CANYON GUIDE LEVEL 1 - TRAINING COURSE + ASSESSMENT
Perthshire, Scotland

The UKCA Canyon Guide Level 1 (CG1) is the first level of professional certification within the UKCA award scheme. This training is designed for the competent intermediate level canyoneer who wishes to prepare for assessment in order to lead canyoning/gorge walking excursions in a commercial/professional environment rated up to V2A3ii.
Key Information
Training - £380 pp
Assessment - £260 pp
min 2 - max 6 (Training) max 4 (Assessment)
min age - 18
mar - oct
free photos
COURSE
ASSESSMENT
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AVAILABILITY SCHEDULE
Courses | Dates | Location | Availability | Cost | Book Now |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
L2 Guide Training | 09-12 April 2024 | Perthshire, Scotland | 5 Spaces left | £480 | BOOK NOW |
L2 Guide Assessment | 25-26 April 2024 | Perthshire, Scotland | 1 space left | £260 | BOOK NOW |
Canyon Instructor | 09-12 May 2024 | Perthshire, Scotland | 2 spaces left | £480 | BOOK NOW |
L1 Guide Assessment | 29-30 April 2024 | Perthshire, Scotland | 2 spaces left | £260 | BOOK NOW |
L1 Guide Training | 15-17 May 2024 | Perthshire, Scotland | 4 spaces left | £380 | BOOK NOW |
Aim
The aim of this training course is to prepare the candidate for working as a canyoning guide in canyons rated V2A3ii or below. The Canyon Guide Level 1 training course is designed to prepare the candidate for the Canyon Guide Level 1 assessment. The course will cover skills in trip preparation, group management, leadership skills and rescue. This is a professional level of training so the candidate should be prepared with relevant canyoning skills and techniques.
Trainer
UKCA Senior Trainer
Duration
3 days
Price
£380
Prerequisites
- Must be 18 years or older.
- Hold a valid first-aid certificate (2-day minimum)
- Good level of fitness and swimming ability.
- Have completed the Canyon Leader Certification (or equivalent level of canyoning training)
Membership
Recreational Membership
Syllabus
Day 1 - (Theory) UKCA, Responsibility, Standards, Leadership and Psychology
1A - UKCA Framework
- Knowledge of UKCA organization, framework and pathway
1B - Standards and Responsibility
- UKCA professional standards and behavior
- UKCA working controls
- UKCA Guide L1 role and responsibility
- Solo working controls
- Membership and CPD
- Risk assessments and SOPs
- SSE (Security Safety Error)
1C - Trip Management and Preparation
- Environment concerns and planning
- Participant Equipment
- Group Equipment
- Risk Acceptance Forms
1D - Psychology
- Participant fundamental needs
- Fear and Stress - participant assessment
- Fear and Stress - environment
- Comfort zones and participation
1E- Teaching
- Teaching concepts
- Steps of teaching
1F - Rigging
- Anchors
- FIxed traverse lines
- Releasable systems
- Efficient rigging solutions
- Parasitic movements
Day 2 - (Practical) Pitch Management and Rescue
2A - Pitch Management
- Belaying
- Movement on Rope
- Double-Check
- Assisted abseiling
- Lowering
2B - Rescue
- Self Rescue
- Indirect Rescue
- Release with belay from above
- Indirect rope cut rescue
- Converting blocked Systems to releasable
- Direct Rescue
2C - Incident Management
- Incident management process
- Transporting a casualty
- Emergency escape
- Scenarios and Workshops for team rescue
Day 3 - (Practical) Rigging and Pitch Management and Rescue
3A - Leadership
- Stretching
- Safety and equipment briefing
- Leadership tactics - leapfrogging - leader progression
- Group management
- CLAP
- Canyoning trip delivery
3B - Movement
The candidate will learn how to safely manage the following:
- Jumps
- Slides
- Down-climbs
3C - White Rescue
- Duck diving FEEDBACK
- Swim rescue
- Defensive tactics
- Swimming with a victim
- Moving casualty - suspected spinal
3D - Mock Trip
Co-deliver a customer trip in a V2,A3,ii canyon under the supervision of the Trainer.
3E - Feedback and Review
Email us: info@thecanyoningcompany.co.uk
Call us: 07565542766 – 07725813729
Profile
- A successful graduate of the Level 1 Canyon Guide Award will be able to lead novice canyoneers in a commercial environment through a canyon rated up to V2.A3.ii.
