Exmoor Navigation Day on Saturday 22 March 10am - 3pm
With the evenings beginning to draw out and, hopefully, some warmer weather on its way, it’s time to dust off those walking boots and stride out onto the footpaths and bridleways that cross our fantastic countryside in North Devon.
We are so lucky to have the open expanses of Exmoor on our doorstop but it can sometimes feel a bit daunting heading out after the winter, or hard to find new walking routes that are guaranteed to inspire. To help you regain some confidence, and maybe open up some new possibilities, we’re running a brand new event on Saturday 22 March.
Our Exmoor Navigation Day will be a fun and practical training day aimed specifically at people new to map reading, or at those who have some experience but are a little bit rusty and want to brush up on their skills.
The day will start at 10am at Watersmeet House near Lynton where you can enjoy a hot bacon sandwich (included in the price of the course). We’ll start by covering some basic map reading skills using the OS map system and then you’ll have the chance to play around with some GPS units whilst we show you the basic functions of this useful technology.
After this theory session, we will head out of the beautiful Watersmeet valley into the more open landscape of Exmoor and working as a group, we will put what we have learnt into practice on a stunning and inspiring walk. During the walk you’ll be able to practice spotting and using the natural and man-made features that you come across, understand what contour lines are and how they can help or hinder you and also how to orientate yourself in the landscape, as well as learning many other tips and techniques.
The Exmoor Navigation Day will be run by Paul Camp and Daniel Cameron, two experienced National Trust rangers and Karen Birch our Exmoor Bunkhouse Manager who has lived on Countisbury Hill for many years. The course would make a great present for you and a friend or for someone who has a walking trip planned in 2014.
If you just can’t wait any longer to get out and about, then why not print off or download one of our wonderful walks from the North Devon National Trust website pages? With eight walks based around Watersmeet valley and Heddon and more covering the coastline between Ilfracombe and Hartland, you are bound to find somewhere new to discover. The maps and directions are interspersed with fascinating information about the history and wildlife of the area.
The Exmoor Navigation Day, including bacon sandwich, costs £10 for adults and £6 for under 14’s and places are limited to ensure everyone gets personal attention. Booking and more information is available from Karen on 01598 741101.
