CANARY TRAIL EVENTS
Navigation skills course
Saturday 17th October 2026 @ 08:30
Mickelham Village Hall
Race entries are now available via Klarna, allowing you to pay in three equal installments, or to defer the payment date. The Klarna option will appear during the check out process.
Discover Map Reading and Navigation in a Day – Course Overview
This one-day basic navigation course is ideal for beginners with little or no map reading or navigation experience. Participants will learn essential skills to confidently navigate rural and remote areas, ensuring safety and enjoyment outdoors. The course provides a gradual introduction to navigation techniques in a fun, informal and hands-on way.
Course content
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Maps and Key Features: Understanding different maps, scales, symbols, and features.
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Route Planning: Using key landmarks to plan and follow routes.
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Compass Basics: Learning compass features and bearings.
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Map Orientation: Aligning the map to determine your location.
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Ground-to-Map Translation: Identifying features like hills, rivers, and roads on both map and terrain.
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Navigation Strategies: Practical methods for effective navigation.
Who should attend
This course is tailored for anyone interested in exploring the countryside and remote areas. No prior navigation or map reading experience is needed, making it accessible to all outdoor enthusiasts.
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The workshop will start at 8.30am with indoor lessons on how to read your map & compass until 12 Noon followed by a short break for lunch.
The afternoon will be spent testing your new found practical map reading skills over a 3 mile course, then it's back to the hall for a short debrief and to answer any questions you may have.
What you'll need
You will need to bring the following:​
Make sure you wear/bring suitable clothing for an afternoon in the Surrey Hills.
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OS map Explorer 146 (We recommend the weatherproof version)
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A basic map reading compass, you can pick one up for about £10. (The compass on your phone doesn't count)
We will have a small number of maps & compasses for sale on the day.
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OS locate me on your phone. It's a free app you can download from the Google play or Apple store.
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Notepad & pen for taking notes.
Free Tea & Coffee throughout the mornings tutorial but please bring your own lunch.
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Tickets & Refunds
Learn to navigate together!
Going it alone? £75
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Bring a friend, partner or fellow runner and save £20. Pair entry: £130 for two.That’s just £65 each.
Learn together. Get out on the hills with confidence. And save yourselves some money in the process! Just select the pair option on the checkout page.
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Please note: tickets are non-refundable. If you can no longer attend, you are welcome to sell or transfer your place to someone else. Please contact the Canary Trail Events team with the new participant’s details so we can update our records.
