If your interested in getting qualified to lead groups of people on Dartmoor (or Bodmin, Exmoor and the Brecon Beacons) then have a look at the South-west Moorland Leader Scheme.
It is a modular scheme allowing you to go from a beginner navigator/leader right through to leading groups on the Moor in “winter” conditions on multi-day expeditions.
Ideal for teachers organising ten Tors teams or Duke of Edinburgh expeditions it allows a gradual progression with out the time commitment that the traditional “Mountain Leader” scheme requires.
Not long before the night navigation begins...
It still requires some dedication though, and as a rough guideline you should have a minimum of 20 quality moorland days in your logbook before going for assessment. Three days in poor visibility and some group leadership experience is also a must.
The Scheme breaks down like this:
- Coastal and Country-side leader
- Summer Moorland Leader
- Winter Moorland Leader
- Wild Camping Endorsement
The training courses are generally two days (minimum of 21hours) and the assessments are done on a single day.
It is a really good scheme, and ideally suited to those living in the south-west and wanting or needing some paperwork to prove their competence as well as for people wanting an introduction to leading groups on the moor.
It’s organised by local authorities such as Devon County Council and is recognized by the Mountain Leader Training Board.
Here’s some contact info for the Dartmoor Centres who run the scheme for Devon County Council:
email: dartmoor.centres@devon.gov.uk – 01364 631500
The course 2011/2012 brochure: http://www.devonldp.org/do_download.asp?did=301996
The syllabus: http://www.devonldp.org/do_download.asp?did=9454
