Hill Skills

Course length: 2 days

Minimum age: 10

Previous experience required: None

Course location: Hill and moorland areas across the UK and Ireland

Course covers: Planning a walk in the hills, what to take and how to pack, navigation in the hills, common hazards and how to deal with them, what to do in an emergency

Ideal for: People who are new to the hills or people who aren't confident enough to go beyond the routes they know well

What's included?

• 15% off at Cotswold Outdoor and Snow+Rock
• A copy of the Safety on Mountains book
• A navigational timing card
• A certificate of attendance for completing each course
• Lifetime use of our digital logbook (DLOG) for recording your walks

Connect with others and the great outdoors

Our courses are small sociable spaces run in beautifully hilly places. It’s common for people to have shared interests and the start of the course always involves a discussion about motivations and previous experience. After that, the course will cover an agreed list of topics, tailored to meet the needs of the group and the weather conditions.

Build confidence to explore

Venturing off a signposted path or away from familiar routes can feel a bit daunting, which is why we’re here to help you explore with confidence. All our Hill Skills providers (the people who deliver our skills training courses) are experienced hill walkers with a passion for people – they’re here to help you make the most of your local hills or have the confidence to hike on your holidays.

Learn essential skills

A Hill Skills course will focus on the essentials such as choosing where to go, knowing how to use a map and compass to navigate when you get there, and thinking about how to look after yourself throughout the day. A Hill Skills course can also be used as a stepping stone to our Lowland Leader qualification.