Nordic Walking UK offers bespoke one-day and two-day navigation courses for instructors, walk leaders and Nordic Walking UK members.

Introduction into Basic Navigation Techniques

Course Overview

This unique course is aimed at Nordic Walkers and covers the theory of how to find your way home whatever the weather, even if your sat-nav fails. It is aimed at anybody who wants to get a better understanding of navigation using a map and compass. This is an entry-level course in navigation for personal development. No qualifications are needed in order to participate on the 1-day course.

Course content

• How to read a map, understand contours & features
• How to use a compass in conjunction with your map
• How to orientate your map
• How to set a bearing
• How to plan a route
• Some safe navigational techniques

2 Day Nordic Walking Course – Basic Navigation Techniques (Bronze Award for the NNAS)

Continuing on to day 2 from the Introduction to Basic Navigation Techniques will expand your knowledge and practical skills, and enable you to gain the Bronze National Navigation Award.

Level and entry requirements

This is an entry-level course into navigation for personal development & will give you a NNAS (National Navigation Award Scheme) Bronze Award, assuming you are able to demonstrate a good understanding and application of the skills being learnt on the course.

No qualifications are needed in order to participate on this 2 day course.

What do I need?

• Compass
• Harvey/BMC 1:40’000 map of the Lake District and Ordnance Survey 1:25’000 OL5 Map
• Full waterproof cover (Jacket and Pants), these must be taped seems, please call to discuss if your not sure.
• Clothing suitable for the countryside & time of year – We will not be moving quickly, so please account for that in your clothing selection.
• 1 spare warm top, not cotton please. Wool or synthetic will be fineSpare clothing for day 2, should your day 1 clothing get wet.
• Suitable footwear for wet ground, preferably off road walking/running shoes suitable for NW.
• Hat & Gloves x 2
• Lunch, day-food & a water flask.

We will supply:

• A map of the local area we are to use
• The location is Glenridding Public Hall, Glenridding, CA11 0PA.
• Tea/Coffee at the event location.
• Notes for you to take away, as there is always a lot to absorb.
• A NNAS Bronze Award certificate, assuming you demonstrate a good understanding of the 2 days of learning & application.

2 Day Nordic Walking Course – Intermediate Navigation Techniques (Silver Award for the NNAS)

This is an intermediate-level course into navigation for personal development & will give you a NNAS (National Navigation Award Scheme) Silver Award, assuming you are able to demonstrate a good understanding and application of the skills being learnt on the course.

Note: You must already hold a NNAS Bronze Award or be able to demonstrate that you are at the level of a basically skilled navigator already in order to participate on this 2 day course.

What do I need?

• Compass Harvey/BMC 1:40’000 map of the Lake District and Ordnance Survey 1:25’000 OL5 Map
• Full waterproof cover (Jacket with hood and Pants), these must be taped seems, please call to discuss if your not sure.
• Clothing suitable for the countryside & time of year – We will not be moving quickly, so please account for that in your clothing selection.
• 1 spare warm top, not cotton please. Wool or synthetic will be fine
• Spare clothing for day 2, should your day 1 clothing get wet.
• Suitable footwear for wet ground, preferably off road walking/running shoes suitable for NW.
• Hat & Gloves x 2
• Lunch, day-food & a water flask.

We will supply:

• A Harvey 1;25’000 map of the local area we are going to use
• The location is Glenridding Public Hall, Glenridding, CA11 0PA.
• Tea/Coffee at the event location.
• Notes for you to take away, as there is always a lot to absorb.
• A NNAS Silver Award certificate, assuming you demonstrate a good understanding of the 2 days of learning & application.
• Plenty of smiles and understanding.

SEE WHAT OTHERS SAY

I had a great day with Charlie Sproson yesterday. It was great fun, extremely informative & very very well presented (even my tiny brain coped with it) He is a great instructor, hugely reassuring, complimentary & encouraging all at the same time. The course is well worth attending for all levels.

It was held in a fabulously remote in a beautiful valley below Scarfel. From here we could access untouched moorland & really use the terrain and maps to their full potential. We soon learned to spot the smallest detail on the various maps that he employed (ie Harveys et al.)

We even used a tiny little ‘u’ shape on the map & matched it to a small boulder that was poking out of the vast hillside in front of us to help pinpoint where we were positioned. Following this we used a very slight shoulder in the terrain beneath our feet (only about 30ft long) to help us pinpoint a much bigger shoulder further up the dale. It was fascinating.

We were given copies of everything that we had covered & numerous web sites to look into regarding the plethora of questions that we fired at him.

I haven’t stopped pawing over maps & compass’ since! In fact I became so intrigued by the whole subject that I ended up reading into sun dials & the magnetic effects of the poles! Crazy or what!

Thank you very much, it has to be the most informative & enjoyable training that I have been lucky enough to participate in through NWUK.”

Gilly Payne – NWUK Instructor