Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor Training - Part 1
  • Plas y Brenin
  • 5 Days
  • 4 People to 1 instructor

Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor Training - Part 1

  • Climb
  • Mountain Training Award
See Course Dates & Prices
Scroll

Overview

You’re an aspiring Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor and you’re aiming to excel when you take your assessment. So you’ll need to learn from the best in their field, who set the standard for outdoor instruction and will share their specialist knowledge with you, and pushing you to achieve your goal. This two-part training course covers all the essential aspects of the syllabus for the Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor Award. You’ll hone your skills in; the technical aspects of rock climbing and mountaineering, improvised rescue, teaching, the mountain environment, navigation and management. You’ll be out in Eryri’s (Snowdonia’s) spectacular mountains by day and attend evening lectures and activities to supplement the practical with the theory that supports it. The training is split into two 5 day courses, allowing you time to practice the foundation skills learnt during Part 1 before developing them further during Part 2. It’s a learning experience that stays long in the memory. Please Note: To join Part 2, you’ll need to have successfully completed Part 1 first. If you have booked both parts and you’ve had to cancel Part 1 for any reason, unfortunately Part 2 would also need to be cancelled in line with our Terms & Conditions (Terms & Conditions | Plas y Brenin). Life can sometimes throw the unexpected our way, so we’d really recommend looking into course insurance for peace of mind. A great option is the specialist insurance offered by the British Mountaineering Council: www.thebmc.co.uk/modules/insurance.

See Course Dates & Prices

The Objectives

You’ll leave inspired and motivated to progress on to the Mountaineering and Climbing Instructors Award Assessment, enabling you to instruct mountaineering and climbing skills in the UK and Ireland in Summer conditions. You’ll gain many new technical climbing and mountaineering skills, develop your judgement, and gain an understanding of the standard of the qualification. Through feedback and reflection you’ll have a clear understanding of your current abilities and an action plan towards assessment.

Itinerary

* Please note: Itinerary is subject to weather and availability.

We’ll work with the Mountain Training syllabus, concentrating on areas that are difficult for you to learn on your own. The days are generally split into the following Part 1 Day One: Belay Skills and Improvised Rescue – fundamental skills. Day Two: Use of a Single Pitch Crag – as a Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor Day Three: Multi-pitch Climbing – fundamental skills Day Four: Mountaineering – with 1 client Day Five: Navigation – personal performance and teaching In addition, there’ll be evening classroom or centre based sessions, covering the more theoretical aspects of the syllabus. Individual plans for practise before Part 2 will be considered towards the end of the course. Part 2 Day One: Improvised Rescue – in context on the crag Day Two: Taking People Multi-Pitch Climbing Day Three: Teaching Multi-pitch Climbing Day Four: Mountaineering – with 2 clients Day Five: Teaching Mountaineering In addition, there’ll be evening classroom or centre based sessions, covering the more theoretical aspects of the syllabus. Individual action plans for consolidation will be considered towards the end of the course.

Experience Required

Training course bookings must not be made until your Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor registration application has been approved by Mountain Training. To gain the most from this course, you should arrive feeling fit, and confidently leading VS 4c. The focus of the course is managing and teaching others so you should have the personal fundamental skills of climbing. To help you operate safely and effectively, and to maximise your learning Plas y Brenin and Mountain Training recommend you have; Updated your logbook to accurately reflect experience post successful Mountain Leader assessment Confidently climbed VS and sport F6a (or above) within the month leading up to the training course Climbed a variety of graded scrambles Completed further Quality Mountain Days, including poor visibility navigation and in unfamiliar areas within the month leading up to the course Recent leadership experience as a Mountain Leader Recent experience of teaching climbing on a single pitch crag, and running sessions in the climbing wall Read the Mountaineering Instructor Handbook Read Rock Climbing by Libby Peter. Your practical preparation should include; Being tidy and efficient with your rope work – try to eliminate any twists or tangle Practise fundamental rescue skills in a safe environment e.g. tying off the plate, simple hoisting, escaping the system, prussiking Practise taking coils Refresh your summer Mountain Leader skills including ropework, navigation and environmental knowledge. If your registration has been approved but you’re not sure that you’re ready for training, please contact Mountain Training or Plas y Brenin to discuss your next best step. Useful Books: Hillwalking by Steve Long (MLTUK official publication) Rock Climbing by Libby Peter (MLTUK official publication) Navigation by Carlo Forte (MLTUK official publication) Complete Guide to Rope Techniques by Nigel Shepherd Handbook of Climbing by Fyffe & Peter Rock Climbing for Instructors by A. Richardson Nature of Snowdonia by M. Raine Hostile Habitats by Mark Wrightham and Nick Kempe The greater the level of experience a candidate has beyond the minimum requirements the more they are likely to benefit from the training course. Download course handbook here

Available Course Dates

Start the booking process by selecting a course date, then adjust your details to suit your requirements.

Course Start Date
Duration
Cost*
Course Start Date
14th September, 2026
Fully Booked
Duration
5 Days
Cost*
Non-Residential:
£800.00
Residential:
£1,150.00
Join Waiting List Join Waiting List

*If your course is based at Plas Y Brenin, Capel Curig, residential prices include catering from the morning of your course start date and cover the duration of your course, accommodation starts on the night before your course commences to the morning of the last day of your booking.

Your Booking

Course Start Date
Duration
Cost
You have reached the maximum number of places for this course. To book further places, please call +44 (0) 1690 720 214
Total

Course Start Date
Included
Duration
Attendees
Cost
x1

Find a different course for you