At Lupine Adventure Co-op we have two types of weekend map reading courses on offer, namely, our Original course and an Advanced map reading and navigation course which includes night navigation.

Most people will benefit from doing our original course, however, if you have previously undertaken some navigation training then you may want to consider taking your skills to the next level with our Advanced map reading and navigation course.

The Original map reading course

You can get together with friends and book us exclusively for a navigation training course in North Wales, The Peak District, Yorkshire or The Lake District at any time you want. Alternatively, if you want to join with others on a course then pick one below.

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The price covers the cost of the training alone. When you book we will give you advise on Local campsites, hostels and bed and breakfasts that you can stay in. We will advise you where we are staying so you will have the choice to stay in the same place or elsewhere.

We tailor these courses to individual requirements. For the most part we will be using the Ordnance Survey 1:25000 maps though if you prefer to use other scales or makes then please feel free to bring them along.

The main map reading and navigational skills that we cover on our original course are

• Navigation using linear features such as footpaths, walls and rivers.
• Low intensity map reading tips (how to navigate without having to look at the map and compass constantly).
• Navigating by using contours. Looking at types of slopes and contour features.
• Relocation (finding out where you are when you get lost).
• Compass theory and practice.
• Grid references.
• Map reading in bad weather and in poor visibility.
• Route planning and timings.

We work with one instructor to every six clients ensuring you all the personal attention you need in developing your map reading and other navigational skills.

The Timetable

We meet at 10am, usually in the back room of the Apple Pie Cafe. After about 30 minutes of introductions and some basic ground work we will head up into the local fells. Throughout the day we will slowly build on the basic navigation skills adding more advanced techniques as it becomes appropriate. As more skills are added we continue to practice those already learnt. By the end of the day you should have a fairly comprehensive knowledge of the most commonly used navigation skills. We will return to Ambleside at around 5pm.

On the Sunday morning we will go out to a different area of the fells using all the skills covered on the previous day. We'll ramp up the difficulty of the tasks set and add usually add further instruction on navigating in poor visibility. We will then return as a group where we will have a short debrief of the weekend and answer any last questions that you may have. The course should finish at 4pm allowing you time to travel home.

Equipment

Please come equipped for 2 days hillwalking: comfortable walking boots, a full set of waterproofs, warm clothes, hat, gloves, day pack, whistle, flask (optional) and a water bottle. If you have maps of area and a compass then please bring them along though we will provide you with these if necessary. Your instructor will be carrying a comprehensive first aid kit, emergency shelter and all other essential safety equipment.

Questions/Booking

If you have any questions please get in touch or use our online booking form.

Advanced navigation course - 9 & 10 October 2010 - £99 per person

(Closing date for bookings 25 September 2010)

The advanced syllabus is taken as a progression of the original course. We run the course from the Langdales in the heart of the Lake District.

If you would like us to run this course at another time or if you would like a one afternoon and night variation then please get in touch.

This course will involve wild camping on the tops of the fells and night navigation.

• Aiming off.
• Aspect of Slope.
• Different strategies for walking on a bearing (covering distance fast)
• Low visibility navigation (night navigation)
• More in depth coverage of contour lines getting all the information we possibly can from the land.
• Counting paces and advanced timings.
• Relocation for when lost.
• Searching strategies for when you miss a key feature.

After the days instruction we will set up camp in the early evening, eat and get some sleep as we'll be up again when it gets dark for the night navigation. After a 3 or 4 of hours of night navigation we will return to our tents for the rest of the night. In the morning, after breakfast, we'll get up, leave the tents and head off once more for further practice and instruction before returning, striking camp and heading back down to the valley for mid-late Sunday Afternoon.

You will have to be entirely self sufficient for the two days of the course. In addition to the kit list for the original Navigation course (above) you will need a tent and sleeping bag, stove and food. We will do an equipment check before we head out and will rationalise our equipment as much as possible (i.e. not take a stove each). During the day we will leave our equipment on the hill tops for some of the day so we don't have to carry it around all day.

If you need to borrow equipment such as tents and trangia stoves then please let us know and we will bring spares.

Questions/Booking