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3. Becoming a Lowland Leader – Complete Guide

Lowland Leaders play a critical role in helping people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds get out into the countryside and explore the spectacular natural landscapes surrounding us. By facilitating safe and enjoyable excursions in low-level terrain, they open up the natural environment to a diverse group of walkers who want to experience the best of the UK and Ireland under the power of their own two feet.

In this article, we look at what Lowland Leaders are, discuss the training and assessment process required to become one, examine how you can progress after completing the scheme, and talk about potential jobs and how to find them. So, if you are interested in becoming a Lowland Leader and taking responsibility for walks and excursions, read on and learn all you need to know about this excellent opportunity.

What is a Lowland Leader?

First things first, what is a Lowland Leader? Lowland leaders are qualified to lead individuals and groups in “low-level countryside and woodland environments” in summer conditions (Mountain Training). In the UK, walks in low-level countryside and woodland environments meet four criteria.

1. They must follow clearly visible paths marked on maps.
2. They should never be further than 3 km away from an access point. This could be a car park, village or town.
3. They should never cross water by any means besides bridges or other recognised crossings.
4. They should include escape routes that do not require you to cross terrain beyond a Lowland Leader’s capabilities.

Lowland leaders are expected to keep their groups safe and secure at all times. They are responsible for walkers’ safety and must understand the potential risks involved in outdoor activities.

What kind of Lowland Leader jobs are there?

There are plenty of job opportunities for Lowland Leaders in the UK and Ireland. Most of the countryside here meets the lowland criteria and there are relatively few high mountains, so you are not short of places to walk. Walking and hiking are also experiencing something of a boom period, with larger numbers of people heading outside in the wake of the COVID pandemic.

Most Lowland Leader jobs will involve leading group excursions in the countryside. There is considerable demand for individuals who enjoy working with young people, as school trips, adventure programmes and outdoor workshops and events are a great way to get kids out into nature. However, it is also possible to work with adult walkers and Lowland Leaders can generally expect to engage with a diverse range of people.

How can you find Lowland Leader jobs?

When searching for Lowland Leader jobs, it pays to narrow things down by thinking about what you want and do not want to do. Would you enjoy working with kids? Are you looking for full-time, part-time or occasional work? Are you willing to commute or move for the right job? As with most work, it becomes much easier to find a job when you know what you are looking for.

Your first stop should be any contacts you have in the outdoor industry. Do you know anyone who organises walks or regularly participates in them? You may want to ask the people who delivered your training. Though there is no guarantee they can help you, it is a tight-knit community and they may know someone looking for an extra hand.

If that does not yield results, hit the internet. Check out local walk organisers, post on job boards and look through listings. Whenever you contact a business advertising a position requiring the Lowland Leader qualification, make sure you do your research. Not only do you want to ensure that you will be a good fit in the business, but you also want to impress prospective employers by demonstrating that you have taken the time to look into their walks and understand their values.

Becoming a Lowland Leader – acceptance criteria

To get a place on the Lowland Leader training course and acquire the qualification, you must move through the acceptance pathway, meeting certain criteria at every stage.

To register for the course, you must:

• Be at least 17 years old.
• Have a genuine interest in lowland walking and leading groups.

To begin the Lowland Leader training course, you must have either:

• An accurate and up-to-date logbook that contains evidence for 10 “quality” low-level days.

OR

• Attended a relevant personal skills training course recognised by Mountain Training.

Understanding the Lowland Leader training course

The Lowland Leader training course has been specifically designed to provide attendees with the skills and confidence required to lead groups in an appropriate outdoor environment.

As such, the course syllabus is divided into three main subject areas:

1. Management and decision making
2. Teaching and learning skills
3. The walking environment.

To get a better idea of what these subject areas consist of, we will take a look at each in greater depth.

Management and decision making

The management and decision-making unit teaches candidates about their responsibilities as group leaders, how to ensure activities are appropriate and accessible, and how to respond to changes in behaviour and the environment around them. It is about leading by example and understanding the needs and abilities of a group so you can safely lead groups through experiences they enjoy and benefit from.

It also incorporates elements of pre-walk planning and requires candidates to demonstrate an understanding of the boundaries of lowland walking. There will be information on how to monitor and prepare appropriately for the weather, hazards and emergencies, too.

Finally, this part of the syllabus covers choosing and advising on the right equipment, demonstrating safe and efficient walking skills, and navigating using a map and associated skills and techniques.

