For this First Step GPS, you will need an understanding of basic navigation/map skills. An average level of hill fitness is required
↓ Course summary
This course is perfect for the GPS beginner.
Many people are involved with rambling and walking clubs and have a wide range of experiences. In recent years, the popularity of GPS units has dramatically increased. Digital mapping is now available for Northern Ireland, which makes the use of a GPS more practical for walkers, bikers and mountaineers.
This First Step GPS Skills course seeks to cover the basic skills involved in using GPS software to plan and undertake journeys in area with digital maps.
This course will give you a taster of the skills required to plan journeys in the hills using GPS and digital mapping technology.
Skills Covered:
The basics of a GPS unit
Map Software – what it is and how we can use it
Mapping apps for android phones
Basic navigation refresher
Planning simple journeys in the hills with and alongside paper map
Equipment appropriate to this environment
These are some of the essential skills required in order to understand the uses and limitations of GPS and digital mapping software. All of these areas will be covered in a theory and practical way during the course of a day spent in the classroom and hills, giving you the opportunity to learn from the staff and other course participants.
For this First Step GPS Skills the following list of equipment is a suggestion of what you should bring.
Waterproofs, walking boots and rucksacks may be borrowed from our extensive stores. If you have a GPS Unit, please bring it along. Tollymore has a stock of Garmin GPS units and some will be available for use on the course.
You should bring the following: waterproof jacket and trousers, boots, fleece jacket, hat and gloves, vacuum flask, water bottle, Mourne map (1:25,000), compass Silva type 4 or similar, headtorch (plus a spare battery), small first aid kit, and spare clothes. It’s best to bring plenty of lighter layers and avoid cotton if possible as it offers little heat and takes ages to dry out if wet or sweaty.
Please ensure you bring along a device which will allow you to ‘stopwatch’ your time.
↓ What does my course fee include?
The course fee includes kit, equipment, in course transport, coaching and packed lunch.
Accommodation:
Your course is a one day course, so accommodation is not provided. However, we do have changing rooms, showers and lockers available for your use.
We can offer you a nights' accommodation and breakfast either at the beginning or end of a course for an additional cost. This is a great way to further enhance your time at Tollymore and savour the beautiful majestic setting that the Centre has to offer.
Catering:
Our catering is first class, noted both for the quality and quantity of the food that we provide. Your course is catered, so you will be provided with a packed lunch for the day. You may however wish to bring your own personal snack food for use during the course. You can fill a flask with tea or coffee at the Centre if required.
↓ Useful books and resources
Hillwalking, by Steve Long (published by MLTUK)
Current situation
As you are probably aware the current advice from the Northern Ireland Executive, Health Promotion Agency NI and Health & Safety Executive NI, as well as our expert group within Sport NI is that we cannot deliver any face to face courses for our customers including use of the Hot Rock Climbing Wall.
We know that you and many others like minded folk are very keen to get back on track with your plans to attend and complete a range of personal skills training and qualifications in a range of disciplines.
Believe us when we say we are equally keen to get outside with you and help you reach your goals and complete that journey.
How do we know? Because every day we get emails and phone calls asking when will courses resume and with every NI Executive mention of easing of restrictions the emails and phone calls are more frequent……
