When it comes to fell running, there is a world of incredible routes out there just waiting to be explored. In the UK alone, we have access to a wealth of unbeatable trails in the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, Snowdonia and beyond. But without solid navigational skills, the majority of runners don’t make the most of these stunning wilderness areas, limiting themselves to following marked footpaths and established routes.
If you want to take your running to the next level, learning how to find your way in the great outdoors is invaluable. Knowing how to navigate not only allows you to enter more adventurous fell races, but also gives you the confidence to go further afield and explore off the beaten track.
The following blog post takes an in-depth look at the techniques and equipment involved in fell running navigation. It will outline tips and tricks for using a map and compass, interpreting the landscape, and keeping yourself safe in the mountains. By the time you finish reading, you’ll have a solid grasp on how to navigate the fells in the toughest conditions.
What is Fell Running?
Fell running originated in the UK in the early 19th century, with shepherds and workers racing each other across the hills and moors for sport. It differs from road running and low-level trail running in that it generally takes place at higher elevations with an absence of marked footpaths. This type of landscape tends to have fewer obvious features by which to navigate, as well as hazards such as unpredictable weather, limited visibility, steep ascents, and technical terrain. To stay safe, fell runners must possess good navigation skills, and be prepared for the possible dangers involved.
Why is Navigation Important for Fell Runners?
Any accomplished runner wishing to progress to more difficult terrain must have the skills to plan and navigate a route without the aid of GPS devices.
Poor navigation may cost you a podium place in a fell running event, but more importantly, it can lead you into danger. Getting lost in the mountains can be life-threatening, and hypothermia, heatstroke, and broken ankles are all common occurrences.
Learning how to use a map and compass allows fell runners to:
Progress to more challenging races.
Make optimal line choices and pick the most efficient routes.
Have a backup in case their GPS or phone fails.
Keep themselves safe in the mountains.
Stray from the popular trails and discover more exciting terrain.
Understanding Fell Running Terrain
Fell running takes place in some of the harshest wilderness environments. Understanding the challenges ahead of time will make you more prepared for your first fell run and reduce the risk of injury or disorientation.
A typical route might take you through boggy moorlands, steep mountain climbs, and technical terrain. At higher elevations, the weather is unpredictable and can pose significant navigational challenges such as poor visibility and an absence of landmarks.
Fell runners cannot rely on following the obvious path, as more often than not there isn’t one. You will traverse featureless landscapes, using only the shape of the land and a compass bearing to guide your way. All the while maintaining your running pace.
Essential Navigation Tools For Fell Runners
There are three pieces of navigation equipment a fell runner cannot live without.
Map
You won’t get very far in your journey without a map of the landscape you’re running through. In the UK, Ordnance Survey (OS) maps are the gold standard for countryside navigation. The entire country is mapped within this system in great detail. With enough map-reading knowhow, you can pinpoint your location to the nearest few metres.
OS maps come in two different scales: 1:25 000 Explorer maps and 1:50 000 Landranger maps. Explorer maps show far greater detail and are perfect for navigating a tricky journey, while the Landranger maps offer a wider overview of an area and are great for route planning. Other varieties of maps are available, such as Harveys, which have a 1:40 000 scale and only cover certain areas of the UK.
Before you even set foot on the trail, you should have a basic understanding of how to read a map. But if you haven’t set your eyes on an OS map since your Bronze Duke of Edinburgh expedition back in 1999, you’re probably wondering where to start. Here are some of the key elements you’ll need to grasp.
Key: The map key tells you what all the different shapes and symbols mean, and how these might impact on your running. Knowing how to tell the difference between private and open access land will be invaluable when planning routes. And being able to predict a section of boggy, marshy ground will keep your feet dry for longer.
Scale: Underestimating the time it takes to cross a tricky section is at best, frustrating. At worst, it is dangerous. You don’t want to be caught out after dark because you misjudged the length of your route. The scale of the map tells you the distance it represents, allowing you to estimate the time it will take to travel your route.
Contours: Contour lines tell you the height and gradient of the land depicted on the map. These wavy orange lines can take a lot of practice to grasp, but there are some simple rules to follow that will help you get ahead. The closer together the contour lines, the steeper the ground. And conversely, the further apart they are, the flatter the terrain will be. Understanding contours will transform your ability to read the landscape, and will keep you safe in poor visibility.
