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Mountain Skills Scheme MS1 and MS2

Mountaineering Ireland Mountain Skills Scheme

The Mountain Skills Scheme provides two mountain navigation training courses and an optional assessment for people who want to learn to navigate using a map and compass in the Irish mountains.
Mountain Skills covers essential personal proficiency skills but is not a professional qualification such as the Mountain Leader qualification.

Mountaineering Ireland administers the Mountain Skills Scheme in Ireland.

The Mountain Skills Courses, MS1, MS2 and Mountain Skills Assessment

The Mountain Skills Scheme is made up of the Mountain Skills 1 course, the Mountain Skills 2 course and the Mountain Skills Assessment. Both courses and the assessment are two days long. Mountain Skills 1 (MS1) covers the fundamentals of map reading, using the compass and issues such as access and hazards. Mountain Skills 2 (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. 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 Mountain Skills 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 Mountain Skills 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. You pay the registration fee once only for the entire scheme. You pay the course fee for each course or assessment you attend to 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 Mountain Skills 1 or Mountain Skills 2 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 Mountain Skills Courses?

The people who run the individual Mountain Skills 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. You can pay the course fee by card or directly with Revolut.

How do I pay for Mountain Skills 1 or Mountain Skills 2 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. You can pay the course fee by card or directly with Revolut.

Whats the difference between MS1 and MS2 courses?

Mountain Skills Scheme, MS1 and MS2 in Wicklow
Mountain Skills 1
Official Mountaineering Ireland Courses

Mountain Skills 1

The MS1 navigation course suits the novice navigator. You may have been hiking and walking for a number of years as part of a group or club and have relied on someone else to lead the hike or you may be hiking solo and now feel the need to develop some navigation skills. You may have always followed trails or obvious tracks and never consulted a map. Or you may be completely new to hiking and want to develop navigation skills  to increase you confidence. MadeToMove.ie provides MS1 courses in Wicklow, the Comeragh Mountains in Waterford and the Galtee Mountains in Limerick and Tipperary.
Mountain Skills Scheme, MS1 and MS2
Mountain Skills 2
Official Mountaineering Ireland Courses

Mountain Skills 2

The MS2 navigation course suits a hiker with some experience. You may have already completed MS1 or similar course and now you want to improve your skills. MS2 is typically suited to people who know a bit about using a map and compass to navigate. You may know how to use a compass to take a bearing from the map and want to become more confident when using a bearing. MS2 helps you make a safe plan for your hike and provides you with the skills to navigate to safety in poor visibility or when you are running a little late and it becomes dark. It is a real confidence builder. MadeToMove.ie provides Mountain Skills 2 courses in Wicklow and the Comeraghs Mountains in Waterford.

Contact me for details of MS2 or check out my Book a Course page for a full list of courses and payment options.