Advanced Canyoning Training Course

Perthshire, Scotland

The UKCA Advanced Canyoning is the third level of recreational certification within the UKCA training scheme. This workshop-style training course is designed for a student who is at an intermediate level and wishes to progress their technical canyoning skills in order to progress into more advanced canyons.

Key Information

£460 per person

group discounts available

min 2 - max 6

min age - 18

mar - oct

free photos

recreational

duration - 4 days

location

reviews

COURSE

COURSE DETAILS

Profile

On completion of the course, the student will have the skills and knowledge to progress into more advanced canyons rated V3.A3.ii and above. The graduate will have strong technical skills in canyon environments, demonstrating anticipatory skills for reducing risk to themselves and their teammates. The student will have the skills to progress into multi-pitch canyons with strong knowledge of Swiftwater, rescue and technical rigging.

Trainer

UKCA Senior Trainer

Duration

4 days

Cost

£460pp

Prerequisites

Must be 18 years or older.
Good level of fitness and swimming ability.
Have completed the canyon leader training course (or similar)

UKCA recommends the student has consolidated skills from the canyon leader course and has a good level of canyoning experience.

Membership

No membership required.

Syllabus

Day 1 - Rope Progression and Swift water

Part 1A - Horizontal Rope Progression

The student will learn how to move safely on:

Full void traverse lines with intermediate points

Part 1B - Vertical Rope Progression

Passing knots on descent
Passing knots on ascent
Descend using improvised descenders
Ascend using improvised device
Ascend on double rope
Pass a knot on a double rope
Pass a rebelay
Ascend a guided abseil

Day 2 - Anchors and Rigging

Part 2A - Rigging Theory

Fall factor and impact force
Single, twin and double rope systems
Compound and Isolated rigging systems
Rope optimisation and packing

Part 2B - Anchors

Identification and use of natural anchors
Human Anchors
Retrievable anchor systems

Part 2C - Rigging Traverse Lines

Set up - Fixed traverse line without intermediate points
Set up - Fixed traverse line with intermediate points
Set up - Retrievable traverse lines with intermediate points

Part 2D - Rigging Systems

Releasable System - Twin Rope (MMO)
Releasable System - Twin Rope (Releasable fig 8 block)
Releasable System - Twin Rope (Joker system)
Releasable System - Double Rope
Static System - Twin Rope (Stone Knot)
Static System - Twin Rope (Fig 8 Block)
Multi-Pitch Rigging
Guided Rappel - In loop method

Day 3 - Rescue and Swift Water

Part 3A - Rescue on Rope

Indirect - Counterbalance haul rescue using PCP
Indirect - 3:1 Simple Haul
Direct - Assistance rescue
Direct - Rope cut rescue

Part 3B - Swift Water Progression - Canyon rated A3 or River grade 2 max

Defensive swimming.
Active (Aggressive) swimming.
River Crossing advanced techniques.
Set up and use a tension diagonal.

Part 3C - Swift Water Rescue

Rescue principles - Shout Reach Throw Go
Contact Rescue
Swift-water tie off

Day 4 - Clinic Day

The clinic section is designed to give the student the opportunity to practice and start consolidating skills from the course under the guidance of a trainer. The clinic can be carried out on a canyoning descent on a training wall or cliff.

WHAT WE PROVIDE

Equipment can be hired at £10 per day.

5+5mm Canyoning Wetsuit With Hood

Harness And All Technical Gear

Helmet

Technical Canyoning Shoes and 3mm Neoprene Socks

CE PPE Equipment Only

Sports Insurance Up To £10 Million

Pick Up And Drop Off (On Request)

Free access to V7 Academy Level 1

Supervised by Qualified UKCA Trainers / Assessors

WHAT TO BRING

Canyoning Equipment (Equipment can be hired at £10 per day)

Swimwear

Waterproof Camera / GoPro (at your own risk)

Medication (If Required)

Want to bring your own?

You'll need a wetsuit, shoes for canyoning, a helmet and a full canyoning harness.

Canyoning Equipment

Canyoning harness (with attachment point)
Lanyards
Hand ascender
Chest ascender
Chest Harness
Descender
Footloop

1x Master carabiner
4x Working carabiner
Figure 8
Canyon Quickdraw
Slings
Prussic
Progression Capture Pulley
Knife

LOCATION

REVIEWS

Stuart29/06/22
  I cannot recommend highly enough the Canyoning leaders course run by The Canyoning Company. The course, run over 5 days, delivers exceptionally high quality practical technical training in an extremely engaging and professional manner. Enrolment on the course also provides access to the superb V7 academy online training platform which complements and enhances the learning experience.
 
