Lowland Leader Award (LLA)

The Lowland Leader Award is for people who have some experience in leadership and outdoor instruction and wish to become qualified to take groups in lowland countryside and woodland in summer conditions.

On passing the Assessment you have the skills necessary to lead a group of walkers within the permitted remit of the award within the UK. You will be assessed on such skills as group management, navigation, emergency procedures, access and conservation, and environmental issues.

The Lowland Leader Award trains and assesses candidates in the skills required to lead others on walks in lowland countryside and woodland that fit ALL of the following criteria:

• Walks must not cross any hazardous terrain (e.g. cliffs, very steep slopes, water hazards etc.).
• Throughout the walk the group should never generally be more than 3km away from a key access point such as a car park, lay-by or populated area. Any potential escape routes should also lie within the scope of the defined terrain for the Lowland Leader award.
• Walks will require the ability to plan routes, use simple navigation skills using a map and compass and be self-sufficient.
• Walks must follow paths or tracks that are both marked on a map and clearly visible on the ground and that do not require navigation across untracked areas.
• Walks must use bridges or other recognised water crossing points.
• Walks must only take place in summer conditions (ie when there is no unavoidable snow or ice on any part of the route).

As with all Mountain Training awards, a combination of technical competence, leadership skills and a wide range of experience form the basis of effective group management. The scheme addresses all these elements. However, the employer or operating authority must ultimately decide whether a leader possesses the personal attributes needed to take responsibility for any particular group of people.