Compass
Simply put, a compass tells you which direction you are facing. We all learn the four cardinal points (North, East, South, and West) in primary school, but fell running navigation requires a much greater degree of accuracy.
Taking a compass bearing is the most useful navigation technique for any fell runner. It tells you exactly which direction you need to travel to reach a particular point from your current location. The bearing is formulated in a scale of degrees from 0 to 360, and gives you the information needed to run in a completely straight line between two points.
For this to work, you need to be incredibly accurate with your compass bearing. If your calculations are out by even a couple of degrees, you could end up wildly off course.
GPS devices
Electronic GPS devices are a great thing to have in an emergency. If you’ve lost your way and need to quickly confirm your location, you can just open the OS Maps app on your phone and pinpoint your exact whereabouts. And some running watches allow you to follow directions on screen without once stopping to check the map.
But there are limitations to these tools. They rely on batteries and a satellite signal to work, both of which are unreliable. If you’re spending all day out in the hills, your phone could lose power and leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere. Carrying a paper map and knowing how to use it will get you out of a fix every time.
Secondly, using these devices won’t teach you anything. Following a computerised arrow on a tiny screen might make for an enjoyable and flowy run, but it won’t make you a better navigator. It’s good to put the screens on the back burner sometimes and get some experience navigating with a paper map and compass.
This doesn’t mean you have to abandon technology altogether, but rather find a way to use physical maps and electronic devices in tandem. Apps like OS Maps, Outdooractive, and AllTrails are fantastic for getting inspiration and planning routes. But if you want to enhance your performance and become a seasoned fell runner, you’ll need to know how to find your way without digital assistance.
Key Navigation Techniques for Fell Running
We’ve looked at the essential equipment you need to start navigating on the fells, but how do you actually use them to find your way? Here are some of the core techniques to master:
Setting the map
A map is easier to understand when you hold it the right way round. Most beginners instinctively keep north at the top, but this means you will have to mentally rotate the map whenever you’re travelling in any other direction. Instead, line up north on the map with north in real life. This way, the real-life features in front of you will perfectly match up with the symbols shown on your map. A river running to your left hand side will also sit to the left of your position on the map. By setting the map in this way, you can more easily visualise your route and maintain momentum.
Whenever you change direction, the map should remain fixed in position, and not rotate with you. Instead, you should move yourself around the map. Use your thumb to constantly mark your position so you can easily locate yourself each time you look away.
Real-time map reading
The key difference between navigating for walkers and navigating for runners is the need to pinpoint your location while on the move. A hiker will have no problem stopping to consult their map, but a fell runner will want to minimise delays and maintain a flowing journey.
Efficient navigation requires good map memory and an understanding of the landscape. If you can memorise the upcoming leg of your route, you reduce the number of times you’ll have to consult the map. You can keep moving while mentally ticking off each feature you encounter. When you do need to check, try to glance at the map while moving without slowing the pace. Obviously, you should only do so when safe. Try to pick an appropriate point, such as a flat grassy field rather than a rocky descent.
Pacing
The map scale tells you the distance between any two points, but with a GPS tracker, how do you know how far you have travelled? To track your progress, you’ll need to know your 100-metre pace count. That is, how many paces, or double steps, it takes you to run 100 metres.
To work this out, measure out 100 metres on flat ground using a GPS device, and run this distance at your normal race pace. Count your paces and remember this number. You may want to try this a few times to confirm the most accurate figure.
To put this into practice, let’s say you need to travel 200 metres to reach your next checkpoint, and your 100-metre pace count is 50. A simple mental calculation tells you that you will reach your target in 100 paces. With practice, you may eventually be able to roughly gauge your covered distance on feel, without having to count.
Taking a bearing
Let's say you’re standing at Point A on the map below, and you need to hit a checkpoint at B. It's too far away to see from where you are standing, and there are few recognisable features in between.
Taking a bearing will tell you the exact direction in which your target lies, allowing you to travel along a straight line until you reach it.
