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FUNdas and physical training coaches

The coaches listed below work with Mountaineering Scotland on some or all of our FUNdamentals of Climbing and Physical Training workshops. Each coach's profile will list the workshops they take: FUNdamentals 1,2 and 3 are F1, F2, F3, and Physical Training 1 and 2 are PT1 and PT2

Alan Halewood

F1, F2, F3

Alan has been climbing for over thirty years and working full time as an Instructor for over 20 years. He holds the Mountaineering Instructor Certificate and has been involved in the development of coaching in climbing since attending the first FUNdamentals course to run in Scotland. 

As well as previously managing two climbing walls and currently providing support, staff training and technical advice to a number of different walls throughout Scotland he is an Association of British Climbing Walls Technical Advisor and on the NICAS Coach Development team. He is a Mountain Training provider of the Climbing Wall Instructor and Rock climbing Instructor Awards and the Foundation and Development Coach Awards. He works on Mountaineering Instructor Training and Assessment Courses in summer and winter at the National Centre, Glenmore Lodge and provides mentoring and support for Trainees as an Association of Mountaineering Instructors Mentor. 

In Scotland he is a Mountaineering Scotland FUNdamentals Provider of FUNas 1, 2 and 3 as well as being a Trainer for other providers. On a wet day off he’ll be bouldering at 3 Wise Monkeys in Fort William and on holidays he is usually to be found somewhere far flung such as Greenland or Afghanistan exploring unclimbed peaks. Beyond all of this he remains a keen personal climber who just likes watching others develop their climbing at any level whilst having a bit of fun doing it! 

Jon Jones

F1, F2, F3

I have coached Mountaineering Scotland’s FUNdamentals in climbing movement 1,2 & 3 since their inception. I have worked full time at Glenmore Lodge (sportscotland national outdoor centre) since 2001. I am a senior instructor and the Head of the Rock & Mountain discipline.

I discovered trad climbing and bouldering when at school in North Wales and helped me make my mind up at an early age that I wanted a career in the sport that I love. An early rock trip to the Loch A’an Basin in the Cairngorms when only 16 sealed this ambition. Since then I have climbed throughout Europe, North America and Canada and been active in all the different areas the sport has to offer from bouldering, sport, trad, alpine, icefall, winter and big wall climbing.

I have a BA in Outdoor Education and hold the Mountain Instructor Certificate (MIC), International Mountain Leader (IML) plus train and assess the MTUK Climbing and Mountaineering Awards. I am also a British Cycling Mountain Bike Leader Tutor. I enjoy other sports such as skiing, snowboarding, biking, hill walking and running.

I live in Aviemore with my family. My fondest achievement to date was taking my eldest daughter (13) up her first Scottish winter climb!

Stuart Lyall

F1, F2, PT1

I currently work for The Climbing Academy Glasgow as a climbing coach. I run our Youth Squad with Michael Bleazard, coach NIBAS levels 1-5 and do One-to-One coaching sessions. 

I have previously worked as an Outdoor Instructor after gaining an HND in Outdoor Sports Coaching. 

I have been climbing for over 20 years and now climb Trad, Sport and Boulder to a pretty decent level I think. 

I am always trying to target my weaknesses to improve my climbing and as a result have learnt how to pass this on to others through my coaching. It's about training smarter not harder.

Calum McBain

F1, F2

Calum got into the world of climbing and mountaineering through joining the Dundee University Rucksack Club, which quickly led to an obsession with getting out to the hills and crags of Scotland at every opportunity. After university, Calum decided to pursue his passion for climbing and the outdoors and started working at various climbing walls, as a coach, route-setter and duty manager. These roles allowed Calum to share his passion for climbing with the next generation and provided a stepping stone for the work he now does as a Regional Development Officer.

When he’s not working, Calum can often be found climbing at the crags and mountain cliffs in the north-west of Scotland which he discovered a love for as a student. When it gets a bit chilly in Scotland over winter, he can also often be found at the sunny sport climbing and bouldering destinations of Spain for some much needed vitamin D.



Robert Mackenzie

F1, F2

I’ve been climbing for over 23 years, indoors and out, trad and sport, summer and winter. From the age of eight I’ve competed in local and national competitions, where, at 13, I gained GB Team status and went on to compete internationally for six years. I have competed in European Youth Championships and World Youth Championships.

After leaving school I studied Physiology and Sport Science at the University of Glasgow. While at university I started coaching at the Glasgow Climbing Centre, and I have now coached young climbers for the past seven years. I took over from Michael Jeans as Head Coach in 2015 and ran a team of 42 strong kids, some to GB team status.

