Map Reading for Mature Walkers

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Map Reading for Mature Walkers

At Peak Navigation Courses we are seeing an increasing number of “mature” walkers attending our map reading and navigation courses. People come into walking for various reasons, some are taking it up in retirement, others come via the “walks for health” programme though many have walked as part of a group for many years but have always followed others and now want to plan and follow their own routes. 
Whatever your reason for wanting to learn to read a map and navigate, Peak Navigation Courses have a course to suit you. This is why we are introducing a course specifically for mature walkers who want to enjoy walking paths and lanes at a slower pace rather than crossing open moorland.

Map Reading for Mature Walkers is a one day course that starts with the very basics though by the end of the day aims to leave you confident to plan a route and follow it using a range of map reading and navigation techniques including using a compass.

The course is based in the peak District village of Foolow. The first hour of the course is spent in the village hall looking at various maps and how to read a map. This is followed by a short circular walk through fields, putting the theory into practice. After lunch we look at how to plan a route examining the factors to take into account that will make a walk safe. We then walk our planned route before a final session back in the village hall. The course lasts from 10am and aims to finish at 4.30pm.


 Jane and Mike who run Peak Navigation Courses each have over 30 years of walking experience and have been running navigation courses for the past ten years. They are both qualified as International Mountain Leaders. Details about Jane and Mike can be found on the Peak Navigation Courses website.



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