Mountain Leader assessment courses in the Lake District

The Mountain Leader scheme is a national qualification administered by Mountain Training, providing a level of basic competence for those who are in a position of responsibility in mountainous terrain in summer conditions in the UK. It focuses on good practice which allows safe enjoyment of mountain walking, and it is valid throughout the UK and Ireland. Chris is approved by Mountain Training as a course provider for the Mountain Leader scheme. When you enquire about a course we will send you our detailed course notes.

Why book with us?

There are a huge number of Mountain Leader courses throughout Britain, so why should you book with us?

1. We present the course syllabus in a relaxed, fun atmosphere, with the emphasis on interactive learning to encourage you to ask questions and get the most out of your time with us.

2. We view the assessment course as an opportunity for extending your learning and competence.

3. We offer a 5% discount to all returning clients.

4. Our clients think we do a great job! Check out some of their comments towards the bottom of this page.

What are the pre-requisites for the Mountain Leader assessment course?

The period between training and assessment varies in length for each person and is an opportunity to develop your skills, paying particular attention to any weaknesses identified during the training course. There is no time limit.

Before you do your assessment::

• You must have attended a Mountain Leader training course (or have been granted exemption)

• You must be familiar with the syllabus

• You must have logged a minimum of 40 Quality Mountain Days in three different regions of the UK and Ireland

• You must hold a current first aid certificate, minimum 16 hours and relevant to your work as a Mountain Leader

• You must have logged at least 8 nights camping, including at least 4 nights wild camping

You can book your place before you have done the above, and we will ask you to have your DLOG ready for us to check three weeks before the start of the course.

What does the course cover

The Mountain Leader assessment is a five-day course and it includes a two night expedition. The following areas will be assessed:

• management & decision making: leader responsibilities, leadership & decision making, planning & weather, hazards & emergency procedures

• technical competence: equipment, walking skills, navigation

• expedition skills

• teaching & learning skills

• access, conservation & the environment

• the walking environment

Detailed information on each of the above topics can be found in the Mountain Leader handbook (download it from the Mountain Leader page on the Mountain Training website).

A typical programme looks like this:

Day 1: Course introductions, mountain day, general mountain paper.
Start 9.30am, finish around 5.30pm.
Day 2: Steep ground day, mountain weather paper.
Start 9.00am, finish around 5.30pm.
Day 3: Expedition day one.
Start 9.00am
Day 4: Expedition day two.
Day 5: Expedition day three. Results, debriefs, feedback and action planning.
Finish around 12.00pm.

Where are the courses based?

Our Mountain Leader courses are mainly run in the mountains of the Langdale and Coniston areas of the Lake District, so bear this in mind if you are booking accommodation - Ambleside is a good place to base yourself. The expedition element of our assessment courses occasionally starts and finishes at Seathwaite in Borrowdale. Our choice of venue for each day varies with each course, depending on the weather conditions and the participants.

We can also provide courses in other parts of the country on request.

Accommodation

Please see the Essential Information for Qualification Courses page for information about accommodation.

What equipment will I need?

A detailed equipment list can be downloaded here

What about transport?

Please see the Essential Information for Qualification Courses page for information about transport.

How much will it cost?

Five-day assessment course: £430
Course fees are non-residential (you arrange your own accommodation).
5% off to any returning client.

When are the courses?

Check out the online calendar for availability on these courses.
June 3rd-7th 2024
August 19th-23rd 2024
October 7th-11th 2024
November 18th-22nd 2024
If you have a group of 4 or more, we can often provide a bespoke course on a date to suit you.

What can I do to prepare?

Please see the Essential Information for Qualification Courses page for useful blog posts and resources.

What Do Our Clients Say About Us?

For older testimonials, please see the Testimonials Archive page.

Lockdown meant I couldn't book a course in Wales (where I did my training). I also wanted to do the course elsewhere and with another provider to get some variety. Really glad that I did.
Gareth Morton, October 2020

Excellent booking process and assessment course. Couldn't imagine getting a better experience with anyone else.
Nathan Gibson, October 2020

Thanks again for this week. Without question the week has had a significant impact on me. Yes, I passed my ML but I gained so much more than this in my overall approach to life and the mountains. What is clear is that another door has just been opened and what I see on the other side is another world that I need to know more and explore! Thanks Chris again for a truly inspiring week.
Nick Phillips, June 2021

Really helpful information and lots of great tips and guides on the website. Although an assessment, I came away having learnt lots, both from the instructors and candidates. The pace was superb and it didn't feel like an assessment, just a fabulous opportunity to learn more about something I love. Some great route choices and locations - some places I had not been before. The assessors were seriously amazing! A laid back approach, but with great knowledge and experience that wasn't forced on individuals. Always delivered in a way that was accessible, timely, fun and friendly. Candidates felt relaxed and able to give their best. Just a massive thank you for a great learning experience!
Andy Macfarlane, August 2021

