NNAS Silver Award
Learn how to navigate when away from paths and tracks, boost your confidence and gain the skills to cope when the mist descends, darkness falls or, just maybe you are a little bit lost!
“I would just like to say what a great course. It is one of the best courses I have ever been on ” Simon. Intermediate Navigation.
Who is it for ?
A typical course attendee knows what a map and a compass are and can use them for simple navigation along paths and tracks, but the myriad of other lines on the map can get confusing. If the weather forecast is less than perfect you don’t go out, as the prospect of navigating off paths or in the dark or mist fills you with dread.
Intermediate Navigation / NNAS Silver – Course Overview
The NNAS Silver Award is a navigation training course that is accredited by the Scottish Credit and Qualification framework (SQCF) at level 5. Two credit points and a certificate are awarded to successful candidates.
Two highly practical days that refresh your existing knowledge and build on it, so you leave confident you won’t get lost as you explore the wilder areas of the UK and venture off marked paths.
We spend most of the two days outside, getting to grips with contour features, bearings and understanding how a good navigational strategy stops those temporary geographical embarrassments. Of course nobody is perfect, so we also look at what to do when we do get a geographically embarrassed!
Beyond the Edge are one of the UKs most experienced providers of training courses for hills and mountains and our courses are both highly informative and run by hugely experienced trainers. Importantly in our opinion, they are also fun and run in a friendly manner. We take great pride in the very high percentage of individuals who return for further courses.
NNAS Silver – Course Format
The days are flexible to suit the prevailing weather conditions. We start both days at 9am with a short chat over a cuppa before heading out. During the two days we will cover:
- Navigational Strategies
- Maps. Types, scales and Grid references
- Orientating the map
- Measuring distances
- Detailed Contour Interpretation
- Compasses. Different types and how to use them.
- Navigating away from paths and tracks
- Advanced compass work
- Accurately measuring distance on undulating terrain
- Relocating when geographically challenged
- Navigational strategies for reduced visibility (night, fog etc)
- Technology – GPS, mobile phones & altimeters
We aim to finish at about 16:30 on Day 1 and 16:00ish on Day 2.
Course Details
- Location: Peak District
- Cost: £189 per person
- Duration: 2 days
- Ratio: 1:6
- Level: Intermediate
More Information
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Course Dates
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Bespoke Dates and Locations
If there are no suitable dates available, or there are two or more of you that want to become navigational ninjas, please contact the office and we will arrange some dates to suit your diary.
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Meeting Point
The course will meet at The Sir William Hotel at 0900 in the village of Grindleford. The village has good bus and train links with Sheffield and good train links to Manchester.
The hotel has ample free parking.
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Equipment Required
A full kit list with recommendations as to what works best is contained in the Joining Instructions. These also contain a host of helpful tips and links to articles and videos to help you get the most out of the course.
Key items are:- Map. The Peak District Dark Peak area 1:25,000. OL1. We strongly recommend using laminated maps
- Compass. We recommend the Silva Type 4 or Expedition compass. Read our review here. Cheaper compasses malfunction very regularly (on average 1 per course) so we advise you don’t waste your money and buy a good one from the start.
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Recommended Reading
Whilst it is not required to read anything before the course (apart from the joining instructions!), the official handbook of Mountain training (National Governing Body) that covers navigation contains lots of useful information. It is:
Mountain Training Handbook, Volume 4, Navigation in the mountains. Carlo Forte.
Ordnance survey also produces a very useful free downloadable guide: www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/docs/ebooks/map-reading.pdf -
Fitness Level
This course is a step up from the Introduction to Navigation and we will be walking off paths on rough terrain for several hours on each day.
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Accommodation Options
This Beyond the Edge course is non-residential to allow you to select between a thermarest or 5 star hotel as you require.
There is lots of accommodation in the Hope Valley and we recommend The Sir William which offers BtE clients a discount and this course runs from here.
Further details and other options are listed on our Accommodation page.
If you are struggling to find something or want something special, contact the office and we will endeavour to assist.
FAQs
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How do I book ?
The best way is via this webpage. Choose the date from the options on the above and then submit your booking and request an invoice or pay. If your course is under six weeks away you must pay the full amount.
For bespoke events get in touch first so we can check diaries and if required give you a quote. Get in touch by either calling the office on 01142 631 155 or emailing us.
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Does the course include accommodation ?
Not usually! We prefer to let you choose where you will be most comfortable. This may be in a tent or in a luxury hotel.
In the Peak District we work out of the The Sir William hotel. This is a comfortable Inn with stunning views over the Hope valley and it also serves great food. We recommend that you stay here as they are well versed in looking after walkers and climbers, offer a discount to BtE clients and it’s a 30 second commute from the breakfast table to our meeting room! Further details are on our accommodation page.
If this doesn’t suit you for whatever reason, other accommodation options can be found on our accommodation page.
For bespoke courses and events we can arrange whatever you desire from a bivouac under the stars to a spa hotel.
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Children, Parking, Dogs, COVID and everything else...
You will find all of the most frequently asked questions and their answers on our FAQ webpage
