Peak Raid navigation race, Old Glossop

The final race of my Glossopdale Harriers 2017 champs - I needed to do this one to qualify for the overall champs category and I'm glad I had entered. The day dawned beautifully, blue skies and frosty under foot. Less chance of getting boggy feet and ankles with a keen frost, though no guarantee you won't go in a bog monster!

This is a score event (organised by Explorer Events), meaning once you have a map with the check points on you can do as much or as little as you like. I was joined by fellow Glossopdale Harrier Marie and we did the event together - both just needing to finish and get some points to get on the overall champs table, and thus secure a delightful club souvenir at the Christmas Do!

After the usual pre-race faff with kit, pinning on numbers and sauntering the 1km or so to the start point we are ready. First dib at the start, grab a map and spend a few minutes pondering our route choice.  Our aim is to get 5 check points (CPs) and have a good outing. I'm pleased that it looks like we will be able to do a loop route, rather than an out and back.

CP#6, small group of rocks, on rock

We head off towards Mossy Lea and our first CP, CP#7. We see plenty of runners heading south and up the steep bank towards CP#8 - I've been over that way once, and pretty much vowed never again. It's rough, very rocky among the heather and no real trods to speak of. Given our aim, heading for CP#8 and CP#9 would have seriously limited our time and points so we discount them and stay on better ground.

Knowing the area is a massive advantage in these races - there's no place names on the map or contour height markings (the latter I find so odd). Soon enough I'm ditching one of my thermal layers and we are climbing up towards Shelf Benches, along the well worn path towards the pond. Nav is spot on and I'm teaching nav to Marie as we go.  CP#7 is a ruin - one I have passed by so closely many many times yet never seen! That's why I love these events on your own patch, always something new to see.

checking the route

From CP#7 we head up to CP#6.  It's rough ground and we climb~traverse our way to it - being careful not to get drawn along trods that are going away from our tartget. Again, I know roughly where it is but I am glad of a clear day on this one. Low cloud or clag would have made nav more interesting and my approach different. Now on top of Shelf Moor, near The Pike, we are going for CP#5 so it's over to Dowstone Clough then west towards and beyond Dog Rock. I'm pointing out contour features to Marie along the way, this terrain is hard to nav on so not ideal for a beginner but she's picking it up well and reading the ground nicely.

CP#5 is pretty much placed exactly where Tim had hidden his goodie box once so I am familiar with the approach - steep tufty rocky grass....we find a good way down among the rough ground and even include a small bum slide to our advantage. It is meant to be fun after all!!  After dibbing we are climbing back up steeply....our next target is way over in Shittern Clough, CP#3

climbing out from CP#5

From the path along Yellowslacks I know the ground over to Shittern Clough is heather bashing, but also that a way down the path you can then bear right (north-ish) on a burnt patch so we enjoy the free running on the path for a while before beelining to CP#3. We can't avoid the heather completely and it's hilariously deep and holey and still frozen in the shaded north side of the hill as we make our way ever slower into the clough. With CP#3 located in the clough we start the climb towards Cock Hill and CP#2.

CP#3, Shittern Clough - stream, end of path

It's hard to see exactly where CP#2 will be - will it be in the main quarry under the trig or off to the north slightly? We clamber up towards the trig but then head to the top edge of the main quarry....no sign in there so we continue and easily locate the CP in the next bit of quarry. Safe approach needs us to go along and around to it but I look back to see someone clambering down the small crag! With a quick time check we have ooodles of time to head out to CP#1 and get back without fear of going over the 3 hour time limit (which means you lose some - or maybe all - of the points you have accrued).

CP#2, N Crag Foot (under Cock Hill trig)

The terrain here is best described as lumpy - quarry spoils and rocky little trods mean the going is initially slow then we can run a little as a trod becomes clearer. Closer to CP#1 we meet Andy B and Ian O of Glossopdale coming in the opposite direction, who helpfully confirm we are close to the CP and need to just keep going in the same direction. So our nav was reassuringly spot on.

Our final CP - CP#1 old quarry, on ground

Final CP for us dibbed and we have about 30mins to get back to base....3km later and we're back. The run off is lovely, the sun is shining as it has been all morning and we are back to the scout hut really quick. The final dib at the end sees us completing 6 check points in 2hrs 40 or so and 11km covered. Happy with that given we pootled along, I took photos at each CP and we didn't rush any of it.  A refreshing brew and biscuit is welcomed as we socialise with the other runners and await Tim finishing.

Me (left) and Marie dibbing at the finish, thanks to Explorer Events for the photo.

