Navigation Fundamentals

Based around the beautiful Galloway Forest Park. A practical and fun navigation course aimed at giving you the navigation skills you need to get out exploring the tracks and trails of the UK. Aimed at beginners wanting to start self-guided walks, the beginner navigation course offers a full introduction to navigation.

-Learn to navigate with map & compass

-Build hill-walking confidence

-Use a compass to set the map and check the direction of travel

-Choose appropriate navigation strategies

-Learn effective relocation techniques

-Learn about sustainability and reducing your impact on the natural environment

The course delivery will mainly take place outdoors, so please come prepared with the suggested kit mentioned in the equipment list.

Fitness level

Ideally, participants would have done some basic walking previously and have a reasonable level of fitness. You can expect to be out walking for between 4-6 hours.

Minimum Age

10 years old. (Anyone aged 17 or under must be accompanied by a paying legal guardian)

Insurance

Way of the Wild has full public liability insurance, but the advice is for you to take out your own personal accident/cancellation insurance. If you already have insurance cover, check that it covers you for the activity you are undertaking.

Equipment

The following list is a suggestion of what you should bring with you. Please ask your course provider if you have any queries about any of these items:

Comfortable walking clothing – personal base layers and trousers (not jeans)

Waterproof jacket with hood

Waterproof trousers (separate to your walking trousers)

Spare warm/fleece jacket

Walking boots

Comfortable walking socks

Warm hat and gloves or sun hat and sun screen (weather dependent)

Vacuum flask for hot drink and/or re-usable water bottle

Personal first aid kit and personal medication

Compass - recommend a Silva Type 4

1:25 000 scale map OS Explorer 319 - Galloway Forest Park South

Head torch + spare batteries (in autumn/winter most likely)

Day walk rucksack Approximately 30 litres

Packed lunch and snacks

Camera

Notebook and pen

I would suggest that even if it is warm you wear a cool long sleeve top and trousers, this is due to the risk of ticks in the area and horseflies are prevalent at certain times of the year.

Course introductions

1. Provider and tutor
2. Participants and relevant experience
3. What do participants want to gain from the course?
4. Navigation - a brief history
5. The D's of Navigation
6. Weather – What is ‘mountain weather’ and how does it affect us? Where can we find suitable forecast information? How does weather affect our navigation planning? What’s the weather doing today?
7. Essential skills for safety, planning, and kit selection
8. Map reading – Looking at different sorts of maps and how to read the details? Comparing maps to the real world and vice versa. Looking at scale and distance and how maps are useful for planning. How to use a compass to work out which direction to walk in.
9. Developing effective compass skills
10. Contour Interpretation
11. Review of the day