheltered walk along a river to some waterfalls, or choose a path that keeps you off the tops but still provides that feeling of elevation. 

Should I take my waterproofs? How many layers do I need? Trainers or walking boots? Figuring out the right clothing for a day in the outdoors is an artform in and of itself.

On a Skills Course, you’ll learn how to regulate your temperature with layers, the importance of moisture-wicking materials, and the significance of ankle-support. Check out our Mountain Training Skills Course Kit List here.

Clothing, food, water, first-aid supplies, navigational tools… There’s a lot to squeeze in to your rucksack to ensure a safe and enjoyable day of walking.

You’ll be taught the skill of packing efficiently and lightly, ensuring you’re prepared for every eventuality that the British outdoors (and notoriously changeable weather) can throw at you, without carrying the kitchen sink.

Discover Our Range Of Day Packs 

Being a confident, independent navigator will quite literally expand your horizons – knowing where you are, where you’re going, and how to get there will expand the scope (and increase the safety) of your adventures.

On a Skills Course, you’ll get to grips with a map and compass, get the hang of interpreting the landscape, and learn how to stay calm if you do get lost or visibility is poor. It’s not nearly as scary as you might think!

British hills and mountains are filled with an incredibly diverse array of flora and fauna – if you know what to look out for. Cultivating your knowledge of animals and plants can add a lot of value to your days out.

You’ll learn some of the basics of wildlife identification, as well as responsible hiking practices to minimise your impact on delicate ecosystems.

Knowing how to handle unexpected situations is essential for increasing your confidence as a walker. You’ll come away from a Skills Course with a solid knowledge of how to avoid these scenarios, and how to handle them when they do arise.

This includes locating yourself in unfamiliar terrain, staying calm in harsh conditions, and how to contact Mountain Rescue.

In some areas of our beautiful country, footpaths don’t exist, or you might want to explore beyond the path, or there are some rocks that are screaming to be scrambled on. Can you do it? Are you allowed? On a skills course you’ll learn about what’s possible and how to explore without getting lost or ending up clinging on with your fingernails.

Setting and achieving goals in the mountains can be an immensely rewarding life-long journey. Exploring a new area, completing a challenging route, mastering a new skill… You’ll come away with the tools to plan a lifetime of exploring.

You wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t want to have fun. The knowledge you’ll come away with from a Mountain Training Skills Course will enable to you to appreciate the beauty of the natural world, find joy in every journey, and make the most of your mountain adventures while staying safe and responsible.

Get out there and enjoy yourself!

Mountain Training is the network of awarding organisations for qualifications and skills training in the UK and Ireland, and our official skills course partner. Through their Hill Skills, Mountain Skills and Rock Skills courses, delivered by approved providers across the UK and Ireland, we want more people to find the skills and confidence they need to explore. Plus, for all the kit you need to get out there, visit your nearest Cotswold Outdoor store and speak to one of our specialists. 

Book now and take your mountain skills to new levels.