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Learn practical GPS navigation and map-and-compass skills in one focused day in Capel Curig. This hands-on course teaches waypoints, tracks, OSGB grid use and safety techniques for mountain travel.
Learn practical GPS navigation and map-and-compass skills in one focused day in Capel Curig. This hands-on course teaches waypoints, tracks, OSGB grid use and safety techniques for mountain travel.
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Operated by Snowdonia Adventures · Capel Curig, Wales
On the northern edge of Snowdonia National Park, in the village of Capel Curig, the GPS Course offers a compact, hands-on day of modern navigation and traditional map-and-compass skills. Meeting at Caffi Siabod, A5, Capel Curig, Betws-y-Coed LL24 0EL, United Kingdom, the course uses the hills and lakes around 2 Bryn Llys, Capel Curig, Betws-y-Coed LL24 0EF, UK as a live classroom.
In one focused day instructors cover the capabilities and limits of handheld GPS units and how they integrate with Ordnance Survey maps using the OSGB grid system. Students learn to set waypoints, record tracks, programme routes, use goto and trackback functions, and translate device coordinates to OS grid references. Practical sessions take place on varied ground: lake shores, valley tracks and short ascents that reveal glacial corries, craggy ridgelines and expanses of heather and peat that define Snowdonia’s uplands.
The course is designed for beginners and those upgrading their device skills; it caters to small groups with a maximum eight clients per instructor, so you get personal coaching on your own unit. Expect a mix of classroom-style demos and field navigation exercises that emphasise safety: knowing what a GPS can and cannot do, configuring units for use in the UK, and combining electronic and paper tools to reduce risk in poor visibility or when batteries fail.
Why choose this course in Capel Curig? The village sits at a nexus of paths into iconic peaks and quieter tarns, so what you practise here transfers straight to popular hikes such as Moel Siabod approaches, the Llugwy valley, and local circuit routes. The instructors also introduce practical trip planning and decision-making, useful whether you’re out for the day or preparing for longer mountain ventures.
Practical notes: bring hill-ready clothing and footwear for changeable Welsh weather, a packed lunch, drinks and the usual hill kit; a pen and notebook are handy for notes. If you’re thinking of upgrading kit, participants receive a 15% discount from Above and Beyond with code SNOWDONIA15 on selected navigational gear and OS maps.
This one-day course is as much about confidence as it is about buttons and menus — you’ll leave able to program waypoints, follow a pre-planned track, and make safe navigation decisions under field conditions, all based from Capel Curig, at the gateway to Snowdonia.
Courses commonly run across varied seasons; instructors adjust the day to maximise learning in winter light or summer weather, with practical emphasis on route planning, safe decision-making and basic emergency procedures. The format suits solo travellers, friends and outdoor groups who want to improve navigation competence quickly. Check the operator's booking page for dates and check-in details, and bring a charged device plus spare batteries to make the most of training.
moderate.
6–8 hours.
Moderate fitness for sustained walking on uneven upland terrain; you should be comfortable on short ascents and rough ground.
The meeting point is Caffi Siabod, A5, Capel Curig, Betws-y-Coed LL24 0EL, United Kingdom; check-in details are provided at booking.
No—this course is suitable for those new to GPS devices and electronic mapping as well as hikers wanting to refresh skills.
Instructors teach how to convert GPS coordinates to OSGB grid references and how to use paper maps alongside digital tools.
Age guidance is not specified; contact the operator via the booking page for details about family bookings and minimum ages.
Sessions are adapted for safety; instructors may alter the route or exercises depending on visibility and conditions—check cancellation policy for specifics.
Participants receive a 15% discount from Above and Beyond using code SNOWDONIA15 on selected navigational gear and OS maps.
Snowdonia National Park, established in 1951, has a long tradition of hillwalking and mountaineering that shapes local guiding practices.
Stick to marked paths to protect heather and peat habitats, follow Leave No Trace principles, and avoid disturbing nesting birds during spring and summer.
Snowdonia Adventures is a Capel Curig–based outdoor guiding company offering guided hikes, scrambles, mountaineering courses, climbing taster days and coasteering across Snowdonia and North Wales. The company specialises in small-group, guided outdoor experiences led by qualified, experienced mountain leaders and instructors who support safe, accessible adventures for fit beginners through to experienced hikers. Trips on the programme include guided ascents of Tryfan and Cnicht, ridge scrambles such as Y Gribin and the Nantlle Ridge, summit routes in the Carneddau, quieter tracks like Rhyd Ddu, waterfall walks to Aber Falls, winter mountaineering courses, rock-climbing taster days, and coastal coasteering sessions on Anglesey. Each trip description specifies terrain, recommended fitness level, and essential equipment; guides manage navigation, route-finding and safety so participants can focus on the landscape. Operating from Capel Curig, Snowdonia Adventures uses locally focused logistics to access central and northern Snowdonian ranges and nearby coasts. Groups are kept intentionally small to maximise guide contact and minimise environmental impact. Training and safety are emphasised on technical days such as winter mountaineering and scrambles; practical skills taught include crampon use, ice-axe techniques, ropework and route planning. Snowdonia Adventures is featured on The Adventure Collective, and works within recognised mountain safety practices and local access guidelines. Clear booking information, pre-trip briefings and experienced, qualified guides make the experiences suitable for those wanting guided mountain days, skills courses or coastal adventures in Snowdonia. Booking details include group size limits, meeting points in Capel Curig, straightforward booking terms and clear safety, cancellation and refund policies.
Book with Snowdonia Adventures