Learn to navigate with confidence​

A practical, hands-on day in the Surrey Hills learning the essential skills you need to navigate confidently outdoors.

We'll spend most of the day outside, learning by doing rather than sitting in a classroom. You'll learn how to use a map and compass, understand the landscape around you and make your own decisions about where to go next.

Whether you're starting from scratch or want to refresh the basics, this is about giving you the confidence to head out on your own and know what to do when the path isn't obvious, your guidebook doesn't quite make sense or, inevitably, your phone runs out of battery.

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What's included

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• Expert, practical tuition throughout the day

• Map and compass provided

• Small group instruction – maximum 4 people

• A full day learning and practising outdoors

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What to bring

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​You’ll be outside for most of the day, so come prepared for the changeable British weather. We’ll keep moving, but there will be plenty of opportunities to stop, practise your skills and enjoy the surroundings.
 

• Walking boots or sturdy hiking shoes

• Waterproof jacket and trousers

• Warm layers – it’s better to have an extra layer you don't need than to wish you had one

• Hat and gloves

• Packed lunch and snacks

• Plenty of water and a hot drink

• A sit mat, if you have one – or borrow one of ours

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What you'll take away

 

• Greater confidence using a map outdoors

• An understanding of how to read the landscape around you

• The ability to use a compass to check direction

• Practical techniques for judging distance and keeping track of where you are

• The confidence to make your own decisions at path junctions and route choices

• A better understanding of what to do if you lose your way

 

What to expect​

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A day of learning by doing

We'll start with a coffee, introductions and a chat about the day ahead. It's a chance to get to know each other and find out what you'd particularly like to learn or practise.

Then we'll head outside.

 

This is a practical course, so rather than spending hours looking at maps in a classroom, we'll learn as we walk. You'll have your own map and compass and plenty of opportunities to practise the skills as we go.

 

We'll gradually build your confidence, starting with the basics before putting everything together to navigate around the Surrey Hills.

 

We will cover

Maps & the landscape​

 

• Different types and scales of maps

• Choosing the right map for your adventure

• Understanding contours, paths, symbols and other features

• Learning to visualise the landscape from the map

• Orientating the map so it matches the landscape around you

Compass & direction​

 

• Understanding how a compass works

• Taking and following a bearing

• Using the compass to check your direction

• Making decisions at path junctions and route choices

Distance & position

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• Understanding grid references

• Measuring distance on a map

• Estimating distance by pacing

• Using timing to help judge how far you've travelled

• Keeping track of your position as you walk

What happens when things don't go to plan?​

 

• What to do when you lose the path

• How to work out where you are

• How to use the map and landscape to relocate yourself

• How to make sensible decisions when the route doesn't look like it did on the map​

 

Leave your phone in your pocket

Navigation isn't about becoming an expert overnight. It's about developing a few simple skills that give you more freedom outdoors.

 

By the end of the day, you'll have the tools and confidence to look at a map, understand the landscape and make your own decisions about where to go.

And if your phone dies? You'll know what to do.

Ready to find your way?