Are you interested in learning how to use a map and compass or brushing up your map reading skills? Want to go independent hill walking? These courses will enable you to learn the necessary skills to navigate safely, enjoy a day and/or obtain a recognised certificate (a Bronze or Silver award) from the National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS).
Despite GPS technology, which we’ll discuss and demonstrate, traditional map and compass skills remain an integral part of safe hill walking. These two and three-day practical courses will guide you through all the essential map and compass competencies you require to navigate your walking safely and confidently. Our new Advanced Hill Skills course will enable you to take on fresh challenges in the hills.
Explore our courses designed to equip you with vital skills for your safety in the hills. With two distinct options, you can learn essential navigation techniques and ensure your well-being while navigating through challenging terrains. Our courses also provide the opportunity to attain a valuable certificate from the esteemed National Navigation Award Scheme. Don't miss out on this chance to enhance your hill safety skills and showcase your expertise with a recognised certification.
Navigation Course – Bronze Award (Grade 4)
Operates on: 01 November 2024
This course is aimed at beginners, or those wishing to improve their rusty skills and covers all the NNAS Bronze syllabus and overlaps with some aspects of the Silver syllabus. At the end of the course you’ll have the opportunity to be assessed and to receive the NNAS Bronze award or just to take the experience gained to help you in your own forays into the hills. This course combines setting the map, identifying features, interpreting contours, taking and following a compass bearing, estimating distance travelled, identifying a practical route, understanding map scales, distances, symbols and grid references. We’ll introduce you to the most important navigation skills such as: setting the map, identifying features, interpreting contours, taking and following a compass bearing, estimating distance travelled, identifying a practical route, understanding maps scales, distances, symbols and grid references.
Navigation Course – Silver Award (Grade 6)
Operates on: 04 November 2024
The silver NNAS award develops the navigation skills acquired at Bronze level. It adds the skills required to navigate in some detail to features and places some distance from paths and tracks. This course teaches accurate compass work and will also explain how to select suitable navigational techniques to cross open country. There will be more emphasis on reading the landforms from the map and techniques for accurately assessing one's position, as we as know what to do when things go wrong!
For those seeking the Silver award assessment, we strongly advise prior completion of the Bronze course. Alternatively, if you possess significant previous experience in the field, please inform us. Your proficiency is essential for a successful Silver award assessment.