Last month, one of our regional volunteers, Sam Ferguson, in the South West (Dorset and Somerset) region, ran a Rock Climbing Instructor peer-learning workshop at Dancing Ledge, Swanage. The workshop was a chance for Rock Climbing Instructor trainee’s (or those qualified looking to refresh skills) to network, practise rigging skills, releasable abseils, crag management and some simple problem solving.
The Mountain Training Association has a network of regional volunteers across the UK & Ireland running free peer-learning workshops throughout the year. You can find all workshops through your Mountain Training account and a list of regional volunteers in the Association’s members area.
What a weekend! Our South East and Somerset and Dorset regional groups came together for a weekend of skills at Tyle Morgrug bunkhouse thanks to our regional volunteers Jo and David who organised a fabulous weekend of navigation, flora and Fauna, social and food, a welcoming space for people to share their experiences and aspirations.
There really was so much value in providing the opportunity to bring people together with common goals, the weekend created an open community where connections are made and friendships were formed. Thank you to everyone who took time out to come along,
Jo’s knowledge of flora and luck with the weather continues and David’s knowledge and ability to spot birds was something else! Thanks to everyone for a great weekend.
These are not mountains.
These are close-up images of melanoma and sun-damaged skin, shaped by years of UV exposure in the very environments they resemble.
Sun exposure remains one of the most normalised and least challenged risks in outdoor activity.
☀️ Only 16% of outdoor organisations have a dedicated sun protection policy
☀️ Over two-thirds report sun or heat-related incidents, including sunburn and heat exhaustion
☀️ At altitude UV levels increase by approximately 10–12% for every 1,000m gained, while snow can reflect up to 80% of UV radiation, intensifying exposure to the face and eyes.
With support from the @melanomafund Sunguarding courses are being seeded across the outdoor sector through partnerships with the @mt_association (Mountain Training Association)
Stay sunsafe in the mountains. Remember regularly apply SPF factor 50+, cover up and take even more care when in high altitude and on snow.
Campaign by @klick.health@melanomafund@alextakaki
For March only, Cimalp are offering a 15% discount to all Mountain training Association members! Read below for more details…
The Cimalp GUIDE PRO Jacket
Engineered for the most demanding alpine conditions, the Cimalp GUIDE PRO Jacket (available for men and women) is the trusted choice for mountain rescue teams across Europe. Featuring the inhouse Ultrashell® high-performance membrane, it delivers 20,000mm waterproofing and exceptional breathability. Built for durability and professional use, it offers uncompromising protection in the toughest environments.
Special Offer: Use code 15OFF during the month of March to receive a 15% discount on your order (not only the jacket).
Great night last night running navigation under the Worm Moon in Calke Anbey. Out for around 3 hours. Loads of fun!
#mta #mountaintrainingassociation #nightnavigation
In January, Abdul, one of our regional volunteers for England, Central and London (North), ran a social and networking walk in Marlow. The walk was a great opportunity to meet other Association members and increase knowledge of the lowland environment. Lots of tips and tricks were shared as well as some detailed discussion about the Lowland Leader qualification. Keep an eye out for more events like these coming up this year!
Here are some images from a recent night navigation session ran by our Regional Coordinator, Helen, in England, West Midlands.
Winter is the perfect season for night nav! Night navigation workshops are an excellent opportunity to practice navigating in the dark or in poor visibility with peers. We have plenty more in the diary for the rest of the season, so check out the workshops tab in your Mountain Training account to find one near you.
Thank you to everyone that attended our annual Winter weekend at Glenmore Lodge. Here is a selection of photos taken over the two days, most importantly featuring some snow!
We hope you all had a great time and manage to get out into some more wintery conditions before Spring!
Applications to the Mountain Training Association Mentoring Program are now open until the 22nd of February 🥳
Get to personalized support to help you prepare for assessment by clicking the application link in our bio and following the instructions in tahdah.
We can't wait to match you up with a mentor and help you begin your next steps 🥾
For more info please check out the news article on our website.
Spaces available on our upcoming online Remote Supervision workshops!
These courses are aimed at experienced and qualified leaders who are responsible for training and supervising groups remotely in wild country. It is therefore highly relevant for those involved in supporting groups with their D of E expeditions, Ten Tors training and other development courses. It is recommended that participants have a minimum of 20 days experience as a qualified leader.
Book your place now through your Mountain Training account.
❄️ A weekend of playing and learning in snow and ice in the #Cairngorms at the @mt_association winter conference!
🥾We certainly had a proper introduction to winter mountaineering with plenty of snow and some very strong (80km/h plus) winds - the vegetation was mostly covered but I still saw some familiar friends: fir club moss, bog asphodel, and all the heathers - and Alpine Azalea in the last image (thanks to @mountaintrailsie for the ID), with plenty of pink granite.
Till next time Cairngorms! ❄️
#wintermountaineering #cairngorm #mountaintraining #scotland
Are you looking for personalised support on your journey to assessment? The Mountain Training Association Mentoring programme is opening for applications on Friday 30th January for the 8th year running!
A mentor can help you with goal setting and creating achievable milestones tailored to you on your journey to becoming qualified. All our mentors are selected for their valuable insights, built from years of experience working towards and then using their qualification. They are given specific training from the association so they can offer advice, support with reflective practice opportunities and help you build confidence in your skills. Many previous mentees also mention how the supportive relationship helped them gain momentum and find motivation to achieve success because they felt that had someone invested and looking out for them.
Since 2018, 137 mentors have supported 197 mentees towards assessment (as of 05/2025). In the 2025 survey, mentees reported that having a mentor gave them confidence, encouragement, reassurance and a safe place to ask questions. Many also feel speaking to their mentor enables them to realise that they know more than they realise and so feel more confident.
Want to get involved?
Applications for mentees open on Friday 30th January to Sunday 22nd February. You must be a member of the Mountain Training Association, AND have completed training in the qualification you want mentoring in.
Want to be a mentor? Application open on the same dates. You must be an association member and be qualified in the qualification/s you wish to mentor.