As you can see from the diagram below, a bearing is measured in degrees on a scale of 0 to 360. A bearing of 0 degrees represents due north; 90 degrees is east, 180 degrees is south, and 270 degrees is west. From the map, we can see that Point B lies just south of east in relation to Point A, so we can estimate that we need to follow a bearing of roughly 100 degrees..
With practice, the process of taking a bearing will become second nature, but for first-timers it can be confusing. The following instructions will guide you through taking a bearing step by step.
Lay the Map Flat: Place the map on a flat surface and orient it with the top of the map pointing north.
Measure the Distance: Using the appropriate measuring scale on your compass, measure the distance in metres from A to B. Now you know how far you will need to travel on your bearing.
Align the Compass Between the Two Points: Place the compass on the map so that the edge of the baseplate runs between your starting point and your destination. Make sure the direction-of-travel arrow is pointing toward your destination.
Rotate the Compass Housing: Without moving the compass, turn the rotating bezel until the orienting lines inside the compass housing are aligned with the north-south grid lines on the map. Make sure the north marking on the bezel is pointing to the top of the map.
Read the Bearing: Look at the number or degree where the index line (the fixed mark on the baseplate) meets the degree markings on the rotating bezel. This figure is your bearing.
Follow the Bearing: Hold the compass in front of you, ensuring the magnetic needle lines up with the orienting lines inside the housing. Follow the direction-of-travel arrow towards your destination, counting paces as you go. Pick a feature along your bearing line to aim for, such as a tree or boulder. When you reach this landmark, repeat the process until you have covered the distance and arrived at your target.
When taking your bearing, aim for features that are further away to enable you to keep running for longer. This is easier when visibility is good, as you can pick out faraway features and run towards them without stopping. In heavy fog or at night you may have a tougher time, as your vision is restricted and there are fewer visible landmarks at your disposal. You may have to rely on clumps of grass and take repeat bearings every few metres.
Boxing
How do you follow a bearing when there are obstacles in your path? You’re not going to walk through a boulder or swim across a lake mid-run. So how can you get around these features without messing up your bearing? This requires a technique called boxing. Boxing allows you to detour around an obstacle and return to your original bearing by using a series of 90-degree turns.
For example, if you are running due north and come up against an enormous boulder, you will follow these steps:
Adjust your bearing by 90 degrees and head due east
Count out the number of paces it takes you to clear the obstacle
Adjust your bearing back to north and run past the boulder
Adjust your bearing to due west, matching your eastward paces until you are back on your original bearing
Revert your bearing back to due north, and continue on your way
In this way, you have bypassed the obstacle without deviating from your original bearing.
Attack points
When navigating to a key point, the most direct route is not always the easiest. When moving over a large stretch of featureless moorland, for example, it’s easy to get lost or confused en route. Using an attack point is a good way to avoid this.
An attack point is a large or obvious feature near to your chosen destination that you can use as a base to find your target. This could be a path junction, small pond, or a trig point. Rather than moving directly from A to B, travelling via your attack point gets you closer and reduces the risk of mistakes.
Handrailing
Handrailing is a navigation technique that involves following an obvious linear feature, such as a river, boundary, or coastline. It allows you to move quickly towards your destination with more accuracy and confidence than travelling on a bearing across open ground. This minimises the need to keep checking the map so you can maintain running pace for longer.
Tick features and catching features
When planning your next leg of the route, make a mental checklist of the features you’ll see along the way. This might look something like this: Run south east and cross a boundary line before heading steeply downhill into forest and emerging by a stream. Change direction to the south and head gradually uphill, passing a sheepfold on the left and a small spur on the right.
Visualising the route ahead in this way helps you stay on track and minimise error. If the terrain you see in front of you doesn’t match these tick features, you’ll soon realise that you’ve gone wrong.
A catching feature will tell you when you have gone too far and overshot your target. For example, you may realise you have missed your turning when you start going downhill or reach a paved road.
Aiming off
When following a bearing towards a small target, even the slightest inaccuracy could lead you wildly off course.
Let’s say you need to cross a huge field to a stile at the other end. You take a bearing from the map and follow it until you reach the wall at the other end of the field, but there is no stile in sight! You have clearly misjudged your bearing and can surmise that following the wall will lead you to the stile. But which way do you go? You could be 50 metres or more from your target in either direction, and you don’t want to waste time pacing back and forth until you find it.
