Navigation – Silver NNAS Award

National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS) – Silver Award

The Silver National Navigation Award is a two day course and develops skills acquired at Bronze Level so that you can navigate in open countryside using compass bearings and natural landforms. The course is ideal for participants who are confident in using a map to follow paths and tracks in lowland countryside terrain and want to learn how to navigate off path.  The course will cover:

Setting and following compass bearings across open ground

Using pacing to measure distance

Estimating the time needed for height gain

Using landforms like hills, ridges, spurs and valleys to navigate

Adopting appropriate strategies for navigating from one point to another, using techniques like aiming off and attack points.

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The NNAS Silver Navigator Award will take place in Snowdonia National Park and will involve periods where you’ll be navigating away from paths and tracks. The course is accredited by the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF) at Level 5 and 2 SCQF credit points are awarded on completion.

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Syllabus

Utilise the skills and techniques of the Bronze Award in the context of Silver Award navigation strategies.

Relate small hills, small valleys, prominent re-entrants and prominent spurs to their corresponding map contours. Use prominent hills, ridges, spurs and valleys as a means of navigation in good visibility.

Use landforms and point features to orientate the map and as collecting and catching features.

Use a compass to: Accurately follow a bearing; aim off; check the direction of handrails and other linear features.

Deviate briefly from a compass bearing to avoid obstacles or difficult terrain and accurately regain the original line.

Use back bearings to check route following accuracy.

Measure distance on the ground in varied, open terrain using timing and pacing and make practical allowances for any discrepancies.

Simplify legs using coarse navigation, attack points and fine navigation.

Recognise dangerous or difficult terrain on map and ground.

Plan and implement navigational strategies based on the above skills.

Maintain route finding accuracy in poor visibility or darkness.

Recognise a navigation error within a few minutes and apply appropriate relocation techniques.

Understand how personal fitness and nature of terrain affect route choice both at the planning stage and on the ground.

Understand the potential consequences of fatigue and physical discomfort in demanding terrain and/or extreme weather conditions.

Select appropriate clothing, equipment and first aid items for walking in open country in all weather conditions.

Demonstrate an understanding of the Countryside Code, current access legislation and the environmental impact of walkers on the countryside.

Understand the responsibilities of walkers towards other countryside interests such as farming, forestry and conservation.

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Course details:

This course runs over two days. You must complete the full course and pass the assessment in order to achieve the Silver NNAS Award. The assessment will normally take place on the afternoon of Day 2. All training (and assessment) will be delivered practically in the outdoors rather than in a classroom. This is a ‘hands-on’ real navigation course.

*Please contact myself via email with any course enquiries: mwall16@tiscali.co.uk

or click on link below to book: