Introduction to Map Reading

At Derbyshire Wildlife Trust we want to encourage everyone to explore the beautiful green spaces our county has to offer. But taking your first solo steps into our countryside can be a daunting prospect. If you have ever longed to escape the crowds but lacked the confidence to get off the beaten track, this short course will help kick start your adventures!

Join us on our Introduction to Map Reading course to develop your practical expertise and learn essential map reading and field skills to plan your own days out, follow simple routes and stay safe in the countryside. The course begins with an indoor classroom session to support your theoretical understanding of map reading and countryside awareness, before a guided walk with your tutor in our wonderful Middleton surroundings to put your new skills into practice.

Level: Beginner / little or no previous navigation or map reading experience.

Age: Under 16s booking onto this course must be accompanied by a paying adult

Things to bring: Please bring a packed lunch, a water bottle and appropriate outdoor clothing for the season and sturdy footwear for the guided walk part of the session. If you prefer to walk with hiking poles feel free to bring these too. You may also wish to bring pen and paper for note taking.(Hot drinks and biscuits provided).

Please note: The outdoor session includes a walk of around 3 miles/5km with some inclines (starting and ending at the venue). The pace will be adjusted to suit the group but you should be comfortable covering this distance. During the outside practical there will be no facilities.

What others have said about this course:

"A really friendly and fun course which has encouraged me to use maps more often."

"A great venue and excellent teacher... He made the day very enjoyable and I left feeling very confident I could read a map."

"Really enjoyed the day. Our tutor was so laid back and didn’t rush anyone when we were asking for help. Really nice friendly atmosphere."