Basic and Advanced Navigation Courses, from total beginner, refresher or expert, held in the Peak District
Having run Navigation and Hillskills Courses for a number of years now we believe we have a winning formula.
The of Basic Navigation Course is aimed at those with little or no experience of map and compass work and has also proved popular with those who are not confident of their skills.
Discover how contours can be read to give a wealth of information. Master the skills involved in using map and compass. Find out why people get lost and what to do about it if you do.
Course Content
- Map options and scales
- Map setting
- Relating the map to the ground and the ground to the map.
- Contours
- Grid references
- Route choice techniques
- Hand railing
- Aiming off
- Catching features
- The 5D’s (the secret to all navigation)
- Target points
- Compass work
- Pacing and judging distances
- Traffic light navigation

Using an attack point
A talk on Mountain Safety & Hill Skills and Mountain Rescue usually follows at the debrief over tea and biscuits.
The courses are run in the Peak District, some group courses are based at Woodhead Mountain Rescue teams new training facility the Woodhead Barn which is located on the edge of the Peak District, with Bleaklow on our doorstep and if you can navigate here you can navigate anywhere.
The cost is £50 PP for the group course.
Private courses are available at any time, prices on request depending on numbers but start at £130 for up to 2 people for the day.
Check out my Navigation tips page
We work on a tried and trusted 4:1 ration, Participants meet for tea and biscuits at 8.45 for a 9.00am start. Courses finish between 5.00 and 6.00pm.
I’m also a tutor for Mountain Training Hill and Mountain skills Courses
Night Navigation Courses in the Peak District
For those who are happy navigating in daylight and want to add to their skills.
This is run in the peak but can be done as part of a weekend trip in any suitable area.
Night Navigation courses start in the new year. I plan to run them every second Thursday in the month. I’ve three routes planned dependent on the weather they will run through till April.
Duration 3 hours. Instructor ratio no more than 4:1
Price £40 per person
Private lessons are also available tailored to your needs and location. Price on request
Guide runs/walks over the hills can be arranged and have proved a popular with those who want aprivate lesson.
Please get in contact for further details at:
Email: ian@everythingoutdoors.co.uk
Mobile: 07733 266595
CLIENT FEEDBACK

“I have just attended my first basic navigational course, because I needed to learn more about map reading, and using a compass properly! My mentor was Ian Winterburn. Ian was the perfect tutor for the complete novice like myself as he has an abundance of enthusiasm for everything outdoors a wealth of knowledge and experience in both navigation and mountain craft. He has now given me the confidence to go out further and for longer on the fells. Thank you for a fantastic day, I would highly recommend this course for anyone who lacks confidence.”

“This was a great course and I’d highly recommend it – I went along to improve my map reading and learn how to use a compass rather than just carry it. Ian provided a wealth of knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm, including interesting info on the local plants and wildlife. Spending most of the day out on the hills really helped me get to grips with things by putting it into practice and I’ve come away looking forward to navigating rather than trying to avoid it!”

“Ian is a well respected outdoorsy person, a long-standing member of Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team and a fell runner to boot. Yes, I know my other half is all of the above, but you can still learn a lot by going out on the hill with a good variety of people. I wasn’t about to waste a chance to get out and share a day on the hill.”