Mountain Proficiency & Navigation Course ( ref: MP 14/5)

Are you looking to become safe and self sufficient in the mountains?

Gain confidence in your surroundings with the expertise of a KerryClimbing Instructor.

Our 1 day mountain proficiency and navigation courses aim to give you the map and compass skills to enable you to navigate in all weathers and is suitable for all levels, from beginners upwards. They are aimed at individuals, clubs and youth groups but are also a great course for family groups.

The ability to navigate accurately and safely is a vital skill for all those venturing into the Irish hills and mountains. In the Irish mountains in particular the weather and visibility can change very rapidly, making it especially important for mountain users to be able to navigate effectively even in limited visibility. Our range of summer walking and navigation courses form an excellent introduction to the hills and concentrate on the fundamentals.

Like all of our courses they are not only designed to improve your skills and your awareness of the situation and environment around you but they will also improve your confidence enabling you to plan and complete your own days out with the knowledge of your capabilities and the factors to consider. We also find many people have spent years in the hills sticking to paths or behind friends with greater navigation skills, we can help to improve your navigational skills to enable you to step of the path or out of the shadows and choose your own route.

Our 1 day course is based in the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks mountains – and starts off with a short introduction, followed by a day out on the lower slopes learning about contours, pacing and timing distances, and getting to grips with really understanding what the map is showing us and how landscape features are represented.

1 day course syllabus:

Maps, scales, grid system & grid references

Concept of the three D’s – Direction, Distance and Detail

The Compass, different types, advantages and disadvantages, measuring and taking bearings, allowing for magnetic variation

Techniques for following bearings in bad visibility, back bearings

Pacing distances and timing distances, all measuring and calculations

Understanding Contours – the shape of the land – and interpreting map features

Price: €75 per person.