Lowland Leader

What is the Lowland Leader Award ?

The Lowland Leader award scheme is the Mountain Training award that qualifies walk leaders who have proven their expertise in low level terrain, to manage walk groups safely in lowland countryside and woodland in the UK and Ireland in Summer conditions.

The Lowland Leader award applies to the following specifically defined terrain:

• • The group should be no more than 3km away from key access points such as an area of habitation or an accessible car park
  • All of the walk must follow roads, paths and tracks that are marked on the ground and visible on the ground
  • No wading through rivers or streams, all crossing of water must be done by bridge or other crossing
  •  All potential planned escape routes must also be on similar terrain
  • It does not cover walking on hazardous ground such as steep ground or cliffs or in winter conditions.

What do you need to do to achieve the Lowland Leader Award?

• Firstly, do you love walking and leading walks in lowland areas? If it is go for it!
• Secondly do you have some great experience taking groups out and about in lowland areas? If not, get some! It’s a good idea to join an organisation such as The Ramblers where you can be supported by your local groups to get some walk leader experience. 
• Once you have some experience then register for the Lowland Leader Award with Mountain Training and you’ll be given the opportunity to start completing your Digital Log Book (DLOG). You’ll need at least 10 Quality Lowland Days (QLDs) To go on the training course. We can give you help and support completing the DLOG which is really a reflective accounts of at least 10 relevant qualifying walks.
• Then you’ll need to attend a two day Lowland Leader training course by an accredited provider. We can recommend several incredibly good accredited Lowland Leader training providers. 
• After your training course you enter the “consolidation” period. This is your chance to put in some Quality Lowland Days and record them in your DLOG. 
• Network and team up with people to go out and practice
• Ideally find a mentor who is supportive and can guide you through any areas you can brush up on. It’s great if this person has completed the Lowland Leader Award themselves and currently leads lowland walks themselves. They will most likely be able to arrange a “mock assessment” for you. 
• When you feel ready book your assessment!