We offer a range of navigation courses, hill skills courses and walking holidays from our base in Snowdonia and taking in some of the most beautiful mountains in the world. To learn the skills to travel in the mountains under your own steam through mountain navigation is to enter a world that will enliven all of your senses, and remain with you for the rest of your life.

Navigation skills form the foundation for all journeys in the mountains. Taking the time to learn how to use a map and compass and having the confidence to navigate in poor visibility will open up a world of opportunity for hill walkers, rock climbers and mountaineers alike.

Which course?
If you can only spare two days and would like to cover more the skills to navigate in the mountains and develop your ability to be self sufficient in the mountains of the UK then our two day mountain navigation course will be ideal.

If you have a week and would like to progress to being a confident navigator and happy on grade 1 scrambles then our 5 day summer mountain skills covers detailed mountain navigation for all weathers, how to plan and undertake a mountain journey, how to avoid becoming a mountain rescue statistic, how to understand mountain weather and also progresses you onto the grade 1 scrambles.

All of our navigation courses allow you to be assessed for NNAS awards.

The Map
Navigation requires the competent use of a map and compass. In the British Isles we are very lucky to have some of the best maps in the world made by Ordnance Survey and Harveys. We have a range of different scales to choose from to suit our particular needs. When I am wanting to be really accurate in my navigation I like a 1:25000 scale map. This means that everything on the map is 25000 times bigger on the ground and you will be amazed at how accurate and detailed they are.

Features on the ground are represented on maps using symbols and it is worth being able to identify a field boundary, footpath, crag etc before you leave home. The key on the map will provide you with all of the answers. Contours are the most accurate part of the map and are brown/orange lines that connect points of equal height. They represent a 3 dimensional shape in a 2 dimensional image and are fantastically accurate but they do take some getting your head round. (See my seperate article on contours)

The Compass
I like a compass that has a large base plate, it makes taking and reading bearings easier. Be aware that shops sell military and civilian compasses so make sure you get the one you want. Civilian compasses read in degress whilst the military use mils. Read my article here on how to take a bearing.

Key Skills & Top Tips The ability to relate the map to the ground and vice versa is a fundamental skill in mountain navigation. How often have you convinced yourself that the map really does match the spot you are stood on only to realise later that you were miles out! I find it best to set the map when I am reading it. Imagine that the map is the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle and you need to slot it into the ground around you, twist it round until everything matches up and read the map that way. Another top tip is to cut your map into sections and laminate it. This will mean that you don't need to carry an unwieldy map case around your neck and take your partners eye out. It will also avoid having to refold maps through the day and it will be waterproof. Carry the main map as a spare though in case you walk off the laminate sheet by mistake or it blows away.

I use a series of questions when I am navigating to make sure that I don't get lost, here they are:

1. Where am I now? If I can answer that I am not lost.
2. Where do I want to go? Describe to yourself 3 points that you are trying to find to make sure you know when you get there
3. What will I see along the way? Break the route down into small tick features and tick them off as you go past
4. How long will it take? Use timing or pacing to calculate distance travelled
5. What will I see if I go too far? Have a backstop feature

And don't forget that the best navigator in the world will get lost of they stop navigating!