One way to avoid this is by aiming off when you take your initial bearing. Rather than aiming directly for the stile, aim instead for a point on the wall slightly to one side of it. This way, when you reach the wall, you’ll know exactly which way to head in order to find it. This method gives you much more room for error and can save a great deal of time when racing in tough conditions.
Common Navigational Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
To keep you safe in the hills and ensure you get the most out of each journey, here are some of the most common navigation mistakes made by amateur fell runners and how you can avoid them.
Over-reliance on GPS
It’s useful to have a phone or GPS watch as a backup, but you can be too reliant on these devices. Many mountainous areas have patchy signals, and batteries can easily fail, especially in cold conditions. Navigation skills fade quickly, and if you rely too heavily on GPS you will start to lose your aptitude. Take a map and compass on your training runs and get the practice in.
Misreading contour lines
It’s easy to get confused when interpreting contour lines. At first glance, a downhill may look like an uphill, or a re-entrant can be mistaken for a spur. This can lead to poor route choices and disorientation. Take the time to practise reading maps and translating the 2D image onto the real world.
Irregular checking
We’ve all made the mistake of following the obvious path without realising we’ve deviated from our intended route. Regularly confirm your location when out in the hills, even if you think you know where you are. A quick glance at the map will catch any errors and keep you on the right track.
Preparing for Fell Running Navigation
Developing your fell running navigation doesn’t just happen out in the hills. The learning opportunities begin during the planning stage. Plotting your training runs at home will acquaint you with the map and help you identify the best route to take.
There are several factors to consider when plotting a route, including:
The level of challenge i.e. elevation gain, difficult terrain, featureless landscapes
Comparable terrain to an upcoming fell race you’re training for
Potential for practising navigation and developing skills
The opportunity to have a fast, flowing journey
Once you have a route sorted, go through it from start to finish and try to visualise it from the map. Think about what each leg will look like, the tick features you’ll see along the way, and any possible hazards. Factor in some escape routes so you can quickly get to safety if something goes wrong.
Always check the weather forecast before setting out. Adjust your route accordingly and make sure you are correctly equipped for the elements. Try to incorporate navigation into your regular fell training and put a special emphasis on practising in poor visibility and bad weather.
Navigation in Fell Races
There is a world of difference between navigating in training runs and navigating in a fell race.
Pressure
When you’re out for a casual jaunt in the hills, there is much less pressure as you can check your phone whenever you want. In an organised event, the use of GPS devices may be cause for disqualification. Each navigation decision carries more weight, and the consequences of a mistake could result in a time penalty or the dreaded DNF.
Race pressure can affect your decision-making abilities, causing you to make silly mistakes where normally you’d have no problem. It’s important to stay calm and level-headed, and don’t rush into things. It’s always better to take a little time to be 100% certain of your location before you carry on.
Strategy
The type of race will have a bearing on your navigational strategy. Some fell running events require competitors to follow a set course, while others allow you to choose your own route between a series of checkpoints. In these races, your line choice is crucial. Some runners prefer to take the shortest distance between points, even if that means running across thick heather or scrambling up a steep hillside. Others may prefer a longer yet gentler route, sticking to trails and easy terrain to keep up a comfortable running pace. There is no right or wrong answer when choosing a route, as long as you know where you are going and can get there in one piece.
If visibility is good and there are plenty of obvious landmarks in sight, you may not even need to break out the compass. But if the weather turns or darkness descends, this is when your navigation really comes into its own. A good strategy, particularly when searching for hard-to-spot checkpoints, is to alternate between macro- and micro-navigation. Macro-navigation makes use of large and obvious features, and can be achieved by eye. This will land you within a short distance of the checkpoint, establishing a suitable attack point from which to start. From here, you will switch to micro-navigation, taking out your compass and following a bearing to your desired point.
Preparation
Some race organisers send out the route map in advance of the event, in which case you can plot your route in advance and memorise the key features. With certain events, however, you will go in cold, only receiving the map once you’re standing on the start line. In this case, you should start off slow, consult the map and come up with a plan before rushing off. Don’t get swept up by what other competitors are doing. This is where mistakes happen.
