What is a Quality Mountain Day?

A ‘Quality Mountain Day’ for the Mountain Leader should take place in mountainous terrain in the UK or Ireland.

The main mountain areas include:

• Eryri (Snowdonia)

• Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)

• The Lake District

• Mountains of Mourne

• Scottish Highlands

• Galloway Hills

• Cork and Kerry Mountains

• Galway and Mayo Mountains

• Donegal Mountains

• Dublin and Wicklow Mountains

All the following criteria should be fulfilled:

• The individual takes part in the planning and leadership.

• An unfamiliar locality is explored.

• A mountain is ascended.

• Navigation skills are required.

• Knowledge is increased and relevant skills practised.

• Judgement and decision making is required.

• Five hours or more journey time.

These criteria mean that days as a course member under instruction, a member of a group practising skills, or days spent repeating familiar routes are very unlikely to meet the requirements of a quality day.

Does overseas experience count?

Whilst overseas experience can be useful as an indication of breadth of experience, these days, if used as part of your logged ‘quality days’, should be in similar terrain and conditions to those found in the UK and Ireland to be truly relevant to the qualification. 

The majority of your experience however, at least 50% of the minimum requirements, should be in the UK or Ireland.