Find the answers to frequently asked questions here.
If you have any further queries please contact us as we are happy to help and advise.
Booking
Q1. How do I book a published course, activity or private guiding and instruction?
Q2. I/We would like to arrange and book a course/activity tailored to my/our needs?
Q3. Is there an age restriction?
Q4. What is included in the price?
Q5. What is not included in the price?
Q6. Do I need insurance?
Safety, Health, Fitness and Experience
Q7. How safe am I?
Q8. How fit do I need to be?
Q9. What if I have a medical condition that could affect me during the course?
Q10. What experience do I need?
Course/Activity Information
Q11. How will I know where to meet you?
Q12. What equipment do I need?
Q13. What size rucksack should I have for my course/activity?
Groups
Q14. How large can our group be?
Q15. Can we mix and match some of your activities and create our own adventure activity day/s, or course?
Cancellation
Q16. I have to cancel my course/activity. What are my options?
Other
Q17. How do I keep my belongings dry?
Booking
Q1. How do I book a course, activity or private guiding and instruction?
Great, you have chosen to join us on one of our courses, activites or your own personalised private instruction/guiding. We look forward to meeting you. You can make a provisional booking enquiry on-line or by post, by completing the booking enquiry form.
On-Line Booking and Payment
- Select your course/activity from the published details.
- Please read the Terms and Conditions.
- Complete and submit the ‘Booking Enquiry’ form to make a provisional booking.
- We will confirm receipt of your booking form by email, confirm your details and issue a ‘Booking Agreement and Invoice.’ If you wish to pay by bank transfer our details will be on the invoice. Or, post a cheque made payable to ‘Joseph W Begley’ for the appropriate amount.
- Once your payment has been received, your booking will be a ‘Confirmed Booking’ and we will send you a receipt and your course information, kit list etc by email.
Postal/Telephone Booking and Payment
- Select your course/activity from the published details.
- Please read the Terms and Conditions.
- Contact us to request a booking enquiry form, complete and post the Booking Enquiry form to us, to make a provisional booking. Alternatively, we can complete the form for you, when you contact us.
- We will confirm receipt of your booking enquiry, confirm your details and issue a ‘Booking Agreement and Invoice.’ If you wish to pay by bank transfer our details will be on the invoice. Or, post a cheque made payable to ‘Joseph W Begley’ for the appropriate amount.
- Once your payment has been received, your booking will be a ‘Confirmed Booking’ and we will send you a receipt and your course information, kit list etc by email or post.
Q2. I/We would like to arrange and book a course/activity tailored to my/our needs?
We can tailor a course or activity specific to your (or your group’s) requirements. You can mix and match activities to build your own activity adventure day or series of days. You may be interested in private guiding and instruction where we can personalise the experience to your requirements.
Q3. Is there an age restriction?
Our minimum age limit is 18 years of age, there is no upper age limit but it should be noted that you are undertaking physical and sometimes challenging activities. Our eldest client (to date) is 75 years young. Along with their friends, also in their sixties and seventies, they summited Snowdon via the Pyg Track, completed some single pitch climbs and enjoyed coastal and valley walks. Children aged 13 years and upwards are only accepted if a parent or legal guardian has booked and is attending the course with the child.
Q4. What is included in the price?
Included in the price are: your instruction; the use of technical equipment where indicated; and Course/Activity information. We use our own ropes, harnesses, karabiners and helmets. The exception to this will be stated in the course details. In this instance you may hire equipment or use your own.
Q5. What is not included in the price?
We do not include:
- Travel to and from the venue.
- Personal insurance (illness, accident, cancellation and personal equipment/possessions).
- Personal equipment such as waterproofs, walking boots, rucksack, clothing.
- Food.
- Accommodation. However, we may be able to advise on suitable accommodation in the area.
Q6. Do I need insurance
We strongly recommend that you take out insurance to cover course/activity cancellation and your belongings. This should also cover you for accidents or if you have to cancel due to reasons beyond your control such as illness. For our overseas treks, emergency medical expenses and repatriation in case of illness or injury is required. We will not be liable for loss or damage to your luggage or personal effects, unless caused by our negligence. We do not provide insurance. Insurance providers for outdoor activities are: The BMC, The Foundry or Snowcard.
Safety, Health, Fitness and Experience
Q7. How safe am I?
