The Mountain Skills Scheme
Mountaineering Ireland Mountain Skills Scheme
The Mountain Skills Scheme provides two navigation training courses and an optional assessment for people who want to learn to navigate using a map and compass in the Irish uplands.
Mountain Skills covers essential personal proficiency, using a compass, contour interpretation and safety in the mountains. You will develop outdoor skills and hiking skills but the course is not a professional qualification such as the Mountain Leader qualification. The Mountain Skills Scheme in Ireland is administered by Mountaineering Ireland.
The Mountain Skills Scheme Courses and Assessment
The Mountain Skills Scheme is made up of the Mountain Skills 1 and Mountain Skills 2 courses and the Mountain Skills Assessment. Both courses and the assessment are two days long. MS1 covers the fundamentals of map reading, using a compass, reading a map and issues such as access and safety in the mountains. MS2 equips you with the skills to get home safely despite the conditions. MS2 covers poor visibility navigation or night navigation, steep ground and how to avoid it, emergency procedures and lots more. The Mountain Skills assessment or MSA is a voluntary assessment run over two days, it includes a poor visibility or night navigation. The assessment is designed to assess your outdoor skills and hiking skills and how you look after yourself. If you pass your MSA you have achieved the standard required to be accepted onto the Mountain Leader Award.
Whats the difference between a 'Scheme' and an 'Award'?
In the context of mountain training in Ireland and Mountaineering Ireland courses in particular a ‘Scheme’ such as the Mountain Skills Scheme covers personal proficiency. Passing your Assessment does not qualify you to bring groups out hiking. You are not trained for group management. An ‘Award’ such as the Mountain Leader Award or the Lowland Leader Award is a professional qualification that equips you to manage groups within the remit of the appropriate award.
Do I need to register for the Mountain Skills Scheme?
Yes, you need to register for the Mountain Skills Scheme with Mountaineering Ireland before attending a course on the Scheme. You do not need to be a member of Mountaineering Ireland to register for the scheme. There is however a one time registration fee for the scheme of €28 for adults, free for juniors. The registration fee is a one time payment and covers the entire scheme. You pay the course fee for each course or assessment you attend. You pay the ‘Provider’ who you choose to take the course with. MadeToMove.ie provides MS1 and MS2 courses. You will find a full list of courses on my Book A Course page. Read more about the courses below.
How do I register for the Mountain Skills Scheme?
Register for the Mountain Skills Scheme with Mountaineering Ireland on this page. €28 for adults. Free for juniors. You do not need to be a member of Mountaineering Ireland to register for the scheme. Registration does not expire. MadeToMove.ie provides MS1 and MS2 courses. You will find a full list of courses on my Book A Course page.
Who provides MS1 and MS2 Courses?
The people who run the individual courses and assessments are called Providers. Each Provider has taken additional training and been approved as Providers by Mountaineering Ireland. MadeToMove.ie provides MS1 and MS2 courses. You will find a full list of courses on my Book A Course page.
How do I pay for Mountain Skills Courses?
MadeToMove.ie provides MS1 and MS2 courses. You will find a full list of courses on my Book A Course page. You can pay the course fee by card or directly with Revolut.
Where are Mountain Skills Courses located?
MadeToMove.ie provides MS1 courses in Wicklow, the Comeragh Mountains in Waterford and The Galtee Mountains in Limerick and Tipperary. I also run courses in other locations on request such as in The Mourne Mountains in County Down, based at Meelmore Lodge. MadeToMove.ie provides Mountain Skills 2 courses in Wicklow and the Comeraghs Mountains in Waterford. You will find a full list of courses on my Book A Course page. The location has appropriate ground to allow you to learn more outdoors skills, develop your confidence and encourage you to use your new hiking skills to explore the Irish uplands.
Whats the difference between MS1 and MS2 courses?
Mountain Skills 1
Official Mountaineering Ireland Courses
Mountain Skills 1
Mountain Skills 2
Official Mountaineering Ireland Courses
Mountain Skills 2
Contact me for details of MS2 mountain navigation course or check out my Book a Course page for a full list of courses and payment options.