CAPEL CURIG HIKING FIELD GUIDE
Learning to Read the Hills: Novice Navigation in Capel Curig
A 2‑day, adults‑only Snowdonia Adventures course teaching map-and-compass foundations for navigating marked paths and lowland mountain terrain.
Learning to Read the Hills: Novice Navigation in Capel Curig.
Master map-and-compass skills to plan routes, identify features and keep on track in hill and lowland mountain country. This Novice Navigation course is designed for beginners or self-taught walkers who want formal instruction from experienced mountain professionals, with a focus on easy-to-use navigation on marked paths and tracks.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Seasoned mountain professionals and coaches
Instruction is delivered by qualified mountaineering professionals who coach navigation to a wide range of clients, including military and SAR teams. Teaching is focused and hands-on, with a maximum ratio of six clients to one instructor to keep sessions practical and coached.
A concise syllabus from map scales to pacing
The course runs through map scales and symbols, grid references, contour interpretation, setting and using a compass, hand‑railing techniques, identifying mapped features on the ground, macro navigation and judging distance with pacing — all practised on marked paths and tracks.
Practical learning in approachable upland terrain
Training takes place in a hill and lowland mountain environment around Capel Curig, where exercises are chosen to suit beginners and to reinforce route planning, feature identification and confident travel on defined paths.
What the day feels like
How the two days unfold
Across two days the course mixes short, focused classroom-style explanation with repeated field practice. You’ll learn to pre-plan a walk using marked paths and tracks, practise using map scales and grid references, set and follow a compass, hand-rail features and pace distances — then apply those skills to find mapped features in the surrounding area.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this course suits — and who it doesn’t
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Clothing and footwear suitable for the weather you may encounter in hills and mountains, plus a packed lunch and drinks. A pen, pencil and notebook may be useful during instruction.
During the course you will use map OL 17 (Snowdonia) at 1:25,000 scale and should bring a working compass; the Silva Type 4/54 is recommended as the industry standard.
Bring your normal hill kit appropriate to weather and terrain; instructors structure exercises around marked paths and tracks so basic hill kit and food/drink are sufficient.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Novice Navigation course?
The course runs for two days.
Who delivers the instruction?
Snowdonia Adventures delivers the course using experienced mountain professionals and navigation coaches.
What level of experience do I need?
The course is aimed at beginners or those who have self-taught and want formal instruction; it covers foundation to more advanced navigation skills suitable for easy hill and lowland mountain routes.
What is the instructor-to-client ratio?
Maximum ratios during the course are six clients to one instructor to keep sessions practical and coached.
What equipment and maps should I bring?
Bring clothing and footwear suitable for hill and mountain weather, a packed lunch and drinks, a working compass (Silva Type 4/54 recommended), and the OL 17 Snowdonia map at 1:25,000 scale; a pen and notebook may be useful.
Is there an age restriction?
Yes — the course is for adults only.