Navigation

Our navigation courses are aimed at equipping ramblers, hill walkers and mountaineers with the basic navigational skills to safely traverse paths and tracks in the hills and mountains of the British Isles.  Learn how to feel confident with a map and compass in unfamiliar territory, day or night and if the worse should happen, how to get out of trouble and back to civilisation.  Our instructors are highly experienced in all aspects of navigation throughout the UK and work on maximum ratios of 1:6, to ensure each individual is given the opportunity to get the most from the navigation course.

Discover Navigation

Is this course for me?

Discover navigation is aimed at people with little or no map and compass navigation experience and will equip you with the fundamental and essential skills to navigate on marked paths and tracks amongst the hills and mountains in the British Isles.  If you enjoy hill walking but lack the necessary skills to navigate yourself to where you want to be, then this is course for you.

What is covered in the Discover Navigation course?

Discover Navigation will provide you with plenty of opportunities to practice a variety of navigation skills, including map reading and orientation, using a compass and following a bearing, pace counting and developing strategies to locate your position when you have lost direction and haven’t a clue where you are.

This course will cover:

• Map orientation
• Map symbols and scales
• Grid references and the grid system
• Public rights of way and the Crow Act
• Measuring distances
• Basic interpretation of contour lines
• Macro navigation techniques
• Taking and walking on a compass bearing
• Hand-railing
• Route calculation and planning
• Utilising a variety of techniques and strategies to get from A to B
• What to do if you get lost

Plus lots of time to practice in the beautiful surrounding hills and mountains of North Wales.

What is the duration and cost of the Discover Navigation course?

Discover Navigation is a 2 day course and is priced at £190pp.

What dates will the Discover Navigation courses be running?

From March 2023

National Navigation Award Scheme

Anglesey Adventures are Bronze & Silver level, Training and Assessment course providers in North Wales. The NNAS is a personal performance, non-competitive, incentive scheme for all ages to learn navigation skills and gain confidence to get out and enjoy the countryside.  NNAS is a certified navigation award scheme for pepole of all ages, on completion of the assessment, you will be awarded with a certificate and a badge.

History of the NNAS

The National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS) was launched in 1994 at the Royal Institute of Navigation in London, and since then over 50,000 people of all ages have gained awards.  It was the inspiration of Peter Palmer.  The scheme continues to be a great success, and has over 300 registered providers of courses.  In 2009 NNAS became a Company Limited by Guarantee, number SC320350 and a Registered Charity, number SC039201.  In late 2015, The Bronze Award was accredited by the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF) at Level 4, and 2 SCQF credit points are awarded on completion.

Bronze Award - Is this course for me?

The Bronze National Navigation Award is aimed at people who are new to navigation, whether you’ve been walking for a while and relying on guidebooks or other people, or you’re new to the outdoors.  

You’ll learn from an experienced and qualified instructor who will guide you through the essentials of map reading in a focussed and structured way. You’ll gain confidence and by the end of your course, you’ll be able to plan suitable walks and navigate around them with confidence.

The skills you’ll learn will help you explore the thousands of miles of paths, tracks and trails across the UK and further afield.  Using a map and a compass is a practical skill, and your course will involve plenty of opportunities to practice essential skills.  There may also be indoor sessions to back up the practical work.  

What is covered in the NNAS Bronze Award course?

• Navigate using a variety of maps and scales.
• Use 4 and 6 figure grid references with worded descriptions to define the position of a map feature and to locate a feature on the ground.
• Orientate the map using handrails, obvious point features and major landforms.
• Use linear features (e.g. paths, tracks, clear boundaries) as handrails in simple navigation exercises.
• Relate prominent landforms such as large hills and valleys to corresponding contour information on the map.
• Orientate the map by aligning a compass needle against grid north and be aware that magnetic variation causes an inaccuracy.
• Use an orientated map to confirm the direction of travel.
• Use clearly identifiable features to confirm position along the route and to recognise when the target has been overshot.
• Measure horizontal distance on the map and estimate distance on the ground using timing, pacing and simple visual judgements e.g.100m.
• Plan and implement simple routes and navigation strategies based on the above skills.
• Recognise a navigation error within a few minutes and apply simple relocation techniques using handrails and prominent features.
• Demonstrate an awareness of local and national access issues, access legislation, personal responsibilities and the Countryside Code.
• Demonstrate appropriate knowledge of walking equipment, safety equipment and emergency procedures.

What is the duration and cost of the NNAS Bronze Award course?

The NNAS bronze award course is a 2 day, non-residential course and is priced at £150pp.

What dates will the NNAS Bronze Award courses be running?

From March 2023

Silver Award - Is this course for me?

The Silver National Navigation Award is aimed at people who have completed the Bronze award or who already have knowledge and experince of navigating.  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.

Silver National Navigation Award courses are taught in areas with access to open country and involve periods where you’ll be navigating away from paths and tracks.

What is covered in the NNAS Silver Award course?

• 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 is the duration and cost of the NNAS Silver Award course?

The NNAS bronze award course is a 2 day, non-residential course and is priced at £175pp.

What dates will the NNAS Silver Award courses be running?

From March 2023

Where are the courses held?

In the Ogwen Valley and surrounding areas of Snowdonia National Park.

What do I need to bring?

Gallery