• Mountain Leader Training (ML)

Mountain Leader Training (ML)

Mountain Leader (ML) Training Course in partnership with Adventure Expertise

In short

The Mountain Leader Training (ML) is a 6-day course delivered by one of our specialist training partners in the Ambleside - Lake District, and booked through Pure Outdoor. It costs £450 per person, is open to ages 18+ and runs at a maximum ratio of 1:6. Next available dates: Sat 24 Oct 2026.

Summary

There is something reassuring to know that you are navigating and moving in the mountains at this high and professional level. Are you ready to show us what you have got? This could be the start of a great new career. Escape that office and sign on now!

Mountain Leader Training (ML)

Price : £450.00 per person

Location : Ambleside - Lake District

Duration : 6 Days

Ratio : 1:6

Minimum age : 18

What's Included :

  • Group management
  • Navigation
  • Access and the environment
  • Hazards (including steep ground and rivers) and emergency procedures
  • Equipment
  • Expedition skills
  • Weather

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Highlights

  • Start your journey to become a ML 
  • 6 day programme in The Lake District

Course Overview

The Mountain Leader Award is designed for people who want to introduce and lead people in the mountains, hills and upland areas of the UK and Ireland. The scheme began in the 1960s and today Mountain Leaders operate the length and breadth of the country. 


The award offers the opportunity to learn best practice and prove competence in mountain leadership and is recognised by private companies, local authorities, the Health and Safety executive and the Adventure Activities Licensing Service as the appropriate qualification for those leading walking groups in the UK mountains. For a definition of ‘mountainous’ terrain and specific geographical areas see Appendix 1 of the Mountain Leader handbook.


Mountain Training England provider Adventure Expertise in conjunction with Pure Outdoor is offering the opportunity to participate in a ML Training course based from Ambleside in the English Lake District.


This six-day course runs over continuous days in the Lake District and covers all aspects of the Mountain Leader syllabus. The training course is a mixture of practical sessions on the hill and theory sessions covering areas such as emergency procedures and mountain weather. 


Stages in the Mountain Leader Scheme 

1. Gain personal walking experience in the UK mountains. This should amount to at least twenty Quality Mountain days over a period of at least twelve months in mountainous areas (e.g. Highlands of Scotland, Lake District, Snowdonia, High Peak and others). 

2. Register for the ML scheme with Mountain Training. In order to do this you will need to be a current British Mountaineering Council (BMC) member. Registering for the scheme will give you access to a digital logbook where you can record your walking experience. 

3. Attend a Mountain Leader Training course. 

4. Consolidate experience between training and assessment courses. 

5. Attend a Mountain Leader Assessment course. 


Registration with MTUK prior to attending 

To register you should have at least twelve months' experience of hill walking. You must also have an interest in leadership of groups in the hills and be at least eighteen years of age. Candidates with particular requirements or special needs may wish to contact Pure Outdoor staff for advice and guidance.

Course Outcomes

  • Background knowledge of mountaineering and mountain training in the UK 
  • Group management and the responsibilities of the leader  
  • Equipment - Navigation - Access and the environment 
  • Hazards of steep ground, use of the rope to safeguard the party 
  • Emergency procedures and dealing with water hazards 
  • Expedition skills Weather

Course Information

A full kit list is outlined in the confirmation email
Prior to attending a training course you must: 
  • Be at least eighteen years of age 
  • Have experienced at least twenty quality mountain days over at least twelve months of hillwalking 
  • Have registered with your home nation training board
Mountain Leader Training (ML)FAQsFAQsFAQsFAQsFAQsFAQs

FAQs

Start time: 09:00 - Finish time: . Please note, these times are approximate and could be subject to minor changes. Please leave plenty of time when booking public transport.

Bookings can be made online or over the phone. All of our courses can be booked in 3 ways:


a) Attend a scheduled course. 

These are open to the public to anyone that meets the pre-requisites. We often advertise many dates for each course, we generally always list 12 months of available dates. This is the most popular and often works out the most cost-effective way of attending our courses.


b) Add a date to our schedule. 

On some courses, we can add extra dates to our schedule, providing you are booking for a certain minimum number of participants, this could be as low as only 2 people. To give us plenty of time to assign staff to your course, you can only add a date to the schedule if it is more than 7 days in advance.


c) Make a private booking.

