Free navigation courses from Cotswold

Ramblers’ recommended retail partner Cotswold Outdoor and Ordnance Survey have teamed up to offer a series of free navigation courses, starting today and running through until May at various stores across the country. With walkers increasingly relying on technology to guide them on their way, the courses are designed to ensure that the nation’s map-reading skills are up to par as the peak walking season gets underway. The courses will be split into three sessions to encompass all areas of mapping a journey:

Session 1: Paper map reading & compass navigation
This section will cover the beginner and intermediate paper map reading and compass work, including:
•    Understanding and interpreting the map
•    Developing an understanding of the OS grid
•    Introduction to the essential parts to the compass
•    How to complete a journey across mountain upland using map and compass, including:
•    Selecting suitable and safe routes across difficult terrain
•    Before departing, interpreting the expected ground from the map, and estimate the journey distance and time
•    Taking the correct magnetic bearing and travel using a variety of techniques.
•    Dealing with poor conditions and if it all goes wrong
•    The art of relocation

Session 2: Ordnance Survey maps for your PC & GPS
This session will include the following GPS & Digital Mapping discussion points:
•    GPS basics, how it works, and how it can help you
•    GPS capabilities
•    GPS as a safety tool
•    Introduction to GPS terminology
•    The importance of the map page

Session 3: Q&A
An informal and interactive session where trainers from sessions 1 and 2, surveyors/cartographers and additional Ordnance Survey staff will be available to answer your questions.

“Even with today’s technology, the ability to read a map is an essential for everyone from the leisurely walker to the experienced rambler,” says Mike Stevens, Retail Operations Director for Cotswold Outdoor. “Ordnance Survey are the perfect partner for us to team up with for the workshops, and offer people the opportunity to refresh their map reading skills as well as learning some new techniques.”

The workshops will be held in the following stores between March and May 2010. Tickets are free and can be picked up or reserved over the phone at the relevant store – you can find their details on www.cotswoldoutdoor.com.

31 March – Glasgow
7 April – Cardiff City
14 April – Exeter
21 April – Tunbridge Wells
28 April – Peterborough
5 May – Manchester
12 May – London Piccadilly
21 May – Keswick