Contour Navigation Courses

This Contour Navigation course on Dartmoor will teach you the skills to confidently navigate using the shape of the ground alone. The shape of the ground is one of the only features on a map that doesn't change much, making it very reliable. Being able to navigate just by using contours on our maps will greatly improve your navigation.

By the end of this course you will have progressed your navigation by being able to recognise large and small contour features, be able to use them to navigate and relocate yourself, and benefit from the knowledge when you venture into more complex terrain and in poor visibility.

£70pp*

1 Day

1:6

SEE DATES

BESPOKE BOOKING

* Price indicated is for public course dates. For private/bespoke/1:1 bookings, prices start FROM £220 per day, +£30 per person extra. Get in touch to enquire or click the BESPOKE BOOKING button above.

COURSE OUTLINE:

This course is for experienced hill and mountain walkers who want to develop their navigation skills for navigating in poor visibility and remote, complex terrain. You'll gain the skills to be able to identify contour features, changes in the shape of the ground whilst navigating and be able to navigate with these features and to them as checkpoints.

We will use contour only maps, different map scales and a whole load of other resources to help you develop better understanding of contours. As the course progresses, we will start to transfer these new skills back to regular maps and seek out contour features to use in our navigation.

WHO'S IT FOR?

Anyone who is working towards a Mountain Training Mountain Leader or Hill and Moorland Leader assessment
An individual who wants to refresh and refine their navigation.
Experienced hill and mountain walkers who wish to improve their navigation to help them navigate in complex terrain, away from the footpaths, such as the more remote Wainwright Walks, Munros or classic Grade 1 scrambles!

Those who want to be able to locate themselves on a ridge when all you have is contour features, or those in the middle of Dartmoor and want to pin point your exact location
A fit individual who is capable of walking over uneven, often boggy terrain in remote areas, all day for 6 hours / 8+km

COURSE CONTENT:

We will cover the following skills on this course:

Recognising the shape of the ground using contours
Understanding how contours work
Identifying large contour features
Identifying small contour features
Using contour only maps
Navigating only by using contours on our maps

WHAT TO EXPECT:

A full day in the hills with hands on navigation practice
Navigate using contour only maps
Progressive learning in navigation techniques
Safe, friendly atmosphere with others passionate in the outdoors
A focus on your safety
Opportunities to practice hands on navigation under the watchful eye of an experienced instructor
Low ratio group numbers to focus on your personalised instruction

Upcoming Courses

Thu 18 Dec
Contour Navigation
Belstone
BOOK NOW
18 Dec 2025, 10:00 – 16:00
Belstone, Belstone, Okehampton EX20 1RD, UK
By the end of this course you will have progressed your navigation by being able to recognise large and small contour features, be able to use them to navigate and relocate yourself, and benefit from the knowledge when you venture into more complex terrain and in poor visibility.
Wed 25 Mar
Contour Navigation
Belstone
BOOK NOW
25 Mar 2026, 10:00 – 16:00
Belstone, Belstone, Okehampton EX20 1RD, UK
By the end of this course you will have progressed your navigation by being able to recognise large and small contour features, be able to use them to navigate and relocate yourself, and benefit from the knowledge when you venture into more complex terrain and in poor visibility.
Sun 14 Jun
Contour Navigation
Capel Curig
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14 Jun 2026, 10:00 – 16:00
Capel Curig, Capel Curig, Betws-y-Coed LL24, UK
By the end of this course you will have progressed your navigation by being able to recognise large and small contour features, be able to use them to navigate and relocate yourself, and benefit from the knowledge when you venture into more complex terrain and in poor visibility.
Sun 27 Sept
Contour Navigation
Belstone
BOOK NOW
27 Sept 2026, 10:00 – 16:00
Belstone, Belstone, Okehampton EX20 1RD, UK
By the end of this course you will have progressed your navigation by being able to recognise large and small contour features, be able to use them to navigate and relocate yourself, and benefit from the knowledge when you venture into more complex terrain and in poor visibility.