Enjoying The View
MS1 Wicklow Information
The Wicklow Mountain Skills 1 course is beginner friendly and we don’t go very far or very fast, we concentrate on observing the landscape and matching the map to the landscape. It’s usually a couple of days filled with lots of questions and answers….and laughs. I have a map and compass for everyone on the course. You will find a full list of courses on my Book A Course page.
You will find all the info you need below but feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.
You will find helpful information about equipment, map and compass used, meeting time and place. Health and Course fee & Payment
‘Mountain Skills’ courses are two (2) days long. All my courses are about learning to navigate, they are not about going on monster hikes, no special fitness ability is required. No camping is required. Contact me via my Contact Page if you have any questions. If you want to know more about me, my qualifications and Insurance read more on my About Made To Move.
‘Mountain Skills’ courses are two (2) days long. All my courses are about learning to navigate, they are not about going on monster hikes, no special fitness ability is required. No camping is required. Contact me via my Contact Page if you have any questions. If you want to know more about me, my qualifications and Insurance read more on my About Made To Move.
MS1 & MS2 Wicklow Course Dates
Contact me for details of MS2 or check out my Book a Course page for a full list of courses and payment options.
MS1 Meeting Time & Locations Wicklow: Day 1
- The Glendalough Hotel Car Park: Meeting 9.30am-Finish at 5.00pm Google Maps Link: Glendalough Hotel Website Link As you approach the Glendalough Hotel from Laragh you will see two carparks on your left. One into the Glendalough Visitors Centre and the next carpark is the Glendalough Hotel Car Park. You can park wherever you like and just walk to the carpark as I will be in the second carpark along the road just next to the hotel. There may be a charge to park in the Hotel Car park. This is private property. There is poor network coverage in the area. Please check the link above before you set out.
MS1 Meeting Time & Locations Wicklow: Day 2
- Hero Lead & Zinc Mine Wicklow Gap Car Park: Meeting 9.30am-Finish at 5.00pm
Map & Compass
I supply a map for each participant. If you want to buy your own I recommend a waterproof, laminated, encapuslated or lam fold map, they are much more hardwearing. ‘Waterproof paper’ maps usually don’t wear very well.
- Wicklow: EastWestMapping, Lugnaquilla & Glendalough 1:25,000 Scale Map https://eastwestmapping.ie/product/lugnaquilla-glendalough-2/
I supply a compass for each participant. If you want to buy your own I recommend the Silva Expedition 4. Please ensure you get one with ‘degrees’, 360˚not one marked with ‘Mills’
- Silva Expedition 4 https://silvasweden.com/collections/compasses/products/expedition-4
- This is a useful link to read about your compass Compass manual
Map & Compass Local supplier
Adventure.ie https://store.adventure.ie/
Hiking Equipment List, Winter & Summer
This list is not exhaustive. Please consider bringing all equipment that you think might be useful. You can always leave it in the car and not bring it on the hike.
Please check road conditions before you travel and remember you will be driving home probably after dark. You will be tired and conditions my be difficult. I usually have spare clothes in my car, a flask of tea or coffee and some food, that just sets me up for the drive home. Please don’t wear cotton t-shirts or pants, they don’t dry quickly and will allow you to get colder quicker
- Consider a synthetic or merino base layer, you can get different weight layers that keep you warm in winter and cool in summer
- Thermal layers for your legs
- Gloves, mitts, fingerless gloves, wrist gaiters (I love these)
- Hats, buffs, balaclavas
- Extra fleece tops
- Spare heavy down or synthetic jacket
- Outer waterproof shell jacket and leggings
- Boots. I prefer leather for Irish conditions. Make sure the sole is in good condition
- Gaiters that cover your boots are great to have
- Liner socks and hiking socks should be considered, less blisters and the liner socks can be changed if you need to
- Lip Balm, winter/summer wind can give you wind burn
- Sun block, winter/summer always a good idea
- Food, whatever you need. I’d suggest snacks of some sort that you can eat on the go and something more substantial like sandwiches for when we stop.
- Drinks: winter. If you use a hydration bladder the water in the hose may freeze during the day. I’d suggest hot water with fruit juice in a flask or container, you can wrap it in a spare jacket to help keep it warm. You might put the container in a dry bag or big ziplock just in case it leaks.
- Drinks: summer. Lots of water before you start the hike, lots more during the hike and lots when you get home. it will help you recover for the following day and prevent cramp. Unless you use a filtration system its best not to drink water directly from streams etc.
- Consider that we burn more calories in the cold
- A small rucksack to carry your personal equipment
- A head torch, essential if we plan to do a night navigation, good to have in your bag regardless
- Bring your personal medicine if you need it
- Walking poles if you use them
- If we need crampons and ice axes we won’t be going
- This list is not exhaustive
Weather
Please check the weather before you attend a course. This is an important habit to get into. The course schedule and location may change due to weather considerations.
- Met Éireann https://www.met.ie
- Mountain Forecast: https://www.mountain-forecast.com/
Learning Resources
Please have a look at the following content if you can, or at least review the content after the course.
Mountaineering Ireland Mountain Skills Registration
If you haven’t already done so please send me your Mountain Skills registration number and a copy of the email address you used to register. I will need those two bits of info to complete the course report. More info here:
Health
If you have any health or injuries issues that you feel may impact your course then please let me know. Neither day will involve long hikes. Max 6-10 Km. We will be concentrating on learning to navigate and managing ourselves in the outdoors. We won’t go far and we won’t go fast.
If you have any questions please feel free to ask.
Payment
Course Fee: €150 Per Person. Contact me for details of MS2 or check out my Book a Course page for a full list of courses and payment options.
Terms & Conditions
If I have to cancel due to bad weather or not having the minimum number of people on the course then I will refund you or we can reschedule.
If you cancel after payment is received you lose your course fee. If I can find someone else to fill your place I will refund you or offer you a place on another course. I try and accommodate people as sometimes people do have to cancel. I take photos on the course which I may use on social media and advertisements, please let me know if you do not want to appear in photos.