Hosted by Mountaineering Ireland

Caring for Ireland’s upland paths

Standards, training, practical guidance and capacity building for everyone who plans, builds and maintains paths in Ireland’s uplands

Protecting Ireland’s upland environment is central to Helping the Hills. We bring together all those who own, manage and maintain our upland paths to share good practice and latest industry techniques so the path becomes the tool to protect the landscape and environment around it.

The Helping the Hills Principles

The steps to manage upland paths

Read the principles →

Communication

Upland path management development through stakeholder consultation and supported by clear communication and user education to protect the natural environment and promote responsible, sustainable use.

Ethos

Upland path management to minimise environmental impact and preserve the wild character of upland landscapes through necessary, proportionate, and professionally managed interventions, supported by stakeholder collaboration and sustained long-term maintenance.

Practice

Upland pathwork prioritising high-quality, environmentally sensitive design and implementation using appropriate local materials and skilled methods, minimising visual and ecological impacts while supporting long-term local skills development and ensuring these principles are reflected in procurement decisions.

Training

Progressive skills, from survey to construction

Key Considerations in Upland Path Management

This course introduces participants to best practice principles, language and the decision-making framework that underpins good upland path management.

Conducting a Walk Over Survey of an Upland Path

The walkover survey is the first step in understanding path condition and necessary actions. This course equips participants to walk a path end-to-end, record observations and produce a short report to inform monitoring, maintenance or repair.

Upland Path Condition Survey Training

Building on the walkover survey, this training course develops the skills and methodology needed to produce a detailed condition survey.

What is Upland Path Monitoring and Maintenance?

A short, accessible online course covering these two key areas of upland path maintenance

Basic Path Maintenance in Upland Areas

A practical, hands-on field day with a focus on the small, regular tasks that keep upland paths functioning. This course is suitable for those without prior path-work training.

Upland Path Monitoring and Maintenance

Building on ‘What is Upland Path Monitoring and Maintenance’, this course is an in-depth practical course, building competence across the full monitoring and maintenance cycle. Areas covered include safety factors and how to plan, deliver and report on maintenance work to industry standards.

Procurement and Tendering of Upland Path Work

This course gives people who commission path work the tools to write good tenders, evaluate bid fairly, and set projects up for success. It also gives an insight into what a good contractor expects to see. Includes input from a procurement specialist.

Industry CPD – Upland Path Repair and Construction

Relevant to professional upland path workers, the CPD provides the opportunity to share new techniques and emerging approaches to specific challenges. The format is deliberately peer-to-peer with talks, site walks, workshops and structured discussion.

Technical Advisor to facilitate and input on current best practices.

Industry CPD – Managing Upland Path Projects

The companion CPD to ‘Upland Path Repair and Construction’, this course focuses on the management of an upland path project — from scoping and pricing through mobilisation, programme management, people, money, reporting and hand-over.