Night Navigation Workshop

Learn to find your way after dark on this Night Navigation Skills Course

In short

The Night Navigation Workshop is a half day course run by Pure Outdoor in the Peak District, based at The Adventure Hub in Bamford, Hope Valley. It costs £79 per person, is open to ages 13+ and runs at a maximum ratio of 1:8.

Summary

Why sprint for home when you can reach for the headtorch? Ending the adventure early because of dwindling light will be a thing of the past with this Night Navigation Skills Course.

Night Navigation Workshop

Price : £79.00 per person

Location : Peak District

Duration : half day

Ratio : 1:8

Minimum age : 13

What's Included :
  • Expert tuition
  • Use of all required navigation equipment
  • Free parking

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Highlights

  • Learn to move and navigate safely over remote ground at night
  • Transfer your navigation skills to the mountains under darkness
  • Make your adventures unlimited by daylight hours

Course Overview

As the sun sets the challenge really kicks in. If conditions are in your favour then the moon and stars will ease you into the journey but the most memorable nights provide swirling mists, confusing shadows and an ever growing seed of doubt.


By building on your existing navigation skills you can learn to fight the darkness and accurately hit your navigation targets with confidence. These courses start in the late afternoon as the sun is dipping below the horizon to give you plenty of practise out in the hills. Don't forget the spare head torch!

Course Outcomes

  • Develop your night navigation skills
  • Confidently navigate away from tracks and paths in poor visibility
  • Choose appropriate night navigation strategies
  • Learn effective relocation techniques

Course Information

YOUR NIGHT NAVIGATION COURSE

Get ready to learn everything you need to navigate safely and confidently during a fun and informative evening that will focus on boosting your confidence and developing your night navigation technique.

ARRIVE AT THE ADVENTURE HUB
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 and refreshing some key skills and discussing key strategies that are relevant to night navigation. Safety in the hills at night will underpin this session.

COLLECT AND CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT
You'll need to collect maps and compasses and check that your head torches are charged and ready to go.

TRAVEL TO WALK LOCATION
The exact location will depend on the weather and the aims and abilities of the group. It will usually be within 15 minutes drive of The Adventure Hub. We will travel dressed and ready to walk immediately upon arrival.

PRACTICAL NAVIGATION SESSION
Your instructor will demonstrate key basic practical skills and give you the chance to practise before progressing to harder skills and navigation targets. You'll learn how to walk on a bearing at night with the use of a headtorch along with considering how to absorb and reflect on clues experienced in your immediate journey. How to use the gradient of the ground to navigate and relocation techniques will also be covered.

THE CHALLENGE
As you become more confident your instructor will offer you the chance to consolidate your skills by giving you a remote and suitably challenging target for you to guide the group to. You will get chance to battle the butterflies as the doubt creeps in. Stick to your guns and take stock of your journey and you will arrive on target and not a moment too soon.

BACK TO THE ADVENTURE HUB
Once we are off the hill we will return to The Adventure Hub. Here we'll discuss your progress so far and set you some personalised development targets.

  • Standard hillwalking gear including good waterproofs (jackets and trousers)
  • Good quality walking boots/shoes with a good tread
  • A good supply of snack foods and a drink
  • A good high powered head torch, preferably LED with spare batteries
  • Warm clothing including spares layers, gloves and hat
  • We provide maps and have some compasses available to borrow or buy, do bring your own compass if you have one
A solid foundation in walking and navigating across open moorland. If you have a history of walking back to the car in the dark then we cant wait to hear about your previous epics.

  • 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.

  • 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: 16:00 - Finish time: 20:00. 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!

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Night Navigation Workshop cost?
The Night Navigation Workshop costs £79 per person. It includes expert tuition, use of all required navigation equipment and free parking.
How long is the Night Navigation Workshop?
The course lasts half day.
What is the group size and instructor ratio?
This course runs at a maximum instructor to client ratio of 1:8, so you get plenty of individual coaching.
Do I need any previous experience?
A solid foundation in walking and navigating across open moorland. If you have a history of walking back to the car in the dark then we cant wait to hear about your previous epics.
What equipment do I need?
Standard hillwalking gear including good waterproofs (jackets and trousers) Good quality walking boots/shoes with a good tread A good supply of snack foods and a drink A good high powered head torch, preferably LED with spare batteries Warm clothing including spares layers, gloves and hat We provide maps and have some compasses available to borrow or buy, do bring your own compass if you have one
Is the course accessible?
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.
When does the course start and finish?
Start time: 16:00 - Finish time: 20:00. Please note, these times are approximate and could be subject to minor changes. Please leave plenty of time when booking public transport.
What's the minimum/maximum age for participation?
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!
Can I buy this course as a gift?
Yes. You can buy this course as an e-gift voucher from this page, and the recipient chooses their own date.
Do course customers get a discount on kit?
Yes — every Pure Outdoor course includes a 10% discount on equipment at The Adventure Hub shop (in store and at adventure-hub.com).
Booking & general
Do I have to pay in full when I book?
Not always. Places are reserved by paying either the specified deposit or the full fee. The balance is due no later than 6 weeks before the course starts. If you book within 6 weeks of the start date, the full fee is payable when you book.
What if the weather is bad?
Our courses run in a range of weather — that's part of learning in the UK hills, so come prepared for the conditions. If the weather is genuinely dangerous we may modify or cancel a session, in which case you'll be offered a refund or an alternative date.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellations must be made in writing (email is fine). Charges are based on the original course start date: more than 4 weeks before — 25% of the total course fee; between 4 and 2 weeks before — 75%; within 2 weeks — 100%. As courses run on fixed dates, the statutory 14-day cooling-off period doesn't apply.
Is there parking?
Yes, free parking. Park next to The Adventure Hub building if there's space, or use the overflow area in the back corner of the main Hope Valley Garden Centre car park, about 200m away.
Can I get there by train or bus?
Yes. Bamford railway station on the Hope Valley line is about a 5-minute walk from The Adventure Hub, and the nearest bus stop is 'Shatton Lane' (see traveline.info for times). Course times are arranged to fit public transport timetables where possible.
Do you need to know about medical conditions?
Yes. Please tell us about any medical condition or injury when you book, and let your instructor know on the first day. It's kept confidential, and it lets us tailor activities to you and keep the group safe.
Do I need my own insurance?
For UK courses we strongly recommend your own personal accident insurance, including cancellation cover. For overseas courses you must have specialist rescue, medical and repatriation insurance, and send us the details by the final payment date. The BMC and Snowcard both offer suitable mountaineering insurance.

More answers in our FAQs or call 01433 424164.

There are currently no course dates listed for this course, please contact us if you are interested and we can let you know when dates will be published.

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 £250 inc vat per day. (Click here to book a private course)