 George and Ben were diligent, incredibly generous with their time and they quickly established a fun and conducive learning environment.
 This course was exceptional value for money and has provided me with a solid set of skills to safely and efficiently embark on my own canyoning adventures in the future. 
Rebecca Rebecca24/06/22
 
  I cannot recommend highly enough the Canyoning leaders course run by The Canyoning Company. The course, run over 5 days, delivers exceptionally high quality practical technical training in an extremely engaging and professional manner. Enrolment on the course also provides access to the superb V7 academy online training platform which complements and enhances the learning experience. 
 Led by elite instructors George Yates and Ben Case, both of whom are founding directors of the UKCA and are leaders in the industry for formulating and delivering advanced level training, their passion and enthusiasm for the sport was contagious as they diligently imparted their vast breadth of knowledge and experience. 
 George and Ben were diligent, incredibly generous with their time and they quickly established a fun and conducive learning environment. 
 This course was exceptional value for money and has provided me with a solid set of skills to safely and efficiently embark on my own canyoning adventures in the future. 
Si Tinley13/05/22
 
  I have just completed the Canyon Leader course. The course had the perfect blend of classroom, workshops and canyons to learn, develop and perfect the skills required to lead descents in V3A3ii graded canyons. 
 
 The Canyoning Company instructors George and Ollie are so knowledgeable and experienced and excellent instructors. Both spoke passionately about canyoning and delivered so many valuable personal lessons learned in addition to the course syllabus.
 
 The venues used were really good, from the classroom/shed at the Nae Limits base to the several canyons at the appropriate grade within 45mins drive. The river for day 2 white water lessons was also excellent training ground. With such a central Scottish location it’s perfect.
 
 The preparation instructions for the course we’re key to its success. It put the candidates at a minimum standard so that the course could be taught without too much 1-2-1 requirements on basics such as knot tying. The V7 Level 2 resource is a game changer for the industry and not only does it allow these courses to be run efficient and effectively it provides ongoing resource and reference to maintain knowledge of what was taught on the course.
 
 Can’t wait to do my L1 Guide training next! 
Krysia Niamh Bedford14/05/21
 
  My partner and I recently did the 4 day canyon leader course with Ben and George. The course includes access to an online portal (V7 academy) full of written and video material in regards to canyoning, so if you want to do further canyoning or atleast be self sufficient in it, this is such a great and helpful resource to have.
 The course itself involved some indoor classroom based workshops which were 90% practical, and really helped to practice some key techniques such as rigging or tying proper knots!
 The remainder of the course involved exploring three different canyons- Tummel, Acharn and Bruar... all were so beautiful! All equipment is provided, and even as a very cold person, I survived quite well! There's a range of different abseils, ziplines, jumps, slides and swims to get through the canyon. Ben and George were wonderfully reassuring, and really knowledgeable, catering from the more nervous to the more adventurous members perfectly. They're happy to support you in finding your adventurous side, and more than happy to come up with a less daunting option if you choose to opt out of some of the bigger obstacles.
 Would 100% recommend to anyone, and we will definitely drive the 10 hours to go back and do more days of canyoning! 😀 
Ryan Clark09/11/20
 
  I did the whitewater and advanced whitewater training with the guys at The Canyoning Company. After many years of canyoning it was perfect to practice some more advanced techniques, learn lots of new ones and improve some old habits. It was hard to find a course that caters to experienced canyoners wanting to improve all round skills however this was perfect. 
Amelia Penfold03/10/20
 
