About Walking & Navigation
Show Walking & Navigation Activities
Contour’s selection of walking holidays and courses has something to suit everyone. Whether you want a pleasant weekend spent refining your navigation, or a longer break exploring some of the most beautiful countryside that Wales has to offer, we feel confident that you will find what you require from our list of walking, camping and navigation activities. If you have a specific walk in mind, or skill you wish to hone, then we are ready to tailor a bespoke itinerary or course to meet your personal needs. See the Personal Guiding page for more details on packages and prices and the North and South Wales Activity & Taster Day pages for advice on half and day sessions
What to Expect
LEVEL I
Fitness Level I | 1 to 2 fitness sessions per week (gym, jog, walk, cycle). At this level the Pen-y-Pass to Summit of Snowdon (via the Miner’s track) should take the walker carrying a rucksack 2 hours
Technical Difficulty Level I | May have had a previous intoduction to navigation (Duke of Edinburgh's Award; Scouts; Cadets) in the past but not practising the skills on a regualr basis and has a limited understanding of the use of map and compass. Not familiar with basic techniques and navigational equipment and aids. Would not be comforatable navigating in poor weather or during hours of darkness. You may have camped overnight at a campsite, but have not conducted single or multi-day trips, with you having limited or no experience of wild camping
LEVEL II
Fitness Level II | 2 to 3 sessions per week. A 4 to 5 hour walk in mountainous terrain should pose no problem. As an example, a walker at this level should be able to reach the Summit of Glyder Fawr or Glyder Fach in 5 hours
Technical Difficulty Level II | Navigates occasionaly, mainly during the day with limited ability/confidence to navigate in poor weather or at night. Has a basic understanding of navigational equipment and techniques and familiar with the process for calculating bearings, plotting grid references and able to read a 1:25,000 or 1:50,000 map and relate to the ground. You prefer to camp at recognised 'valley floor' campsites and do not posses the skills, or equipment to wild camp
LEVEL III
Fitness Level III | 3 to 4 fitness sessions per week. One of the 3 to 4 sessions may take place over the weekend and be more demanding in nature. A walker, at this level, should take a walk of 6 to 8 hours in their stride, with a day out like the Langdale Horseshoe being within their capability
Technical Difficulty Level III | Confident in the basic navigational skills to allow movement in unfamiliar terrain during daytime in good and bad weather with limited visibility. Whilst happy to navigate at night, this would only be attempted in good weather and in familiar terrain. Practised in the use basic navigational equipment and confident with the process for calculating bearings, plotting grid references and able to read a 1:25,000 or 1:50,000 map. You may be familiar with pacing and use of Naismith's Rule, but rarely employ the techniques. Overnight wild camps would pose no problem and is and activity that you are familiar with, although not on a regular basis
LEVEL IV
Fitness Level IV | 4 fitness sessions per week, and able to walk 30km in a day. At this level a person would plan to tackle 3 to 4 Munros in one day.
Technical Difficulty Level IV | Confident in the basic navigational skills to allow movement in unfamiliar terrain during daytime in good and bad weather and at night. Are practised in the use basic navigational equipment and confident with the process for calculating bearings, plotting grid references and able to read a 1:25,000 or 1:50,000 map. Familiar with pacing and use of Naismith's Rule and regularly use the techniques to aid in route planning. Overnight wild camps would pose no problem and is something that you regularly undertake
LEVEL V
Fitness Level V | 5 fitness sessions per week. Criteria highlighted in Level 4 would pose no problem and a person would be able to complete similar distances on consecutive days
Technical Difficulty Level V | Confident in your navigational skills and equipment to allow movement in unfamiliar terrain, of varying nature at all times of the day; in all weather conditions and during all seasons. Overnight wild camps would pose no problem and is and activity that you are familiar with and carry out on a regular basis in the form of single of multi-day expeditions
