Lowland Leader

The Lowland Leader Qualification is managed by Mountain Training.  It is made up of Training and Assesment Components. Lowland Leaders take groups of walkers into the countryside so they can experience the benefits of the great outdoors. The qualification is suitable for new or experienced hike leaders.

Stage 1: Register (you must be 17 years of age)

Stage 2: Book your Lowland Leader Training (16 hours)

To book onto training you should have a minimum of 10 lowland leader days in your Digital logbook on your Mountain Training account. You will then take part in a two day training course in: Walking leadership, managing a group, navigation, risk assessment, route planning, hazards and emergency procedures and environmental awareness.

Stage 3: Consolidate your learning from training and get ready for assesment

Stage 4: Book your Lowland Leader Assessment (16 hours)

• You must be at least 18 years old
• You must have attended a Lowland Leader training course (or have been granted exemption)
• You must be familiar with the syllabus
• You must have recorded a minimum of 20 quality lowland days walks in different types of terrain (woodland, coastal, farmland etc) 
• You must have physically attended and completed (i.e. not online) a first aid course which involved at least two full days or sixteen hours of instruction and included an element of assessment

What is a Lowland Leader Remit?

• Walks must not cross any hazardous terrain e.g. cliffs, very steep slopes, water hazards etc.

• Throughout the walk the group should never generally be more than 3km away from a key access point such as a car park, lay-by or populated area. Any potential escape routes should also lie within the scope of the defined terrain for the Lowland Leader award.

• Walks must follow paths or tracks that are both marked on a map and clearly visible on the ground and that do not require navigation across untracked areas.

What is a Quality Lowland Leader Day?

A ‘Quality Lowland Day’ for the Lowland Leader should take place in lowland terrain in the UK or Ireland.

The quality element lies in such things as the conditions experienced both overhead and underfoot, the exploration of new areas, the terrain covered, the skills deployed and the physical and mental challenge. The experience of a quality day should contribute to knowledge, personal development and associated skill acquisition. All the following criteria should be fulfilled:

The individual takes part in planning and leadership. An unfamiliar locality is explored.Navigation skills are required. Knowledge is increased and relevant skills practised. Judgement and decision making is required. Four hours or more journey time. These criteria mean that days as a course member under instruction, a member of a group practising skills, or days spent repeating familiar routes are very unlikely to meet the requirements of a quality day.