Mountain Skills courses

Irish Adventures is a approved provider of Mountain Skills training courses by BOS (Irish mountain training Board), we run mountain skills courses in Kerry (Dingle, Killorglin and Killarney), Cork, Galway, Mayo and Wicklow (Glendalough) or any part of mountainous region in Ireland on request. Mountain Skills courses are set in the most mountainous region of Ireland and this is very practical and realistic when you are involved in the course in an area where you will need all the skills the mountain skills scheme has to offer.

Scheme of the Mountain Skills course

The Mountain Skills Scheme aims to teach hill-walkers the skills required to look after themselves in the Irish Mountains. The course provides training in the basic skills required to carry out hill-walking competently, safely and enjoyably. Aspects of navigation, equipment, safety and mountain hazards are covered. The training course is particularly suitable for:Members of mountaineering clubs who wish to obtain formal instruction in basic skills to supplement experience gained in club activity

Members of educational, voluntary and youth organisations being introduced to Hill Walking as part of a broader training in Adventure Sports.

Prospective Mountain Leadership Candidates.

Anyone who wants to learn basic mountaineering skills for personal interest.
Mountain skills training is usually done over two weekends and is called Mountain skills 1 & Mountain skills 2 with two days training each weekend, this is however possible to do over 4 continuous days such as long weekend. At the end of the training period candidates may sit a two day Mountain Skills test/assessment.

The Mountain Skills Course

Mountain Skills training is divided into three blocks, MS1, MS2 and MS assessment. MS1 and MS2 are the basic training blocks covering all aspects of hillwalking that the candidate will require to become a self-sufficient hill user.MS1: This course includes map-reading and simple navigation techniques, recognition of natural features, distance measurement and timing of walks.

Mountain hazards are also covered, as is personal equipment such as correct clothing and emergency equipment. MS2: This course builds on MS1. It covers the use of a compass, route-planning and the preparation of route cards, night navigation, scrambling/ steep ground, mountain rescue and emergency procedures. MS Assessment: The third block is a consolidation of skills learnt in MS1 and MS2, and is an opportunity for candidates to test their mountaineering proficiency to a prescribed standard. MS assessment is held over two days, and comprises both written and practical evaluation, including a night navigation exercise. Candidates wishing to undertake MS assessment are required to maintain an official BOS logbook of their mountaineering activities, and to have logged at least 14 walks in a number of different upland areas of Ireland. At least four of these walks should be within two months of MS assessment.