Which NNAS course should I do?

Bronze Navigator

The Bronze Award covers the essential map reading skills. You'll learn about using “handrail features”, like paths and walls, to guide you along your way. You’ll also learn the basics of how to use a compass and how to use it with your map to ensure you don’t get lost. A bronze course will take you from relying on friends or guidebooks to being able to plan a walk and follow it successfully.

Silver Navigator

On a Silver Navigator Award course, you’ll start to leave the paths behind. You'll navigate in open country on short bearings. As your confidence increases you’ll learn more advanced compass skills and add timing and pacing into the mix too.

Silver courses take place on more difficult terrain and away from easy-to-follow paths and trails.

Bronze Navigator course dates and cost 2025

March 3rd - 4th £160pp, 8 places available

April 12th - 13th £160pp, 8 places available

June 4th - 5th £160pp, 8 places available

July 12th - 13th £160pp, 8 places available

August 23rd - 24th £160pp, 8 places available

October 4th - 5th £160pp, 8 places available

November 15th - 16th £160pp, 8 places available

Silver Navigator course dates and cost 2025

April 14th -15th £180pp, 8 places available

May 31st - June 1st £180pp, 8 places available

July 19th - 20th £180pp, 8 places available

September 1st - 2nd £180pp, 8 places available

November 22nd - 23rd £180pp, 8 places available

All of our NNAS courses are run in the eastern part of the Lake District, meeting first in the village of Bampton, just off the M6 near Shap. For our Bronze Navigator courses we focus on the many paths and tracks and other linear features of the Lowther Valley, while for the Silver Navigator we use the more rugged, off-path terrain of Bampton Common, the Shap Fells, or Askham Common.

Both our Bronze and Silver courses start each day at 9.30am, and finish around 4.30pm