#hillskills

Hill Skills Workshop - Bennachie

This event will be held completely outside

All Hillgoers walks and courses are limited to 6 places, to give you a great experience and to minimise the impact on the environment.

Some of your fee will be donated to support the Bennachie Centre Trust

Course Content

This course will cover the following but is aimed at beginner level. After this course it is recommended you attend one of our NNAS courses to embed the skills further. Intermediate coaching can be arranged too, just contact us to discuss.

Know the code

Understanding the maps

An intro to the compass

Navigation Strategies

Before you go procedures (weather, who to tell, etc)

What to take on the hill

Emergency on the hill

Meet Time, Location & Estimated Walk Duration

The course starts at 10am outside the Bennachie Visitor Centre, finished by 5pm.

You will be walking around 10-12 km with some up-hill sections.

There is a charge to park of approx £3 per day.

 Joining Details & Kit

Joining details, participation forms and kit lists will be sent out the week before the course.

Please have a look in our shop, we can post or deliver items to you at the event. All participants receive a 15% discount on goods (except gift vouchers, sale items and books)

 COVID-19 precautions

All participants are respectfully required to socially distance with others at all times (except with people from their household)

If the event is cancelled due to lockdown rules we will move you to another event or offer a refund according to our Term and Conditions.

Follow government guidelines - www.gov.scot/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance

Please do not attend any Hillgoers event if you are showing any symptoms or suspect you have been on contact with someone who has COVID-19.

Your guide / instructor will social distance at all times unless there is an emergency requiring first aid, where they would wear the required PPE.

You must all carry a face covering / buff should close contact be required.

If someone starts to show symptoms or is contacted to say they have been in close contact with a suspected case, the event will be called off and everyone will be escorted back to safety.

All kit provided including maps will be cleaned and quarantined for at least 72 hours before handover or alternatively you can purchase your own.

Hillgoers accepts no liability if someone in the group break social distance rules or if you think you caught COVID-19 during one of our events.

Hill Skills Workshop - Bennachie

An introduction to hill skills. Starts in the classroom, then outside to practice the skills. Aimed at beginners or those who need a refresh. Limited spaces available, aged 12+, under 18s to be accompanied by an adult. 

This course will cover the following but is aimed at beginner level. After this course it is recommended you attend one of the NNAS courses to embed the skills further. Intermediate coaching can be arranged too, just contact us to discuss.

Know the code

Understanding the maps

An intro to the compass

Navigation Strategies

Before you go procedures (weather, who to tell, etc)

What to take on the hill

Emergency on the hill

10am start at the Bennachie Visitor Centre for a short classroom session then out on the hill for the remainder of the day, finished by 5pm. Some of your fee is used to support the Bennachie Centre Trust.

You can also purchase our recommended compass here.

Hill Skills Workshop - Bennachie

An introduction to hill skills. Starts in the classroom, then outside to practice the skills. Aimed at beginners or those who need a refresh. Limited spaces available, aged 12+.

This course will cover the following but is aimed at beginner level. After this course it is recommended you attend one of the NNAS courses to embed the skills further. Intermediate coaching can be arranged too, just contact us to discuss.

Know the code

Understanding the maps

An intro to the compass

Navigation Strategies

Before you go procedures (weather, who to tell, etc)

What to take on the hill

Emergency on the hill

10am start at the Bennachie Visitor Centre, finished by 5pm. Some of your fee is used to support the Bennachie Centre Trust.

You can also purchase our recommended compass here.

Hill Skills Workshop - Bennachie

An introduction to hill skills. Starts in the classroom, then outside to practice the skills. Aimed at beginners or those who need a refresh. Limited spaces available, aged 12+.

This course will cover the following but is aimed at beginner level. After this course it is recommended you attend one of the NNAS courses to embed the skills further. Intermediate coaching can be arranged too, just contact us to discuss.

Know the code

Understanding the maps

An intro to the compass

Navigation Strategies

Before you go procedures (weather, who to tell, etc)

What to take on the hill

Emergency on the hill

10am start at the Bennachie Visitor Centre, finished by 5pm. Some of your fee is used to support the Bennachie Centre Trust.

You can also purchase our recommended compass here.