Our priority is your safety. All Mountaineering activities come with an element of risk. We seek to provide a safe, enjoyable, quality mountain experience for you. We can not completely remove risk but we manage it as follows:
- Joe Begley and any other instructors we may use, if Joe is unavailable, are professionally qualifed, and have many years experience in the UK and abroad. When Joe is unavailable (ie illness), we would only use instructors personally know to us, whom we would go out climbing/walking with ourselves.
- We instruct/teach with a low client to instructor ratio for all our activities and courses.
- Any equipment we use, or supply, is of good quality, it is maintained and inspected regularly.
- Your instructor will evaluate risk as an ongoing part of delivering the course/activity and will make alterations accordingly.
- We deliver our courses/activities taking into account your abilities and experience.
The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) Participation Statement states: The BMC recognises that climbing and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own involvement.
Q8. How fit do I need to be?
The details for each course and activity will provide an indication of suitable levels of fitness. As all of our courses and activities involve physical actvity, general good health, fitness and plenty of enthusiasm will ensure you get the most out of your time with us. Our instructors will take into account your fitness and ensure that the activity is conducted at a pace that suits you and/or the group. For the more challenging activities, a higher level of fitness and stamina is required in order to get the most from the experience. We welcome clients of all abilities and encourage you to discuss your specific needs with us. If you are in any doubt, you should ask for professional advice from your GP before starting any physical activities.
Q9. What if I have a medical condition that could affect me during the course?
If you have a medical condition that could affect you during the course then you must advise us on the booking form. We will contact you to discuss how your medical condition is managed and complete a risk assessment. This will ensure that we help you to get the most out of your course or activity. Any information you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence. Please contact us if you have any doubts or require clarification.
Q10. What experience do I need?
Our courses/activities cover the range from the absolute beginner, where you require no experience, to advanced and challenging where experience is required. An indication of experience requirements is provided on each course/activity page.
Course/Activity Information
Q11. How will I know where to meet you?
Your course information pack will include meeting places, times and directions for your course/activity.
Q12. What equipment do I need?
You will need to bring, personal clothing, waterproofs, footwear, rucksack or additional items such as walking poles as appropriate for the course/activity and time of year. All specialist equipment, necessary to take part, will be provided by Mountaineering Joe and is included in the price unless specified in the course/activity details. You will be sent a kit list when you book.
Q13. What size rucksack should I have for my course/activity?
This will be dependent upon the course/activity. Our guidelines are as follows:
- Hill Skills and Navigation courses: 30-40 litre capacity rucksack.
- Walking courses/activities: 30-40 litre capacity rucksak.
- Climbing and Scrambling courses/activities: 40-50 litre capacity rucksack.
- Winter skills and mountaineering courses/activities:40-50 litre capacity rucksack.
Groups
Q14. How large can our group be?
We are happy to take group bookings. The maximum number of people who can do an activity, depends on that activity itself, safety standards, the environment in which they take place and equipment. In some instances we will require 2 instructors per group. Contact us discuss your group’s requirements.
Q15. Can we mix and match some of your activities and create our own adventure activity day/s, or course?
We can tailor a course or activity specific to your group’s requirements. You can mix and match activities to build your own activity adventure day or series of days. You may be interested in private guiding and instruction where we can personalise the experience to your requirements.
Cancellation
Q16. I have to cancel my course/activity. What do I do? and What options do I have?
We are sorry that you have had to cancel your booking with us. You must contact us immediately and confirm your cancellation in writing to Mountaineering Joe. Please note that in all cases the deposit is non-refundable. You must ensure that your insurance covers you for cancellation. Our standard cancellation terms are:
- A refund of payment (less your deposit) if you are cancelling 29 days or more before your course is due to start.
- If you are cancelling 29 days or more before your course is due to start, you may have an option to reserve a place on another course/activity subject to availability.
- A refund of payments (less 50%) if you are cancelling between 15-28 days, before your course/activity is due to start.
- If you cancel 14 days, or less, from the start date of the course or activity, NO refund of payments will be made.
- If you cancel on or after the commencement date of the course/activity, NO refund of payments will be made.
Other
Q17. How do I keep my belongings dry?
We always put our belongings into dry-bags in our ruck-sack. We use one large dry bag that fits the full size of the ruck-sack, then small dry bags for other items. You can purchase them in a variety of sizes and we highly recommend them. They are not only great for keeping items dry, in wet and snowy conditions, but you can organise your kit more easily to make it more accessible.