Surrey Hills Navigation Day
Location
Hosted by
Summit Roots
About
Surrey Hills Navigation Day
Learn to navigate with confidence
A practical, hands-on day in the Surrey Hills learning the essential skills you need to navigate confidently outdoors.
Hosted by Summit Roots walk leader and North Downs Way Ambassador Mark, we'll spend most of the day outside, learning by doing rather than sitting in a classroom. You'll learn how to use a map and compass, understand the landscape around you and make your own decisions about where to go next.
Whether you're starting from scratch or want to refresh the basics, this is about giving you the confidence to head out on your own and know what to do when the path isn't obvious, your guidebook doesn't quite make sense or, inevitably, your phone runs out of battery.
What's included
Expert, practical tuition throughout the day
Map and compass provided
Small group instruction – maximum 4 people
A full day learning and practising outdoors
What to bring
You’ll be outside for most of the day, so come prepared for the changeable British weather. We’ll keep moving, but there will be plenty of opportunities to stop, practise your skills and enjoy the surroundings.
Walking boots or sturdy hiking shoes
Waterproof jacket and trousers
Warm layers – it’s better to have an extra layer you don't need than to wish you had one
Hat and gloves
Packed lunch and snacks
Plenty of water and a hot drink
A sit mat, if you have one – or borrow one of ours
What you'll take away
Greater confidence using a map outdoors
An understanding of how to read the landscape around you
The ability to use a compass to check direction
Practical techniques for judging distance and keeping track of where you are
The confidence to make your own decisions at path junctions and route choices
A better understanding of what to do if you lose your way
What to expect
A day of learning by doing
We'll start with a coffee, introductions and a chat about the day ahead. It's a chance to get to know each other and find out what you'd particularly like to learn or practise.
Then we'll head outside.
This is a practical course, so rather than spending hours looking at maps in a classroom, we'll learn as we walk. You'll have your own map and compass and plenty of opportunities to practise the skills as we go.
We'll gradually build your confidence, starting with the basics before putting everything together to navigate around the Surrey Hills.
We will cover
Maps & the landscape
Different types and scales of maps
Choosing the right map for your adventure
Understanding contours, paths, symbols and other features
Learning to visualise the landscape from the map
Orientating the map so it matches the landscape around you
Compass & direction
Understanding how a compass works
Taking and following a bearing
Using the compass to check your direction
Making decisions at path junctions and route choices
Distance & position
Understanding grid references
Measuring distance on a map
Estimating distance by pacing
Using timing to help judge how far you've travelled
Keeping track of your position as you walk
What happens when things don't go to plan?
What to do when you lose the path
How to work out where you are
How to use the map and landscape to relocate yourself
How to make sensible decisions when the route doesn't look like it did on the map
Leave your phone in your pocket
Navigation isn't about becoming an expert overnight. It's about developing a few simple skills that give you more freedom outdoors.
By the end of the day, you'll have the tools and confidence to look at a map, understand the landscape and make your own decisions about where to go.
And if your phone dies? You'll know what to do.
Ready to find your way?
At a glance
📍 Location:
Surrey Hills
🕘 Time:
09:00 – 15.30
👥 Group size
We operate a 1:4 ratio so everyone gets enough practise and teaching time
🥾 Level
Suitable for beginner
Cost
£75 per person
