As part of our programme of Partnership Walks, we were joined by Nigel Grist of Moorland Guides to run an Introduction to Navigation walk. This offering was extremely popular and we were joined by ten enthusiastic walkers, all keen to improve their confidence navigating out on Dartmoor. The day was designed for beginners, or those requiring a refresher in map reading and compass work, and the aim was to gain practical skills and enjoy exploring.
Nigel Grist has been a Moorland Guide since 2014 and holds a British Mountaineering Council Hill & Moorland Leader Award and National Navigation Award Scheme Silver Award. He covered a range of practical and useful skills, including orientating a map, using a map without a compass, interpreting terrain and topography, estimating distances, taking and following a bearing, pacing and basic route planning. It was immensely useful to see these techniques demonstrated and the group had multiple chances to try out what they were taught and hone their skill through practice. Nigel did a brilliant job of not just explaining the ‘how’ but also being very clear on the ‘why’. Everything that the group did with the map and compass was framed by how it could be useful while planning or doing a short walk on Dartmoor.
Navigation is as much an approach to walking as it is a set of techniques; it can start before you get in the car!’ Nigel said. The group met at Norsworthy bridge carpark and began by taking a moment to consider how they would orientate themselves upon arrival. Nigel explained that it was extremely rare to actually be lost and it was much more likely that someone was ‘Temporarily Uncertain of Precise Position’ and introduced the STOP response (stop, think, observe, plan). Before heading out onto the moor, everyone was guided in working out their ‘magic number’ which was how many paces they personally needed to take in order to travel 100m. This was then used to work out the distance of points of interest, and the amount of steps required to get to them, throughout the walk.
Nigel said: ‘Visitors to Dartmoor are commonly advised to carry a map and compass on their walks. Neither acts as a ‘magic charm’ though and you need to know how to make use of these two items before the mist rolls in and visibility drops to 50m. There are certain essential techniques that form the basis of navigation. Some need a compass others do not.’ He explained navigation as ‘A continuous process of monitoring and adjusting one’s position through observation and measurement of actual or expected angle between navigator and a location.’
During the course of the walk, the group visited an impressive ruined barn, a mineshaft and related tinworking remains and a Bronze Age kist. Learning was worked into each leg of the journey and everyone was encouraged to keep track of their location on the map by identifying landscape features such as walls and streams. Nigel explained the concept of ‘handrailing,’ which is a navigation technique which involves following a clearly identifiable landscape feature to get as close as possible to the desired final location. In practice, this meant following an earth bank until the group was sure that they were in line with a kist located out on the open moor, then striking off at a bearing of 90 degrees.
Feedback on the session was very positive and everyone left having learnt something new and keen to try out their new-found skills themselves. Approaching navigation from an angle where it was very much embedded in normal walking and preparation for a day out created an accessible atmosphere were questions were encouraged and everyone was happy to have a go. We are very grateful to have had Nigel join us and enable us to offer this extremely valuable walking workshop. Further free partner walks can be found in the online diary on our website.