Lowland Leader Training

Learn to confidently lead groups of walkers in the varied, beautiful lowland areas of the UK and Ireland with the nationally recognised Lowland Leader training course. Developed by awarding body Mountain Training and delivered by RAW’s skilled trainers, this two day course takes place in several beautiful UK locations in small, personalised groups. On completion, you’ll be ready to apply your learning to the Lowland Leader Assessment and become a qualified Lowland Leader.

In small groups of just 6 people, you’ll learn:

Essential leadership and group management skills to help you fulfil your responsibilities as a leader on lowland walks
Walking skills to help your groups move safely and efficiently, and how to adapt walks to different levels
Reliable sources of weather information and how to use them to successfully plan routes, activity and equipment
The art of basic mapwork and route finding skills
Emergency procedures and how to recognise and manage common lowland walking hazards
Rights of way, how to identify access land and the importance of environmental awareness and conservation

Lowland Leader with RAW Adventures

RAW Adventures is proud to be an accredited Mountain Training provider with over 40 years’ leading and teaching experience. We’ve all been through the Lowland Leader qualification process ourselves, and are 100% committed to your success!

We keep our training groups small (1 trainer to every 6 participants), enabling us to provide a safe, personalised experience that gives you the best chance of excelling in the Lowland Leader Assessment and gaining your final qualification. Small groups also allow for a sociable experience and - combined with plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful places you’ll be learning in and the in-depth local knowledge of your trainer - your two days with us will be fun as well as educational.

After your course your trainer will provide feedback on your performance and recommend areas to focus on prior to the Lowland Leader Assessment. If you’re inspired to do more, we can help you continue your journey with other leadership qualifications, including Hill & Moorland, Mountain and Camping Leader.

I had a really great experience with RAW for the Lowland Leader training and our leader Hev. I learnt a lot, had a brilliant time, and feel very empowered to consolidate the skills I need for the lowland leader training assessment. I would highly recommend this company and Hev if you are interested in taking this course.

Amy

Who's it for?

Lowland Leader training is for anyone who wants to confidently and safely lead others in low level countryside and woodland. It’s ideal for Duke of Edinburgh leaders, volunteer staff, teachers and new/experienced hike leaders, and opens up a natural pathway for people wishing to lead and work with others in the outdoors.

Prerequisites for Lowland Leader

You must have a genuine interest in low level walking and the supervision of groups
You must be at least 17 years old (and 18 or over to take the Lowland Leader Assessment)
You must have recorded a minimum of 10 quality lowland day walks or completed a Hill Skills course

As the awarding body, Mountain Training requests all candidates register for the Lowland Leader scheme before beginning training: the current cost of registration is £65. If you’re not already registered, the RAW team will guide you through the registration process after you’ve booked.

If you’re not sure whether your experience is sufficient, get in touch and we’ll be happy to guide you. If you’ve previously completed Mountain Leader or Hill and Moorland Leader training, you can progress straight to Lowland Leader Assessment.

Just wanted to say a big thank you - firstly to you for coordinating and your patience in getting us booked in! Secondly to Rich - he was amazing! We really enjoyed the training, he was knowledgeable, personable and he fitted into the group dynamic whilst directing us!

Meron

Book Now

Lowland Leader training is £165 per person for the two day course, with an instructor ratio of 1:6. Overnight accommodation is not included, but we will provide you with recommended overnight options.

If you would like us to send an invoice to your organisation for this course, please enter the discount code MT2025INVOICE during the checkout process. This will reduce the cost to zero when booking and generate an invoice to be sent to the email address you booked with for you to pass on to your school/organisation.

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FAQs

What is a 'quality lowland day'?

To join the course, you need to have recorded a minimum of 10 Quality lowland day walks, or you must have completed a Hill Skills course. To be considered a Quality Lowland Day, the following criteria should be met:

Takes place within lowland terrain in the UK or Ireland
The individual actively participates in planning and leading the day
The area explored is unfamiliar
Navigation skills are required throughout
New knowledge is gained, and relevant skills are practised
Judgement and decision-making are integral to the experience
The day involves a minimum of four hours’ journey time.

If you’re not sure if you have enough Quality Days, or need more information before signing up, contact the RAW Team.

What is DLOG?

Everyone who signs up for a Mountain Training scheme gets access to a personal DLOG, a digital logbook designed to record your activity experience within Mountain Training’s programmes. Once you’ve signed up, you can access DLOG at any time by logging into your Mountain Training account. Instructions on how to use DLOG will be sent to you when you sign up.

Why do I have to register with Mountain Training?

Mountain Training is the awarding body for Lowland Leader training and each one-off registration fee provides access to their nationally recognised qualification. When you register, you'll also get life-time access to Mountain Training’s candidate handbooks, a full record of your training and assessment history on their industry-leading candidate management system, as well as access to a digital logbook for recording your experiences. You do not have to pay any recurring fees to keep your registration or qualification active.

What will I be able to do as a Lowland Leader?

Once you’ve passed your Lowland Leader Assessment, you’ll be qualified to lead others on day walks in low-level countryside and woodland environments and manage groups safely during this activity. Qualification opens up a natural pathway for anyone wishing to lead and work with others in the outdoors.

How long does it take to get qualified?

We recommend all but the most experienced candidates allow a minimum of three months between training and assessment. There is currently no time limit on the validity of a training course, so you can complete the qualification in your own time.

Still have questions? Get in touch with our team.

Fantastic couple of days on Lowland Leader training, Ross is extremely knowledgeable and really helps you to grasp concepts and skills in a fun, engaging environment. Excellent, would highly recommend.