If you are thinking of hiring a guide or instructor to help you during your visit to north Wales here is some tips to aid you in your quest. 

In the UK, any professional will probably hold one of the National Governing Body awards outlined below (ML summer, ML winter, SPA, MIA, MIC or one of the international awards, British Mountain Guide or International Mountain Leader) however, there is no legal requirement to hold one.

Be sure to hire a qualifed guide or instructor they will all display their respective logo's.
This is YOUR guarantee of the calibre and quality of the individual you choose to employ.

If you are going to hire a guide or instructor you will benefit from people who specialise in rock climbing.

These are SPA (single pitch award limitations , MIA, MIC or Guide qualifications which can also be further backed up by extensive personal experience, so it is worth while examine any individual biography when you are considering hiring some one for a specific project or day out.
If you find that your chosen guide or instructor is busy ask them if they know of someone else who might be able to help you.

You may come across some of these other awards, but thry do not include roped climbing in mountain terrain:

• SPA - for taking groups single pitch rock climbing on crags and indoor walls.

• ML Summer - for leading groups UK hill walking in summer conditions.

• ML Winter - for leading groups UK hill walking all year round.

• IML - for leading walking groups in Europe and Worldwide below the glacier line.

Pricing daily fees

this varies as does the experience of the instructor you will get - expect to pay from £7 for 1.5 hour indoor Taster Session as a member of a large group, and be prepared to pay anything up to around the £400+ mark  for 1:1 days guiding/ coaching.

The higher price will get you a day out with some better know named climbers who have made notable first  ascentsin the region , you do get 'who and what' you pay for.

If you are looking for something or some one special please contact us I might be able to help .

Buy Libby Peters book rock climbing essetial skills libby peter

Rock Climbing: Essential Skills & Techniques

Qualifications and logos explained

starting with the highest awards working to the first/ bottom rung of the ladder awards that instructors can hold and work towards. Details of this pathway can be found here.
Holding a formal qualification means that an external assessor has judged a person’s logged experience and observed performance against documented criteria. Details of which can be checked by looking at the MLTE website

BMG/ IFMG - These will   be members of BMG and some AMI see below

British mountain guide. Part of the International Federation of Mountain Guides this is the only international award and holders of it are experts in "guiding" all aspects of mountaineering and climbing.
(They generally work in the higher Alpine ranges during the summer months)

MIC -Mountaineering Instructor Certificate. These may be a member of AMI see below

This award allows the holder to teach climbing and mountaineering any where in Britain and at any time of the year.


MIA -Mountaineering Instructor Award. These may be a member of AMI see below

Summer conditions. As above but winter mountaineering and ice climbing are out of the scope of this award.

International Mountain Leaders
International Mountain Leaders (IMLs) who work in the hills and mountains of their home country, the alpine regions and further afield.

ML Winter -Mountain Leader Winter.

The holder of this award has been deemed a competent leader in the British mountains at any time of year in summer and winter conditions.

ML Summer - Mountain Leader Summer. As above but only in summer conditions. More details on theMLTE website

see the  hillwalking mountain leader training hand book for more details

WGL - Walking Group Leader award. More about this award on the MLTE site

As ML Summer but only in non-mountainous terrain with easy and safe access to assistance.

SPA - Single Pitch Award.

This allows suitably experienced climbers to safely introduce others to the sport at safe, single pitch, non tidal, easily accessible venues only.

More about the SPA award from the MLTE website

 Additional information about these awards may be found at

• The BBC H2g2 website
• UIAA Training Standards Working Group
• Mountain Leader Training UK
• About the AMI also has data base of members own websites
  
• About the BMG also has a data base of members own websites

Always ask these questions of your guide, instructor or activity provider

• AALA required for paid work with unaccompanied under  18 year olds -
  
  
• What Formal Qualifications does the specific instructor who will be working with you hold - if any?
  If they are not qualified, what specific experience of the activity and venue, plus any written evidence of operating beyond the level of the planned activity, has the person been independantly checked by a technical advisor?.
  
  
• Gear checking system - do they check the gear they use for clients, how old is the gear does it conform to regulations and industry standards?
  
  
• Vehicle and driver safety - if you are going to be driven around by them?
  
  
• Accommodation and food hygiene/safety if they are providing you with food.
  
  
• Specific insurance for the activity - can they recommend some for you?
  
  

Professional associations and more....

 The Who, what, where, why, when and how - of the outdoor qualifications,

To avoid any potential issues with logos and badges being displayed please visit the sites mentioned below so that you can see the individual branding of each organisation in turn.

The Adventure Activities Licensing Authority

The aim of the licensing scheme is to provide assurances to the public about the safety of those activity providers who have been granted a licence. In this way it is hoped that young people can continue to enjoy exciting and stimulating activities outdoors without being exposed to avoidable risks of death or disabling injury.

A licence indicates that the provider has been inspected by the Authority, with particular attention being paid to their safety management systems, and been able to demonstrate compliance with nationally accepted standards of good practice in the delivery of adventure activities to young people.

AALA accredits centres for work with under 18 year olds (minors). If the provider holds an AALA licence it is pretty likely that their work systems are sound for adult work as well.

Please note that an AALA licence does not necessarily mean that the activity provider is a specialist competent guide or instructor of rock climbing.

Visit the AALA website

British Mountain Guides BMG

Our members hold the highest internationally recognised qualification for instruction and guiding in rock and ice climbing, mountaineering and off-piste skiing and ski touring- the coveted IFMGA carnet.

Visit the BMG website

The Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI)

AMI is the representative body for professionally qualified Mountaineering Instructors in the British Isles. AMI is committed to promoting good practice in all mountaineering instruction.

The Association of Mountaineering Instructors aims to help you become an independent and self reliant mountaineer. Whether your sport is hill walking, rock climbing or snow and ice climbing our members will develop your skills to help you move safely and confidently in the British hills.

All full members of the Association are holders of the Mountaineering Instructors Award (MIA) or the higher award, the Mountaineering Instructors Certificate (MIC).

 Visit the AMI website

BAIML - The British Association of International Mountain Leaders

The British Association of International Mountain Leaders (BAIML) is the professional body which represents the increasing number of British International Mountain Leaders (IMLs) who work in the hills and mountains of their home country, the alpine regions and further afield.

Visit the BAIML website

The Mountain Leader Training Association. MLTA

The MLTA is the association for climbing and walking leaders who either hold a national award (Full Member) or are candidates within one of the training schemes (Associate Member). It aims to provide improved communication between award holders and the training boards, allowing members to keep up to date with and be involved in current developments in mountain training.

Membership is open to anyone who has registered for any of the awards overseen by MLTUK and the home nation training boards. Membership of one of the Mountaineering Councils of the UK home nations is also required either as an individual or as a club member.

Visit the MLTA website 

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