Any courses booked before 25th Dec 2025 for 2026 courses will get a 10% discount
About Our Navigation Program
If you just dont know the right end of a compass or you are getting ready for Mountain Leader assessment? Do you want to hone those skills already acquired/learnt? Have you ever been caught out on a walk as night falls? Or perhaps you’ve always wanted to try night walking but lacked the confidence?
At Northern Ascents we are proud to say we have been assessed by the National Navigation Awards Scheme (NNAS). Click the here for more details off the NNAS Website.
This means we have met the standard required in the provision of personal navigation skills training delivered to nationally recognised standards of excellence.
Our Latest Navigation Courses
Bronze NNAS Award - Cheshire - 7th & 8th Feb 2026 - Delamere Forest
The Silver National Navigation Award (NNAS) develops the navigation skills acquired at the Bronze level. It adds skills required to navigate to features and places some distance from paths and tracks. It teaches accurate compass work. It will also teach you to select the suitable navigational techniques to cross open country.
Silver National Navigation Award courses are taught in areas with access to open country and involve periods where you’ll be navigating away from paths and tracks. Details on the award are available from NNAS via this link
This is a 2 day course run in the Cheshire Countryside at Delamere Forest, where we have access to the paths, tracks and other linear features in abundance and lots of areas that are off track to satisfy the course requirements.
What you get from Northern Ascents is great instruction to get that certificate as well as discounted prices on future courses with Northern Ascents. The course fee does NOT include the NNAS Registration fee which is payable direct to NNAS (£8.30)
The course is run on a ratio of 1:8 but the course will be run even if only one person is attending
£120
This is a list of our latest courses scheduled for early 2026 and available to book on the NNAS website - altrenatively you can book direct with us by filling in a contact form
If you want to not follow the NNAS route and get some time outdoors just navigating then get in touch and we can tailor a course for your needs - See some FAQs
Bronze NNAS Award - Cheshire - 21st & 22nd Feb 2026 - Delamere Forest
£120
Silver NNAS Award - Cheshire - 2nd & 3rd Mar 2026 - Delamere Forest
The Bronze National Navigation Award (NNAS) is a hands on award aimed at anyone with zero navigation experience. Details on the award are available from NNAS via this link
This is a 2 day course run in the Cheshire Countryside at Delamere Forest, where we have access to the paths, tracks and other linear features in abundance.
What you get from Northern Ascents is great instruction to get that certificate as well as discounted prices on future courses with Northern Ascents. The course fee does NOT include the NNAS Registration fee which is payable direct to NNAS (£8.30)
The course is run on a ratio of 1:8 but the course will be run even if only one person is attending
POPULAR - Straight to Silver NNAS Award - Cheshire & Clwydian Hills - 9th, 10th and 11th Mar 2026
£120
The Straight to Silver National Navigation Award (NNAS) is an accelerated pathway over 3 days that allows participants to bypass Bronze (subject to successfully passing) and get the Silver award directly. This is an intensive course over three days in the Clwydian Hills, and will progress you through both the Silver and Bronze requirements. Details on the awards are available from NNAS via this link
This is a 3 day course run in the Clwydian Hills starting at the Loggerheads Country Park, where we have access to the paths, tracks and other linear features in abundance and lots of areas that are off track to satisfy the course requirements. Over the three days we will test your ability to navigate not only paths but in open country and will focus on advanced map and compass skills. Rest assured that with the training and exposure that you will get from our team, whilst we cannot GUARANTEE a pass, we are confident that applying what you learnt will get you that award!
What you get from Northern Ascents is great instruction to get that certificate as well as discounted prices on future courses with Northern Ascents. The course fee does NOT include the NNAS Registration fee which is payable direct to NNAS (£8.30)
The course is run on a ratio of 1:8 but the course will be run even if only one person is attending
£175
Frequently Asked Questions
You can start at the Navigator Award Bronze Level with no experience at all. Our courses have small numbers (1:8 at the most) giving you lots of personal practice, the chance to ask questions and really gain confidence in your skills
The Outdoor Discovery Award or ODA is ideal for people of all ages who wish to learn basic navigation skills at a gentle rate, encouraging them to gain and improve personal confidence to get out and get active
FAQs about the NNAS Scheme
How good do I have to be?
We would ask you about your previous experience and abilities to determine whether such a course would be appropriate for you, but yes this is possible and we regularly run these type of courses. Use our Contact Form to get in touch or apply directly on NNAS for our 2026 courses search for Northern Ascents
I have some experience and knowledge, can I go direct to Silver?
What about Night Navigation?
The NNAS Night Owl award is a four-hour course which will equip you with essential navigation skills to explore and enjoy the outdoors safely after dark. Critical for anyone undertaking ML Assessment; critical for anyone getting out in the dark or poor visibility in the hills
