By Adrian Tierney-Jones Published: 9:30AM GMT 18 Feb 2010
Comments 2 |
On course: modern gadgets might be all the rage but maps give a complete 2D picture of the landscape Photo: CORBIS The GPS or satnav is not infallible, as anyone who"s witnessed a lorry rammed between two ancient cottages can testify. Satnav has its uses, but sometimes you wish drivers would simply read a map. The same goes for walking if you really want to enjoy the countryside, forget the gadgets and mug up on your basic map-reading skills.
There are people who actively enjoy getting lost. Robert Macfarlane, author of The Wild Places (a sublime celebration of our native wilderness), is a fine example of someone who finds emotional stimulation in not knowing where he is. For most of us, however, there"s little poetry in discovering we"re crossing the wrong field
Countryside ban for children because mums cannot read maps and hate mud A-level results: Gap year safety UK Pub Guide: Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel, Nant Gwynant, North Wales UK Pub Guide: The Turf, Exminster, Devon Google G1 mobile phone versus Apple iPhone A brand new beating generationEveryone who takes to the great outdoors has their own disaster story: the sudden fog or the snowstorm from hell that obliterated every landmark on a bleak fell. Even a path through seemingly innocent woodland can develop a sinister, fairytale quality as it leads us further away from that nice country pub.
This is where walking guide Mark Reid comes in. Based in the Yorkshire Dales, he has spent the past 10 years covering more than 8,000 miles of footpaths through the north of England. Challenges have come at him like flurries of snow on a desolate January day. Whether it"s a stygian night walk in the midst of winter, or a dense mist draped over bleak moorland, he"s been in the thick of it and has had to develop his own skills.
Reid is now sharing them with other outdoor lovers in a series of Navigation Skills weekend courses that should give even the most nervous walker a sense of place. He is not the only one to offer such courses, but the bonus is that, as author of the Inn Ways walking-and-pubs guides, you know that the post-walk refreshments will be spot on.
"Most people assume good navigation is all about being able to use a compass. In fact it is about good map skills and always knowing where you are. This is what people will learn on my courses. I don"t use a GPS there is no substitute for a map. From a map you get a complete 2D picture of the landscape."
Good preparation is key, says Reid. It might seem obvious, but you hear stories of entire families strolling along a razorback ridge in their flip-flops or walkers taking on mountains without even a waterproof, he says. Sometimes they"re lucky, but all too often the consequences of such a dilatory lack of preparation are serious, as search and rescue teams are scrambled and precious time and resources wasted.
Peter Burgess, a dedicated walker who runs fellwalkingclub.co.uk says that informing others of your whereabouts is essential. "I heard of a group who went up Borrowdale in the Lakes," he says. "They were overdue and several search and rescue teams were out looking for them, but they were already down and tucked up in bed. They hadn"t told anyone where they were going and when they would be back. The teams weren"t very happy."
When it comes to the satnav vs map and compass debate, pragmatism carries the day with Burgess. "I do carry a satnav," he admits. "But I also take a map and compass as there could be battery failure and once I was scrambling and the satnav butted a rock. You hear of people just taking their mobiles to rely on, which is madness. I take all these things; it"s a double insurance."
Reid"s two-day weekend course covers all aspects of the National Navigation Award Scheme"s Bronze level syllabus, including route planning, weather forecasts, basic map interpretation, grid references and essential clothing and equipment. Both days include a walk and, on Saturday evening, everyone goes to the pub to plan the next day"s route. On Sunday everyone takes it in turn to navigate a leg of the walk.
With its rolling hills, sweeping valleys and high moorland patched with great swathes of heather, the Yorkshire Dales are an inspirational place for walking. Over the course of the weekend you pass impressive waterfalls and traditional hay meadows, and there"s a pint and a bed at a cosy pub in an attractive stone village waiting for you at the end of a long day"s walk.
"The outdoors is here, it"s free and just waiting to be discovered," says Reid. "Some people look at it and see obstacles such as getting lost and bad weather. This course aims to get rid of those barriers."
Mark Reid"s Navigation Skills Weekends take place once a month until October and cost £79; for more details see teamwalking.co.uk/navigation_skills_weekends.html For other courses on navigation skills see nnas.org.uk/course_providers/index.shtml