Being able to navigate with a map and a compass is one of the most important mountain skills, as it enables you to find your way if your GPS device or your phone runs out of battery, or if you are surprised by low-visibility conditions like fog or nightfall.
What you will learn on a navigation course
On a navigation course, you will learn how to:
- Give Mountain Rescue the information they need, if you are not able to make it back on your own
- Read a map & interpret the terrain
- Use the compass
- Apply different navigation techniques to navigate through different kinds of terrain
- Navigate in low-visibility conditions (in fog/bad weather, at night)
- Plan a safe route as you go
Course options
Navigation courses run throughout the year. The group ratio is 1:6. The following courses are available:
- Introduction to navigation
- Advanced navigation techniques
- Night navigation/low-visibility navigation (run from November to March)
Detailed breakdown of what’s covered in the courses
Introduction to navigation:
- Grid references and their use in emergency situations
- Map reading & identifying specific features
- Setting the map with and without the compass
- Taking compass bearings
- Walking on compass bearings
- Navigating to easily identifiable features
- Relocating in less complex terrain
- Using line features as handrails
- Pacing & timing
- Safe route planning
Advanced navigation techniques:
- Short refresher on how to set the map and how to take bearings
- Navigating in more complex terrain (pathless, rugged and steep mountain terrain)
- Slope angle & slope aspect as navigation feature
- Safe route planning in complex and potentially dangerous terrain/weather conditions
Night navigation/low-visibility navigation:
- Short refresher on how to take bearings
- Identifying reliable features
- Working with the shape of the terrain
- Trusting the compass
- Staying on a bearing while walking
- Planning efficient and safe navigation legs
- Gathering clues when relocating
- Pacing & timing and their limitations
Pricing & Dates
£40 per person. The Introduction and Advanced courses run from 9am to 5pm (8 hours). The night navigation courses run for 6 hours with variable starting times, depending on the time of sunset. All courses will be based completely outdoors.
This course will run on Saturday, the 15th of February 2025 from 4.30pm to 10.30pm. It will take place in the Strathdearn area - 10 miles south of Inverness.
If you are interested in an individual date during the week, or a course just for you or your group, please send an enquiry.