Intermediate Navigation Course (Silver NNAS)

Develop your skills on this Intermediate Navigation Course in the Peak District | Silver NNAS Certified

Summary

You have been navigating the tracks and trails effectively for some time now and are keen to explore some of the more remote, wild and special corners of the UK. We can give you the skills to venture off-piste and explore the vast swathes of heather clad wilderness that hide some of this island’s best kept secrets. Your world is about to get a whole lot bigger, what will you discover?

Intermediate Navigation Course (Silver NNAS)

Price : £195.00 per person

Location : Peak District

Duration : 2 Days

Ratio : 1:8

Minimum age : 13

What's Included :
  • Expert tuition
  • Use of all required navigation equipment
  • Complimentary refreshments
  • Free parking
  • Personalised feedback and development plan
  • 5% discount on equipment in our shop
  • 5% of sales go to The Pure Outdoor Foundation

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Highlights

o Learn to navigate away from tracks and paths

o Gain confidence with practical support from experienced instructors

o Develop and use the compass in more technical ways

Course Overview

A two day practical Peak District Navigation Course focused on advancing your skills to get you out exploring wilder and more remote parts of the UK. Aimed at navigators with experience who want to push away from the paths and tracks, our Intermediate Navigation Course offers a broader insight into more advanced navigation as well as essential skills for safety, planning and kit selection. You'll also cover the effects of weather, how to deal with emergencies and gain a valuable understanding of Britain's upland environment. 


Based at The Adventure Hub in the heart of the Peak District, you will be perfectly situated to launch out onto the high moorland, crags and ridges of the Dark Peak.


Beginning with a brief refresh of the basics we then look to develop effective compass skills including accurately following a bearing, back bearings, attack points and aiming off. We'll also cover practical techniques for holding bearings in poor visibility as well as identifying and negotiating dangerous and difficult terrain. Along the way you'll hone effective relocation strategies in a variety of terrains using compass techniques and contour interpretation.


This intermediate level navigation course is delivered and assessed to the Silver NNAS (National Navigation Award Scheme) syllabus. The NNAS Silver Navigator Award is accredited by the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF) at Level 5 and 2 SCQF credit points are awarded on completion. 

Course Outcomes

  • Improve your navigation skills
  • Navigate away from tracks and paths
  • Plan and follow a route
  • Use a compass to set the map, check directions and follow bearings 
  • Choose appropriate navigation strategies 
  • Learn effective relocation techniques 

Course Information

YOUR INTERMEDIATE NAVIGATION COURSE
Day One
9:30 - 16:30


Get ready to learn everything you need to navigate safely and confidently during a fun and informative weekend that will focus on boosting your confidence while moving through more remote and challenging terrain.

ARRIVE AT THE ADVENTURE HUB BASE
Your instructor will welcome you and discuss the aims of the course and you own aspirations over a great cup of fresh Italian coffee or tea.

CLASSROOM SESSION
A brief theory session introducing maps, access rights, key skills and discussing key strategies that are relevant to wild navigation. Safety in the hills will underpin this session.

COLLECT AND CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT
You'll need to collect maps and compasses and check that your rucksack is suitably packed ready for what the weather may throw at you.

TRAVEL TO WALK LOCATION
The exact location will depend on the weather and the aims and abilities of the group. Most locations we use are within 15 minutes drive of The Adventure Hub and we will travel dressed and ready to walk immediately upon arrival.

PRACTICAL NAVIGATION SESSION
Your instructor will demonstrate new practical skills and give you the chance to practise before progressing with harder skills and navigation targets. We cover safe and effective movement over challenging terrain and the route for the day will encourage new techniques to be adopted rapidly. A lot of time will be spent exploring the compass as an aid to navigation and using it in conjunction with other effective navigation strategies.

BACK TO THE ADVENTURE HUB
Once we are off the hill we will return to The Adventure Hub. With fresh coffee in hand, we summarise the key learning points from the day's adventure, discuss your progress so far and set some personalised development targets for day two.

Day Two
9:30 - 16:30


The second hill day we shift independence and leading over to you whilst we refine and consolidate on the learning from day one and continue to push your appreciation and use of contour features.