Teaching and learning skills

Teaching walking skills is a common feature of many excursions directed by lowland leaders. From educating participants about how to set and read a map to providing information on the natural environment around you, lowland leaders must be able to instruct walkers in a clear, concise and effective manner.

The walking environment

The lowland leader training course will help develop your teaching skills by providing you with guidance on how to communicate important information about the walk and the terrain you are passing through. As such, it will cover subject areas such as environmental access and conservation, history, geology and lesson planning and evaluation. Participants benefit greatly from leaders who understand their immediate environment and can communicate that knowledge.

The Lowland Leader assessment – what to expect

Having completed the Lowland Leader training course, you will be assessed on the knowledge you have acquired to ensure you are competent and ready to lead groups of walkers. However, most of the assessment is practical in nature and requires you to demonstrate your abilities in the field.

Before you begin the assessment, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must have attended a Lowland Leader training course or have an exemption.
• You must have knowledge of the Lowland Leader syllabus and training requirements.
• You must have an accurate walking logbook (Mountain Training recommends the DLOG) and have logged 20 low-level walks in the UK and Ireland. These walks must be varied and incorporate different routes and challenges.
• You must have completed a first aid course consisting of at least two full days or 16 hours of instruction. The course must also include an assessment.

The assessment is a two-day event you can book via a Mountain Training-accredited organisation. We will take a more in-depth look at these providers in a moment. Typically, the days involve demonstrating skills in a practical environment, delivering a short talk on a subject of your choosing (usually related to ecology, geology, history or another relevant area), and a series of theoretical exercises.

Though assessors need to ensure you have the necessary skills and knowledge, the assessments themselves are typically run in a relaxed manner, so there is no need to be overly concerned by the process. While participants are encouraged to study and prepare for the event thoroughly, course providers are there to help you through the process and offer guidance.

Lowland Leader qualification providers

There are Lowland Leader training and assessment providers across the UK and Ireland. While all of them are accredited by Mountain Training, each will provide a different experience depending on their approach, team location and level of expertise. We strongly believe RAW Adventures are in a great position to offer you the best Lowland Leader experience possible and equip you with the skills and confidence you need to thrive and succeed.

We are active members of the Mountain Training Association and passionate about the environment, particularly our local area, Eryri (Snowdonia). We are highly qualified and benefit from considerable experience leading groups in lowland and mountainous terrain. We love teaching and working with individuals and groups that want to develop their outdoor skills and learn new ways of interacting with the environment around them.

But, most importantly, we know what it is to be a learner. We are lifelong learners ourselves and have never stopped looking for opportunities to develop our skills, knowledge and understanding. And we make sure that passion for personal development informs everything we do in our training and assessment courses. At the end of the day, we have lots to teach you, but you have a great deal to teach us, too.

You can check out a full list of Lowland Leader course providers on the Mountain Training event site.

Lowland Leader training and DofE

The Lowland Leader course is ideally suited to those who want to lead expeditions for the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver Awards. This means it is popular amongst teachers, community workers and other individuals involved in delivering the scheme and ensuring the safety of the young people participating.

If you are interested in attending a Lowland Leader course for this reason, we recommend getting in touch with RAW Adventures to discuss your needs. It is also a good idea to talk to the institution participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. It may be able to support you through the process of applying and completing the course.

Course progression

For many people, the Lowland Leader course is just the beginning of their journey. As one of Mountain Training’s entry-level courses, it can lead to several other relevant courses that further develop your skills and knowledge. For instance, lowland leaders can advance to the Hill and Moorland course, after which the Mountain Leader course is the logical next step.

There are also a series of skills development courses that aim to provide a deeper understanding of the knowledge and capabilities required at each level.

These include the Camping Leader, Hill Skills, and Mountain Skills courses. While you are not required to attend these courses to progress, they are a great way to build confidence and firmly embed the skills you need to be a successful outdoor group leader.

Some people feel there is no need to attend later courses that offer experience in more mountainous terrain. This is fine, too. If your passion is lowland walking and that is where you want to lead groups and specialise, you are more than welcome to do so.

RAW Adventures offers a series of complementary courses that can help you acquire new skills and cement existing knowledge, too. From rock climbing accreditations to experience mountain walking in winter conditions, these aim to enhance your ability to lead groups in different environments and disciplines.

Your next steps

Hopefully, this article has got you even more excited about the possibility of becoming a Lowland Leader and developing your abilities in outdoor environments. If you are ready to take the jump and book yourself on a course, you can check out the RAW Adventures Lowland Leaders page to find available dates. If you are interested but still want a little more information from the experienced RAW Adventures team, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by calling 01286 870870 or using our contact form.