Update 13th October: We have limited the number of people able to attend this event to make the navigation exercises manageable. It is now full. Please contact the organiser if you would like to be put on the waiting list.

This will be an informal introductory session for GOC members who enjoy walking, but don't know how to navigate and would like to learn. A similar event took place in 2017.

The event will be led by Chris Loy, who is a qualified mountain leader. It will take place in an area of the Chilterns to the north east of Tring, with a mixture of woodland, hilly and farmland terrain.

Exactly what we do on the day, and how far we walk, will depend on the participants, but the session is likely to include: planning routes, use of map and compass, understanding grid references and comparing 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 maps. We will also touch on planning walks and may briefly cover more advanced navigation techniques such as timing and pacing.

The relevant Ordnance Survey maps for the area are Explorer 181: Chiltern Hills North (1:25k), and Landranger 165: Aylesbury and Leighton Buzzard (1:50k).

Please come prepared for a walk of up to eight miles in late autumn conditions. You will need stout footwear (preferably proper walking boots), warm clothing (including hat and gloves) and waterproofs. If you have them please also bring a compass (preferably Silva type) and the maps specified above. However, if you don't have map and compass, don't worry as the leader will bring copies of maps for the area in question and will be able to lend you a compass. It would also be useful to have a stopwatch in case we want to practise use of timing.

The time of return to London will depend on participants' wishes, but there may be an opportunity to look at night navigation for an hour or so as the clocks will have gone back the previous weekend, so it will be getting dark quite early. Please also bring a headtorch, if you have one, or failing that an ordinary torch. However, don't worry if you have neither.

Summary of things to bring:

• your own packed lunch if you are not having the pub lunch
• stout footwear (preferably proper walking boots)
• warm clothing (including hat and gloves) and waterproofs
• pen and paper (for making notes etc)

and if you have them:

• compass (preferably Silva type)
• the maps specified in the members only information section below
• stopwatch
• torch, preferably a headtorch

The walking distances covered will be not great, but standing and concentrating are likely to be tiring.

Any questions, don't hesitate to email the leader, Chris Loy, via this website, or text him on 07956 286709.