Hill Skills Workshop - Bennachie

An introduction to hill skills. Starts in the classroom, then outside to practice the skills. Aimed at beginners or those who need a refresh. Limited spaces available, aged 12+.

This course will cover the following but is aimed at beginner level. After this course it is recommended you attend one of the NNAS courses to embed the skills further. Intermediate coaching can be arranged too, just contact us to discuss.

Know the code

Understanding the maps

An intro to the compass

Navigation Strategies

Before you go procedures (weather, who to tell, etc)

What to take on the hill

Emergency on the hill

10am start at the Bennachie Visitor Centre, finished by 5pm. Some of your fee is used to support the Bennachie Centre Trust.

You can also purchase our recommended compass here.

National Navigation Award Scheme - Bronze

We are pleased to offer this two session course In association with the National Navigation Award Scheme. NNAS approach is to steadily build the levels of understanding to ensure the training is embedded and candidates can confidently progress through the stages to become excellent navigators. All Hillgoers Mountain Leaders have undergone the Tutor Award Training course. We are also one of the few providers than can train and assess to Gold standard.

Aimed at novice level, the Bronze course will train you to plan and confidently follow routes in the countryside using paths and tracks.  Successful the candidates will receive a nationally recognised navigation award at Bronze level accredited by the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF) at Level 4, and 2 SCQF credit points are awarded on completion.

BRONZE LEARNING OUTCOMES

Navigate using a variety of maps and scales.

Orientate the map using handrails, obvious point features and major landforms.

Use linear features (e.g. paths, tracks, clear boundaries) as handrails in simple navigation exercises.

Relate prominent landforms such as large hills and valleys to corresponding contour information on the map.

Orientate the map by aligning a compass needle against gird north and be aware that magnetic variation causes an inaccuracy.

Use an orientated map to confirm direction of travel.

Use clearly identifiable features to confirm position along the route and to recognise when the target has been overshot.

Measure horizontal distance on the map and estimate distance on the ground using timing, pacing and simple visual judgements e.g. 100m.

Use 4 and 6 figure grid references with worded descriptions to define the position of a map feature and to locate a feature on the ground.

Plan and implement simple routes and navigation strategies based on the above skills.

Recognise a navigation error within a few minutes and apply simple relocation techniques using handrails and prominent features.

Demonstrate an awareness of local and national access issues, access legislation, personal responsibilities and the Countryside Code.

Demonstrate appropriate knowledge of walking equipment, safety equipment and emergency procedures.

It is possible that these outcomes can be learned in 2 full days, but it should be recognised those with limited map experience may need longer than 2 days to pass the assessment. The assessment will take place in the afternoon of session 2 and this really helps to sink in the learning for the candidates.

This event will be held at small hills in Aberdeenshire, Bennachie, Scolty, Hill of Fare, starting indoors for the first day with tea, coffee and biscuits! This is an excellent course set in a relaxed atmosphere, just ask those who have done one before!

Hill Skills Workshop - Bennachie

An introduction to hill skills. Starts in the classroom, then outside to practice the skills. Aimed at beginners or those who need a refresh. Limited spaces available, aged 12+.

This course will cover the following but is aimed at beginner level. After this course it is recommended you attend one of the NNAS courses to embed the skills further. Intermediate coaching can be arranged too, just contact us to discuss.

Know the code

Understanding the maps

An intro to the compass

Navigation Strategies

Before you go procedures (weather, who to tell, etc)

What to take on the hill

Emergency on the hill

10am start at the Bennachie Visitor Centre, finished by 5pm. Some of your fee is used to support the Bennachie Centre Trust.

Hill Skills Workshop - Bennachie

An introduction to hill skills. Starts in the classroom, then outside to practice the skills. Aimed at beginners or those who need a refresh. Limited spaces available, aged 12+, under 18s to be accompanied by an adult. 

This course will cover the following but is aimed at beginner level. After this course it is recommended you attend one of the NNAS courses to embed the skills further. Intermediate coaching can be arranged too, just contact us to discuss.

Know the code

Understanding the maps

An intro to the compass

Navigation Strategies

Before you go procedures (weather, who to tell, etc)

What to take on the hill

Emergency on the hill

10am start at the Bennachie Visitor Centre for a short classroom session then out on the hill for the remainder of the day, finished by 5pm. Some of your fee is used to support the Bennachie Centre Trust.