Navigation Courses
Get the best out of your map and compass
This page is no longer updated, please see ‘https://point5.tv/skills/navigation/ for up to date information and mountain skills courses dates
Navigation Courses for Hill Walking
Helping you make your own adventures
Our Navigation Courses in North Wales and the Lake District are all about helping you develop the skills to get safely and efficiently from A to B, wherever your adventures may take you.
If you think about learning to use a map and compass you probably think back to a stuffy school geography lesson, getting lost in the cloud on a hillside, or being confused by all the map symbols and contour lines.
Navigating using a map and compass is becoming a lost skill. It’s another victim of the tech revolution. Phone apps can be useful but all have some inherent problems for the navigator to overcome. Data connections, dangerous automatic route calculations, flat batteries and missing mapping information can all cause us to become lost or worse.
But it doesn’t need to be that way.
Our navigation courses are for all abilities and will help you understand how to use paper maps and compasses to find your own adventure. From exploring your local woodland paths to heading out into remote mountains.
Level 1 Navigation Course
Introduction to Navigation
On-path Navigation Skills
Our entry-level course is designed to help you get to grip with the basics of using a map to follow paths and tracks to get from A to B.
It’s ideal for you if you have a limited understanding of maps and you’ve never really used a compass to navigate, if you want a refresher of the basics, or if you are a bit nervous about your own ability.
Previous Experience: None needed
Number of Participants: Max of 10
Cost: £45 per person
We’ll be out on the hill for about 7 to 8 hours during this hands-on course, learning and using skills to get around on foot.
The pace of the day is largely dictated by the needs of the group but we will typically cover the following.
- Understanding the map symbols, grid references and scales
- Measuring distance and height gain on the map
- Distance, time and pacing – how long it will take to walk to a point on the map
- Contours, what are they and how can they help us
- Using linear features as handrails to guide us
- Using tick features – things we pass as we go to ‘tick off’ our progress
- Compass basics – Setting the map, taking bearings
This course is ideal if you are looking to master the fundamentals before progressing on to our mountain navigation course, or as a stand-alone course that will allow you to enjoy low level walks in the countryside.
- Map – OS map Relevant to the area. Exact details will be in joining instructions.
- Compass – Silva type 4 is the best, make sure it’s in degrees – https://amzn.to/3COka6S
- Pocket notebook and pen/pencil – Useful for taking any notes during the day. Please not there are no handouts on this course.
- A watch or stopwatch – used for measuring the time walking
- Rucksack – 20-30 litres should be enough to hold all of your kit for the day. Include a waterproof liner to keep your kit dry
- Waterproof Jacket and Waterproof Trousers – These are essential regardless of the forecast as the weather can change quickly.
- Suitable Trousers/shorts – Lightweight and quick drying. (Jeans are unsuitable for this activity.
- Clothing – Suitable to the season and always include a fleece or other warm clothing. Bring a spare jacket just in case you get cold.
- Gloves to keep the fingers warm and maintain movement.
- Hat – Warm hat for the winter season, sun hat for other times of the year
- Sensible footwear – waterproof walking boots with a good quality sole and decent ankle support.
- Drinking water and bottle – You will need to carry 1 to 2 litres of water and this can be in any suitable container you have
- Packed lunch – bring some food to keep you fuelled up throughout the day
- Personal medication – e.g. EpiPen, Ventolin, Insulin, paracetamol, hayfever tablets,
- Torch & spare batteries – This is in case of emergencies and it’s good practice to carry one on your own adventures
- Whistle – Also in case of emergencies
- Survival bag – It’s useful to carry one of these whenever you are in the hills. Orange plastic ones are ideal.
Optional items
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Gaiters
- Fully charged mobile phone
- Snacks
Please see the new events page for details – https://point5.tv/intro-to-navigation-beginners-navigation-course/
Mountain Navigation
Off-path Navigation Skills
Our progression from our Intro to navigation course will help you be a better navigator on and off paths.
Ideal if you have some map and compass skills but are looking at becoming more proficient and using them in the open country away from paths and trails
Previous Experience: Basic map & compass skills or our Introduction to Navigation course
Number of Participants: Max of 8
Cost: £55 per person
We’ll be out on the hill for about 7 to 8 hours. We will focus on more advanced skills such as:
- Navigation strategies
- Taking and walking on bearings
- Contour interpretation
- Micro navigation
- Using different map scales
We will also cover many of the skills in the Intro to Navigation course such as:
- Understanding the map symbols, grid references and scales
- Measuring distance and height gain on the map
- Distance, time and pacing – how long it will take to walk to a point on the map
- Contours, what are they and how can they help us
- Using linear features as handrails to guide us
- Using tick features – things we pass as we go to ‘tick off’ our progress
- Compass basics – Setting the map, taking bearings
This course is ideal if you are looking to move away from paths and tackle more remote peaks, if you want to go Munro bagging, or go wild camping away from the tourist hotspots.