All of our courses can be booked privately, with a private instructor just for you or your group. This gives you the flexibility to book any date that suits you and also it means the instructor can fine-tune the course content to suit your aspirations. To make a private booking, you just need to fill out a booking request, we will then get back to you with availability and a price. 


d) Book our premium 'Private Booking Plus+' service.

All the benefits of the private booking service, with lots of additional extras including meet & greet at your hotel, luxury picnic hamper including Champagne, digital photo pack, flexible booking arrangements and a pre-activity consultancy to allow your first-class instructor extra time to design your special day. To make a private booking plus+ booking, you just need to fill our a booking request, we will then get back to you with availability and a price. 

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Mountain Leader Training (ML) cost?
The Mountain Leader Training (ML) costs £450 per person. It includes group management, navigation, access and the environment, hazards (including steep ground and rivers) and emergency procedures, equipment, expedition skills and weather.
How long is the Mountain Leader Training (ML)?
The course lasts 6 days.
When are the next available dates?
The next dates with spaces are Sat 24 Oct 2026. Live availability and all dates are shown in the booking panel on this page.
What is the group size and instructor ratio?
This course runs at a maximum instructor to client ratio of 1:6, so you get plenty of individual coaching.
Do I need any previous experience?
Prior to attending a training course you must: Be at least eighteen years of age Have experienced at least twenty quality mountain days over at least twelve months of hillwalking Have registered with your home nation training board
What equipment do I need?
A full kit list is outlined in the confirmation email
When does the course start and finish?
Start time: 09:00 - Finish time: . Please note, these times are approximate and could be subject to minor changes. Please leave plenty of time when booking public transport.
How do I book?
Bookings can be made online or over the phone. All of our courses can be booked in 3 ways: a) Attend a scheduled course. These are open to the public to anyone that meets the pre-requisites. We often advertise many dates for each course, we generally always list 12 months of available dates. This is the most popular and often works out the most cost-effective way of attending our courses. b) Add a date to our schedule. On some courses, we can add extra dates to our schedule, providing you are booking for a certain minimum number of participants, this could be as low as only 2 people. To give us plenty of time to assign staff to your course, you can only add a date to the schedule if it is more than 7 days in advance. c) Make a private booking.All of our courses can be booked privately, with a private instructor just for you or your group.
Is there a minimum age?
Yes, the minimum age for this course is 18.
Can I buy this course as a gift?
Yes. You can buy this course as an e-gift voucher from this page, and the recipient chooses their own date.
Do course customers get a discount on kit?
Yes, every Pure Outdoor course includes a 10% discount on equipment at The Adventure Hub shop (in store and at adventure-hub.com).
Booking & general
What if the weather is bad?
Our courses run in a range of weather, that's part of learning in the UK hills, so come prepared for the conditions. If the weather is genuinely dangerous we may modify or cancel a session, in which case you'll be offered a refund or an alternative date.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellations must be made in writing (email is fine). Charges are based on the original course start date: more than 4 weeks before, 25% of the total course fee; between 4 and 2 weeks before, 75%; within 2 weeks, 100%. As courses run on fixed dates, the statutory 14-day cooling-off period doesn't apply.
Is there parking?
Yes, free parking. Park next to The Adventure Hub building if there's space, or use the overflow area in the back corner of the main Hope Valley Garden Centre car park, about 200m away.
Can I get there by train or bus?
Yes. Bamford railway station on the Hope Valley line is about a 5-minute walk from The Adventure Hub, and the nearest bus stop is 'Shatton Lane' (see traveline.info for times). Course times are arranged to fit public transport timetables where possible.
Do you need to know about medical conditions?
Yes. Please tell us about any medical condition or injury when you book, and let your instructor know on the first day. It's kept confidential, and it lets us tailor activities to you and keep the group safe.
Do I need my own insurance?
For UK courses we strongly recommend your own personal accident insurance, including cancellation cover. For overseas courses you must have specialist rescue, medical and repatriation insurance, and send us the details by the final payment date. The BMC and Snowcard both offer suitable mountaineering insurance.

More answers in our FAQs or call 01433 424164.

Our instructors can be booked privately to deliver this course. Benefit from private tuition, pick a date that suits you and your instructor can design the day to suit your needs. You can hire one of our instructors from just £250 inc vat per day. (Click here to book a private course)

£450.00 per person

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