  Had an awesome time on the beginner and then advanced white water canyoning course led by Ben Case and George Yates this past week! Learnt so much and had a blast in some canyons and white water! On the last day when it was tipping down we were able to get techy with ropes in the Nae Limits Adventure training area looking at methods (mechanical and manual) for ascending and descending, haul systems and direct rescues. The day before we were able to get in and do some rigging in the River Garry and get in and feel the different hydrolic features in high water! Got to head to Dollar canyon with two of the other participants Ryan Clark and Allan Dunlop on a day off in between the two courses and have a play and consolidate the techniques from the beginner course. On the beginners course we did a full day of introduction and practice with white water features, swimming and crossing techniques and rescue techniques and principles. We were also taught releasible and retrievable abseil and traverse line rigging methods which we were able to practice in the canyon at Bruar the next day as well as explore guided rappels. Had an absolute blast am now going back over some of the techniques we've learnt to consoladate them and explore them further. This has definitely equipped me with skills and knowledge that will enable me to improve my canyoning ability and confidence with rigging and white water both... read moreHad an awesome time on the beginner and then advanced white water canyoning course led by Ben Case and George Yates this past week! Learnt so much and had a blast in some canyons and white water! On the last day when it was tipping down we were able to get techy with ropes in the Nae Limits Adventure training area looking at methods (mechanical and manual) for ascending and descending, haul systems and direct rescues. The day before we were able to get in and do some rigging in the River Garry and get in and feel the different hydrolic features in high water! Got to head to Dollar canyon with two of the other participants Ryan Clark and Allan Dunlop on a day off in between the two courses and have a play and consolidate the techniques from the beginner course. On the beginners course we did a full day of introduction and practice with white water features, swimming and crossing techniques and rescue techniques and principles. We were also taught releasible and retrievable abseil and traverse line rigging methods which we were able to practice in the canyon at Bruar the next day as well as explore guided rappels. Had an absolute blast am now going back over some of the techniques we've learnt to consoladate them and explore them further. This has definitely equipped me with skills and knowledge that will enable me to improve my canyoning ability and confidence with rigging and white water both personally and professionally. They were able to adapt the content to our personal needs and gave an excellent balance of teaching and practice. Would 100% recomend to others, recreational or professional, who wish to up skill themselves in the canyon, you are guaranteed to learn lots of new and useful things!! read less 
Philip Garden01/09/20
 
  I have been lucky enough to have taken several canyoning training courses with The Canyoning Company, and have not been disappointed with any of them.  Ben and George are fantastic instructors and the courses they provide are exceptional, whether it is a practical session in the canyon, a technical day at a training venue or a class room day in their riverside log cabin, the environment they create is an ideal situation to increase your knowledge, understanding and skills.   Whether you’re just interested in finding out more or are truly passionate about Canyoning I can’t recommend taking one of their courses enough. 

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation

Whilst on a course with us, different venues will be used. But we will be based in and around Perthshire. There are lots of options for accommodation in the Dunkeld and Pitlochry area. Here are some of our recommendations.

Self-catering

Tay Bunkhouse

Sister company to The Canyoning Company, is ideal for group bookings. The Tay bunkhouse caters for group retreats, activity weekends, special occasion breaks, families, and clubs. The bunkhouse is available for exclusive use, bookings all year round. Tay Bunkhouse is a beautiful self-catering stone cottage with three bedrooms sleeping up to 10 people. The kitchen has full self-catering facilities with an oven, microwave, fridge/freezer, and dishwasher. The lounge has sofas, dining table and benches, free view TV and free WIFI with ample space for you to relax after your day’s training.We have a large garden and outdoor space perfect for BBQs, dining or relaxing around the outdoor a fire with a dram. https://taybunkhouse.co.uk/

Logierait lodges

Our 15 well-appointed self-catering lodges, sleeping from 2 to 7 people, enjoy a stunning riverside location with balconies designed to maximise your views of the surrounding Highland Perthshire countryside. https://www.logieraitlodges.com/

Campsites

SCA Grantully campsite

Open all year round, Grandtully Station Campsite is family (and pet!) friendly and welcomes guests in tents, motorhomes and caravans. Situated between Pitlochry and Aberfeldy, two minutes walk from the Grandtully rapids on the River Tay, our site is a perfect base from which to explore the heart of Scotland. https://www.canoescotland.org/go-paddling/grandtully-campsite#gsc.tab=0

Hotels

Atholl Arms Hotel, Dunkeld

An award-winning 4-star hotel and restaurant, we’re right at the head of the five arched bridge over the famous River Tay that leads you into the charming conservation village and the cathedral city of Dunkeld, in the heart of highland Perthshire. https://www.athollarmshotel.com/

Fisher’s Hotel

Located right in the centre of the beautiful Victorian town of Pitlochry, Perthshire. The front door opens straight onto Atholl Road and the back door opens up to the train station. https://www.fishershotelpitlochry.com/

Other options

https://www.inver-caravan-park.co.uk/

https://royaldunkeld.co.uk/

https://www.dunkeldhousehotel.co.uk/

http://pitlochrybackpackershotel.com/

https://www.jessiemacs.co.uk/

AVAILABILITY

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BE INSPIRED

At The Canyoning Company we pride ourselves on achieving and maintaining the highest standard of Canyoning certification as we can.

Providing training and resources to a range of private sector and public sector organisations we also provide help with outdoors training, health and safety as well as knowing how to make your adventure a memory to remember.