About AMI
About MTA
About Snowsport Scotlant
About REC

Why Mountaineering Skills?

"Mountaineering Skills are common to many adventurous activities - I offer a wide range of both training in skills and guiding of adventurous activities. As a proud member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI) I, like my colleagues, love sharing my passion for the mountains and climbing both with the people I come into contact with through work & personal adventures."
~Kieran Thompson (owner).

This short video from the AMI showcases just some of what we can do. Have a look then scroll down to see what's on offer.

Hill and Mountain Skills

Hill & Mountain Skills

Whether it's your first day out learning to use a map and compass, or you're learning to take the lead on a classic multi-pitch rock climb, or tackle a classic mountain scramble - a Mountaineering Skills day is all about you, your journey and your aims. Kieran is an approved provider for the Mountain Training 'Skills' courses which are listed below along with other popular options - but if these don't seem right for you, get in touch and together we can come up with a bespoke plan to suit your aims.

Hill Skills

Hill Skills

A 2-day Hill Skills course is your key to getting started in countryside, hill and moorland walking. No previous hill walking experience is required because the content of the course is aimed at beginners. If you do have some experience of hill walking but aren’t confident about planning walks, navigating and understanding the equipment required, then a Hill Skills course, certified by Mountain Training, is an ideal way to learn.

Mountain Skills

Mountain Skills

A 2-day Mountain Skills course, certified by Mountain Training, is an ideal choice for people interested in exploring mountainous terrain and want to develop their confidence in the mountains. Participants should have some basic hill walking experience and a reasonable level of fitness. The physical effort required on these days will be more demanding than the Hill Skills course and you can expect to be out in the mountains for between 5-6 hours per day.

mountain scrambling

Scrambling Skills / Guiding

Kieran can guide you up a classic scramble such as Tower Ridge (Ben Nevis), Curved Ridge (Buachaille Etive Mor), Aonach Eagach (Glen Coe), any of the Skye Munros, or a route of your choice. Or Kieran can provide a Mountaineering Skills 'Scrambling Skills' course which can teach you the safety, movement and rope skills to become self-sufficient when scrambling.

  • 1:2 max Instructor to student ratio.
  • £150pp or £300 for 1:1 instruction.
  • Contact us to discuss your aims and plan a bespoke day out.
learn trad lead climbing

Multi-Pitch Climbing Skills / Guiding

Guided or instructed? Your choice! Kieran can guide you up a classic multi-pitch rock climb, or if you're ready (we'll have a chat about what 'ready' means when you book), he can help you progress towards lead climbing in the fabulous Scottish mountains. Venues, routes and grades will be discussed and chosen to suit your aims. Let Kieran know if you already have a location or a route in mind!

  • 1:2 max Instructor to student ratio.
  • £150pp or £300 for 1:1 instruction.
  • Contact us to discuss your aims and plan a bespoke day out.
multi-pitch rock climbing

Rock Skills

You might be looking to take your indoor climbing skills and try them outdoors, or maybe you want to learn to lead climb - whatever your aims, a Mountaineering Skills training course will help you to learn the skills and abilities to gain the confidence to enjoy the climbs. Kieran is an approved provider for the Mountain Training 'Skills' courses which are listed below - but if these don't seem right for you, get in touch and together we can come up with a bespoke plan to suit your aims.

rock climbing skills introduction

Rock Skills Introduction

Want to try rock climbing? Maybe you've done some indoor climbing already, or maybe this is your first time climbing. Either way, the 1-day Mountain Training 'Rock Skill Introduction' course is ideal for beginner climbers; those who have never climbed on rock and those with limited experience of climbing indoors. No previous experience is necessary.

rock climbing skills intermediate

Rock Skills Intermediate

Have you been climbing before but want to become more independent? The 2-day Mountain Training 'Rock Skills Intermediate' course is aimed at people with some experience of climbing who want to improve their movement skills, develop their ropework skills and learn about traditional protection. Previous experience of climbing and belaying is required.

learn to lead sport climbing

Learn to Lead Sport

There are now several good sport crags in Central Scotland. Take advantage with a 2-day Mountain Training 'Rock Skills Learn to Lead Sport Climbs' course - ideal for people who are ready to progress to leading sport routes on rock, improve their lead climbing confidence or refresh their leading skills. Experience of climbing and belaying (indoors or outdoors) is required.

learn to lead trad climbing

Learn to Lead Trad

The 2-day Mountain Training 'Learn to Lead Trad Climbs' course is all about learning traditional climbing skills including how to place protection, build belays and move in an assured manner on rock. This course offers participants a great introduction to leading simple trad climbs and being a truly independent climber. Experience of climbing and belaying including 'seconding' trad climbs is required.

