Introduction to Navigation.

This course is intended to give you the skills to safely navigate in UK mountainous terrain using tradition map and compass techniques. With the rise of technology and mapping apps making the outdoors accessible for more people than ever we have unfortunatley also seen a rise is people becoming lost when these fail. By attending this course you will equip yourself with the traditional navigation tools, techniques and knowledge required to stay safe in various weather conditions that may be encountered in the UK uplands.

Primarily focusing on navigation, a basic course overview is set out below:

Navigation:

• An introduction to map and scales, and choosing the right map for the route planned.
• Orienting the map using the landscape around you, and a compass needle.
• Measuring distances on the map and timing techniques to calculate distances over varying terrain.
• An introduction to the compass, its features and how it works with the map.
• Walking with an oriented map following linear features (walls, streams, boundary lines etc).
• Using a magnetic compass to determine direction of travel.
• Navigating to prominent land-forms and features.
• Discussion around mapping apps available and what to know before planning a route in an app.
• Discussion around emergencies in the outdoors.

This course is a full day in the Lake District mountains with an ascent to above 600m so a good level of fitness is required by all participants. Under 18`s must be accompanied by an adult. Full details including meeting point sent within 1 week prior to the course date. 

It would be recommended that you bring your own map and compass so that you are ready and equipped to go off and practice the skills covered after the course, however that being said, maps and compasses can be provided for use on the course.

If you do wish to purchase your own ahead of the course, the map required for this course is the Ordnance Survey OL7 (Lake District South-Eastern area).

Recommended compass would be the Silva Ranger or Silva expedition 4 or similar (not a mirror compass or thumb compass). 

Please ensure that you read our T's and C's and refund policy prior to making any bookings.