In this one-day course, you will learn the practicalities of using a compass in the outdoors. Improving your compass skills is critical if you want to head off path, or are outdoors when the visibility is poor or at night. You will learn about the different types of compass bearings, and how to use navigational strategies to compliment the use of your map & compass.
Course Objectives
- Understanding all the different features of your compass
- Good care of the compass – useful tips and hints
- Setting the map with a compass
- Bearings – the use of and differences between the different bearings
- When you use a bearing, why and how
- Walking on a bearing – technique and application
- Relate small hills, small valleys, prominent re-entrants and prominent spurs to their corresponding map contours. Use prominent hills, ridges, spurs and valleys as a means of navigation in good visibility.
- Use landforms and point features to orientate the map and as collecting and catching features.
- Measure distance on the ground in varied, open terrain using timing and pacing and make practical allowances for any discrepancies.
- Simplify legs using course navigation, attack points and fine navigation.
- Plan and implement navigational strategies based on the above skills.
- Lots of practice walking off path to micro features on open moorland
Equipment
- Walking boots or suitable walking shoes
- Spare layers, hats & gloves
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Map and compass (can be provided if required)
- Personal First Aid kit
- Food, snacks, and enough water for the day
- Head-torch
- Mobile phone incase of an emergency
It’s advisable to have completed the 1 or 2-day beginner course before attending this course.