NAVIGATION

NAVIGATION

Longer fell races and trail races may require navigation. Make sure you learn these skills in advance of needing to use them – as even the pros can make mistakes.

Basic navigation skills can be learnt in a day, especially with the help of someone who knows how. Having these skills will open up the door to different races and give you the tools you need to safely learn new routes around your local area. 

Yorkshire Dales based fell running navigational courses are available through the Fell Runners Association along with several other providers.

MEL STEVENTON

Founder of Due North Events

“Having the skills to map read and use a compass brings many new opportunities. Planning a route in advance or going out on the fells with a map and compass adds a whole other dimension to being outdoors, it’s an experience in itself! It can also save you minutes if not hours in some fell races.” 

NICKY SPINKS

Remembering the 2010 Fellsman when she was tenth overall and set a new course record for the women’s race:

“The weather promised to be cold, dry with a strong northerly wind and that's what we got. Setting off at 9am from Ingleton my plan was to try and set the pace the same as last year. It was hard to gauge running into the wind as it felt very hard and tiring. Coming off Whernside I felt better than last year but made a navigational mistake which cost me a few minutes... The wind was headlong all the way across to Great Coum where I made another navigational mistake and slapped myself once again. That was it for mistakes, I framed myself after that and stopped being a sheep…”

Nicky established the women’s record for running 64 Lakeland peaks in under 24 hours in 2011 and became the outright Double Bob Graham Round record holder in 2016
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