THE CHALLENGE
Once we have got you back out on the hill you will strike out on a route of your own devising to practise and consolidate. As you become more confident your instructor will offer you the chance to further extend your skills by setting increasingly and suitably challenging targets for you to guide the group to. You will choose a suitable navigation strategy in discussion with your instructor, execute it and reflect on it afterwards. Your fellow group members will use this as an opportunity to track and relocate themselves once you arrive at your destination.

BACK TO THE ADVENTURE HUB
Once we are off the hill you will return to the Adventure Hub for the final time. Here we'll discuss your overall progress in line with the Silver NNAS syllabus and whether or not you have successfully completed the required skills (Should you disagree with the judgement of your instructor or feel you were unfairly treated the whole process is protected by an independent complaints procedure the details of which can be found here https://nnas.org.uk/complaints-procedure/). We'll also set you some personalised development targets to get you fulfilling your personal ambitions in the weeks and months to come. Hopefully you will be back for more soon!

  • Standard hillwalking gear including good waterproofs (jackets and trousers)
  • Good quality walking boots/shoes with a good tread
  • Lunch, a good supply of snacks and a drink
  • Warm clothing including spare layers, gloves and hat
  • Sun cream, hat and sunglasses (you just never know!)
  • We provide maps and have some compasses available to borrow or buy

You should have some experience of navigating along tracks and pathways in open countryside using an appropriate map. Our Beginner Navigation Course is the ideal preparation for this course.

  • As a Certified B Corp, we’re one of a growing number of global businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance.
  • Our well-equipped training centre, The Adventure Hub, is Carbon Neutral.
  • We encourage car sharing wherever feasible.
  • We encourage the use of public transport on all our courses. Bamford Railway Station is 5 minutes' walk and we enjoy direct bus connections to Sheffield and nearby villages.
  • We offer free camping kit for guests staying locally and looking to cut down on luggage.
  • Our staff are trained to prolong the life of equipment used on this course, where it is possible to recycle equipment at the end of its life, we do so appropriately.
  • We operate in small teams at low ratios to reduce our impact on the venues we use and other countryside users.
  • We donate 5% of the value of all sales to The Pure Outdoor Foundation.

  • The physical and mental benefits of outdoor activities are numerous and well documented, we firmly believe that those benefits should be available to as many people as possible.

  • If you are interested in experiencing any of our activities but feel unable to do so then please contact us to discuss your specific needs, we will always try to find a solution that works for you.

  • There are a range of simple adaptions we can make to our scheduled courses such as choosing venues with minimal walking or easy access to toilet facilities, providing cold storage facilities for temperature sensitive medications, allowing additional time or arranging for participants to be accompanied by a trusted aide.

  • When participation as part of an open group isn't appropriate we can arrange private tuition. This allows for a more tailored approach and a much wider range of adaptions such as assisted climbing and abseiling techniques for participants with significant physical or mobility issues.

  • If private tuition is unaffordable then we can sometimes offer subsidised places to bring the price back in line with our scheduled courses .These are provided by the Pure Outdoor Foundation whose goal is to bring as many people as possible into the outdoors, please enquire about availability.


  • Clear communication before the activity is crucial so, as well as telephone and email conversations, we can also arrange to meet participants directly at a venue days or weeks beforehand to identify any specific barriers and begin addressing any anxieties.

FAQs

Start time: 09:30 - Finish time: 16:30. Please note, these times are approximate and could be subject to minor changes. Please leave plenty of time when booking public transport.

Anyone aged 13 or over can attend any of our scheduled courses with the exception of Mountain Biking and Winter Skills where the minimum age is 18 unless accompanied by a parent.

We hold an AALA license and are able to take out children who are younger than 13, however we only offer this on a private guided basis. See our private guiding rates, as this can work out very competitive, especially when booking as a family. There is no maximum age, if you feel young enough to attend then you are very welcome!

This course is a non-residential course, so we do not provide any accommodation. However there are many amazing places to stay locally. Take a look at our accommodation guide in the info section for more information.

Our instructors can be booked privately to deliver this course. Benefit from private tuition, pick a date that suits you and your instructor can design the day to suit your needs. You can hire one of our instructors from just £240 inc vat per day. (Click here to book a private course)