Navigate with confidence

WildWays offers a range of navigation courses in the Peak District and beyond. Whether you’re a runner eager to explore the fells, a family looking for a big day out, or simply wanting to build confidence to expand your adventures, there’s a course for you.

Navigation courses in the Peak District, Derbyshire & South Yorkshire

Are you always getting lost, or relaying on your phone to find your way around? Do you rely on the internet for inspo or other people to take you places? Are you a fell runner who has a map and compass in their FRA kit list but has no idea how to use it? Or do you may lack the confidence to go and explore new places? Do you want to take your family out for an adventure but don’t know where to start? WildWays can provide you with navigation courses to give you the knowledge and confidence to help you on your way.

Go to the Upcoming Events page for a full listing of the 2026 courses and guided walks.

The navigation courses are split into 4 different ability levels:

Kial taking a compass bearing
Kial reading the map as part of the off-path navigation practise
Active map with route drawn on
Kial taking a compass bearing

Beginner Navigation Skills Course

The beginners navigation course gives you the skills and confidence to explore the UK’s hills and trails independently. Designed for those new to self-guided walking, you’ll learn essential navigation, safety, planning and kit selection in Britain’s upland environment.

We’ll meet at The Norfolk Arms, Ringinglow at the edge of the Peak District, where we’ll have a classroom session to begin with, you’ll then go on to practise your newly learned skills in the local footpaths and open access land.

Skills covered:

  • Navigation fundamentals
  • Map types, scales and grid references
  • Orientating the map and measuring distance
  • Understanding contours and terrain
  • Basic compass work
  • Planning a simple route
  • Spotting navigational errors and relocating
  • Hydration, nutrition and appropriate kit
  • Emergency procedures

We start at 10am with a brew and briefing and aim to finish around 4pm.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Understand maps, grid references, scales and rights of way
  • Set the map and check direction of travel with a compass
  • Navigate confidently using map and compass
  • Choose effective navigation strategies and relocate when things go wrong
  • Build confidence for hillwalking and self-guided adventures

Improvers Navigation Skills Course

The Intermediate Navigation Course is designed for walkers with existing navigation experience who want to move confidently away from paths and tracks. Over the day, you’ll deepen your navigation skills while refining your approach to safety, planning and kit selection. We’ll also explore the impacts of weather, emergency decision-making in Britain’s upland environment.

We’ll start and finish from the Longshaw Estate in the Peak District where you’ll practise your newly learned skills on the local footpaths, moors and open access land.

We start the morning at 9am with a brew and briefing in Longsgaw cafe before heading out onto the hill, finishing around 4pm.

Skills we’ll cover:

  • Advanced navigation strategies for open and complex terrain
  • Map skills: types, scales, grid references and detailed contour interpretation
  • Accurate distance measuring, including on undulating ground
  • Compass work: setting the map, following bearings and advanced techniques
  • Navigating away from paths and tracks
  • Effective relocation when things don’t go to plan
  • Using technology alongside traditional skills (GPS, phones and altimeters)

You’ll learn how to:

  • Navigate confidently off-path using map and compass
  • Choose appropriate strategies for terrain and conditions
  • Relocate efficiently and calmly when geographically challenged

Advanced Navigation Skills Course

The Advanced Navigation Course is for experienced navigators looking to refine precision and confidence in complex terrain. We’ll begin by refreshing key on-path skills before moving into advanced cross-country navigation, focusing on accurate map interpretation, precise positioning and effective search techniques.

You’ll work towards identifying smaller and more exact features on the map, using a range of strategies to navigate confidently in challenging terrain and low visibility.

Based from the Castleton in the Peak District, we’ll head out from the footpath to open access moorland.

We start the morning at 9am with a brew and briefing in the Vistor Center cafe before heading out onto the hill, finishing around 4pm.

Skills we’ll cover:

  • Revision of simple and advanced navigation strategies for open and complex terrain
  • Back bearings, transects and aspect of slope
  • Exact distance measurement on undulating terrain
  • Navigating by contours alone
  • Navigation and decision-making in low visibility
  • Relocation strategies when geographically challenged
  • Using technology alongside traditional skills (GPS, phones and altimeters)

You’ll learn how to:

  • Navigate confidently off-path using map and compass in complex terrain and challenging visibility
  • Choose appropriate navigation strategies for terrain and conditions
  • Relocate efficiently and calmly when geographically challenged

Night / Poor Visibility Navigation Skills Course

Based from the Castleton in the Peak District, we’ll head out from footpath to open access moorland.

We start the evening at 7pm with a briefing and discussion to understand everyone’s experience before heading out to practise. The entire session will be on the hill.

Skills we’ll cover:

  • Night navigation equipment and setup
  • Torches and how to use them effectively
  • Micro-navigation: what it is and when to use it
  • Bearings, pacing and accurate movement
  • Navigating with and without a torch
  • Plenty of hands-on practice

You’ll learn how to:

  • Navigate confidently in challenging visibility
  • Choose appropriate navigation strategies for terrain and conditions

Why choose WildWays?

WildWays are:

  • Firstly, I am passionate about the outdoors and want to share my enthusiasm with you.
  • By catering for small groups, ensures that you get a more personal approach and the best experience.
  • I am very conscious of keeping my clients safe; I am a qualified Mountain Leader and Hill & Moorland Leader with Mountain Training Association. I am also an Outdoor Emergency First Aider.
  • By providing the highest quality of service you are rewarded with a day out that you’ll find both inspiring and rewarding.