Learn to navigate with a map and compass
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Contour lines turn into hills and valleys in your head once you have practised matching the paper to the ground, and a compass bearing will take you across open country with no path at all. The National Navigation Award Scheme teaches this in three steps, from following paths and walls to finding small features by the shape of the land.
Moderate£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksOutdoorsWith othersUK
How to start
- Work through Ordnance Survey's free beginner guides to map symbols, contour lines, grid references and using a compass.
- Use the Find a Course page on the National Navigation Award Scheme website to book a Bronze Navigator Award course near you.
- Buy the Ordnance Survey Explorer map for your home area and a baseplate compass, and plan and follow a short walk with them.
Where to go
- National Navigation Award Scheme, Navigator Award (Bronze, Silver and Gold)
- Ordnance Survey, map reading skills beginner guides (OS Maps Discover)
We opened these links on 7 October 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
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