Thanks to Explorer Events - another brilliantly organised nav event. Shame I can't do the final race in the series but it clashes with another local race organised by a mate, Shittern Santa Saunter - a delightful race starting from Howard Town Brewery in Old Glossop.

Navigation Instruction for FRA, Elterwater

This is my third time instructing on a Fell Running Association navigation course and yet again it was a cracking weekend. Good students, good weather, good service from the hostel in Elterwater and good all round. It was good to have Tim along as an instructor this time too, and meet up with past and new instructors on the course.

The weekend schedule is:
Friday evening arrive, meet and greet followed by a classroom based intro to navigation
Saturday - early morning run, a short exploration close to the hostel and through the quarry
Saturday morning/early afternoon - navigation out on the hill
Saturday afternoon - solo navigation event putting into practice the skills learnt
Saturday night (after dinner) - night navigation exercise in pairs, 10 check points in a small area
Sunday - early run along the river, good views of the morning sun hitting the peaks high above the valley
Sunday - 10km solo navigation exercise, finding 10 check points on the open fell

I really enjoy the whole weekend, getting to spend time teaching map and compass skills. Even with a weekend it always feels like we need a week to really get the skills drilled in fully, and like anything confidence grows with practice and more practice.

essential kit for the weekend

check point

one of the good features to navigation from

working out compass bearings and setting the map

juniper tree

juniper berries - and yes they did smell just like gin!

view over towards Helvellyn direction

mushrooms! (tiny ones)

complex terrain to test out the navigation skills

glorious views like this all weekend

view towards Helvellyn on Sunday was even better

which knoll am I aiming for?

Good ole' Herdy sheep

and don't forget the bracken!

If you can't wait until the next FRA course (March 2016) and would like to have some navigation instruction then get in touch - Tim and I are available for one-to-one or group tuition in the Peak District, Snowdonia or the Lake District. As well as leading guided fell runs and taking runners out on race recces, we've both raced mini-mountain marathons, orienteering events and many fell races. Our navigation courses are tailored to what you want and to compliment the level of knowledge and experience you come with. We are also course providers for the NNAS (National Navigation Award Scheme) and can provide courses to help you gain your Bronze and Silver Awards.
Tel: 07985 251185 or contact@globaltherapies.com for more information.

Dovedale Mini Mountain Marathon

Dovedale and the area we'd be running in

I partnered up with Jud, a Glossop Mountain Rescue member and fellow Glossopdale Harrier for this two hour Dovedale Mini Mountain Marathon. It's a familiar format for us, having partnered at the Edale MMM back in November last year - just the difference with this being 2 hours, not 4. It was a humid evening, with a few spots of rain here and there but overall good running conditions. Thankfully not very wet underfoot as the limestone in Dovedale can be treacherous when wet.

Jud on a steep climb, still smiling

We registered, chatted with a few other Glossopdale Harriers also running, and caught up with SBRT who's another regular at these events. At the start we dibbed, got handed a map and then studied it trying to decide which way to go. Jud had run a marathon only 5 days ago, and then proceeded to top it up with an 8km walk - all part of his training for an ultra in mid-August. His legs mostly worked fine, though there were a few words along the way when they started to falter. I should have been fresher than I was, I reckon the twice up the Snake Pass (which is currently closed) on my bike has taken more out of me than I realised. Not to worry, we were out in the hills and amusing ourselves with 'interesting' route choices.

searching for a checkpoint with other runners

looking down one of the minor valleys into Dovedale

We didn't really go wrong anywhere, just didn't take optimal lines or home in on checkpoints as smoothly as we could. The lesson learnt is to trust your instincts and not get carried along by others who may or may not know where they're going. Enough said on that.

meeting up with John S, fellow Glossopdale Harrier
as he climbs out of, and we descent into Milldale

It became apparent about half way round our loop that returning back within 2 hours, and thereby not having points deducted for a late finish may not be feasible. We ditched the idea of one checkpoint, focusing on a return to the finish picking off a couple of checkpoints along the way.  After what seemed like an eternity and a time-warp-distance-sapping run down Dovedale we started on the climb up Lin Dale....onwards and upwards. I'd have loved to nip onto Thorpe Cloud to grab that checkpoint but we were certainly going to be back late so no need to lose even more points. Thinking about it, I'm not sure I have ever been to the top of that place, I must return sometime.

