Course Features
The Gold National Navigation Award is a two-day course developing competence in off-path navigation, adding techniques and skills for dealing with complex contour features, large and small. On completion of the course, participants will be able to plan and confidently follow safe routes away from paths and tracks in any open countryside.
The courses cover:
- Utilising contours and fine detail as the prime method of navigation
- Accurately following routes, judging distance using pacing and timing, using compass skills, and maintaining continuous map contact.
- Re-location techniques like aspect of slope, transit lines, contour interpretation, back bearings, and resection.
The venue for day one is the hills near Callander Crags. On day two, the Gargunnoch Hills.
Kit and Equipment - what to bring?
Packed lunch for both days.
Kit and equipment:
- Waterproof trousers and jacket
- Walking boots
- Hat and gloves
- Warm layers (jumper and fleece)
- Day rucksack (about 20 litres) and rucksack liner
- Compass
- Stopwatch
- Mapcase
- Thermos flask
- Headtorch
- First aid kit and emergency shelter/bivvy bag
More info on the course
The Gold Award is intended to enable participants to navigate in open countryside using complex contour features, large and small. The terrain used for the training and assessment will be hill and moorland terrain.
On completion of the award, participants will be able to plan and confidently follow safe routes away from paths and tracks in any open countryside through:
- Utilising skills and techniques of the Bronze and Silver Awards.
- Utilise contours as the prime method of navigation
- Accurately follow a route, judge distance, check progress against time, use relevant compass skills, and maintain continuous map contact.
- Use back bearings and transits to confirm the current position.
- Use the aspect of slope as an aid to relocation
- Navigate in intricate terrain in reduced visibility
- Select an appropriate route in relation to height gain and loss, dangerous terrain, and other major hazards.
- Assess the route ahead in the field in relation to prevailing conditions or changing circumstances and replan the route appropriately.
- Recognise a navigational error in a few minutes and apply relocation techniques.
- Select appropriate clothing, equipment, and first aid for walking in remote areas in all weather conditions
- Understand the physical demands created by hill and moorland terrain in all weather conditions
- Understand the effects of cold, heat, fatigue, and discomfort on decision-making and execution of a selected route.
The national navigation award is formally assessed. Candidates will only be able to undertake the assessment if they have demonstrated sufficient progress in the development of their navigation skills.
The assessment will involve:
- Practical navigation assessment taking place over a route of 6-10km, depending on terrain.
- The assessment will include a short written paper on navigation
- The terrain used for the assessment route shall include a variety of intricate contour detail along with ridges, valleys, and less obvious handrails.
- An ability to plan a safe walk of an appropriate distance, explaining the issues involved and estimating the time needed for a specific leg.
- Demonstrating an acceptable level of knowledge of the countryside code
The Gold National Navigation Award has been credit rated on the SCQF framework, 2 points at level 6.