Course Features
The Silver National Navigation Award is a two-day course and develops your skills so that can navigate in open country using compass bearings and natural landforms. The course is ideal for participants who are confident in using a map to follow paths and tracks in lowland countryside terrain and want to learn how to navigate off-path. The course will cover:
- Setting and following compass bearings across open ground
- Using pacing to measure distance
- Estimating the time needed for height gain
- Using landforms like hills, ridges, spurs, and valleys to navigate
- Adopting appropriate strategies for navigating from one point to another, using techniques like aiming off and attack points
The venue on day on is the Kilsyth hills, and on day two Dumyat near Bridge of Allan.
More about the course
The Silver Award is intended to enable participants to navigate in open countryside using small hills and valleys, prominent re-entrants and prominent spurs.
On completion of the award participants will be able to safely plan and follow a route with some sections away from paths and tracks.
The national navigation award is formally assessed. The assessment will be undertaken by the instructor on day 2, and will assess;
- Practical navigation assessment over a route 5-8km long – the assessment route should utilise distinct contour features which require the use of a wide range of navigational strategies.
- Ability to plan a safe walk of appropriate distance, explaining the issues involved and estimating the time needed for a specific leg.
Participants will also be expected to demonstrate an acceptable level of knowledge of the countryside code.
The Silver National Navigation Award has been credit leveled on the SCQF framework, 2 points at level 5.
Kit and Equipment - What to bring?
Please bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink 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)
- Compass (if you wish to borrow one, let the instructor know)
- Stopwatch/method of timing
We will provide the maps.
