This navigation course is perfect for Fell Walkers, especially those wishing to head up into the mountains, Road & Trail runners new to navigation who wish to explore new routes.

This is an intermediate-level course for navigation for personal development & will give you a NNAS (National Navigation Award Scheme) Silver Award, assuming you are able to demonstrate a good understanding and application of the skills being learnt on the course.

If you demonstrate the correct understanding after 2 days intensive training and assessment, then you will walk away with a NNAS Silver Certificate and will be able to use this to either gain your Gold Award or put it towards a Mountain Leader Training course.

You will be crossing open fell, for short durations and this will not be on paths. Having said this we will travel very slowly over this ground and ensure the safety of participants. We will mostly only be walking over grassey tussocks, boggy area and occasional rocky sections which will not be technical, but will be off path.

It is not required to have the NNAS Bronze Certificate before signing up for the Silver level, BUT we prefer it if you have Bronze level! iIf you feel that you really are up to Silver Level, then please call Nicola on 07976 949488 before signing up, so we can discuss your previous experience.

There is an ‘Add On’ day attached to this course, for those who feel they need to brush up Navigation techniques, and cover the Bronze syllabus. NOT for those who have not navigated using map and compass before!

On the 2 Day Silver Course, you will learn:

Utilise the skills and techniques of the Bronze Award in the context of Silver Award navigation strategies.
Relate small hills, small valleys, prominent re-entrants and prominent spurs to their corresponding map contours. Use prominent hills, ridges, spurs and valleys as a means of navigation in good visibility.
Use landforms and point features to orientate the map and as collecting and catching features.
Use a compass to: Accurately follow a bearing; aim off; check the direction of handrails and other linear features.
Deviate briefly from a compass bearing to avoid obstacles or difficult terrain and accurately regain the original line.
Use back bearings to check route following accuracy.
Measure distance on the ground in varied, open terrain using timing and pacing and make practical allowances for any discrepancies.
Simplify legs using coarse navigation, attack points and fine navigation.
Recognise dangerous or difficult terrain on map and ground.
Plan and implement navigational strategies based on the above skills.
Maintain route finding accuracy in poor visibility or darkness.
Recognise a navigation error within a few minutes and apply appropriate relocation techniques.
Understand how personal fitness and nature of terrain affect route choice both at the planning stage and on the ground.
Understand the potential consequences of fatigue and physical discomfort in demanding terrain and/or extreme weather conditions.
Select appropriate clothing, equipment and first aid items for walking in open country in all weather conditions.
Demonstrate an understanding of the Countryside Code, current access legislation and the environmental impact of walkers on the countryside.
Understand the responsibilities of walkers towards other countryside interests such as farming, forestry and conservation.
What are the benefits?

Gain a deeper understanding on how to use a map & compass in order to navigate a chosen route in difficult conditions, across different scales of maps and over difficult terrain.
Grow your confidence to take people further afield, but with-in your qualification’s perimeter’s
Use this course to help you gain your Walking Leader Qualification (It will set you on the right track, giving you a good understanding of navigation, not give you the course work or qualification)
Course Program

Meeting place: Patterdale, Ullswater – Exact meeting placeTBC

Day 1:
10:45 – Meet and greet – please bring your own hot drink and snack
11:00 – 2 Hours theory confirming existing skills and recap of Bronze NNAS skills, assessing participants navigation level
13:00 – Lunch & look at kit, maps, weather
13:30 – Around 5+ hours on the hill with a break for food en route
19:30 – Back to base – we may stay out a little longer so navigate down off the fell in darkness, if this course is in summer months. Please make sure you have made arrangements for evening food after this time, we can suggest places in the village on request.

Day 2:
08:30 Meet – set maps look at route, chat re requirements for the day in order to be certified for Silver level
09:00 Full mountain day out, not fast, but will include a mountain summit – approx 800m ascent &10-12km.
15:30 Private debrief on return to valley, 5-10 minutes per participant.

Compass with magnifying glass
MAP REQUIREMENTS –
1) Harvey/BMC 1:40’000 map of the Lake District, or UltramapXT40, East (mini map!)
2) Harvey/BMC 1:25’000 map of the Lake District – East
3) Ordnance Survey 1:50’000 no 90
4)Ordnance Survey 1:25’000 OL5 – or Dinky Waterproof Lake District map we can purchase for you.
We sell maps and post these to you in advance of your course on request.

Meet your coach –

Nicky lives at the foot of Helvellyn, and the Helvellyn Massif is her playground all year round.

As an accomplished Nordic Walking Coach & walk leader, Nicky found her clients were keen to explore the higher fells, so took the next step to qualify as a Mountain Leader in 2018. She found herself being inspired by her clients, pushing their boundaries and giving an all round uplifting experience to all who walk with her.

Nicky also teaches Navigation to a high level, helping fellow hikers to loose the fear and gain confidence in maps to explore further and off the beaten track.

There’s always a story with Nic, and knowledge of the surroundings in which they walk. There is a huge excitement for Nic to give folk the tools in order to achieve and gain confidence in the fells. Hikers have joined her on many walking holidays, both high and low level all over The Lakes.

Nicky lives with her youngest son and daughter in the heart of the fells above Glenridding. She has 4 children, 2 grandchildren, who all share her adventures on the fells.

See our About Us page to find out more.

Cost: £155