Navigation Courses

Getting lost in the mountains is no joke. Whether you're planning your first multi-day trek or simply want the confidence to explore beyond the well-trodden paths, solid navigation skills are essential. Our navigation courses give you the knowledge and practical experience to read the landscape, use your map and compass effectively, and find your way safely in all conditions.

We run navigation courses throughout the year in Snowdonia, where the varied terrain provides the perfect classroom for learning. From gentle valleys ideal for beginners to complex mountain landscapes that challenge even experienced navigators, we have the ground to match your level. All our courses are led by qualified instructors who know these hills intimately and have years of experience teaching navigation in real mountain environments.

What You'll Learn

Our navigation courses cover the full spectrum of mountain navigation skills. We start with the fundamentals: understanding your map, interpreting contours and relief, orienting the map to the ground, and identifying features around you. You'll learn how to take accurate bearings with a compass, follow them across different terrain, and understand when to trust your compass over your instincts.

We spend considerable time on contour interpretation because reading the shape of the land is one of the most valuable navigation skills you can develop. Understanding how contours represent hills, valleys, ridges and re-entrants allows you to navigate effectively even when visibility is poor or you've strayed from your planned route.

Pacing and timing are practical skills that turn theory into reality. We'll show you how to measure distance travelled using your own pace count and how to estimate journey times based on terrain and conditions. These techniques are invaluable for confirming your position and knowing when you should have reached your target.

Relocation—working out where you are when you're not quite sure—is where navigation becomes truly useful. We teach systematic approaches to relocating yourself using handrail features, aspect of slope, attack points and collecting features. These aren't abstract concepts; we put them into practice on the hill so they become second nature.

Navigation in Poor Conditions

Fair-weather navigation is one thing, but the real test comes when cloud descends, darkness falls or the weather closes in. Our courses place particular emphasis on navigation in poor visibility, teaching you techniques that work when you can see only a few metres ahead. You'll learn how to navigate on bearings alone, use timing and pacing to hit small targets, and stay safe when conditions are challenging.

For those interested, we also cover night navigation. There's something uniquely satisfying about moving confidently through the mountains in darkness, and it's an essential skill for winter mountaineering, long mountain days, and emergency situations. We run these sessions during the shorter days of autumn and winter, or by arrangement on multi-day courses.

Modern technology has its place too. We cover GPS devices and smartphone apps as backup tools, showing you how to use them effectively without becoming dependent on them. Technology can fail, batteries die, and screens become unreadable in bright sunlight or heavy rain, so we believe traditional map and compass skills should always come first.

Who Are These Courses For?

We welcome complete beginners who have never used a compass, through to experienced hillwalkers wanting to refresh their skills or learn more advanced techniques. Our courses are structured to match your current level and goals.

If you're new to navigation, we'll start right from the basics and build your confidence gradually. You don't need any prior knowledge—just enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. By the end of a beginner course, you'll be able to plan and follow a mountain route independently using map and compass.

For those with some experience, we offer intermediate and advanced courses focusing on complex terrain navigation, micro-navigation techniques, and navigation in challenging conditions. These courses assume you're already comfortable with basic map and compass work and want to refine your skills for more demanding environments.

We also run refresher courses for people who learned navigation years ago but haven't used it regularly. These are popular with groups planning expeditions, parents wanting to lead their own family adventures, and anyone who's felt their skills getting rusty over time.

Course Formats and What to Expect

Most of our navigation courses run over one or two days, with a balance of instruction and practical application. We spend some time in the valley covering the principles, but the bulk of the course takes place on the hill where you can put theory into practice immediately. This hands-on approach means you're learning by doing, which is far more effective than classroom-based teaching alone.

Course sizes are kept small—typically four to six people—so everyone gets individual attention and plenty of opportunity to practice. You'll work both independently and as a group, allowing you to develop confidence in your own abilities whilst learning from others.

We provide group navigation equipment for use during the course, but if you have your own compass and map case, feel free to bring them. We'll help you choose appropriate maps for the areas you plan to visit in future and can advise on purchasing your own navigation kit.

Beyond the Course

The real value of a navigation course becomes apparent after it's finished, when you're planning your own routes and exploring new areas with confidence. We encourage all our students to keep practicing their skills regularly—navigation is like any other skill; it improves with use.

Our navigation courses can stand alone or complement other activities we offer. Many people combine navigation training with scrambling, hill-walking or mountaineering courses to develop a complete skill set for mountain adventures. Private courses can be tailored to include navigation alongside other activities across several days.