Navigation

Activity Description

Map reading courses in stunning locations

If you want to learn or improve your map reading skills, we have the course for you. Our practical navigation courses take place in the Forest of Dean, Monmouthshire and the Brecon Beacons National Park, so are accessible from South West England, the West Midlands and South Wales.

We teach from experience of the outdoors so, whether you’re a complete beginner to navigation, brushing up on your map reading skills or heading into wilder country, book now for an enjoyable learning experience.

Navigation top tips

Nothing beats a face to face map reading course for learning navigation but if you can’t wait to get started, we have a few video tutorials available. Check out our youtube page for bitesize sessions on the fundamentals of navigation.

 

Qualified Instructors

Our instructors are qualified Mountain Leaders and hold an in-date outdoor first aid qualification.

At Borderlands we take our responsibilities seriously. That’s why we hold public liability insurance to the value of £10m.

Master the basics of navigation with our 1 day course in the woods and valleys of the Forest of Dean. Our training venues are located close to the A40, so people travelling from Bristol, Cardiff and Birmingham to learn navigation can be here in an hour or so.

Map Reading for Beginners

If you think you can’t read a map, you’re probably wrong! We’ll take you through the fundamental skills of orientating the map, feature recognition and using timing to help you to stay on track. We aim to give you the tools to explore the great outdoors with increased confidence.

Navigation in a Day

This course is based around our 2 day Introduction to Navigation course and covers a number of the basic techniques taught on the longer course. If you don’t have 2 days to learn and consolidate, this could be the course for you. Although you won’t leave the course as an expert, you should gain the skills and confidence to explore with greater independence.

Experienced Tutors

Your training course will be delivered by an experienced Mountain Leader. We believe in practical training for practical subjects, so you can be assured of an active and engaging day. If you’d like to learn more, contact us or book your place now.

Our popular Wye Valley and Forest of Dean map reading courses are ideal for navigation beginners. Over 2 days of map + compass training we’ll lead you through the fundamentals of navigation. We’re passionate about teaching so that you gain the confidence to explore your own routes independently. Our navigation courses are only an hour or so from Bristol, Cardiff and Birmingham with plenty of fantastic woodland and scenic terrain to explore and practice.

Forest of Dean map reading courses

Learning how to navigate using just the map alone is a key skill, so we make it our starting point. We begin with the fundamentals of orientating the map, recognising a range of map symbols, route planning and timing. Once you’re comfortable with these techniques, we show you how to use a compass. We teach navigation in stages so that you have time to master each skill before moving on to something new.

Our introduction to navigation courses take place in the beautiful Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. We want to challenge you, so we use varied terrain including woodland and farmland on our beginners navigation courses.

Introduction to Navigation course information

You’ll receive a download link with all of the pre-course information when you book a place on any of our navigation courses. If you need to check details beforehand, you can do so here.

Taking the Next Step

If you’re already proficient at navigation but want to develop your skills further, take a look at our Next Step Navigation course. If you have specific areas you’d like to work on or can’t make our open course dates we’d be happy to do a bespoke course for you. Get in touch for a chat.

Improve your navigation skills on our 2 day course in the Brecon Beacons National Park. This course is the ideal next step for anyone who’s completed our Introduction to Navigation course. Even if you haven’t completed the introduction course, this could be the course for you if you already have some navigation skills. Our Brecon Beacons next step navigation course takes place only an hour or so from Cardiff, Bristol and Hereford.

Contour Lines and Compass Skills

Our map reading and navigation courses are practical, so you’ll be out with map and compass in hand for 2 full days. Heading out into the Brecon Beacons, we’ll develop your compass skills to get away from paths and tracks. The open moorland environment also makes an ideal training ground for developing your understanding of contour lines. We aim to take you away from the beaten track. After the course you’ll be navigating by the shape of the land instead.

Quality Navigation Skills Training

We believe in quality training, that’s why we use qualified and experienced Mountain Leaders to deliver our courses

Contour Masterclass

Over 2 days (alongside some pre-course learning), you’ll develop your existing navigational skills with a real focus on reading the shape of the land beneath your feet.

Micronavigation

The techniques learned from prior courses will help you to pick your way through more complex landscapes, recognising less distinct features and using them to plan safe routes through the terrain. Part of your course will be help in poor visibility, so be prepared for long days with navigation in the dark!

Why Borderlands?

We teach from experience of the outdoors so, whether you’re a complete beginner to navigation, brushing up on your map reading skills or heading into wilder country, we have the course for you.

Qualified Instructors

Our instructors are qualified Mountain Leaders and hold an in-date outdoor first aid qualification.

At Borderlands we take our responsibilities seriously. That’s why we hold public liability insurance to the value of £10m.

What You Need/Extended Info

Who is this activity suitable for?

Suitable for: 1-6 participants

Families, individuals, groups of friends

Locations

Our 1 day taster and 2 day introduction to navigation courses take place in Monmouth, the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean. You’ll receive full information once booked onto the course.

Our 2 day Next Step Navigation and Advanced Navigation courses take place in the Brecon Beacons National Park. Exact locations are determined by group needs and forecast weather conditions.

What should I bring?

Clothing

  • Fully waterproof jacket with taped seams, regardless of time of year. Consider waterproof trousers based on weather forecast
  • Comfortable strong footwear. We recommend walking boots with ankle protection. Waterproof boots are preferable, as the ground underfoot will be uneven and may be boggy and damp.
  • Warm hat and gloves / sunhat as appropriate
  • Spare warm layer, e.g fleece top

We recommend that the clothing you wear whilst walking is synthetic or wool, not cotton. This is because cotton absorbs both rain and sweat and quickly saps heat from the body,

Other Equipment

  • Small daysack, preferably with waterproof liner and/or rain cover.
  • Lunch, snacks and a minimum of 2 litres of water
  • Headtorch
  • Any personal medication you require
  • Consider sunglasses, sun hat, suncream based on the weather forecast
  • Compass – we recommend the Silva Expedition 4 compass (not the military version), but other map compasses are suitable also

We will provide any maps required for the course but if you would prefer to use your own you are welcome to do so. If you are missing any other items of equipment, please contact us as we may be able to lend these to you.

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Available Dates Include

2 Day Next Step Navigation
Abergavenny, UK

Start: 09/06/26
End date: 10/06/26


Start: 22/10/26
End date: 23/10/26


View course and make a booking
2 Day Introduction to Navigation
Monmouth

Start: 28/09/26
End date: 29/09/26


View course and make a booking
Navigation – 1 Day Taster
Monmouth, UK

Start: 28/09/26
End date: 28/09/26


View course and make a booking
Individuals, HF & Ramblers Walk Leaders
1-6 Participants
Forest of Dean & Brecon Beacons
Some long days with steep climbs
Come prepared for all weather
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