- The graduate will be very comfortable in canyon environments, demonstrating excellent anticipatory skills for reducing risk to their customers and themselves.
- The graduate will understand and implement safe and efficient rigging solutions in the canyon environment.
- The graduate will be able to plan and prepare introductory canyoning experiences.
- The graduate will be able to teach basic canyoning skills to a group.
- The graduate will be a role model for canyoning.
Working Controls
A successful candidate will be able to work alone in a canyon rated up to V2A3ii with up to 8 group members. This can be extended to 16 group members where another Canyon Guide L1 is present. A Canyon Guide Level 1 can assist a Canyon Guide Level 2 or a Canyon Instructor in canyons up to V3A3ii.
Assessor
UKCA Senior Trainer
Assessment Venue
Day 1 Technical - A moderate risk canyon rated around V3A3ii. The canyons should ideally have a selection of features and technical elements for example rappels, jumps, slides and traverse lines.
Day 2 - Leadership, Incident and Group Management - A canyon rated up to V2A3ii.
Duration
2 days
Price
£260
Prerequisites
- Must be 18 years or older.
- Hold a valid first-aid certificate (2-day minimum)
- Good level of fitness and swimming ability.
Log Book
Prior to assessment, the candidate must present a logbook with a minimum of:
- Minimum of 20 canyons at least 5 different canyons rated V3A3ii and above.
- Minimum of 10 canyoning days of co-assisting, co-leading or shadowing on commercial canyoning excursions V2A2i.
*These prerequisites are minimum requirements, extra days are recommended.
Competency Gateway
This assessment can be accessed directly. The UKCA is aware that previous experience and training may have been obtained through other organisations. If the candidate believes they have the skill and experience they can go directly into this assessment.
Membership
Professional Membership (required on successful completion of the course)
Syllabus
Assessment Notes
The syllabus outlines what the content of the assessment will include and gives an idea of what assessment tasks the candidate will be asked to complete. All judgements on how the candidate meets the syllabus must be based on current best practice and industry standards.
Assessors use five types of direct evidence to determine a candidate’s competency:
- Written entry test: multiple choice questions.
- Questioning and discussion.
- Observation of practical tasks.
- Presentation of Information.
- Timed Tests.
Section 1 (Day 1) Technical Competence
1A - Canyoning, Environment and Planning
The candidate will:
- Demonstrate their knowledge of the FFME and ACA grading system and other popular canyon grading systems used internationally.
- Demonstrate their knowledge of basic geology and hydrology e.g. rock types, geographical areas and their effect on canyon systems.
- Describe the impact of visitation to the canyon environment, including bolts, anchors and erosion.
- Demonstrate their knowledge of planning a canyoning trip. This will include weather checks, resources, reading topo maps, water levels, basic navigation and emergency planning.
1B - Equipment
The candidate will:
- Explain their understanding of PPE certification.
- Explain their knowledge of forces and loads e.g fall factor and impact force.
- Explain and describe how they store, maintain and check equipment before and after their canyoning trip.
- Have personal equipment fit for purpose, in good working order.
- Describe their personal equipment and why they carry it. They will describe the advantages and disadvantages of equipment e.g. wetsuits, drysuits, shoes, harnesses, helmets, bags and ropes.
- Demonstrate the group and emergency equipment the candidate will pack for canyoning trips and how to use it.
- Demonstrate how to coil and uncoil a rope.
- Demonstrate how to safely pack a rope into a rope bag.
1C - Knotcraft
The candidate will demonstrate the correct tying and explain the application of the following knots, bends and hitches:
- Figure 8 on a bight
- Overhand knot on a bight
- Bowline
- BFK (big fat knot) - Overhand on a double bight
- Double Fisherman's Bend
- Figure 8 Bend
- Stacked Overhand Bend
- Clove Hitch
- Munter Hitch
- MMO - Munter Mule Overhand
- Tape Knot
1D - Movement
The candidate will negotiate features found in A3 or Class C canyons and will:
- Demonstrate effective down climbing technique, and demonstrate safe and effective techniques for aiding a teammate from above and below.
- Demonstrate safe and effective sliding technique.
- Demonstrate safe and effective jumping technique
- Demonstrate how to assess a jump or slide to make it safe for team members.
