Before setting off into the mountains, hills and other wild areas, it is best to have some understanding of maps and basic navigation. These skills could make a life-or-death difference if visibility is lost due to mist, rain or snow. Hillwalking, by its very nature, is all about getting away from our everyday lowland lives, including those nasty little screens we have all become so addicted to. Unfortunately, more and more hillwalkers are coming to rely exclusively on GPS and phone apps to lead them through the great outdoors. There is no doubt that technology makes navigation more convenient while out walking, but is that really a good enough reason for turning our backs on the basic outdoor skills that previously separated the hillwalkers from the flat walkers?
Here are three essentials every hillwalker must bring into the uplands:
Map reading and navigating using a paper map and traditional magnetic compass are the primary specialist skills required in hillwalking. Relying on technology to navigate the great outdoors removes all skill from the activity. For this reason, we firmly believe these fundamental skills need to become the norm again. By all means, keep the apps, digital maps and GPX routes as emergency back ups, but let us all collectively reskill the Irish hillwalking community. In this section of the website, we aim to get you on track to becoming (or re-becoming) a truly skilled outdoor adventurer.
If you require additional training, the Skills Training Services page in our Community section is a space where suitable providers can list their services. If you provide training in map reading and navigation, you are very welcome to get listed.
Here are three essentials every hillwalker must bring into the uplands:
- The level of physical fitness required to undertake their chosen route;
- The equipment required to undertake their chosen route plus any emergency items;
- The ability to navigate competently and confidently using only a paper map and traditional magnetic compass. This is most applicable to solo hillwalkers, group leaders and all hillwalkers who claim to be experienced navigators. Hillwalkers who lack this ability should not be hillwalking alone and should definitely not be leading others. If you are relying on a walk leader, you are quite entitled to ask them to demonstrate their ability to take a bearing using their paper map and traditional magnetic compass. All walk leaders should be in a position to give this demonstration on request.
Map reading and navigating using a paper map and traditional magnetic compass are the primary specialist skills required in hillwalking. Relying on technology to navigate the great outdoors removes all skill from the activity. For this reason, we firmly believe these fundamental skills need to become the norm again. By all means, keep the apps, digital maps and GPX routes as emergency back ups, but let us all collectively reskill the Irish hillwalking community. In this section of the website, we aim to get you on track to becoming (or re-becoming) a truly skilled outdoor adventurer.
If you require additional training, the Skills Training Services page in our Community section is a space where suitable providers can list their services. If you provide training in map reading and navigation, you are very welcome to get listed.
