Navigation Courses

Embark on your outdoor journey with our one-day practical map reading course, tailored to provide you with essential navigation skills using map and compass on gentle terrain.

Whether you're new to hill walking, rely on guidebooks or your phones gps, this course is perfect for you and your confidence!

Highlights of the course include looking at Ordnance Survey and Harveys Maps, first steps in using a compass and planning short routes.

We'll start in the Hope Valley in Derbyshire. We begin with introductions and a guided walk through fields on easy terrain, where you can practice your newly acquired map reading skills. The pace of the day will be easy going, with plenty of stops for discussion. 

The course is aimed  at those with limited or no map reading/navigation experience. 

The course includes looking at the following: 

- Different map types, scales and the common symbols on a map

- How to set and orient the map using land features

- The maps grid system and how to take basic distance measurements 

- How to estimate the time to walk a horizontal distance

- We will look at the basics of contours and elevation and what they mean 

- We will examine the  use "handrail" features to assist you with your route finding

- We will look at how land features can help you locate yourself during your walk

- We will introduce the compass and explain why and when to use it

- We will look at GPS and mobile mapping software and discuss their positives and limitations

- Planning a short route

- Emergency procedures and what to do if you got lost

The course runs for 5 hours and is timed for your convenience.

Cost £70 per person (min 2, max 6 people) or £130 for 1:1

Please email dan @sevenhillsoutdoors.co.uk or enquire through our enquiry form for more detail or to book.

Join our one-day practical intermediate navigation course, perfect for those who have some basic experience of map and compass navigation.  This course can be taken as a stand alone course but also builds on the skills learned on the introductory course. 

You will enhance your skills and by the end of the day confidently leave the paths behind and begin to navigate across open moorland. Immerse yourself in a full-day navigation adventure starting in Edale, in the Dark Peak. 

The day kicks off with introductions and a review of the basics while we embark on a journey through low level fields before moving onto the edges of the high moorland of the Dark Peak where we may encounter mist and poorer conditions where you can test your skills. 

The pace of the day will be comfortable, with plenty of stops to talk about map reading techniques whilst allowing you to use the equipment and your new skills. 

The course includes looking at the following topics :

- Maps and scales (1:50,000; 1:25,000 and 1:40,000 scales)

- Map symbols and features

- Maps grid system, taking a grid reference and distance 

- Setting and orienting your map using land features and your compass

- Review of 'handrail' features and the use of land features to locate yourself during your route

- Understanding contours, relief, aspect and elevation 

- Practical compass use (and other navigation tools including GPS and altimeters)

- Taking bearings from the map and walking on them including aiming off and attack points

- In this course we introduce the concept of pacing and timing techniques

- Relocation techniques using various of the skills learned 

- Use of location and mapping apps in your navigation 

- Emergency procedures including escape plans

The course runs for 6 hours and is timed for your convenience.

Cost: £75 per person (min 2, max 6 people)  or £140 for 1:1

Please email dan @sevenhillsoutdoors.co.uk or enquire through our enquiry form for more detail or to book.

This 1 day course based on or around Kinder Scout or Bleaklow in the Peak District is intended for experienced and confident hill walkers who already feel comfortable map reading but wish to take their skills to another level.   This course can be taken as a stand alone course but also builds on the skills learned on the intermediary course. 

This area of the Peak District is perfect for advanced navigation being remote and often featureless. If you're preparing for a mountain marathon or want a refresh before your mountain leader assessment this is the course for you. 

The day kicks off with a review of the basics before embarking on a moorland journey where we will seek out more complex and difficult navigational terrain and contour features. 

As with all of our courses the pace of the day will be comfortable, with plenty of stops to discuss map reading techniques and use the equipment and your new skills.  

The course includes looking at the following topics :

- Review of maps and scales (1:50,000; 1:25,000 and 1:40,000 scales)

- Review of map symbols and features

- Review of 'handrail' features and locating yourself from land features 

- Review of the maps grid system and grid references

- Understanding contours, relief, and elevation 

- Understanding slope aspect and relationship to the map

- Practical advanced compass use (and other navigation tools including GPS and altimeters)

- Taking bearings from the map and walking on them over longer distances, aiming off and attack points

- Taking bearings from the ground and relating to the map

- Relocation using ground features, back bearings, resection, aspect of slope and elevation

- Pacing and timing techniques including over steeper ground

- An examination of navigation strategies in poor weather and/or darkness

- Route planning and the impact of weather 

- Emergency procedures and escape plans

The course runs for 6 hours and is timed for your convenience.

Cost £80 per person (min 2, max 4 people) or £150 for 1:1

Please email dan @sevenhillsoutdoors.co.uk or enquire through our enquiry form for more detail or to book.

Having the ability to navigate in reduced visibility and at night is incredibly empowering (and fun!).  Whether you're preparing for a night time running event, want to get more out of the day as the nights draw in or want the confidence of having the ability to get yourself off the hill if things went wrong , then this course is for you. 

Our night navigation sessions are run after the clock's go back to make the most of the earlier dark nights and usually run for 3 to 4  hours starting at 7pm.  We'll meet on the edge of Kinder Scout or Bleaklow in the Dark Peak and then head out across the hills in the darkness. 

During the session we'll take a  look at some of the advanced navigation course topics but there'll be much more emphasis on micro-navigation including:

- In this course there will be much more focus on pacing and timing techniques 

- Identifying features on the ground to the map and the map to the ground - in the dark!

- Examination of navigation strategies and relocation in darkness, and poor weather

- Emergency procedures and escape plans

Cost £50 per person (max 4 people, no minimum numbers) 

Please email dan @sevenhillsoutdoors.co.uk or enquire through our enquiry form for more detail or to book.

The Bronze National Navigation Award is a practical hands-on award. It is aimed at people with no navigation experience whether you are new to the outdoors or have been relying on others, guidebooks or easy well-defined routes.

This 2 day course is based in the beautiful Hope Valley in the Peak District. On day 1 we’ll start at the Bike & Boot Hotel where you can grab a coffee or tea (maybe some breakfast!) before we review the Bronze syllabus and begin to look at some of the essential skills you’ll need to become proficient navigators.  We’ll then head outside for a walk where we’ll work through the syllabus in more detail and learn more skills. By the end of day 1 you’ll have acquired lots of new skills which will enable you to plan a walk which we’ll undertake on day 2. During this walk we’ll cover any outstanding topics from the syllabus and you’ll be able to put into practice and consolidate the skills you’ve learned over the two days.

Full Bronze Navigator Award syllabus

• 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.
• Be aware of the use of mobile phone location apps as a back up to map and compass and in emergencies.
• Demonstrate an awareness of local and national access issues, access legislation, personal responsibilities, the Countryside Code and sustainability.
• Demonstrate appropriate knowledge of walking equipment, safety equipment and emergency procedures.

Additional detail: 

Maximum tutor to participant ratio for the Seven Hills Outdoors course is 1:6. 

The course takes place over 2 days And runs from 09:30hrs to 16:30hrs including lunch break. 

The NNAS Bronze Navigator award is accredited by the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF) at Level 4, and 2 SCQF credit points are awarded on completion. Digital certificates will be available if you successfully complete the course. 

Seven Hills Outdoors will provide relevant course materials, maps and compasses as required.