Brush up on your navigation skills (On behalf of the Mountaineering council of Scotland)

Wednesday 2 October 2002

Whether you want to brush up on rusty skills or take a lead for the first time, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland autumn navigation courses will help you on your way. The one-day course will give you an introduction to the theory of map and compass work and the opportunity to practice those skills out in the hills. The courses are being run in Edinburgh, Inverness and Aboyne (Deeside).

Every year, hundreds of people head off to the Scottish hills with little knowledge of how to find their way. Some go with organised groups, relying on the leader to navigate. Others, though well equipped with map and compass, have limited knowledge of how to use them. Some just expect there will be a well-trodden path and that they will be able to stay on it, even in poor visibility.

Do you recognise yourself amongst these descriptions? If you do then you are missing out on the fun, skill and satisfaction of knowing how to navigate on all terrain in the best and worst of Scottish weather. You are also putting your own safety at risk - Mountain Rescue records show that around 20% of all call-outs are due to poor navigation. The courses aim to help you build your skills and knowledge so you can walk with greater confidence.

Each course starts with a theory session indoors before moving outside to put the skills into practice. Each group will have an experienced mountain instructor and the maximum ratio is 1:6. There are places for 18 people per day. The cost is £25 per person and you will get an Ordnance Survey map included in this price. You can also borrow a compass if necessary. The courses will take place between 9am and 5pm on the following dates:-

Edinburgh Saturday 19th October 2002 Meet at the Fairmile Inn, Fairmilehead
Inverness Saturday 26th October 2002 Meet at the Inverness Aquadome
Aboyne Saturday 2nd November 2002 Meet at Deeside Community Centre, Aboyne
To book your place, please send a £25 cheque payable to The Mountaineering Council of Scotland to:-

Navigation Course
The Mountaineering Council of Scotland
The Old Granary
West Mill Street
Perth
PH1 5QP
(Tel: 01738 638 227)
Please include your address and telephone number

• The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCof S) is the representative body for walkers, climbers, mountaineers and cross-country skiers in Scotland. It is a membership organisation with over 9,000 members, 150 clubs and various Associate organisations and companies. It is run by an elected Executive Committee of over 25 volunteers and employs a National Officer, Access & Conservation Officer and a Mountain Safety Adviser.
• The aims of the MCof S are:-
• To protect the ethos of mountaineering in Scotland
• To safeguard and secure access to hill and crag
• To protect the mountain environment
• To initiate and encourage safe practice in the mountains
• To promote the views and interests of its members
• To co-operate with other organisations with common interests