Navigation
Intro to navigation
Our Intro to Navigation day is a great introduction to map reading and the skills you need to safely enjoy a great walk in the countryside and hillside without reliance on a guide book or phone app.
This one-day course is for those of you wanting to gain more confidence to get out exploring the network of public rights of way. You might be looking at getting started in the outdoors, or just wanting to refresh and improve on some rusty skills you learnt a while ago.
You will be amazed how much information there is on an Ordnance Survey map and our Navigation day will help you make sense of it all! A great introduction to the navigation skills you need to get out and about.
Course Outline
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Practical use of Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps
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Get to know the map, legend and symbols and interpret map details and contour lines
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Understanding grid references
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Introduction to using a magnetic compass
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Orientating the map to the ground
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Using the orientated map to identify land features, location and indicate direction of travel
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Estimating distance and how long a walk will take using the map
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Choosing simple navigation strategies and routes
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Course review and feedback
Night navigation
Our night navigation course will boost your confidence to get out and explore at night with this one evening night navigation course. This course is aimed at reasonably experienced day navigators who want the extra confidence from the knowledge that they can handle any navigational challenge they find themselves in.
We practice techniques for navigating in the dark, and these skills can be used for reduced visibility. We also look at different types of torches and how to use them correctly in low visibility. We also cover how best to cope if your batteries run out.
We usually start at 1900 and finish at about 2300 and spend the whole time out getting practical hands on experience.
Course Outline
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Navigation at night and the equipment needed
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Safety strategies
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Torches and their uses
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Bearings and pacing
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Navigation without a torch
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Course review and feedback
NNAS - navigation awards
The aims of the National Navigation Award Scheme’s Navigator Award are simple – to give lovers of the outdoors, whatever their sport, age or fitness, the freedom to explore the paths, trails, hills and mountains of Britain and abroad.
Gaining an award does not give you a qualification to teach or lead. It is a recognition of the level of skill at which you can navigate.
The Bronze National Navigation Award is a practical hands-on award. It is aimed at people with no navigation experience whether you are new to the outdoors or have been relying on others, guidebooks or easy well-defined routes.
The Silver National Navigation Award develops the navigation skills acquired at the Bronze level. It adds skills required to navigate to features and places some distance from paths and tracks. It teaches accurate compass work. It will also teach you to select the suitable navigational techniques to cross open country.
The Gold Navigator Award builds on the skills acquired at the Bronze and Silver levels and adds techniques and skills for dealing with complex contour features both large and small.
Contact us to discuss which course would be right for you.
ML Masterclasses
Leadership - from trainee to trusted leader
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Strong leadership is assessed from the moment your assessment begins. Are you ready to demonstrate it under pressure?
Designed to bridge the gap that traditional training leaves out, this intensive day out builds strong, person-centred leadership skills. You'll gain the confidence to manage diverse groups in complex mountain situations, and maintain total control when environmental conditions shift.
We focus heavily on the psychology of group dynamics, defining your personal leadership style, and mastering the exact decision-making models that examiners look for. Learn to lead with authority and excel when things go wrong.
Navigation
1:25 / 1:50
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Navigating isn't just about following a bearing, it’s about spatial awareness. To ace your Mountain Leader assessment, you need to seamlessly transition between different map scales, translate flat lines into a living, breathing 3D landscape, and maintain total accuracy when the visibility drops to zero.
Our navigation deep dive days eliminate the guesswork, turning complex information into an instinctive second nature.
The ultimate ML skill is contour interpretation. Learn to read the shape of the mountain like we do and be ready to pass with flying colours.
The Expedition Masterclass: From Surviving to Thriving
Our 2-Day Expedition Masterclass changes the game. We shift your mindset from pure survival to total competence, giving you the practical systems to run a flawless mountain camp, keep your group happy, and actually enjoy the experience—all while nailing your navigation under pressure.
If your personal background is mostly in day walks, spending multiple consecutive nights wild camping while under the intense scrutiny of an assessor can quickly feel overwhelming.
When you are living out of a rucksack for a few days, especially in unpredictable weather, small mistakes compound quickly. We break down the exact campcraft and organisational skills that assessors look for.
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Ropework: Don't Tie Yourself in Knots
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Steep ground management is often the most nerve-wracking part of the syllabus. Are your knots, anchors, and belay systems second nature?
This intensive day strips away the panic of the unknown. We focus entirely on the practical application of the rope in a Mountain Leader context—no overly complex setups, just fast, efficient, and safe solutions for when a party member loses or the terrain demands security.
You will master selecting bulletproof natural anchors, building quick confidence-roping systems, and executing smooth down-belays under pressure.
Learn how to manage the rope dynamically while maintaining clear communication, ensuring you can keep your group safe without compromising your own safety.
Night and Poor Visibility Navigation
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Night navigation, and poor visibility navigation can induce anxiety on assessment, but it doesn't have to. When the headtorches come on and your vision is reduced to a five-meter bubble, your system needs to be completely flawless.
This masterclass strips away the panic and gives you a structured, step-by-step routine to nail your night legs with pinpoint accuracy. We focus heavily on tactical leg planning and precision pacing.
You will master the art of relying on your compass bearing, accurately managing following others, and reading the changes in ground beneath your boots to verify your position.
Learn how to maintain the calm headspace required to navigate flawlessly while managing a group under pressure.
Bespoke Masterclass: Your Day, Your Focus
Do you have a unique combination of lingering doubts? If a single-topic deep dive doesn't quite fit your needs, you can build a bespoke day completely tailored to your personal goals and last-minute anxieties.
You control the itinerary. Want to spend half a day nailing your 1:50k contour interpretation and the other half mastering steep ground rope work? No problem. This day is a blank canvas designed to target your specific weak links, iron out the nerves, and give you the tailored guidance you need to step up for assessment with a clear mind.
To make the day even more bespoke, you can choose your personal mentor for the experience. Book your custom day with either Tracy or Joe, ensuring you get direct, focused feedback from an expert who knows exactly what it takes to pass.
Book now, tell us what you need, and we’ll structure the perfect day for you.
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