Qualifications

Unlike some of the other items we will look at, it might surprise you to learn that the most obvious one is not a legal requirement. When working with adults in the UK, there is no legal obligation to have any sort of qualification for adventurous activities. (Working with under 18s is regulated by the Adventure Activities licensing Scheme) 

However, we do have a robust qualification scheme for leading groups in the hills in the UK managed by Mountain Training. By checking your guide has the appropriate qualification, you can be sure they have been assessed in all of the essential skills to keep you safe and give you a quality day out. 

Mountain Leader

The Mountain Leader scheme enables experienced mountain walkers to lead groups in in the mountains, hills and moorlands of the United Kingdom and Ireland in summer conditions. It includes a 6 day training course, a log book requirement of personal experience and a 5 day assessment course. 

Amongst other skills, the qualification covers:

• Leadership and decision making
• Planning and mountain weather
• Dealing with mountain hazards
• Emergency procedures
• Navigation
• Teaching and learning skills
• Access, conservation and environmental knowledge.   

Winter Mountain Leader

This award covers the knowledge required for leading groups in the mountains in winter conditions, where snow and ice prevail and skills, equipment and knowledge specific to winter will be essential. 

To become a winter mountain leader, you must already hold the summer mountain leader qualification. The winter scheme again requires an additional 6 day training course, a log book requirement of personal experience and a 5 day assessment course. 

Amongst other skills, the qualification covers:

• Snow and avalanches
• Use of ice axes and crampons
• Security on steep ground including simple rope work
• Navigation

Hill and Moorland Leader

This award is a lower level qualification designed for use in clearly defined terrain, that is easily accessible and free of steep rocky terrain, in summer conditions. It would apply to areas such as the Pentland hills, or Ochills. It still covers navigation and emergency procedures. 

Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor

The Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor scheme trains and assesses candidates in the skills required for instructing mountaineering, including all aspects of summer rock climbing, the coaching of lead climbing, and scrambling. It builds on the skills acquired in the Mountain Leader qualification, which candidates must hold. It requires extensive personal experience before joining the scheme, including experience working as a Mountain Leader and multi-pitch rock climbing. It then includes a 9 day training course, further personal experience and then a 5 day assessment. It is an incredibly robust and highly regarded professional qualification. 

First Aid Qualification

All of the above qualifications are only considered to be valid if the leader holds an appropriate First Aid certificate. The course should be a minimum 2 day course and include specific training for use in remote situations and be more than a basic ‘First aid at work’. 

Other “qualifications”

Scottish Athletics Leadership in Running Fitness (LiRF)

This consists of an online module and then a 3 hour practical session. It does not include any element of assessment. It is designed for club leaders who want to lead groups on runs away from a track environment. It is not in any way intended to be used in remote areas. 

Find out more here.  

 
Scottish Athletics Fell, Hill, Off Road and Trail – Leader

This course aims to prepare you to provide a safe and enjoyable running experience for adults, of any ability, with a focus on typical fell and hill terrains.  This will include leading on public paths marked on an Ordnance Survey ‘Explorer’ or ‘Landranger’ map (including those shown on open access land), and the published routes of licensed fell/hill races.

Again this is designed for club coaches to lead groups in familiar terrain. It is important to recognise that this is only a 4 hour course and includes no element of individual assessment. It therefore should not be considered as equivalent to the mountain training courses in any way. 

A note on Skyrunning 

Some terrain that is included in “Skyrunning” events is very clearly mountaineering terrain, Curved Ridge in the Glencoe Skyline event, or Pinnacle ridge in the Lake District series.

However a lot of it, such as the Ring of Steall sits in a grey area between the remit of the mountain leader, or Mountaineering Instructor qualification. 

However only the Mountaineering instructor qualification covers coaching of scrambling techniques and the use of a rope to safeguard clients in consequential terrain. 

 
A note on experience 

The qualification system ensures a minimum standard of skills and knowledge, but any good leader will develop these skills as they progress through their career. A guide will learn through experience, how best to:

• Meet the needs of a diverse group
• Adapt a plan to suit the needs of the group and the weather conditions, knowing when to push on or when to change the objective. 
• Add extra value to their clients through further specialist knowledge.

Other considerations

These two are legal requirements:

Insurance

Anyone operating professionally (i.e charging money) should have professional liability insurance cover to a minimum of £5 million pounds. 

Package travel regulations. 

As soon as your guiding also comes with any travel or accommodation, the company should adhere to the package travel regulations. This includes financial protection for the customer and further insurances. 

"If all you want from a guide is that they know the way and they can chat about running, then don’t pay for it, join a club!"

To summarise, if all you want from a guide is that they know the way and they can chat about running, then don’t pay for it, join a club! You will find a whole host of experienced runners who are willing to take you along on their adventures. 

If you are going to pay for a professional service, demand more for your money and consider how well you will be looked after should something go wrong.