Visit Shropshire Hills Events

🧭 Navigation Course (Beginner Friendly)
A one-day course designed to help you build confidence in the outdoors and start navigating for yourself — without relying on apps, guesswork, or blind optimism 😏

Do you love getting out for a walk but don’t quite feel confident heading out solo? Maybe you follow routes on an app or a guidebook but aren’t sure how to properly read a map or use a compass?

This course is here to change that. By the end of the day, you’ll have the skills (and confidence) to start making your own decisions out on the hill — and actually trust them.

📍 Location: Carding Mill Valley, Long Mynd
We’ll be based in the beautiful Carding Mill Valley, right on the edge of the Long Mynd — a perfect setting to learn navigation with a mix of open hills, clear features, and plenty of real-life terrain to practise in.

🧭 What You’ll Learn
We’ll keep things simple, practical, and hands-on:

Understanding maps and scales

Making sense of map symbols

Taking grid references

Orientating the map properly

Measuring distance and estimating timings

Planning and following a simple route

The basics of using a compass

What to pack for a day out

What to do if things don’t quite go to plan

👣 What to Expect
We’ll start indoors at the café, then head straight out to put everything into practice on the hill.

No pressure, no overwhelm — just learning by doing, with plenty of support along the way.

Expect a relaxed, friendly group and lots of “that actually makes sense now” moments.

⏰ Timings (Approx.)
10:00 AM – Meet at the National Trust café, welcome & intro. Grab a coffee/some breakfast and make yourselves comfy.

10:15 AM – 11:45 PM – Indoor session (navigation basics & theory)

11:45 PM – 4:30 PM – Out on the hill putting it all into practice (Up to ~10km on a mix of paths and open terrain. We'll stop for a packed lunch whilst we are out)

4:30 PM – 5:00 PM – Debrief, questions, and wrap-up