Over the past couple of years I have coached for the ClimbScotland National Youth Academies, providing coaching to the elite and up-coming young climbers in Scotland.

I hold CWA, SPA, Foundation and Development Coach Awards, FUNdas 1-3, Physical Training 1.

Ian Rendall

F1

Ian is based in Orkney and has been climbing for 11 years indoor, outdoor, trad’ and sport; home and abroad. He is Head Instructor at the Pickaquoy Centre in Orkney, is a NICAS Course Director and instructs NICAS levels 1-4. He holds the CWA, SPA, Foundation Coach Award, FUNdamentals 1, 2 and 3, Physical Training1 and RSA2 in route setting safety.

Ian has been Chair of the Orkney Climbing Club for several years ago, and due to his dedication there is now a strong group of young climbers on the island that climb for fun indoors and out across Scotland. He has also taken them to try sport on an annual trip abroad.

Ian is a provider of FUNdas 1 for Mountaineering Scotland and has been an integral part of the ClimbScotland Youth Squad Coaching team in 2018. He is working his way through the Development Coach Award and is coaching the Orkney Youth Squad of 17 young climbers that compete throughout the year in various top-rope, lead and boulder comps. He said, “I’m really proud of our kids here that work very hard and have done so well with only a small, and limited access, climbing facility on the island to go away and compete on much bigger walls and get into the Scottish Squad.” 

Ian has currently coached more than he has climbed these past couple of years, but when he gets the chance he loves getting out on trad’ or get a weekend away walking.


Andy Swann

F1, F2, F3, PT1

My passion for climbing and the outdoors started in the 1970s when, at the age of 13, I started biking up to Almscliffe Crag in Yorkshire for a scramble on the rocks - and it's still going strong. In many ways I have the perfect job, as I enjoy working with people and working out the best approach for them. I love the environment in which I work and I am keen to share this with my clients.

I also enjoy climbing in all its forms from bouldering through to mountaineering. I regularly boulder, trad climb and sport climb. In the past I have done a lot of winter and alpine climbing but not so much these days. I have been a member of the GB Climbing Team (lead climbing) and I also took part in numerous bouldering competitions throughout the 1990s.

A typical day out with me will feel safe; it will also incorporate an element of new learning, as well as some challenge. And it will definitely be fun! I climb whenever I can and I am still always trying to improve, which keeps it interesting.

I am a qualified mountaineering instructor and development coach. I am also a BEd (Hons) physical education teacher. Holding these qualifications gives me a wide remit and keeps my work varied and engaging. 

Giles Trussell

PT1

With a 30-year career in the outdoors I have been employed full time at Glenmore Lodge for 13 years. I work cross discipline for the Mountaineering and Paddlesport Departments and have a lifelong interest in sport and training.

I have enjoyed recreational summer and winter climbing in the UK and abroad. This has taken me to Norway, France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, various Mediterranean islands, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, New Zealand, Venezuela, USA and islands of the Canaries and Azores. Paddling and sailing has seen me visit a host of other countries.

I am a keen hill and mountain marathon runner competing in Elite category, have a long distance record called The West Mounth Round recorded in ‘Scottish Hillrunners’ and have completed all the Munros. I have also competed in white water kayak races, triathlon and quadrathon. I ski recreationally.

I hold a BA Honours in Sports Studies. For the last three years I have been developing my knowledge of strength training and conditioning in line with United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association programmes. This fits well with my particular focus for outdoor adventure sport.

Having attended one of the first Mountaineering Scotland PT1 courses in Scotland, I am pleased to now be part of its delivery team.

I am excited that at Glenmore Lodge we are now able to offer this fantastic PT1 course.

Nathan White

F1, F2, PT1

Nathan works full time as a MIC based in Aviemore, where he lives with his family. He works as a Senior Instructor at Glenmore Lodge, The National Outdoor Training Center, where he delivers rock and mountain sport courses year round. Nathan also runs his own business, Stone Play, where he provides bespoke coaching and guiding courses. 

Climbing is Nathan’s passion. He enjoys all disciplines of the sport and has climbed to a high level in most. Climbing has taken him to some amazing places from high altitude alpinism in Alaska to big walling in Yosemite - all while trying to juggle climbing, work and family life. 

Because of this Nathan has a good appreciation of life’s challenges and a good understanding of how he can help others be more time-efficient and train smarter in their time-starved lives. The above combination of Nathan’s coaching experience and practical climbing and training experience make him a great candidate for delivering our FUNdas and Physical Training courses.