Navigation skills
In poor visibility, good navigation skills are crucial to staying safe in the mountains.
Mountain craft covers a broad range of skills that are built on experience gained from many days in the mountains - we will accelerate the learning process so that you gain that knowledge maximising your time.
What you will do
- route planning and preparation
- map reading and compass use
- moving safely on steep and difficult ground
- river crossing
- basic emergency procedures to solve possible problems.
Learning to navigate involves building a multi-layered skill set that ranges from a basic use of the map and compass, through the techniques involved in map interpretation, micro navigation and low visibility navigation to the more advanced topics that use relocation and altimeters.
Introduction to Navigation
This course is for those who want to get the basic map and compass skills, needed to move independently and confidently in the hills and mountains of the UK.
We will help you learn the navigation techniques necessary to plan your own trips. It is very satisfying moving away from the beaten track, understanding the terrain that you will cover and being able to estimate the timings and distances accurately.
Simply contact us with your enquiry.
Course content
- Understanding the nature of a map as a two dimensional plan.
- Understanding map symbols, scales and the underlying principle of the magnetic compass including cardinal points. Ordnance Survey maps at scales of 1:25,000 and 1:50,000
- Orientating the map to the ground with and without a compass and using the ‘set’ map to identify features on map and ground, to pinpoint current map position and to make route decisions.
- The use of linear features, like paths and streams, as handrails in simple navigational exercises using the thumb to indicate position on the map.
- The ability to judge approximate distances on both map and ground.
- Understanding the relationship between land forms and other distinct objects as indicated on the map. This will involve a basic understanding of the contour system and the ability to match major land forms like hills and valleys to their map images.
- The ability to plan a safe walk or course in wild country in line with set criteria on duration, difficulty and objectives.
- The application of relevant safety procedures to navigation, including simple relocation on paths.
- Knowledge of how Rights of Way. Country Code and access constraints.
Advanced Navigation
We follow the Silver NNAS - National Navigation Award Scheme-
- The ability to plan a safe walk or course.
- The ability to use a compass for accurate bearings and the checking of footpath direction, including an introduction to different types of compasses and their workings.
- The ability to judge distance accurately by step-counting between given points.
- The ability to ‘break down’ a navigational stage into coarse and fine navigation i.e. the coarse section could easily involve easy handrail navigation along a path while the fine section could require accurate map reading and the use of the compass to follow a route where no clear linear features exist.
- The ability to choose an appropriate attack point as an obvious starting point for the fine sections of a stage and to use clear features en route to confirm that you are on course.
- Understanding the use of navigational strategies, such as aiming off to hit a chosen point on a linear feature [e.g. bridge over a stream.]
- Understanding the physical factors that affect your choice of a route e.g. height gain or loss (Naismith’s rule), the severity of terrain or vegetation and the ability to decide on the best route to match the knowledge and navigational experience of the participants.
- Understanding how to use simple relocation strategies when lost - i.e. heading for the nearest known point for precise location or choosing a safe route to a linear feature.
- Understanding the consequences of fatigue brought on by navigational activity in extreme weather conditions. This will involve the recognition of the symptoms of hypothermia and hypothermia and their treatment.
- Understanding of the rules to access the countryside.
More info
Most walkers and climbers will have some familiarity with the principals of using a map and compass, but often lack the core understanding necessary to move confidently to safety when suddenly the visibility drops. Using simple techniques, we will build on your existing knowledge. By learning to visualise the map as a 3 dimensional image, the contour lines and symbols become hills, valleys and mountains with unique shapes.
Initially, we will hone the core skills of estimating distances taking and following a bearing. Once these core skills are firmly in place, we can look at pacing so that you can estimate time and distance over a variety of terrain. Accurate pacing will give you the confidence to move across featureless ground with incredible accuracy. We will also teach you some basic relocation techniques. They are essential skills to work out where you are when you are unsure of your position.
Rates per person
The course price depends on the ratio of clients to instructor.
Half Day
Ratio 1:1
£150 per 1/2 day
Ratio 2:1
£95 per 1/2 day
Ratio 3:1
£75 per 1/2 day
Ratio >6:1
£60 per 1/2 day
Full Day
Ratio 1:1
£220 per day
Ratio 2:1
£120 per day
Ratio 3:1
£95 per day
Ratio >6:1
£75 per day
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Booking
We run open & private courses. Please contact us with your enquiry; we will arrange something suitable for you.
To make a booking please click here.