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Mountain Navigation

Level: Foundation

Turn map and compass skills into a reliable way of moving through mountain terrain.

Format
Course
Duration
2 days
Pathway
Mountain
Group
Up to 4 participants per instructor

£225 per person

Course Overview

Mountain Navigation is a practical two-day course for walkers who want to stop relying on marked paths, phone screens or other people. We start by making the map useful on the ground, then build towards accurate navigation through more complex terrain. You will practise techniques repeatedly during mountain journeys in Langdale or Borrowdale. The emphasis is on creating a simple navigation process you can use when visibility, terrain or confidence changes.

Key Information

  • Based in Langdale / Borrowdale. We choose the exact venue around conditions and the skills being practised.

  • Up to 4 participants per instructor. The booking details show spaces available on each date.

Who It's For

  • Hillwalkers with basic map knowledge who want greater independence.
  • People who can follow a route but struggle to confirm exactly where they are.
  • Walkers preparing for more remote journeys, leadership training or poor visibility.

Skills Covered

  • Map scales, symbols, contours and recognising terrain.
  • Orienting the map and matching map detail to the ground.
  • Distance, timing, pacing and selecting useful navigation features.
  • Compass bearings and strategies for reduced visibility.
  • Route planning, relocation and making navigation decisions efficiently.

Pre-requisites

You do not need advanced navigation experience. Some previous hillwalking and familiarity with a map will be useful.

What to Bring

Weatherproof clothing, warm layers, food, drinks and personal medication. Walking boots or appropriate mountain footwear, a day pack, map, compass and headtorch.

Maps and compasses can be provided, but we recommend bringing your own. We will tell you which map you need and recommend a Silva Expedition 4 compass.

Itinerary

The exact plan may adapt to weather, venue conditions and the group's experience. The stages below describe the intended focus.

Dates & Prices

£225 per person. Choose a confirmed date below, or register your interest while dates are being finalised.

Dates, prices and places for Mountain Navigation
Dates Location Price per person Places Book
Thu-Fri 22-23 Apr 2027 North Lakes · Borrowdale £225 per person 4 places left Book now, Thu-Fri 22-23 Apr 2027
Thu-Fri 10-11 Jun 2027 North Lakes · Borrowdale £225 per person 4 places left Book now, Thu-Fri 10-11 Jun 2027
Thu-Fri 15-16 Jul 2027 North Lakes · Borrowdale £225 per person 4 places left Book now, Thu-Fri 15-16 Jul 2027
Sat-Sun 14-15 Aug 2027 North Lakes · Borrowdale £225 per person 4 places left Book now, Sat-Sun 14-15 Aug 2027
Thu-Fri 9-10 Sep 2027 North Lakes · Borrowdale £225 per person 4 places left Book now, Thu-Fri 9-10 Sep 2027
Sat-Sun 25-26 Sep 2027 North Lakes · Borrowdale £225 per person 4 places left Register interest, Sat-Sun 25-26 Sep 2027Register interest, Sat-Sun 25-26 Sep 2027
Thu-Fri 14-15 Oct 2027 North Lakes · Borrowdale £225 per person 4 places left Book now, Thu-Fri 14-15 Oct 2027
Thu-Fri 18-19 Nov 2027 North Lakes · Borrowdale £225 per person 4 places left Book now, Thu-Fri 18-19 Nov 2027

Tailored development built around you

Need a different date?

If the published dates do not work, ask about a private mountain navigation course. Tell us your experience, group size and preferred dates so we can confirm availability and a quote.

View Bespoke Services

Register interest

Mountain Navigation

Sat-Sun 25-26 Sep 2027 · North Lakes · Borrowdale

This date is held in reserve and is not open for booking yet. Leave your details and we will be in touch if it opens. No payment is taken.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mountain Navigation FAQs

Do I need previous navigation training?

Formal training is not essential, but some familiarity with maps and hillwalking is useful. Let us know your starting point so we can judge whether this or Mountain Skills Foundations suits you best.

Will we use a phone or a compass?

The main focus is interpreting terrain with a paper map and compass. We can discuss how digital tools support that process without replacing your understanding of the ground.

