The Competent Navigator

Welcome to the online map reading, compass and navigation theory course.

Do you want to get out and up into the hills and enjoy and explore more of the wilder regions of the UK safely?

Perhaps try your hand at wild camping in more remote places?

If so, it is essential to take a map and compass with you and competently and safely know how to use them. By all means use digital maps and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) as well, but don't rely on them, always take a real map and compass. Your life may depend on it.

If you lose or break your smart phone or GPS device or the batteries run out up in the hills and you don’t have a real map and compass and the ability to use them, you could quickly find yourself in trouble especially if bad weather sets in.

In this online theory course we will explain and demonstrate the knowledge and skills you need to use a map and compass to navigate competently and safely over a variety of terrains and conditions, as preparation for a practical course on the ground (either with me or another map reading instructor) where you get to imitate and practice these skills in a safe supervised environment before you set off on your own adventures.

The essence of navigation is to know where you are on the ground and on the map at all times as you move from one location to another, and to be able to relate the ground to the map and the map to the ground along the way.

There are 10 basic navigation questions you need to ask related to the 5 Ds of navigation and this is repeated for each leg, or section of your route.

Question 1 - Where am I? Your current location, the start point for your next leg or your departure point at the start of your route.

Question 2 - Where am I going? Your Destination.

Question 3 - How far is it? Distance.

Question 4 - How long will it take? Duration.

Question 5 - Can I see it from here?

Question 6 - If not, what direction is it? Direction

Question 7 - What can I expect to see and experience on the way? Description.

Question 8 - How will I know when I get there?

Question 9 - How will I know if I have missed it? Is there some catching feature I can use to prevent me missing the target and getting lost?

Question 10 - If I get lost, how do I recover?

The course is delivered via web and video content to explain and demonstrate how a paper, laminated or fabric map together with a compass can be used to answer these 10 naviagtion questions, nail the 5 Ds of navigation and safely reach your destination point every time.

The UK Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW) came into operation in 2005. This gives people the right to roam over larger areas of England and Wales than previously was the case. Often over open countryside away from footpaths and bridleways that are relatively easy to follow. Navigating over such open countryside is more difficult with a digital map and GPS alone and therefore requires a much higher level of map and compass skills.

Take a GPS with you too, but don't rely on it. Technology weakens what it amplifies and so while your digital map and GPS is doing all the hard work for you, any map reading and navigation skills previously learnt will fade and be forgotten, just as your muscles do wearing a plaster cast to mend a broken bone. Don’t let this happen to you.

If you have never learned to read a paper map or use a compass properly, you likely never will using a digital map and GPS alone. Don’t let this happen to you.

The solution is hybrid map reading and navigation using a combination of real maps and digital maps together with a compass. You do the hard work yourself, and use the digital maps and GPS as a backup to confirm your own navigation efforts. It is more challenging, more fun and much safer than relying on GPS alone. It sets up a positive feedback loop that accelerates your learning so that in no time at all your knowledge and skills in map reading, compass and navigation become well defined and developed.

There are Basic, Intermediate and Expert levels to attain. The key differences in these levels is down to your level of skill and experience in the lower levels and the type of terrain and the conditions (weather, visibility, day or night) that you are navigating in.

The levels are hierarchical and require a building block or Lego approach. Where competence in the higher levels requires you master the basics in the lower levels first.

As the course title suggests, the aim of this The Competent Navigator Course is to give you the necessary hybrid map reading, compass and navigation skills to become a competent navigator.

  • Someone able to head off into the hills safely with self-confidence and self-reliance.
  • Navigate safely in more remote regions so you can explore more.
  • Feel confident and safe in the outdoors, happy to go farther and further to explore more at night and in low visibility or adverse weather conditions.
  • Inspire trust and confidence in others to lead them outdoors because they can see you are a competent navigator.
  • With good map reading and navigation skills you can shorten or lengthen routes in guidebooks to better suit the time you have available or even create your own routes.
  • You can assist other outdoor enthusiasts on the route who may be lost or in trouble
  • You can confidently stand your ground with land owners and farmers who might challenge you, because you know exactly where you are on the ground and on the map.
  • With good map reading and navigation skills, you are unlikely to get lost or take a wrong turn. You won’t lose time retracing your steps and so will get back to the car to return home or to the hotel, pub, campervan, campsite or bothy on time to enjoy an evening meal and a drink before settling down for the night.

A map and compass and your ability to use them won’t let you down when your digital map and GPS does.

In the Competent Navigator Course, the theory of map reading is explained and navigation skills demonstrated using online course materials and supporting videos which you can follow at your own pace.

Course Outline

The practical skills demonstrated can then be imitated and practiced on an outdoor course under the supervision of a map reading and navigation instructor. Either on one of my practical courses or someone else’s.

You want the freedom to safely explore more of the outdoors, more of the large areas of open access land made accessible under CROW, right?

So, what are you waiting for, sign up today at the link below to reserve your place on the online Competent Navigator Course today.

Enrol Today