Learn navigation and wild camping skills on a two day hiking adventure in the spectacular Langdale Valley. We will meet on the Friday evening, spend the night in a beautiful Youth Hostel and then head to the hills on Saturday morning for a weekend of navigation training and wild camping. If you've never wild camped before, it's a truly magical experience not to be missed, away from all forms of civilisation with just the kit you've carried on your back. This course is designed for complete beginners or those who have done some navigation but would like to build their confidence. You don't need any experience but you will need a sense of adventure and a willingness to rough it! We will be walking for around 8 hours a day in mountainous terrain, carrying all of our equipment (clothes, tents, food ,etc). You don't need to be super fit; the pace will be relaxed and nobody will get left behind.
Make this adventure your own: Message Adventure Leader
The trip will begin with a relaxed dinner in the Britannia Inn in Elterwater. This will give you the chance to get to know your fellow adventurers and find out more about the weekend ahead. We will then take a short walk to the beautiful Langdale Youth Hostel where we will be staying the night.
Breakfast in the hostel will be followed by a short briefing on rucksack packing to make sure you're not overburdened on the journey ahead. Once everyone is prepared we will head to the hills. The day will be focused on navigation training, with topics including route planning, basic map features, contours, grid references, compass bearings and GPS use. There will also be the opportunity to discuss other aspects of mountaincraft such as movement on steep ground, access rights, clothing & equipment and emergency procedures. We will be walking for approximately 8 hours, with plenty of breaks and opportunities for everyone to practice their navigation.
After selecting a suitable wild camping spot, considering factors such as water sources, ground condition and weather, we will set up camp. Note that this will be in the mountains, with no toilets or other forms of civilisation. We will dine on freeze dried expedition food and chat beneath the stars before retiring to our tents for a good nights sleep.
After starting the day with an expedition breakfast of porridge and dried fruit, we will pack up camp, leaving no trace that we were ever there. The rest of the day will be spent learning and practising navigation skills, with plenty of time to ask questions and recap on things you're not sure about. We will be back in civilisation for 4pm (for those looking to get a train home from Windermere, please look at trains from 5pm or later).
You’ll be working up a sweat. Bring along a touch of enthusiasm and a little determination
We have two private bunk rooms in the Youth Hostel for the Friday night, sleeping 4 people each. Accommodation on Saturday will be in tents (it is recommended that you share with a fellow adventurer to reduce your load)
Custom Policy
Refund excludes processing fees. Alternate dates may be able to be agreed at no additional cost, but this is not guaranteed.
Great Langdale, Ambleside LA22 9JS, UK