We partner with Rewilding Britain to help protect our natural spaces for future adventures.
All centres are vetted for safety and quality. Your adventure is in good hands with adventuro.
Build reliable map and compass foundations on real hill paths around Capel Curig and the Ogwen Valley. This novice course is for first-timers and self-taught navigators who want clear coaching from qualified mountain professionals.
You meet in Capel Curig for introductions and kit checks, then head outdoors quickly. Teaching happens on foot in real terrain, with short briefings followed by repeated practice so skills become habits rather than notes in a book.
Across the two days you work through map scales and symbols, rights of way basics, grid references, contours, setting the map, direction of travel, hand-railing, feature spotting, and pacing. Your instructor adjusts the pace to the group and weaves in weather awareness and simple emergency thinking as you go.
By the end you should be able to plan and follow a marked-path journey with more confidence, knowing how to keep track of position and recover when the picture on the ground looks confusing.
Sessions start from Capel Curig and use the Ogwen Valley and surrounding Snowdonia hills. These venues offer clear map features, path networks, and enough complexity to teach without needing remote wilderness travel.
North Wales weather and terrain give honest practice: mixed visibility, changing slopes, and real junctions where good navigation matters.
No prior navigation qualification is required. Come ready to learn outdoors with reasonable hill fitness for two instructional days on foot.
Bring curiosity and patience. Mistakes are part of the learning, and coaching is designed to build calm habits rather than rush you.
Instruction comes from qualified mountain professionals who coach navigation for a wide range of abilities, including remote-environment work. Ratios stay at a maximum of 6 to 1 so feedback stays personal.
Teaching is practical and grounded in Snowdonia terrain, with clear kit guidance so you arrive with the right map, compass, and clothing for two solid outdoor days.
Meet in Capel Curig for introductions, kit check, and the first map skills. You move outdoors to practise setting the map, reading symbols, and linking grid references to real features.
The afternoon builds contour and pacing work on local paths and tracks, with coaching that keeps everyone moving and learning together.
Return for a second mountain day that consolidates hand-railing, feature identification, and longer marked-path legs. You practise keeping track of position while the terrain and weather add realism.
Expect more independent decision points, with the instructor stepping in to coach rather than simply lead every junction.
Finish with a structured debrief covering what went well, common traps, and a simple practice plan for future hill days. You leave knowing which skills to repeat on your next local walk.
There is time for kit questions, map-folding habits, and how to keep learning without a full course day every weekend.
Meet initially in Capel Curig, then move into the Ogwen Valley and nearby Snowdonia venues for practical navigation sessions.
Exact timing, parking, and any daily venue changes are confirmed in your joining instructions. Allow extra time on busy weekends.
This course suits adults with little or no formal map and compass experience, or those who are self-taught and want structured coaching. You will work on marked paths and tracks in a hill or lowland mountain setting.
Reasonable hill fitness helps because teaching happens outdoors on foot, not only at a roadside viewpoint.
Meet initially in Capel Curig, then travel into the Ogwen Valley and surrounding Snowdonia venues for practical sessions. Exact timing and pins are confirmed in your joining instructions.
Plan to stay nearby so early starts and afternoon debriefs are easy across both days.
You will cover map scales and symbols, rights of way and access basics, grid references, contours, setting the map with a compass, direction of travel, basic hand-railing, feature identification, macro navigation, and judging distance with pacing.
Coaching stays practical, with repeated ground practice so skills stick beyond a single demo.
Bring weather-proof hill clothing and boots, packed lunch and drinks, a daypack, OS OL17 Snowdonia 1:25,000, and a working compass. A Silva Type 4/54 style compass is recommended, plus a pen or pencil and notebook.
Ask the team before you buy kit if you are unsure which compass or map case to bring.
Accommodation is not included. Capel Curig, Betws-y-Coed, and Llanberis are practical bases within a short drive of usual venues.
Book flexible lodging in case daily venues shift slightly with weather or teaching needs.
You need fitness for full outdoor teaching days on hill paths and tracks. The pace is instructional rather than a summit race, but you will be on your feet for long periods.
If short valley walks already leave you tired, build a little more hill time before the course.
Venues are chosen from the forecast each day. Poor weather is often useful for navigation practice, though extreme conditions may shorten or reshape a session.
The team will be in touch if plans need to change. Pack waterproofs either way.
Food is not included on either day. Bring a packed lunch, snacks, and enough water or a hot drink for long outdoor teaching sessions.
Evening meals are your own arrangement in Capel Curig, Betws-y-Coed, Llanberis, or nearby villages after each day.
Maximum ratio is six clients to one instructor so coaching stays personal while you practise bearings, pacing, and feature spotting on the ground.
Live availability shows how many spaces remain on your date. Smaller groups help everyone get enough hands-on map time.
Transport to Capel Curig and daily venues is not included. You need your own vehicle or arrangements to reach the meet and follow any short moves between teaching areas.
Budget for parking where venues require it, and share cars within your party when that keeps logistics simple.
About the centre
Capel Curig
Operated by Snowdonia Adventures, a partner of adventuro.
