Spend a full weekend of learning on the Lake District fells and you can transform how confidently you move through the mountains. This course blends classroom learning with extensive time on the hill, covering navigation, route planning, mountain weather and safe movement on steep ground.
Day one opens with core navigation skills: map scales, contour interpretation, compass bearings, pacing and route planning. You practise on paths and open fellside, building confidence in orientating the map and choosing a safe line through varied terrain.
On the second day you head onto more challenging ground to consolidate skills in a mountain environment. Topics include relocation techniques, micro-navigation on complex terrain, mountain weather awareness and decision making in changing conditions. Your instructor provides calm, patient guidance throughout both days.
From Ambleside and Keswick to Glenridding and Ullswater, the Lakes offer outstanding variety for skills development, from valley paths to high ridges and rocky summits. You choose your preferred area when you enquire, and we confirm the exact car park for each day based on conditions and the best training venues for the group.
Full directions and what3words links are sent before your course starts so you can plan travel and overnight accommodation between the two days.
Some previous hill walking experience is helpful but not essential. A good level of fitness for consecutive days on the fells is recommended, and you should bring your own compass, suitable maps and full hill walking kit.
If you have completed a one-day map and compass course, the second day will stretch your skills on more demanding ground. Younger walkers are welcome when accompanied by a participating adult who shares responsibility on the hill throughout both days.
Back-to-back days on the hill accelerate your learning far beyond what a single day can achieve. The focus is practical skills you can use independently, taught at a supportive pace with plenty of time to practise and ask questions.
We choose venues across the Lake District fells that offer real mountain terrain without overwhelming beginners. You will leave with a clearer sense of how to plan routes, read the weather and stay safe when the cloud comes down.
Meet at the confirmed Lake District venue for introductions, safety briefing, and course aims. A short indoor session covers map scales, symbols, contour interpretation, and how to set and use a compass before you head onto the hill.
On the paths and lower fells you practise orientating the map, identifying features, and taking simple bearings. Your instructor demonstrates each technique and gives you supervised time to build confidence at a steady pace.
The afternoon consolidates morning learning with a planned route across varied terrain. You practise pacing, timing, route choice, and following bearings on open fellside with your instructor coaching throughout.
The day ends with a debrief reviewing progress and previewing day two objectives. You should feel more confident reading the landscape and linking map features to what you see around you.
Day two takes you onto more demanding mountain ground to apply and extend your skills. Topics include relocation, micro-navigation on complex terrain, mountain weather awareness, and decision making when conditions change.
Your instructor provides calm guidance on steep ground movement and safe route choice. The course finishes with a review of your progress and practical advice for continuing hill walking on your own.
Some basic hill walking experience is helpful, but you do not need formal navigation training before joining. Day one starts with fundamentals and builds steadily onto the hill so beginners can keep pace with the group.
If you have existing skills, your instructor will challenge you with more complex terrain on day two. The course suits anyone who wants to become more independent in the mountains.
Bring a Silva Type 4 baseplate compass or equivalent, plus OS Explorer maps at 1:25,000 scale covering the areas we will use. The exact map sheets are confirmed before your course so you purchase the right coverage.
Paper maps are essential for the course. A map case protects your maps from rain, and a spare pencil is useful for marking routes during planning exercises.
Overnight accommodation between course days is your own arrangement. Many participants camp, use local hostels, or book B&B accommodation in villages such as Keswick, Ambleside, or Glenridding depending on where we meet.
We can suggest areas to stay when you enquire, based on your chosen meeting area and the venues planned for each day of the course.
Expect two full days on the fells with significant ascent and several hours of walking each day. A good level of general fitness and stamina for consecutive hill days is recommended for you to get the most from the course.
If you have concerns about fitness, mention them when you enquire so we can advise on suitability and adjust the plan if needed.
Mountain skills courses run in most weather and wet conditions are part of real hill experience. Your instructor carries group safety equipment and will adapt routes to keep the day safe and educational.
In storm force winds, lightning, or conditions that make the planned ground unsafe, we may change venue or focus on sheltered skills practice. You will be contacted if a major change is needed before your course.
This is a practical skills course rather than an accredited Mountain Training Hill Skills or Mountain Skills assessment. You receive expert tuition and feedback across two days on the hill, with guidance on how to continue your development afterwards.
The course content aligns well with Mountain Training syllabuses and provides excellent preparation if you choose to enrol in a formal scheme afterwards. Ask your instructor about recommended next steps during your course.
Yes. Private courses for families, friends, or groups can be arranged on dates that suit you. Private delivery allows the pace, venue, and content to be tailored entirely around your objectives and experience.
Contact us through Adventuro Chat with your preferred dates and group size. We will confirm availability and send meeting point details for your private course.
Younger walkers are welcome when accompanied by a participating adult who also joins the course and shares responsibility for them on the hill throughout both days. We keep the teaching pace steady and supportive.
A one-day map and compass course may suit some younger participants as a first step. Contact us to discuss the best option for your group when you enquire.
Your course covers professional mountain leadership and instruction across two full days on the hill, including route planning, safety management, and structured navigation coaching in a mountain environment.
You bring your own compass, maps, clothing, food, and drinks. Transport and personal insurance are not included. A detailed kit list is sent before your course starts.
Meeting points for each day are in the Lake District around your chosen area: Ambleside, Keswick, or Glenridding/Ullswater. Day one and day two may use different car parks depending on the skills focus and forecast conditions.
Full directions, parking information, and what3words links are sent before your course starts. Please arrive on time so the group can maximise hill time each day.
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About the centre
Lake District
You'll join an experienced Mountain Leader and Duke of Edinburgh assessor with more than thirty years in the British hills. Days are planned around calm, patient guidance, clear safety management, and building confidence on everything from gentle valley routes to demanding mountain days across Yorkshire, the Lake District, Scotland, and the Peak District.
Whether you're booking a guided walk, a navigation course, a walking weekend, or a wild camping journey, your instructor focuses on practical skills, readable map work, and a supportive pace that suits your group. From first steps on the fells to longer multi-day adventures, the aim is safe, enjoyable time outdoors with room to learn and grow.
Operated by Northern Guiding, a partner of adventuro.
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