# **•** Always apply and reasoned judgement

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The ability to safely navigate is a core skill of a walk leader, and a useful skill for any walker in to **•** Be about what will keep you in have. Appropriate navigation skills enable you the most challenging scenario to: **•** Lead **•** Accurately a trip **• Don’t rely exclusively on technology –** ideally **•** the plan to others so you have a back-up **•** a walk is likely to take **•** when something unexpected happens **•** to the emergency services if needed As we become more reliant on technology in all **walks of life, it’s important that** you understand the benefits and limitations of GPS devices and **maintain ‘traditional’ navigation skills, using** technology as a helpful complement to a map and compass.
Use this factsheet alongside
## •
## •
These are also available on the
Assemble document hub.
You should consider:
The of the walk
The , including how it may have changed since you were last there The possible , especially when the conditions may be extreme and visibility poor The that may occur The (if they are known)
Good navigation practice also requires
. Walk leaders can build confidence through in a variety of settings:
A gives a walk leader a good opportunity to practice their navigation skills before leading a group.
**When out walking, don’t wait until you need** to apply your navigation skills; take the opportunity to do small throughout your walks to remind yourself of key skills and to build your confidence.
Involving other people when you are practicing navigation skills can help to build collective confidence, sharing knowledge, build trust and a create a culture of learning in your group.
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## ⚫ You are most likely going to need these navigation skills for  Depending on the terrain, weather and walking conditions you may also
this level of walk need these skills too
## Understand map scales and use to plan and estimate the
## duration of a walk from a map ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
## Ability to pace and time a walk ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
## Understand access rights   ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
## Understand map colours, symbols and keys/legends and
## basic contours   ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
## Understand how to orientate a map using key features or
## a compass and determine direction of travel   ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
## Ability to re-plan short parts of the route on the move in
## response to changing circumstances   ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
## The benefits and limitations of digital mapping and GPS
## devices in pathed terrain    ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
## Understand and apply the use of ‘tick’, ‘handrail’ and
## ‘catching features’    ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
## Understand how to provide a 6-figure grid reference to
## give accurate location for emergencies and meet up    ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
## points
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## Understand contours and how to identify up and downhill,
## gradients and major land feature  ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
## The parts of the compass and their use   ⚫ ⚫
## How to make a bearing along a linear feature   ⚫ ⚫
## Measuring distance accurately on the map and estimating
## distance travelled on level terrain   ⚫ ⚫
## Relocation techniques   ⚫ ⚫
## Grid north, magnetic north and their relevance for
## navigation   ⚫ ⚫
## Use of contour details such as aspects of slope, re-
## entrants, ridges, ring contours in un-pathed terrain  ⚫ ⚫
## Use of map and compass to estimate the distance
## travelled on a bearing over varying terrain  ⚫ ⚫
## Route planning on un-pathed terrain  ⚫ ⚫
## Strategies for navigating on un-pathed terrain (e.g. aiming
## off; use of attack features; boxing; mental & physical catch  ⚫ ⚫
## features)
## Strategies for navigating in poor visibility (e.g., inundated
## by cloud, whiteout or darkness)  ⚫ ⚫
## Understanding of the benefits and limitations of digital
## mapping and GPS devices in un-pathed terrain  ⚫ ⚫
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Ramblers walks are described using a
These ratings serve as a guide to help walkers choose grades of walk that suit them.
The grades also provide a useful tool to help walk leaders understand what skills are useful to have so they can lead safe walks with confidence.
The ratings used for our routes are:
are routes for everyone, including are for experienced walkers, people with conventional wheelchairs and with a high level of fitness. They may involve pushchairs, using easy-access paths. some pathless sections across wild valleys, Comfortable shoes or trainers can be worn. rough country, open moorland or mountains Assistance may be needed to push wheelchairs tops. Walking boots and warm, waterproof on some sections. clothing are necessary. Paths may be unclear on the ground so map and compass skills are are for anyone of a reasonable essential.
fitness level who doesn't have a mobility 1 difficulty. Suitable for pushchairs if they can be are for very experienced lifted over occasional obstructions. Comfortable walkers, with a high level of fitness and shoes or trainers can be worn. Paths are clearly competence. They may involve some pathless identifiable on the ground. sections across wild valleys, rough country, open moorland, or mountains tops. They may also are for reasonably fit people.
involve some scrambling or exposed sections.
They may include unsurfaced paths. Walking
Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are shoes or boots and warm, waterproof clothing necessary. Paths may be unclear on the ground are recommended. Paths can be identified on the so good map and compass skills are essential.
ground or through following clear landmarks.
are for people with a good level of fitness and at least a little country walking experience. May include some steep paths and open country. Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are recommended. Most paths are clearly defined.
1 Where equipment such as crampons, ice-axes, ropes are needed for safety reasons (due to the conditions over ground that could normally be crossable without this equipment), the Ramblers consider this to be walking, and it has been accepted and covered by our insurance policy.
Ramblers provides our volunteers with liability insurance to protect you from a claim if an individual is injured or property is damaged due to something you Climbing activities (which include “pitched climbing” where members of a did as a walk leader. Ramblers insurance covers walking activities but not party ascend in stages one after the other with the aid of a rope) are not activities deemed to be climbing or mountaineering. covered.