Structured Online Mountain Skills Courses

The MSO Library is always growing and ALL of these courses below are included with your monthly or annual subscriptions.

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Trad Climbing Course

Take your climbing skills to the next level with our Trad (Traditional) Climbing Course, designed for adventurous climbers looking to move beyond sport climbing. This course teaches you how to safely place gear, assess anchors, and climb single and multi-pitch routes with confidence.

The lead coaches for this course are:-

Libby Peter — IFMGA Mountain Guide, Mountaineering Instructor & Author

Dave Rudkin — IFMGA Mountain & Ski Guide and Mountaineering Instructor

Through a combination of step-by-step video lessons, practical exercises, and expert feedback, you’ll learn:

Proper placement of nuts, cams, and other protection

Building secure belays and safe belaying skills

Learn about the equipment we might use

Managing single and half ropes

Stance management on multi pitch climbs

Whether you’re training for your first trad routes or aiming to refine your skills for more challenging climbs, this course gives you the knowledge, techniques, and confidence to develop the knowledge, techniques and judgement to make sound decisions on the crag.

All lessons are designed for flexible learning, allowing you to study at your own pace, practice in the climbing gym or on the crag, and upload videos for instructor feedback.

Find out more

Scrambling Course

Scrambling offers the opportunity to take adventurous routes in the mountains, exposed ridges, rocky buttresses and elegant rocky lines. Our scrambling course guides you through all the skills to tackle scrambles safely and with confidence.

Through step-by-step video lessons, practical exercises, and expert feedback, you’ll develop skills including:

Techniques for moving efficiently over mixed rock and mountain terrain

Choosing and planning appropriate scrambles

Using hands, feet, and basic climbing techniques effectively

Route finding and decision making on scrambles

Emergency rope work skills

Our scrambling course is perfect for hill and mountain walkers looking to transition on to more technical terrain, with an advanced scrambling course coming soon.

Whether you’re aiming to confidently tackle your first scramble or improve your ability on more technical terrain, this course equips you with the knowledge and skills to scramble safely and enjoyably.

Lessons are designed for flexible learning, allowing you to study at your own pace, practice on local crags or mountains, and upload videos for instructor feedback.

Find out more

Mountain Navigation Course

(Landing in your MSO Library October 2026)

Master the essential skills to navigate safely and confidently in the mountains with our Mountain Navigation Course, designed for both summer and winter conditions. Whether you’re planning a summer ridge walk or a winter snow-covered route, this course teaches you how to read the terrain, interpret maps, and use a compass and GPS effectively.

Through step-by-step video lessons, practical exercises, and expert feedback, you’ll learn:

Map reading and compass skills for precise navigation

Route planning and terrain assessment

Navigating in poor visibility, including fog, snow, and low light

Winter navigation techniques, including using GPS, tracks, and natural features

Safety strategies and risk management when traveling in remote terrain

This course is ideal for hikers, climbers, and mountaineers who want to move confidently across mountains in any season, enhancing both safety and enjoyment.

Lessons are designed for flexible learning, allowing you to study at your own pace, practice in the field, and upload videos or questions for instructor feedback.

Core Mountain Skills Course

Our core skills area is the part of our platform that contains lessons and knowledge relevant to all other courses and any mountain enthusiast. This area will grow to contain lessons on clothing systems for the mountains, choosing appropriate safety kit, core knots and rope work skills and much more.

Through step-by-step video lessons, practical exercises, and expert guidance, you’ll learn key skills including:

Correctly fitting helmets, harnesses, and other climbing gear

Choosing and understanding the right ropes

Efficient rope coiling

Basic knot-tying

This area is aimed as a growing resource ideal for climbers, mountaineers, and scramblers who want a solid foundation in essential gear and rope skills.

Tom

“Mountain Skills Online’s Trad Climbing course has given me the confidence to develop my skills and understand the process properly, from equipment choices and techniques through to building a better awareness of safety and decision-making. The teaching is clear, detailed and delivered by people with genuine experience. It feels like having an experienced climbing partner guiding you through each step.”

Alex

“The Scrambling course has been brilliant for building my confidence in the mountains. It breaks down the skills, techniques and thought processes needed to tackle more challenging terrain safely, while keeping everything practical and easy to understand. The real-world examples make it much easier to apply what you learn when you’re out on the hills.”

Lisa

“The quality of Mountain Skills Online is exceptional. The production value, from the filming and audio to the attention to detail in every lesson, really sets it apart. It’s clear that a huge amount of thought and experience has gone into creating something that is not just informative, but genuinely enjoyable to learn from.”

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