Navigation
skills training 2024
Hill walkers navigation training
courses in the Lake District fells  |
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Course
overview
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Despite
their modest height, navigation in the UK
mountains in the Lake District in poor visibility
/ bad weather, can be one of the most challenging
places in the world. It is no small wonder
that so many people get lost or have accidents
in the hills each year, mainly as a result
of poor navigation. This course aims to teach
you how to navigate well, so you are confident
in the mountains. |
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These
navigation skills courses are led by highly
qualified and experienced instructors, and
our approach is to simplify the 'black art'
of mountain navigation. We get rid of baffling
jargon, and teach you easy methods of navigating,
without trying to impress you with science.
Well taught basic skills will keep you safe. |
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You
are led over high mountainous terrain in the
Lake District national park, with the aim
of coaching you on methods of navigating and
route planning, with a good focus on different
methods of interpreting the map. All of the
course is outside based, with no classroom
sessions, to maximise your experience. |
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The difference between the 1 and 2 day courses, is that you can develop navigation skills in more detail on the longer course, and there will be time to introduce using technology such as GPS or phone mapping systems, as well as traditional advanced navigation skills with a map and compass. |
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Work
towards your National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS, www.nnas.org.uk)
Bronze or Silver level award, using map and
compass. If you would like
to follow one of these certificated schemes,
get in contact so we can give you more detail. |
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To
get the latest weather forecast for the Lake
District, click the Adobe logo for the PDF
from the MWIS, or the mobile logo if on the
move. When you are confident navigating, such
as after one of these courses, you can go
into the mountains in any weather. |
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On
demand: Scheduled dates on either the 1 or 2 day courses are guaranteed once just 2 people have booked. If no scheduled dates suit, we can operate a bespoke course for the same price, for
a minimum of 2 people booking together (or
1 person paying for 2 places), for non-weekend dates, or for a minimum of 3 people (or 2.5 people if just 2 people booking) for weekend dates. Bespoke dates subject to availability. |
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Dates: these
are listed in the column on the right, and
they show the live availability from our secure
online booking system. When you book online,
you receive immediate confirmation, your Course
Information Booklet, course specific kit list
and invoice. |
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Outline
itinerary for each day of our 1 or 2 day courses
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Meeting
with your instructor at 09:00 in our Windermere
Office for a quick briefing
about the weather and a kit check, before setting
off for a full hill day. There is a huge variety
of areas to choose from including well known classics
such as Helvellyn and the Langdales, to lesser
visited areas such as the Patterdale side of Fairfield,
or Red Screes.
Sometimes a group has very specific navigational
requirements for a day, and we are able to cater
for these. Examples we have been asked for include
a navigation day for fell runners who were training
for a local event, to a group preparing for their
Duke of Edinburgh expedition who needed more poor
visibility navigation skills. Let us know if you
have any special requirements.
The selection of the mountain venue for the training
is always made on the day to cater for the prevailing
conditions, group experience, and where is best
to escape the crowds.
Usually on a day such as this there will be at
least one or two summits that you take in during
the route, so take a packed lunch and snacks to
eat on the hill. Some groups prefer larger mountain
objectives, whilst others want to stay on easier
to access fells to maximise the navigation training
time.
During
the day you will have plenty of opportunity to
ask your instructor for any further advice about
your navigation, and what you can practise on
your own in the future, to develop and maintain
your skills. You can also incorporate an mock
examined element of the day, if you think it would
help build your confidence, with the instructor
right on hand to assist if required.
When you descend, you return to Windermere in the late afternoon. We
aim to end by 16:00 to allow you time to travel
home, or if you are staying extra days in the
Lake District, then generally the group arranges to go out together for food and drinks
in town.
As you hopefully can gather from this outline,
the day is very flexible to cater for your current
standard, and your precise training requirements.
Contact us to book one of these days, and let
us know exactly what you aim to get out of it,
so we can brief the instructor before you arrive.
Let
us know if you have any queries! |
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Prices |
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1 day
course |
1
full day mountain guiding, 1:6 max ratio |
£75pp |
2 day
course |
2
full days mountain guiding, 1:6 max ratio |
£149pp |
Live
availability |
Click
on the planner logo to the right >>>
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Secure
online booking system |
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Course Inclusions: 1)
Qualified mountain leader for daily guiding and instruction,
2) All costs and fees for the leader, 3)
The provision of group safety kit (e.g. shelter &
rope). |
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| Exclusions: 1)
Travel to & from the national park for the course,
2) Equipment hire such as boots or waterproofs, 3) Bar
/ food bills & tips, laundry, telephone calls, 4)
Accommodation (if required). |
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Navigation 1 day course
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Course Dates
Navigation 1 day
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NOTE:
This trip has scheduled
dates, but if there are two who
are booking together, it can be
operated on any date you wish,
subject to availability |
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Navigation 2 day course
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Course Dates
Navigation 2 days
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NOTE:
This trip has scheduled
dates, but if there are two who
are booking together, it can be
operated on any date you wish,
subject to availability |
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| Client
feedback |
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A
day of thick cloud, but I left totally
confident that I could now go out on
my own in the hills in that weather,
and be no danger to myself or anyone
else. Happy to have gained this confidence
Nick
F , Navigation Course
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Before
the course, I'd lost count of the number
of arguments I'd had over where we were,
but never ever again!
Alan
S , Navigation Course
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Great
day. Learned a huge amount, and pass
on my thanks to the guide
Stan
McD , Navigation
Course
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| Testimonials |
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| Press & media |
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| Films & videos |
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| Photo gallery |
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| Travel
to this trip by train |
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Train to Windermere
Timings
for this trip are such that you can arrive in the
Lake District at Windermere just |
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first train from London or Manchester (on West Coast
main line), and can depart in the afternoon the
next day. This means that only 1 night of local accommodation is required. |
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| Location data
for this trip |
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| The meeting point for these courses is at
our office in Windermere in the Lake District National
Park. There is easy access by car, and the train station
is just 150m from the office door. From here there are
a huge variety of mountain terrain to opt for, so we can
cater for all weather and conditions. We genuinely believe
that the Lake District is second to none with the quality
and quantity of mountain training opportunities. |
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| Key
learning points |
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| • Use of compass and bearings |
| • Aiming
off techniques |
| • Navigating
without a compass |
| • Contour
interpretation methods |
| • Aspect
of slope measurements |
| • Re-section
for location |
| • Setting
the map & scales |
| • Pacing
and timing methods |
| • Route
planning from the map |
| • Search
methods if lost |
| • Use of
the GPS & limitations |
| • Orienteering
skills & training |
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| Why choose our
trips? |
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The photo above
sums it up. All our guiding team for this trip are
locally based, and the Lake District is their home.
They know the mountains like the back of their hand. |
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We run all
these trips carefully to source unpolluted water
for drinking and cooking, and we aim to leave no
trace of our presence in the fells. All rubbish
is carried out. |
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As well as
offering you a great and memorable experience, we
also want to teach you key hill skills such as navigation,
and safety in the UK hills in the hours of darkness. |
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Our office
base in Windermere is essential for organising local
pre trip logistics and backup support whilst we
are out in the hills. You're looked after on and
off the hill. |
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If you still
have any queries, give us a call on 01539 44 22
17. |
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