Useful Skills Resources
If you joined us on a Peak Adventures course, this page brings together a few trusted resources linked to the themes we covered: weather interpretation, navigation, planning and sound decision making in the hills.
It is not intended to replace time on the hill. It is simply a practical reference page for the subjects we talked about and the skills worth continuing to practise.
How to use this page
Use these resources to reinforce one or two skills at a time. A short day out with a deliberate focus on map orientation, relocation, forecast interpretation or route choice is often more valuable than trying to do everything at once.
Small, regular practice tends to build better judgement than occasional big days with no clear learning focus.
What to keep practising
Reading the forecast properly, identifying terrain from the map, estimating time and distance, relocating calmly when uncertain, and making conservative decisions when conditions are not right.
Trusted resources for continued practice
We have kept this deliberately selective. A small number of useful, credible resources is usually more helpful than a long list of links.
MWIS & Met Office forecasts
Mountain forecasts are far more useful than standard town forecasts. Used together, MWIS and the Met Office help build the habit of checking wind, visibility, precipitation and freezing level in relation to the hills you plan to visit.
These are established mountain forecasting services used widely by people planning days in the UK hills and mountains.
- Compare the forecast to your route and elevation
- Look beyond temperature alone
- Pay attention to wind strength and cloud base
- Consider precipitation and freezing levels
OS Maps & navigation practice
Navigation improves with regular practice. Digital mapping tools can support route planning and learning, especially when combined with traditional map and compass skills.
OS Maps provides official Ordnance Survey mapping and route planning tools widely used by hillwalkers across the UK.
- Orientate the map before setting off
- Use contour detail to picture the ground ahead
- Practise distance judgement and timing
- Relocate calmly when uncertain
AdventureSmart & avalanche awareness
Good mountain days usually begin before you leave home. These resources help reinforce the habits of preparation, decision making and understanding conditions in the hills.
AdventureSmart is a recognised outdoor safety campaign and Be Avalanche Aware provides accessible guidance on recognising and avoiding avalanche terrain.
- Think honestly about your skills and experience
- Match the objective to the forecast and conditions
- Recognise terrain where avalanche risk may exist
- Adjust plans when conditions change
Simple habits worth carrying forward
- Check a proper mountain forecast before every hill day.
- Relate the forecast to your actual route, height and terrain.
- Keep map and compass skills active rather than relying only on a phone.
- Use familiar ground to practise distance judgement, bearings and relocation.
- Think carefully about terrain, consequence and changing conditions.
- Be willing to shorten, change or abandon a plan when conditions are not right.
Where you might go next
Many people use a skills course as the starting point for spending more time in the mountains. These are some of the natural next steps once those core skills begin to feel more settled.
Guided Mountain & Scrambling Days
Guided mountain days are a great way to apply the skills you have learned while exploring classic mountain terrain with an experienced guide.
Explore Mountain DaysMicro Adventures
These shorter mountain journeys are ideal for applying navigation, planning and hill skills in real mountain environments without committing to a longer expedition.
Explore Micro AdventuresGuided Wild Camping
For those interested in travelling further into the mountains, guided wild camping trips combine navigation, mountain travel and overnight journeys in remote landscapes.
Explore Wild CampingGood judgement is built through practice
Mountain skills develop over time. Regular practice, careful planning and honest decision making make a real difference in the hills. Use these resources as prompts to keep those skills active between courses.