Does the course include night navigation?

The published course is a daytime navigation course. Night Navigation is a separate workshop for applying established skills after dark.

Can I still use a phone or GPS?

We focus on map and compass so you can make decisions without relying entirely on a screen. Digital tools can complement that approach, but they do not replace the practical navigation exercises.

What map and compass should I bring?

Bring the specified map and a suitable baseplate compass. Check the joining information for the map sheet and scale before buying; contact us if you need help choosing equipment.

Kit & Equipment FAQs

What if I do not have all the equipment?

Contact us before booking or buying kit. We will confirm what you need, what can be arranged and any hire charges for this course.

What happens if the weather changes?

We may change the route, venue or order of exercises to suit conditions and the group. The advertised learning aims remain the focus, and joining information explains the practical arrangements.

Booking & Cancellation FAQs

Can I book one place?

Yes. Public courses and workshops are priced per person, so you can book an individual place and join others. Check the page prerequisites before booking; you do not need to provide a whole group yourself.

How do I book?

Choose the course or workshop, check the date and location, and follow Book now. Complete the requested participant information and payment steps. If you are unsure about suitability or need equipment advice, contact us before completing the booking.

How do I pay?

Bookings below £300, or made fewer than 42 days before the start, are payable in full. For bookings of £300 or more made at least 42 days before the start, a deposit option is available, with the balance due 30 days before the start. The booking page confirms the amount due when you book.

Are prices per person or for the whole group?

Public course and workshop prices are per person. Private delivery is quoted separately for the agreed format and group. Mountain Leader reassessment is priced according to the scope agreed after reviewing your report.

Can I cancel or move my booking?

Please read our Booking & Cancellation Policy before booking. It explains the applicable notice periods, charges and options for moving a place. Contact us promptly if your circumstances change, giving your booking name and date.

What if I am ill or injured before the course?

Contact us as soon as you know you may be unable to attend. Changes, transfers and refunds are handled under the Booking & Cancellation Policy. Let us know before the day rather than arriving unsure whether you can take part.

What happens if LDM changes or cancels the event?

We will contact you to explain the change and the options available under our booking terms. Read the policy before booking, particularly before making separate travel or accommodation arrangements.

What happens if minimum numbers are not reached?

Public dates depend on sufficient bookings. If numbers affect your date, we will explain the situation and the options under our booking terms. The places shown online are availability, not a promise that minimum numbers have already been met.

The date is full. Can I join a waiting list?

Use Join the waiting list where it is shown, or contact us with the course and date. A waiting-list request is not a confirmed booking; we will contact you if a suitable place becomes available.

There are no dates listed. Can I register interest?

Yes. Use Register interest or contact us with the offering and your preferred dates. We can let you know about forthcoming public dates or discuss private delivery, subject to availability.

Can I use an existing voucher?

Yes. We will honour valid existing vouchers as the booking system changes. Contact us with the voucher details before paying so we can explain how to apply it.

Can I give my place to someone else?

Contact us before arranging a replacement. We need to check the booking terms, the other participant's suitability and their details before confirming whether a transfer is possible.

I have not received booking confirmation. What should I do?

Check your spam or junk folder, then contact us with the booking name, course and date. Please check with us before making a second payment so we can establish what happened.

Structured progression

Your next step

You will leave with a structured navigation routine, stronger contour interpretation and practical tools for staying located and recovering when uncertain.

  • Night Navigation

    Pathway: Mountain

    Level: Progression

    Refine your navigation process when darkness removes distant visual clues.

    Two navigators read their maps by headtorch
  • 1:40.000 Harvey Navigation

    Pathway: Mountain

    Level: Progression

    Use Harvey 1:40,000 mapping confidently.

    A walker in a cap reads a map high above a lake and wooded valley

Reading to support your learning

Knowledge Hub

Why choose Lake District Mountaineering?

  • Highly qualified instructors. MCI and WMCI qualified professionals.
  • Small groups, real attention. More time for coaching and feedback from your instructor.
  • Structured progression. Every course builds towards real independence in the mountains.
  • Real mountain environments. Trained on the fells of the Lake District and the Scottish Highlands.