I would just like to take the opportunity to thank you both for all you have done in helping me achieve my Mountain Leader award. From the informative prompt responses from Anne to taking the time to bake me a birthday cake to share with other members on our assessment really helped to break the ice and bring the heart rate down - it really was kind. Chris has been totally inspirational from the first day we met on one of his Masterclasses, with his learning ethos of progressional learning which undoubtedly led to restoring my confidence. When I first came on a Masterclass I had it in my head that it was probably going to be a one off. After that first session driving home I knew then that I wanted to come back and that the road to my ML award was achievable. The way Chris put things kept me engaged, curious and wanting to learn more. This whole journey has been difficult at times leading to my ML assessment, but through Chris it’s left me wanting to attend more Masterclasse and to be the best I can at being an ML, so that I can pass my knowledge on to others to inspire them to get out in the mountains and to experience some of the spiritual feelings it has to offer. Words are often spoken without feeling but believe me when I say to you both… Thank you!
Dave Pratt, August 2021

Whilst demanding, the programme was designed to allow everyone to perform to the best of their abilities. The first day was relatively easy, helping to put everyone at their ease, and more advanced skills were needed on subsequent days. Once established that candidates were working at ML level, all three instructors were keen to provide additional training beyond the ML syllabus. This meant that I learnt a lot during the week, making it much more valuable than simply an assessment week. I enjoyed myself much more than I thought I would on an assessment! Chris and co. did a great job of bringing out the best in everyone, and I Iearnt a lot.
Stephen Hessey, October 2021

Anne was super helpful, efficient and always happy to offer advice and reassurance when needed. The programme gave a really good mix of learning and assessment with sharing of advice and experience. Great locations with lots of varied terrain. Everything was really well organised, but with a relaxed feel (as much as it can be when you're the one being assessed!) and really liked that I was continually learning throughout the week. The debrief at the end was also really helpful to give some focus as to what to do next and a reminder to keep on learning and progressing. I was very lucky to have some great people on the assessment with me too, that really does make a difference. All the assessors did their best to try and make things as relaxed as possible whilst still trying to get the best out of you. It was good to have different assessors as you get to learn from their different experiences and each one taught me something different. I did my training with Chris and quite a few subsequent courses and days out over the last couple of years and all have been fantastic. I've always learnt loads and been encouraged to carry on learning. It's always such a positive experience (even though I was beyond nervous throughout the whole assessment week!)
Sharon Bianchi, November 2021

Well planned programme, lots of notice to book accommodation and some great suggestions for accommodation aswell! The instructors were fantastic, very relaxed atmosphere to assessment, allowing you to focus on what you needed to do without worry. Having done my RCI assessment with Chris in the past I knew I would get a great opportunity to show my abilities as well as the chance to also continue learning!
Dan Horsfield, November 2021

Easy booking system and Anne was really helpful thought-out the process. I really liked how the programme was run in a really relaxed mannor and you gave us enough information to inform us but not overwhelm. Great instructors, who once again kept the whole process relaxed and informative. I really liked working with all the different staff as each one has their own expertises to pass on.
Callum Berry, November 2021

Brilliant communication, booking process and follow up information all in a timely and appropriate manner. Above and beyond instructors! Friendly and approachable. Really made those assessment nerves calm down. Outstanding course where the staff were inspiring and provided a space for us as candidates to have a fair opportunity to showcase the required skills in a safe and realistic environment. Thank you very much.
Laura Patrick, November 2021

As promised the whole week was a great learning experience, and we were given enough slack to be able to reflect on what we can improve on, and enough time without pressure to be able to check and double check on our relocations. The assessors were excellent - all were patient and supportive, and created calm out of a potentially stressful experience.
Mark Richards, April 2022

I had met both Chris and Jon before so I knew what to expect - demanding but super encouraging and ready to settle any nerves or remind you that they know you can do something if you look like you are doubting yourself. They have different styles, which is great as MLs all work differently and one might pick up on something that the other didn't. Both assess what people can do quickly and are keen to push people to do over and above what they think they can do, tailored to the individual of course. They also like to learn about you, your past experience and your aspirations and are keen to learn from everyone else as well as passing on their own knowledge. II did my training with Chris Ensoll after getting several recommendations. I also did a Contours Masterclass and a Steep Ground Masterclass with Chris, again because these came highly recommended. I wanted to do my assessment in Cumbria as it is where I live, play and will work, and had such a good experience previously I wanted to come back. While it meant Chris knew my strengths he also knew my weaknesses and I wanted to show that I had worked on these to get myself ready for assessment. I still have a lot to learn, and I really do need to work on being straight and strong, fluid and dynamic but I am trying! Thanks Chris for your patience when I had a wobble! Assessment is a stressful process but you do work hard at settling nerves and getting the best out of people. Now the dust has settled I actually feel like I'd like to go through it all again, which is testament to your methods, personality and humour!
Tina Codling, June 2022

