The aim of this course is to help you develop confidence with map and compass so that you can head out into the hills under your own steam and be able to find your way. We will look at the basics of setting the map, following a route, reading contours, identifying features, taking and following a bearing and re-locating when you do get lost.

This is a one day course held in Snowdonia. We will avoid the summits and make the most of the lower foothills to ensure that we can spend time learning without wearing ourselves out.

Snowdonia is an ideal venue because we have the right to roam. This means that we are not limited to footpaths and can practise navigation on natural features such as sing contours and re-entrants.

As with all of our courses you benefit from small group sizes, in this case a maximum of 5 other people. We normally meet at a local cafe where you can buy a packed lunch before we head out for the day in the hills.

This course can be converted to the National Navigation Awards Scheme Bronze award by attending an additional 2 hour evening session. Click here for further details of the NNAS.

Accommodation
Because I am not running an outdoor centre I am not in the business of trying to sell bed-spaces! This means that I can keep the course costs low and you can then choose an accommodation type to suit your budget from camping to hotels. Course members often then meet up in the pub of an evening to share experiences from the day.

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Mountain Navigation & Hill Skills in Snowdonia
Previous Experience Required: None
Group Size: 4
Ideal For: Any one who wants to learn the skills necessary to navigate and look after themselves in the British mountains. This course also suits people considering undertaking the Summer Mountain Leader qualification.

Navigation skills are essential if you want to be able to enjoy the hills safely in any weather. The skills we cover include preparing a route, setting the map, following a route, reading and interpreting contours, identifying features, taking and following a bearing, estimating time and distance, relocating if lost and micro navigation skills. 

Sample Programme (Subject to change to allow for the weather)

Day One:
We meet at 9:30am in the Pinnacle Cafe in Capel Curig. We will spend half an hour looking at the weather forecast and how that affects our route decision for the day, how to interpret synoptic charts and the types of maps that are available to us.

We then head off into the mountains for a full day out. During the day we will look at the basics of how to use the map and compass moving onto more advanced micro navigation as the day goes on.

By the end of the day you should be happy following a route in any weather, understand how to relocate if you do get lost, take and follow a bearing, estimate the time it will take to follow a route and locate your position on featureless ground.

Day Two:

We will meet at 9:00 am and head off into the mountains again. Options include the Carneddau, the Glyders or Moel Siabod. We will follow a route, navigating individually and as part of a team to reach a summit or two. Along the way we will often take in some steeper ground to suit the members of the group. We will practice relocating when lost, following another navigator, taking and following a bearing, route planning in adverse visibility and also look at the flora and fauna that we find along the way.

The Snowdonia National Park contains some of the finest mountains in England and Wales and is easily accessible from across the UK .

Mountain Weather: It is important to be able to plan your day according to the weather, avoiding ridges in high winds, understanding the difference in temperature between valley and summit and to have a knowledge of the vagaries of mountain weather. Rob will help you to interpret synoptic charts and discuss the various factors that can affect your enjoyment of and safety in the mountains. 

Moving Over Steep Ground: Whilst this is not a scrambling course it is useful to have a basic understanding of the techniques we use to keep us safe on steeper ground.

Choice and Use of Equipment: You don't need to spend a fortune on flashy gear but knowing what you do need to take with you on the hills is a valuable piece of knowledge. Being under-equipped can be serious if things go pear shaped, but being over-equipped can seriously affect enjoyment!

Food and Water: Knowing what to eat, how much to drink and whether you can drink from streams is an integral part of a mountain day. Rob has written an article on this which you can read on the Instructors Tips page and will give you more information on your course. 

Route Planning & Emergency Procedures: Before you head out for a day on your own it is useful to have an idea of where you are going, how long it will take and how you are going to get there. Rob will talk you through how to plan a route and what to do if things go wrong. 

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Mountain Navigation & Scrambling Course in Snowdonia
Previous Experience Required: Some hillwalking experience
Group Size: 5
Ideal For: People with no mountain experience who would like to improve their navigation skills and have an introduction to grade 1 scrambles. This course also suits people considering undertaking the Summer Mountain Leader qualification.

This is a 5 day course suitable for anyone that wants to head out into the mountains under their own steam for the first time. We will look at Mountain Navigation and an introduction to scrambling (moving over steeper ground where you need to use your hands as well as your feet).

The first 3 days are spent focusing on navigation and hill skills and then we can move onto look at an intro to grade 1 scrambles. Venues include The Snowdon Horseshoe, The North Ridge of Tryfan, The Glyders and some of the less known rocky ridges dependant upon the weather. We run the course on a 1:3 ratio to ensure you get maximum learning and safety.

Snowdonia is an ideal base as it offers a wide range of scrambles from gullies to exposed ridges and many finish on or close to summits to give a true mountain experience. Having the ability to follow the scrambling routes also means you will often avoid the crowds on the main paths - a definite bonus! 

During the 5 days we will cover:

Navigation skills -essential if you want to be able to enjoy the hills safely in any weather. The skills we cover include preparing a route, setting the map, following a route, reading and interpreting contours, identifying features, taking and following a bearing, estimating time and distance, relocating if lost and micro navigation skills. This course meets the requirement of the NNAS Silver Award and we are happy to assess you for the award over the course of the two days at no extra charge - just let us know beforehand. Click here for further details of the NNAS.

Scrambles - graded from 1 to 3. Grade 1 is unlikely to require a rope but would involve steep and often exposed ground, where good route choice is important and may be used in most weather conditions. Grade 2 requires the use of a rope and elementary rock climbing skills to negotiate steeper ridges and gullies; certain weather conditions may affect these scrambles. Grade 3 is usually more grade 2 ground with perhaps some route finding decisions to be made. This course only covers Grade 1 scrambles and actual routes will depend on the ability of all group members.

Mountain Weather: It is important to be able to plan your day according to the weather, avoiding ridges in high winds, understanding the difference in temperature between valley and summit and to have a knowledge of the vagaries of mountain weather. Rob will help you to interpret synoptic charts and discuss the various factors that can affect your enjoyment of and safety in the mountains. 

Choice and Use of Equipment: You don't need to spend a fortune on flashy gear but knowing what you do need to take with you on the hills is a valuable piece of knowledge. Being under-equipped can be serious if things go pear shaped, but being over-equipped can seriously affect enjoyment!

Food and Water: Knowing what to eat, how much to drink and whether you can drink from streams is an integral part of a mountain day.

Route Planning & Emergency Procedures: Before you head out for a day on your own it is useful to have an idea of where you are going, how long it will take and how you are going to get there. Rob will talk you through how to plan a route and what to do if things go wrong. 

Accommodation
Because I am not running an outdoor centre I am not in the business of trying to sell bed-spaces! This means that I can keep the course costs low and you can then choose an accommodation type to suit your budget from camping to hotels.

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