- Map – OS map Relevant to the area. Exact details will be in joining instructions.
- Compass – Silva type 4 is the best, make sure it’s in degrees – https://amzn.to/3COka6S
- Pocket notebook and pen/pencil – Useful for taking any notes during the day. Please not there are no handouts on this course.
- A watch or stopwatch – used for measuring the time walking
- Rucksack – 20-30 litres should be enough to hold all of your kit for the day. Include a waterproof liner to keep your kit dry
- Waterproof Jacket and Waterproof Trousers – These are essential regardless of the forecast as the weather can change quickly.
- Suitable Trousers/shorts – Lightweight and quick drying. (Jeans are unsuitable for this activity.
- Clothing – Suitable to the season and always include a fleece or other warm clothing. Bring a spare jacket just in case you get cold.
- Gloves to keep the fingers warm and maintain movement.
- Hat – Warm hat for the winter season, sun hat for other times of the year
- Sensible footwear – waterproof walking boots with a good quality sole and decent ankle support.
- Drinking water and bottle – You will need to carry 1 to 2 litres of water and this can be in any suitable container you have
- Packed lunch – bring some food to keep you fuelled up throughout the day
- Personal medication – e.g. EpiPen, Ventolin, Insulin, paracetamol, hayfever tablets,
- Torch & spare batteries – This is in case of emergencies and it’s good practice to carry one on your own adventures
- Whistle – Also in case of emergencies
- Survival bag – It’s useful to carry one of these whenever you are in the hills. Orange plastic ones are ideal.
Optional items
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Gaiters
- Fully charged mobile phone
- Snacks
Please see the new events page for details – https://point5.tv/mountain-navigation-navigation-course-for-hill-walkers/
Level 2 Navigation Course
Level 3 Navigation Course
Night Navigation & Low Visibility Navigation
We’ll be out on the hill for about 4 hours at night. We will cover many of the skills covered in the other 2 courses but with the added challenge of doing it in poor visibility
- Taking and walking on bearings
- Slope aspect
- Contour interpretation
- Micro navigation
We will also cover many of the skills in the Intro to Navigation course such as:
- Understanding the map symbols, grid references and scales
- Measuring distance and height gain on the map
- Distance, time and pacing – how long it will take to walk to a point on the map
- Using linear features as handrails to guide us
- Using tick features – things we pass as we go to ‘tick off’ our progress
- Compass basics – Setting the map, taking bearings
This course is ideal if you are looking to become a proficient navigator away from the trails through the year. You’ll have the skills to navigate in open country for a summer sunrise or walk into the evening during the shorter winter days.
- Map – OS map Relevant to the area. Exact details will be in joining instructions.
- Compass – Silva type 4 is the best, make sure it’s in degrees – https://amzn.to/3COka6S
- Pocket notebook and pen/pencil – Useful for taking any notes during the day. Please not there are no handouts on this course.
- A watch or stopwatch – used for measuring the time walking
- Rucksack – 20-30 litres should be enough to hold all of your kit for the day. Include a waterproof liner to keep your kit dry
- Waterproof Jacket and Waterproof Trousers – These are essential regardless of the forecast as the weather can change quickly.
- Suitable Trousers/shorts – Lightweight and quick drying. (Jeans are unsuitable for this activity.
- Clothing – Suitable to the season and always include a fleece or other warm clothing. Bring a spare jacket just in case you get cold.
- Gloves to keep the fingers warm and maintain movement.
- Hat – Warm hat for the winter season, sun hat for other times of the year
- Sensible footwear – waterproof walking boots with a good quality sole and decent ankle support.
- Drinking water and bottle – You will need to carry 1 to 2 litres of water and this can be in any suitable container you have
- Packed lunch – bring some food to keep you fuelled up throughout the day
- Personal medication – e.g. EpiPen, Ventolin, Insulin, paracetamol, hayfever tablets
- Torch & spare batteries
- Whistle – In case of emergencies
- Survival bag – It’s useful to carry one of these whenever you are in the hills. Orange plastic ones are ideal.
Optional items
- Gaiters
- Fully charged mobile phone
- Snacks
Please see the new events page for details – https://point5.tv/night-navigation-low-visibility-navigation-course/
Booking
All dates are listed under the booking tab for each course with more dates being added throughout the year. Watch this space or drop us an email to be the first to hear or to book a private tuition day.
Booking is essential for all our courses. Contact us using the contact form, by email or call 01902 595 855 to book your place today.