1E - Movement on Rope
The candidate will have good knowledge of fall factor and dynamic loading, they will be able to identify the risks and understand how to reduce them. The candidate will:
- Demonstrate ascending technique with mechanical ascenders or prusiks.
- Demonstrate descending technique with mechanical ascenders or prusiks.
- Convert from ascent to descent and descent to ascent.
1F- Movement in Water
In an A3 or Class C canyon environment or Grade/Class 1/2 river environment the candidate will:
- Demonstrate a confident and effective defensive and active swimming technique.
- Demonstrate ferry swimming and entering and exiting an eddy.
- Demonstrate how to safely swim with a canyoning bag, and demonstrate knowledge of how to move bags safely down swift water environments.
- Show their knowledge of river crossing techniques and the risks involved with river crossing.
- Demonstrate their knowledge of duck diving up to 3 meters.
1G - Rigging
During a canyoning descent rated V2/V3 the candidate will:
- Understand the term ‘Rig for Rescue’ and will implement this in all their rigging tasks.
- Identify natural and bolt anchors, understand principles of anchors such as strength, redundancy and equalisation. Identify materials used and different anchor set-ups.
- Show that they are double checking each anchor and their rigging systems at each anchor point.
- Demonstrate how to link unlinked anchors and bolts.
- Demonstrate their ability to set up and deconstruct safe and efficient traverse lines, rappel systems, guided rappels on fixed or natural anchors.
- Identify where abrasion management is needed and identify different techniques used for abrasion management.
- Demonstrate the use of one belaying technique from above and below.
- Understand the theory of sequencing team members and how to safely set the rope length when the bottom is not visible from below.
1H - Rope Rescue
The candidate will have knowledge of the risks involved with rescue and the difference between direct and indirect rescue the candidate will:
- Demonstrate how to self-rescue themselves when they are stuck on the rope with a jammed descender.
- Demonstrate how to release and secure a releasable system when a participant is stuck on descent.
- Demonstrate how to safely and effectively perform an indirect rope cutting rescue to release a stuck participant.
1I - Teamwork and Incident Management
The candidate will:
- Demonstrate their knowledge of visual and sound signals.
- Identify the process of launching an alert.
- Have a first aid kit and know how to use it.
- Identify the signs and symptoms of common issues that could occur on a canyon descent such as exhaustion, hyperthermia, hypothermia, stress, anxiety and exhaustion.
- Demonstrate a method of transporting a casualty.
- Managing a flood incident in the canyon.
1J - Timed Tests
Test 1 - Indirect Rope Cutting
The candidate will perform an indirect rope cut rescue in under 1.20 min
If the trainee makes a security error (open carabiner, cut wrong rope etc.) they will fail that attempt.
If the trainee does not meet the time criteria on the first attempt they can retake the test directly afterwards. On the second attempt, they must pass within 1.10 min on a second fail of this test the trainee will not pass the L1 guide assessment.
Test 2 - Rope Conversion Test
The candidate will perform a rope conversion from ascent to descent at 5 meters in under 3 min.
If the trainee makes a security error (open carabiner, disconnect etc.) they will fail that attempt.
If the trainee does not meet the time criteria on the first attempt they can retake the test directly afterwards. On the second attempt, they must pass within 2.45 min on a second fail of this test the trainee will not pass the L1 guide assessment.
Section 2 (Day 2) - Instruction, Leadership and Planning
On day 2 the candidate will be expected to lead a group in a canyon up to V2A3ii.
1A - Leadership
The candidate will lead a canyoning excursion with a real group, during the excursion they will demonstrate and will be assessed on:
- Never compromising their safety or the safety of the group.
- Professionalism - language, appearance, gestures and engagement.
- Preparing and briefing.
- Time management.
- Role Modeling, motivating and having fun with the group.
- Establishing a rapport with individuals and having emotional awareness of individuals needs.
- Safe and efficient rigging.
2B - Instruction
The candidate will provide instruction on some of the following:
- Fitting equipment
- Rappelling and movement on traverse lines
- Communication
- Movement techniques
- Jumping
- Sliding
- Swimming
- Teamwork
2C - Feedback, Review and Certification
The candidates will have peer feedback and individual feedback. On successful completion of the assessment certification will be awarded.
Email us: info@thecanyoningcompany.co.uk
Call us: 07565542766 – 07725813729
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
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://www.dunkeldhousehotel.co.uk/
MORE TRAINING COURSES
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.