4 Night Navigation Skills for Beginners in the Northern Lake District

Check-in at the hotel is available from 16:00. If you are a member you can arrive at the house from 14:00 in 2026. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea at 16:30 and meet other guests.

After tea enjoy a short walk with an introduction to maps.

Our days will be spent working through a range of practical indoor and outdoor exercises that will help us cover the 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.

If you want more information about what you will learn on a Bronze course please read these

Participant Notes

You will be outside for parts of the course and there will be some standing around outside so please bring warm clothing with you. You can expect to walk between 2 to 4 miles each day.

The course includes map work exercises and walk planning in the evenings. Maps will be provided for use during the course, if you have a compass please bring one with you to help with orientating the map.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.