Unlock the secrets of the landscape and gain the confidence to explore the wilder side of the Peak District. This immersive, full-day course is designed to take you from “lost in the woods” to a capable navigator, trading paved paths for the freedom of the fells.

The Itinerary

We begin at 9:30 am at a Peak District Location. Following a brief round of introductions, we dive straight into the essentials: mastering map orientation and demystifying the anatomy of the compass.

By 10:00 am, we hit the trail. This is a highly active, practical session; aside from a scenic lunch break, we will be moving and learning until 4:30 pm.

What You Will Learn

The day is structured to build your skills progressively through hands-on experience:

• Foundation Skills: We start with a live demonstration of core techniques, allowing you to practice in a controlled setting before we transition to more complex terrain.

• Precision Interpretation: You’ll learn to appreciate the incredible detail of Ordnance Survey maps. We teach you how to “read” the environment, identifying subtle clues in the flora and stone that confirm your exact position.

• Reading the Land: The afternoon focuses on contour interpretation. You will learn to translate the steepness and shape of the physical ground directly to the lines on your map, ensuring you never find yourself on the wrong side of a valley again.

Skills learned = 

• Core Navigation & Route Finding

  • Compass & Orientation: Accurately follow bearings, aim off, check linear features, take back bearings, and navigate around terrain obstacles while maintaining the original line.

  • Distance & Visibility: Estimate distance using timing and pacing across open terrain, compensate for discrepancies, and maintain accuracy in night or low visibility conditions.

  • Strategy & Error Recovery: Use coarse to fine navigation strategies and attack points, rapidly identify route errors, and execute relocation techniques.

  Terrain, Planning & Safety

  • Terrain Evaluation: Identify dangerous or complex terrain on both maps and the ground to plan and execute safe navigational strategies.

  • Physical Considerations: Assess how personal fitness, fatigue, physical discomfort, and extreme weather affect route selection and safety.

  • Equipment Readiness: Select gear, clothing, and first-aid equipment tailored for open country in all weather conditions.

  Access, Ethics & Environment

  • Environmental Impact: Apply the Countryside Code, respect access legislation, and use sustainable practices to minimize the impact of foot traffic.

  • Land-Use Awareness: Balance outdoor recreation with the needs of forestry, agriculture, and local conservation.

The day loosely follows the syllabus of the silver NNAS award. 

Why Join Us?

Whether you are a casual hiker looking to ditch the GPS or an aspiring adventurer preparing for solo expeditions, this course provides the mental tools necessary for safe mountain travel. By the end of the day, the hills will no longer look like a mystery—they’ll look like a guidebook.