Click here to download the DofE Navigation Training Booklet

http://www.walkingenglishman.com/index.aspx

Mike’s website is an excellent source of information for walking in the Peak District National Park and beyond.

The most comprehensive 100% free content site on the web for Walking in England and Walking on the Web. Great reports of the walks with complimentary pictures. Many popular areas covered. Lots of download routes and everything on this site is for free. This is a humorous and informative site about walking in Great Britain and in Europe. Enjoy the walks which include maps, journals, statistics, elevations and reports of the experience.

Mike’s site is dedicated to his passion for walking in the rich and varied landscape of Great Britain.

On the site you will find lots of walks, some of them long distance journeys.  Walks  range from gentle rambles to serious hill walks. In essence there are walks for everyone to be found here.

Peak Outdoor Training uses some of the routes with participants on various Navigation Training courses and Walking Weekends.

If you have used the site then please add a comment on twitter.

The Snowdonia Society is a members-based charity working to ensure that the beauty and diversity of the National Park’s landscape, wildlife and cultural heritage remain for present and future generations to enjoy.

To join the society click the link below:
http://www.snowdonia-society.org.uk/index2.php?id=3
Peak Outdoor Training has now a established a link with the Snowdonia Society to promote its good work and offers a 10% discount on navigation courses to Snowdonia Society members.
The Snowdonia Society website has excellent resources on Snowdonia National Park and aims to raise awareness about the unique environment and wildlife in this special corner of Wales. Visit their website at
http://www.snowdonia-society.org.uk

THE 14 3000 ft mountains of North Wales

The summits of all the three thousand foot mountains of Wales can be visited in a single magnificent journey. It’s around 24 miles from Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) to Foel Fras and it’s certainly not a mountain journey to be under-estimated.
Succesful completions of the traverse may be entered in the Snowdonia Society’s public database. In keeping with the ethics of mountaineering, the system works on the personal honour of the person making the claim.
Some will opt to take a few days, possibly using facilities en route such as the YHA at Ogwen Cottage. Zero impact wild camping is also possible although we must point out that landowner permission is required. Given the quality of the scenery some may want to make a two or three day expedition over the roof of Wales.

Fit and experienced mountain walkers can achieve the full traverse in a tough but memorable and rewarding day. Such a day is perhaps best done in the company of a friend or at the most a small group. It is possible to make a solo traverse, although it is important to have a good deal of experience in the mountains. The nature of the traverse and the ground covered means that this is not suited for mass participation mountain events or fund-raising challenges by inexperienced hillwalkers.
Most traverses are made northwards from Yr Wyddfa to Foel Fras. Many will opt to make a very early start from Pen Y Pass with an ascent of the Miners’ track (pictured) or PYG track, but there are few rules! To make an entry in the database we simply ask that you have visited all 14 peaks in a single journey. Choose your own route, pace, companions and starting and stopping points.

The Society will issue a certificate to any person with a valid entry in the database. Members are entitled to the certificate at no charge, while certificates cost £10 for non-members to cover the cost of printing, packing and postage.

Peak Outdoor Training Can provide training with qualified mountain leaders, GPS training and mountain guides for all those wanting to ensure success.

The Conservation Snowdonia Project

The Society runs a regular programme of conservation tasks throughout the year to help maintain and enhance the natural beauty and biodiversity of Snowdonia. Led by Bea Kelsall, the Society’s Volunteer Co-ordinator, groups meet all over the Park and carry out a variety of activities.

Workdays are organised both during the week and at weekends and range from just half a day to a weekend of work. We work in partnership with other organisations such as The Snowdonia National Park Authority, the Countyside Council for Wales, The National Trust, the Forestry Commission and a host of others. If you want to gain experience or make a career of countryside management you will get to meet and work with countryside professionals.

Volunteering work is very varied and can involve upland footpath maintenance and construction, clearance of invasive species such as Rhododendron ponticum, Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam or wildlife surveys.
We also clear fly tipping and litter in the Park as part of ‘Operation Clear Up’. Maybe you want to do something creative instead? We also offer opportunities for wildlife gardening in our substantial garden as well as tree planting and habitat creation.

