Are you ready to get out and about and stretch your legs? We are delighted to let you know that you can reserve a space for our walking training and assessment weekend in spring 2026, please fill out the form below.

When: Friday, 10 April – Sunday, 12 April (timings will depend on which course you are attending).

Where: South Newton Camp & Training Centre, South Newton, Kilmacolm, PA13 4TW

Cost: For the day course the cost will be xxx. For those  requiring overnight accommodation the cost will be £27.50 for Girlguiding Scotland members. The cost includes all meals and accommodation (as relevant). It does not include any travel, see below for more information.

Contact: ann-marie@girlguiding-scot.org.uk

Who is it for?

This weekend will offer the opportunity for those beginning their walking journey to come along and take part in a level 1 walking training course (1 day), for those ready to stretch themselves further you could join our level 2 walking training (weekend) and for those that are ready we also have a level 2 assessment(weekend) available. All course will be support by our knowledgeable and experienced walking trainers and assessors.

Level 1 training

This course is open to all members of Girlguiding Scotland aged 16+who would like to

• Gain the skills and knowledge to take the girls walking in lowland country.
• You do not need any previous walking experience to start at level 1.
• It will provide some of the skills needed to undertake a Queens’s Guide or Gold DofE expedition
• Level 1 training will take place on Saturday, 11 April. (there will be overnight accommodation if needed)

What will the day involve?

The training will cover the main topics of the practical and theoretical  sessions of the walking scheme for level 1, to gain the skills and knowledge to take your girls walking in lowland country, including urban and rural environments, nature trails, tracks and paths through local woods, fields and recreational areas.

Level 2 training

This training is open to all members of Girlguiding aged 16+ who would like to:

• Extend their walking skills and improve navigation techniques
• Learn how to lead Girlguiding groups safely in the hills
• Work towards gaining a qualification having done DofE or Queen’s Guide expeditions
• Move to level 2 after completing level 1

To start at level 2 you should have undertaken 6 walks in any type of country of which:

• 1 should have been at least 6 km or 4 miles
• 3 should have taken place in the last 3 years
• 2 walks should have been in open country

If you are interested but are unsure if your prior experience is suitable, please get in touch and we can discuss with you.

What will the weekend involve?

The training will cover the main topics of the practical and theoretical sessions of the walking scheme, including:

• Route planning
• Navigational techniques
• Group management
• Hazards and risk assessment
• Day, micro and low visibility navigation

Level 2 assessment

If you plan on booking onto the assessment, you must have completed the level 2 walking training on a previous weekend and have agreed with your mentor that you are ready to complete the assessment before booking. Please get in touch with Kathryn if you have any questions regarding if you are ready to complete the assessment.

Level 2 logbook walk

If you need some log book walks, there will also be an opportunity to join peer-led logbook walks over the weekend.

Accommodation

Accommodation is in bunks. Details on what you may need to bring regarding bedding will be provided on booking. You will need to bring towels and slippers, no outdoor shoes are allowed inside.

Additional Information

Once the pre-registration has finished, the course team will determine if we have sufficient numbers to run all aspects of the course,  at this stage we will communicate directly with you to confirm the spaces available. If you are under the age of 18 and book to attend, you will be asked to complete the relevant forms as required.

Please note, this venue doesn’t permitted dogs on site apart from assistance dogs.

If you have any queries about the course content or want to know more before booking, please email Kathryn our walking adviser on:

kathryn@girlguiding-scot.org.uk

• You are registering your interest in attending one of the courses, this doesn’t guarantee you a space.
• The full fee does not include travel to and from the event. Girlguiding Scotland are happy to cover up to £35 per Girlguiding Scotland member towards the cost of travel to attend the training.  Please request an expense claim form on booking and complete when you have attended the event.

If you have any particular queries about the course, please email Kathryn Topham, Girlguiding Scotland walking adviser on kathryn@girlguiding-scot.org.uk.

Booking Process

You can reserve through the link below. The link for pre-registration will remain open until 19 January 2026.