Amazing pre-course information supplied, happy to answer any questions and a real good feel to the whole lead up process. Brilliant team to assist us with our assesment, Jon was a brilliant instructor and I believe there's still so much more to learn off this man. Chris was full of knowledge and I've learnt a great deal off these two men across a short space of time. Alex was also great to have around for the first 2 days, he put myself at ease and set me up well for the week ahead with easy conversation and shared knowledge.
Alex Fitzgerald, June 2022

The website showcased a philosophy to outdoor learning and leadership that I had not seen on other Mountain Training course websites, and it showed that you valued a 360 degree take on learning and development. One of the photos on the website gave the impression that you value the human and what is going on with them in their heads. Bobby was comforting and also interesting to see how dogs can be trained well and not of danger to wildlife - a harmonious way of sharing the land which helped to deepen the experience of a walk in the hills.
Tean Hewson, August 2022

I had a fantastic week. Chris is so knowledgeable and he uses this to push you out of your comfort zone and to make you better. I didn’t feel like I was on assessment - it felt like I was continuing to learn- like training round 2. It was testing without being gruelling - the right balance. I really enjoyed it. Simon was kind, friendly and knowledgeable. He made everyone feel relaxed and I liked the daily debriefs of how the day went- strengths and weaknesses. Thank you very much for a professional and well organised course! I only wish I had learned some of the things much earlier!!
Sophie Wright, August 2022

I have attended numerous training courses / assessments both in the military and business world, and this was by far the best course I have attended. Alongside the technical appraisal of skills, Chris and Si provided really valuable input to help support with leadership and management skills. Chris has 'lit the fire' for my Winter ML :-)
Ed Walker, August 2022

I have thoroughly enjoyed completing my training and assessment with Chris - it has been a challenging, enriching experience and I have learnt a lot. The training week, plus the additional support and information available via videos, mentoring etc, was excellent preparation for the assessment, which provided no surprises as a consequence.
Dave Mackie, October 2022

The assessment was challenging and felt like Chris and the team wanted to push everyone to show what they could do and improve, but in a very supportive and encouraging way. It never felt like a tick-box approach and Chris and team made us think practically and how we might use our skills in the real world. This was so valuable and I definitely felt like my skills were developed as well as being thoroughly assessed. Having done my training with Chris and had a brilliant experience, it was the obvious choice to continue through to my assessment.
Ian Brotherton, October 2022

Found course on Mountain training website, booked direct through your own website. This was easy to navigate and I received good communications to confirm booking and explaining the programme for the week. I was quite attracted by the mountain mentoring, and the approach that assessment is further learning. Following booking I found the blog posts on your website, really liked this and could see it being an appealing point for other candidates.
Alex Hackett-Evans, April 2023

I really like Chris’s philosophy that the point of an assessment is not just to test but an opportunity to improve. I spent a long time as a police firearm’s officer with that same philosophy. The goal is not to pass but to be the very best you can be.
Chris Unsworth, April 2023

All the assessors were brilliant - supportive and wanting to get the best from us. It was only reflecting at the end of each day that I realised how much more I'd learned each day. The dates fitted within school holidays (I'm a teacher), and I also liked the fact that there are plenty of master classes/refresher days to practise skills before the assessment (useful both in terms of practising skills and also meeting other people who were then on my assessment so we could meet up and practise skills like night nav and ropework before the assessment). I want to continue to do refresher/masterclass days in the future.
Sarah Sigsworth, April 2023

Super-enthusiastic, calm, positive, supportive and knowledgable sums up the instructors. Chris - you have inspired me to get back at it and do more stuff in the mountains. Al - thanks for all the ideas on the steep ground stuff.
Laurie Dickinson, August 2023

Heard lots of great things, booked with friends. Will definitely recommend. Thanks for a brilliant week!
Alex Bishop, September 2023

What a week! Thanks to Chris, Stu and Al for a wonderful week on the ML assessment. I learnt just as much as in training!
I enjoyed working with three different people with different personalities, coaching styles and backgrounds. That said, all three of you find the balance between a supportive, challenging and fun environment and I really think it helped me to show a true picture of my current abilities. You’ve got the skill to instil confidence over a few days not just by drilling hard numbers but by working with different brains and teaching in the most applicable way. Thanks for modelling leadership in action, it was an inspiring week!
Katherine Andrews, October 2023

Chris and Stuart are not the same and have different ways of engaging delegates, and the mixture of teaching styles enhanced the overall experience.
However, they are the same in the following sense: I regularly spend time learning from or working with people who are skilled and proficient at what they do. Both Chris and Stuart are not just skilled and proficient at what they do in the sense that they "know all about" the material and the skills needed in the mountains. They "are" the mountains. This is their world, not just the thing they know about. There's a difference. I'm grateful for the opportunity to spend time with them in their world, where they are in their element.
Ian Woods, November 2023

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