Snow and Winter Skills

Snow & Winter Skills

Some say that the Scottish hills are at their most beautiful when they have their winter coats on. If you've not ventured out and made some fresh tracks before, you're in for a treat! Winter Mountaineering Skills courses can be single or multi-day courses, for groups or individuals, tailored to suit your needs. If the options below don't describe what you're looking for, get in touch and we can chat about what sort of Winter Mountaineering Skills you'd like to learn and how we can help you.

learning winter skills

Winter Skills

Learn winter mountaineering skills and maybe bag a Munro at the same time! We cover the use of crampons and ice axe as well as avalanche awareness, safe travel techniques and more. The Mountaineering Skills One or Two-Day Winter Skills courses are ideal for those who want to become independent in the Winter mountains. Guided walks are also available for those who just want some help with navigation and safety. Summer hillwalking experience is required.

  • 1:6 max Instructor to student ratio.
  • £150pp or £300 (per day) for 1:1 instruction.
  • Contact us to discuss course dates, your aims and plan a bespoke skills course.
navigating in a whiteout

Winter Navigation Skills

Develop your toolbox of navigation skills to ensure you always know where you are in a white out. We cover pacing, timing, countour interpretation, GPS and more over one or two-days. Practice your navigation skills in Scotlands most challenging season to give you the confidence to know when to go on, and when to turn back. Summer navigation experience required & participants must already be proficient with ice axe and crampon use.

  • 1:6 max Instructor to student ratio.
  • £150pp or £300 (per day) for 1:1 instruction.
  • Contact us to discuss course dates, your aims and plan a bespoke skills course.
ski touring in Scotland

Ski Touring & Split Boarding Skills / Guiding

Do you already ski or snowboard and want to get away from the crowds? If so then a One or Two-Day Mountaineering Skills Ski Touring / Split Boarding course is the answer! Learn the ski mountaineering skills to safely ski and board off piste and in mountainous backcountry terrain. Guided trips are also available for those who are already competent tourers but want help with navigation and safety.
Ability to ski/board (survive) red runs on-piste is required.

  • 1:6 max Instructor to student ratio.
  • £150pp or £300 (per day) for 1:1 instruction.
  • Contact us to discuss course dates, your aims and plan a bespoke skills course.
winter mountain rescue skills

Winter Mountain Rescue Skills

Winter Mountain Rescue techniques & personal skills for Mountain Rescue team members. As an experienced Mountaineering Instructor, Winter Mountain Leader and Mountain Rescue Team Member, Kieran has worked with several Scottish Mountain Rescue teams. He has experience of delivering training including full team rescue scenarios and personal skills training to team members. Kieran has a professional and flexible approach to training and will bring a safe, supportive and encouraging atmosphere to your team training.

  • Contact us to discuss dates, aims, instructor to student ratios and price per day.
first aid and self rescue training

Rescue Skills - Principles & Practice

With experience of Mountain Rescue and as a qualified Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor and First Aid Trainer, Kieran is well placed to offer training and guidance on rescue skills. Training courses focus on principles (rather than rules) and allow time to practice them in different scenarios, building confidence and competence as well as understanding. If the options below don't describe what you're looking for, get in touch and we can chat about what sort of Mountaineering Rescue Skills you'd like to learn and how we can help you.

self rescue and problem solving for climbers

Problem Solving & Self Rescue Skills

Want to ensure that you can "escape the system" or retreat from a multi-pitch climb? Learn the principles and skills to stay safe and look after yourself and your partner. Kieran can also deliver refresher workshops for those working towards the Mountain Training Climbing Wall Instructor or Rock Climbing Instructor assessments.

