Hill Skills Coaching

Introduction to Map Reading

A foundation course in map-reading skills. Essential knowledge for the hills and mountains.

Knowing how to use a map and compass will increase your confidence and widen the places available to you. This course is designed to complete beginners and ideal for those who want to put down the guidebook and discover their own day walks. You will brush up on rusty map reading skills and learn about the various map scales, mapping symbols and how to interpret them into a picture of where you are going and where you have been. This, with an introduction to compasses, the OS grid system, measuring distance, map orientation, navigation tactics and thorough intro into contour interpretation will give you the skills and abilities to find your own way on intermediate Valleys and easy upland terrain.

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Improved Map Reading Skills

Helping you get off the beaten track, into wilder places and navigate in harsher or emergency conditions.

Learn about precision navigation using 1:25,000 maps. The course will look at the more advanced interpretation of contours (re-entrants, spurs, ridges, shapes of slope etc), using compasses for bearings and other uses, attack points, relocation, learning introductory timing and pacing to estimate distance. Enabling you to navigate sections of a route more successfully in challenging conditions.

Navigation at night or in poor weather such as rain and fog is a particularly difficult skill to acquire. With Britain’s fickle weather or an unexpected event delaying your descent, these skills are an important asset, and are relatively easy to pick up with sound guidance from your instructor. Previous basic navigational experience, or attending our “Introduction to navigation” course is necessary.

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Advanced Map Reading Skills

Looking at the finer skills of navigation, to help you venture out in the most challenging of environments and mountainous and wild places. Precedence is placed heavily on micro contour interpretation. Your accuracy, timing and pacing will be fine tuned. Basic re-location strategies are covered along with area searches for specific targets in poor weather conditions during the day and night. Other map scales and map styles can be trialed for greater experience and skill.

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Guided Walks

The British Isles landscape has inspired poets and painters for generations, more of our wild areas are accessible than ever before.

No break in any of our national parks is complete without a walk through a beautiful valley or to stand on top of a scenic Peak. If you have always wanted to stroll through a Dale or conquer a Peak, then enjoy a guided walk with friends and family. Someone who can plan the route, and bring the place to life with knowledge about forna and flora local history and the landscape its self will make it all the more interesting and safer.

Experience: No previous experience necessary.
Ratio: 1 instructor to 8

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Mountain Wild Camps

Magical and sublime are the words to describe waking up next to a remote mountain lake. Traveling across mountain ranges in our national parks, carrying your equipment, walking from point to point taking it all in, but with a difference.

Instead of going back, pitch your tent, draw your water from the river, cook and live away from it all for a night or two. A hardy and soul warming experience, a memory every one should have. No previous experience necessary, but an average level of fitness is required.

We supply only high quality mountain tents and stoves for these trips.

Experience: No previous experience necessary, but an average level of fitness is required.
Ratio: 1 instructor to 8

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Mountain Bothy Nights

Secluded secret and special. These rustic and rudimentary buildings are situated among Britain’s remote upland areas. Bothy’s provide only the very basic. Combine a day(s) mountain adventure with a night(s) camaraderie and nostalgia, leaving you with an experience to remember. Single nights can be held in England and Wales, multi day expeditions are held in Scotland.

Experience: No experience necessary.
Ratio: Maximum of 1 instructor to 4, due to Bothy ethics

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Geology Walks

Take a walk back in time through the varied and fascinating geology of the Peak District. Learn how the landscape was shaped, what rocks are made of and how they were formed. Discover fossils and minerals and appreciate their life cycle including their past and present uses. Understand the events that are still shaping the land today.

Experience: No experience necessary.
Ratio: 1 instructor to 8

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