Thorpe Cloud, left for another day

We had a super couple of hours out in the hills, which is what it's all about. Turns out we were 3rd in our category and 55th/107 overall. Pretty good considering we were 8:23mins late and therefore lost 13 points. If we'd been back on time we'd have been about 50th. Many thanks to the organisers, these events are always well set up and the bonus free cake at the end this time was very much appreciated.

Instructor the NNAS Bronze Navigation Award

Last weekend I had the pleasure to be teaching navigation in the Peak District - this time round I was leading a two day Bronze level National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS) course with four participants. The meeting point for day one was Hathersage and our route took in the church, Camp Green (a Norman earth and timber ringwork fortress), Callow Bank, Higger Tor and Carl Wark fort.

Learning how to count paces so distances can be measured

Callow Bank ahead of us

Burbage valley and a lack of plantations....don't always trust what's on the map to be on the ground!

Orientating the map with features on the ground

Checking the path ahead is the one we want

On day two we met in the centre of Castleton, right at the other end of the Hope Valley. The task for the participants today was focused on relocating themselves accurately and they all did brilliant.

Hardest part of many walks is getting out of the village on the right path

Now where exactly are we along the edge of this wall?

A challenging relocation on a wiggly contour line high above Winnats Pass

YEY!!! We've found Mam Tor by orientating our map with the compass

Using the map to find features on the ground...this time interpreting
contour lines of the great Mam Tor-Lose Hill ridge

Refinding the village of Castleton, but first relocation along
side a river by counting paces and wall junctions

I've received some super feedback from the course participants

"very much enjoyed the weekend. Lynn is an excellent and inclusive instructor."

"thanks to Lynne who was a fantastic teacher...we can't imagine a better person to learn with. [We] felt that we'd walked away being able to things we couldn't do at the start of the weekend.  The course was a perfect mix of theory and practice.  We'd love to build on what we've learned once we've done some practice and consolidation - Snowdonia this weekend will give us an ideal chance to do that.  We'd recommend the course to anyone."

If these photos have inspired you to learn navigation but you don't know your handrail from your attack point then get in touch. This weekend was a NNAS Bronze Award course but I also run bespoke private one-to-one or group tuition - course content is tailored to suit your level of knowledge (from beginner to advanced) and your pace of walking/running. I am available for instruction in the Peak District, Snowdonia and the Lake District. I've been walking and running in the hills for many years, competed in fell races that require navigation, orienteering events which are totally based on navigation, and safely got myself around hills and mountains in the UK and Europe.

FRA Navigation Course, Kettlewell

Teaching navigation to fell runners is great because I get to spend time with others who love being in the hills. So when asked if I would instruct on the Fell Running Association navigation course at Kettlewell it was a no-brainer! This is my second time instructing on the FRA nav course (Elterwater last year) but first time at Kettlewell. It was great to have Tim along as one of the other instructors too. On Saturday there's a short indoor session then it's out on the hill to practice practice practice....

walking on a bearing

superb views all weekend

handrailing a wall....and the snow line!

Then on Saturday afternoon it's a solo navigation course, with check points scattered around....

No photographs of the Saturday evening night navigation course...but I can tell you, from my point on the course (CP2) the stars and views were amazing. I even saw a shooting star and a few satellites orbiting above us.

Sunday morning came around all too quick and it was time for the 10km navigation course. 8 check points out on the hill to be found. I started in position at CP1 until all the runners had passed, then a short hop down the hill to my next station at CP8. I was slightly distracted on my way down as there was a guy out on the hill with a very bouncy spaniel....and then I noticed he was holding a bird of prey!! It turned out to be a Harris Hawk, which flew off then returned - amazing to see one so close (I could have touched it!) and to see it flying too.

check point 1

view from just below check point 1
I was being watched over by two curlews and their beautiful calls

check point 8

Many thanks to Carl (weekend organiser), his band of instructors, and Margaret and Jenny for their warm hospitality and super organisation, and to the family who now run Kettlewell YHA.  If you are looking for somewhere to base yourself in that area I definitely recommend the now independent YHA - the owners did a grand job of looking after us, masses of food for our breakfasts, lunches and dinner on Saturday night and they're really helpful and attentive. Already looking forward to the next FRA course back up in Elterwater later this year. I hear it's about three-quarters booked so if you're thinking of booking be quick!

Myself and Tim are also available for one-to-one or small group navigation training in the Peak District, Snowdonia or the Lake District. As well as leading guided fell runs and taking runners out on race recces, we've both raced a mix of adventure races, mini-mountain marathons and orienteering events. Our nav courses are tailored to what you want and to compliment the level of knowledge and experience you come with.