  • 1:2 max Instructor to student ratio.
  • £150pp or £300 for 1:1 instruction.
  • Contact us to discuss your aims and plan a bespoke training day.
outdoor first aid training

Outdoor First Aid

Kieran is an approved provider of Rescue Emergency Care (REC) certified first aid courses. These are 16 hour (2 day) courses with a practical focus (no powerpoint!) on performing first aid in the outdoor environment. Courses can be delivered entirely outdoors or with a mix of indoor and outdoor sessions.

  • 1:12 max Instructor to student ratio.
  • £600 for a group of 6, plus £60 per extra person.
  • Contact us to discuss course dates, and plan a bespoke first aid course.
  • For HSE First Aid at Work courses see expedientfirstaid.com
mountain rescue skills roped

Mountain Rescue Rope Skills

Rope rescue skills for Mountain Rescue team members. As an experienced Mountaineering Instructor and Mountain Rescue Team Member, Kieran has worked with several Scottish Mountain Rescue teams. He has experience of delivering training including full team rescue scenarios and personal skills training to team members. Kieran has a professional and flexible approach to training and will bring a safe, supportive and encouraging atmosphere to your team training.

  • Contact us to discuss dates, aims, instructor to student ratios and price per day.
mountain rescue team skills

Personal MRT Skills

Personal Mountaineering Skills for Mountain Rescue team members. Some teams value having their personal skills refreshed by an external instructor. Kieran is happy working with new team members and experienced ones alike and will tailor the day according to their needs and the agreed aims of the team training - anything from navigation to security on steep ground and multi-pitch climbing skills.

  • Contact us to discuss dates, aims, instructor to student ratios and price per day.

Kieran - Mountaineering SkillsKieran is appropriately qualified and experienced to be a Technical Expert (previously known as a Technical Advisor) in mountaineering, rock climbing and other related activities as defined by the Adventure Activity Licensing Regulations. The regulations require a competent person/s to advise on safety matters – regulations 6(1)(a)(iv) and 9(1)(c). It is essential for the management of activities to be in competent hands; whether this is an internal manager, a staff team, or an external safety adviser(s). This competent person/s may need to call on the services of a specialist ‘technical expert’ to answer specific technical questions or to undertake the assessment of instructors where they are deployed to operate without a national qualification or beyond the remit of their qualifications. The ‘technical expert’ role is limited to assessing leaders as competent (when required) and providing technical advice in relation to specific issues (when requested).
If you think Kieran might be able to support your organisation as a technical expert, get in touch to discuss the details.

scrambling the Aonack Eagach in summer

"Mountaineering Skills are common to many adventurous activities - I offer a wide range of both training in skills and guiding of adventurous activities."

Kieran Thompson

Kieran - Mountaineering SkillsKieran has been mountaineering since the 1990's and his most memorable peaks include Mount Kenya, Mont Blanc and, closer to home, the Skye Cuillin and of course Ben Nevis. In 2003 he graduated from Strathclyde University with a BA (Hons) Outdoor Education. In 2005 Kieran became an Accredited Practitioner (APIOL) and is now a Recognised Professional (POL) of the Institute for Outdoor Learning and he has been a mentor and assessor for the APIOL scheme. Since 2010 he has been an active member of Scottish Mountain Rescue, first with Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team and now with Tayside Mountain Rescue Team. Kieran has always worked full time in Outdoor Education and has a passion for sharing the outdoors with others, passing on the skills and knowledge he has gained over the years. Kieran holds the Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor Award which is the highest qualification for climbing and mountaineering in the UK in summer conditions. He also holds the Winter Mountain Leader Award and Mountain Snowsports Leader Award which qualifies him to lead groups in the winter mountains on foot, ski and snowboard. Kieran is also a qualified sailor, paddler and mountain biker - whilst these don't directly relate to Mountaineering, his experience accross a wide range of adventurous activiites help him to provide a safe, enjoyable and positive experience for his clients.

Kieran is a full member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI), the Mountain Training Association (MTA), Snowsport Scotland as well as a trainer with Rescue Emergency Care (REC) and an approved provider for Mountain Training Scotland 'Skills' courses. For more information about the organisations see the links below.

AMI
MTA
Snowsport Scotland
REC
Mountain Training Scotland

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