You do not need any previous experience as full training is given and volunteering is open to all. Many of our volunteers are already Society members although this is not a requirement. A reasonable level of fitness and ability is required for some of our tasks, as is a love of being outdoors (in all weathers!!).

The Conservation Snowdonia Project is supported and sponsored by CAE, a sustainable development fund, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Countryside council for Wales.

If you are interested in getting involved and making a difference, then please email volunteer@snowdonia-society.org.uk

The Silver Navigation Award is perfect for those who want to develop their navigation skills and leadership skills.

All participants gave excellent feedback and learnt a lot from the course. Andy in particular was praised for his teaching skills and ability to progress people’s indiviual navigation and leadership skills.

Below is feedback from Phil Ross & David Andrew who both attended the course and are looking forward to further courses with Peak Outdoor Training in the future.

Just a quick note to tell you how much I enjoyed the Silver Navigation Course this weekend. Andy was an excellent instructor – the right balance of instruction and letting us work things out for ourselves. I would recommend the course to any considering improving their mapwork and compass skills. Thanks to Andy he has now got me thinking about Mountain Leadership and other qualifications! If I had any criticism it was that the weekend went too quickly!!
Thanks,
David Andrew

Hi Alan

Just thought I would send you an email to leave you some feedback from the weekends Silver Navigational course that I have just attended.

I had a fantastic 2 days gaining some great experience and techniques; I could feel my confidence growing over the 2 days and most especially on Sunday when Andy let me lead the group for a number of legs, which I really enjoyed. It was also good to pass on what I had learned to help other members of the group who were doing an introduction to navigation course. Again doing this really made me feel confident in what I was doing. Especially as I was getting a positive response from the other members.

Please pass on my thanks to Andy as I thought he was a very good instructor and I njoyed working with him. He had some very good ways of remembering skills, which I will take with me and use in the future.

Best regards,
Phil Ross

Andy McHugh will be running Navigation courses every month in the Peak District National Park – you can read more about the course and book a place online.

Someone is lying at the bottom of a crag, injured, broken, bleeding, you don’t know yet.

You’re already leaping over boulders and crashing through the bracken to investigate, but hang on a second. Do you know what to do?

With some basic first aid you could help save someone’s life in the mountains.

A two-day practical first aid course is a required is part of the Summer Mountain Leader Award syllabus, which I’m currently doing while working as a features writer and gear tester for Trail magazine.

So I’ve been looking into training courses to learn about everything ouch-worthy that you might encounter, from cuts and blisters to burns and broken bones.

I’ve booked a place with Peak Outdoor Training for a course in Edale.

You don’t need any previous first aid experience for the course and you come away with the knowledge to keep you confident for walking solo or in groups where you may be in remote locations and away from help for some time.

Follow the blog for first aid tips after I’ve done the course.

REVIEW OF MEMORY MAP ADVENTURER 2800

PEAK OUTDOOR TRAINING RATING
4.5 out of 5 overall
5 out of 5 for value for money

The Ordnance Survey-compatible GPS the Memory-Map Adventurer 2800 ‘consistently outperforms its rivals. Peak Outdoor Training endorses this device as being perfect for the walker and mountain biker who uses mainly National Park Areas.

The Memory Map Adventurer 2800 has a durable touch screen

Key Features
> Small and portable
> Powered by an internal battery
> Up to 8 hours of use between charging.
> Waterproof
> Preloaded with Ordnance survey 1:50k maps of ALL the national parks
> Easy upload other Memory Map maps
> Touch screen using your finger or stylus
> Includes Memory map National parks CD Rom for your PC.

Call the office on 01663 743278 today to book onto our GPS courses. We are offering a great package with accommodation at the Moorside Grange Hotel.

Week by week Peak Outdoor Training will cover different skills and techniques related to Rock  Climbing.

Rock Climbing Knots

Learn How To Tie Basic Climbing Knots

Tying Knots is an essential skill in all types of Climbing.  The skills covered will be applicable to both indoor and outdoor climbing.

Follow easy-to-follow steps for each knot.

Figure of Eight Knot

The figure of eight  knot is a basic knot used often in climbing.

How to tie the figure of eight knot

• Make an alien.
• Choke it.
• Poke it in the eye

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