Outdoor Training

Outdoor Skills

This is the perfect course if you are a bit unsure about this whole "reconnecting with nature" thing and would like a guiding hand to take you on your first steps. We will cover all the basics you need to keep yourself on the right track. We will show you some of the tricks of our trade to planning a day out and make sure you know what to do if things go wrong. Alongside the planning aspects we also cover very basic navigation, first aid and emergency procedures, as well as basic shelter building and fire safety.

Upcoming open sessions:

None at this time

Any pre-requisites?

None whatsoever. Whether you've been walking the dog all your life or your idea of the outdoors is your own garden, this course will be perfect for you.

What will you learn?

Planning an interesting day out in the outdoors
Keeping your family entertained (where applicable)
Outdoor etiquette and behaviour
What to carry for a day out
Basic first aid and emergency procedures
Basic shelter building activity

What can you expect?

Your instructor will meet you at a popular walking car park ready for a packed day ahead. Initially they will talk you through their plan for the day and explain why they have made the various decisions. This will give you an idea of how to plan a day out yourself. During the morning your instructor will mainly focus on navigation and the planning aspect of a day. After all, if you get lost with your family or friends in tow you are not going to be very popular.
Just before lunch you will be building a basic shelter with some of the kit your instructor will be carrying. Depending on the time of year and area this may be entirely from natural materials or by using a tarp, hammock and various other bits they might bring. You will then enjoy lunch which, in some cases, may involve lighting a small fire. In any case you will get the full brief on the dos and don'ts of fires in the countryside.
Using your newly built base you will discuss the kit choices of your instructor and discuss what you should be carrying on a day out. During the afternoon you will also learn about emergency procedures and very basic first aid. Your instructor will be showing you that the outdoors is not just a thing between the start and end of your journey, but indeed should be the very reason why you go on the journey to start with. The journey back to the start concludes the day

What do you need to bring?

Warm layers, waterproofs and sturdy shoes should do. We will bring a whole host of goodies, toys and shiny things to show you and have a play with.

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Jargon Buster

What do our difficulty values mean?
	Suitable for beginners with little or no previous knowledge and experience. For walking activities you should be able to walk at a slow to average pace continuously for 30 minutes.
	Suitable for intermediates with basic knowledge and previous experience. Walking participants should be able to walk at an average pace continuously for 1 hour. Climbing participants should be able to pass a belay test and/or demonstrate good bouldering practice.
	Suitable for those competent at and comfortable with the basics of the activity. Walking participants should be able to walk at an average pace and ascent rate continuously for 1 hour. For mountain activities, you should be a little sure-footed and not hugely afraid of heights, as activities may include short sections of exposure and steep ground. Climbing participants should be able to comfortably and competently top-rope grade 5 climbs or boulder the equivalent.
	Suitable for experienced participants with above average fitness and knowledge. Walking participants are expected to be able to walk at an average pace and rate of ascent continuously for 1 hour over broken terrain. For mountain activities you are expected to be sure-footed, have a moderate head for heights and be happy with longer stretches of moderate exposure. Climbing participants are expected to competently lead climb/belay and climb grade 5 indoors (or the equivalent boulder grade).
	Suitable for very experienced participants with high degrees of fitness and above average knowledge of the basics. Walking participants are expected to be able to walk to Naismith's rule (3-4km/hr + 1min/10m ascent) steadily for long periods of time over broken and complex terrain. For mountain activities you are expected to have a good sense of balance, be sure-footed and happy with long stretches of, at times severe, exposure. Participants are expected to show high levels of competence and self-sufficiency in their disciplines.

Our current private course price list:
For the prices listed here, we deliver a private booking just for you, on your chosen date and time. Where practical we will deliver the booking in your chosen location, though any areas outside of our usual operational areas may incur extra travel costs. We will let you know should this be the case. You will receive a full breakdown of costs with your quote.
Scrambling	£180 for the first 2 participants, £45 for each additional participant	A significant portion of the day is spent scrambling in complex, rocky and steep terrain.
Mountain Walk	£180 for the first 4 participants, £45 for each additional participant	Most of the day is spent walking in the mountains, though short sections of scrambling and steep terrain may be encountered.
Hill Walking	£170 for the first 4 participants, £25 for each additional participant	Days involving no possibility of scrambling and encountering rocky or steep terrain.
Lowland Walking	£160 for the first 6 participants, £20 for each additional participant
Beginner Navigation	£390 for the first 4 participants, £75 for each additional participant	2 days learning the fundamentals of navigating with map and compass.
Intermediate Navigation	£410 for the first 4 participants, £100 for each additional participant	2 days intermediate navigation, learning to navigate off path and across open countryside.
Advanced Navigation	£360 for the first 2 participants, £120 for each additional participant	2 day advanced navigation course learning to navigate in mountaineous terrain and remote countryside.