Post-race analysis
Once the event is over and you’ve celebrated your achievement, don’t move on just yet. Look back over the day and evaluate your race strategy. Did you stick to your planned route or did you deviate? Could you have made better line choices or hit the checkpoints in a more efficient order? Were you quick enough when it came to taking bearings? This exercise will enable you to learn from your mistakes and identify areas for improvement, thereby enhancing your performance in future events.
Navigating in Poor Visibility
At some point in your fell running career you will likely find yourself in poor visibility, whether by intention or not. Perhaps you’re running through the night in a 100-mile ultramarathon, or a mist has descended on a training run and you can't see more than ten feet ahead of you.
The prospect of trying to navigate in these conditions can be daunting, but there are techniques for successfully navigating in poor visibility.
Invest in a good headtorch
You don’t want to be stuck in the dark without a light source. Investing in a good-quality headtorch with a high lumen count will make night navigation a whole lot easier, illuminating the landscape around you to help you find your way. Brands like Petzl, Black Diamond, and Alpkit offer a wide range of headtorches suitable for runners. Don’t settle for a cheap knockoff with a feeble light and a short lifespan. And even if you’re planning to be home by nightfall, it’s a sensible idea to carry it just in case.
Take your time
It can be stressful when visibility drops, but it’s important to be patient and refrain from rushing into poor decisions. Pay closer attention to the map and take more care with your bearings than usual. Mistakes happen when you’re nervous, so breathe deeply and trust your navigation skills.
Pick a safe route
The amount of visibility will have an impact on your chosen route. You don’t want to risk your ankles on a steep descent when you can’t see a thing. Pick a safe route that you can easily traverse in poor conditions, even if it does add some distance.
Take more frequent bearings
The method of taking bearings never changes, day or night. But in complete darkness, you’ll need to take them more frequently. Your range of vision is reduced, so you have to rely on nearby features to point you in the right direction, repeating the process every few metres. In the worst case, you might have to resort to taking bearings from individual blades of grass. The more bearings you take throughout your journey, the greater the opportunity for error. So concentrate and be as accurate as possible.
Know your pacings
When it’s dark or misty, it may not be obvious when you have arrived at your target. You could be mere metres from your intended point without realising it. Knowing your pacings inside and out will enable you to accurately gauge your proximity to the target. Your pace count will vary depending on the terrain. It will be higher when going uphill or crossing technical trail, and it will be lower when the going is easy. When practising, try to work out the variation in pace count for certain types of terrain and adjust your estimations accordingly.
Use the contours
With fewer visible features at your disposal, the shape of the land is the best way to pinpoint your location. Pay attention to the contours around you. Are you going up or downhill? Does the land drop away to your left or climb to your right? These clues will help you identify where you are, and where you need to go.
Look around you
If you’re struggling to navigate, you may just need a few extra clues to point you in the right direction. Don’t be afraid to move around to try and spot some recognizable features. You may be just metres from a cliff or stream that gives you that lightbulb moment and puts you on the right path.
Practice
The best way to improve your night navigation is to practise. Get out after dark with your head torch and play around in the hills. Pick a few points to navigate between and brush up on your bearings and pacings. It’s amazing how quickly these skills will develop when you have no other choice but to use them.
Relocating When You Get Lost
There will be plenty of times when you realise you’ve gone wrong and have no idea where you are. This can be a scary prospect, but there is no need to panic. By using the techniques you have already learned, you will be able to relocate yourself and get back on track right away.
Gather all available clues
The land around you contains a wealth of information. Look around and gather as many clues to your whereabouts as you can. Look at the shape of the land and any recognisable features you can see. Try to recall anything you saw on the way to your current position. Relating this information to your map will help you narrow it down. You might want to move around so you can search as wide an area as possible, but be careful not to get yourself even more lost.
Return to your last known point
It may be possible to retrace your steps and return to the last point you were 100% sure of your location. From here, you can consult your map and work exactly where you went wrong, and where you should be heading. If you have been following a bearing, you can easily reverse direction by following a back bearing. Simply turn 180 degrees until the white south needle (rather than the red north needle) is aligned with the orienting arrow within the compass housing. Follow this new bearing, factoring in the paces covered or time elapsed since your last known point.
Aspect of slope
If there is any sloping ground nearby, you can use the aspect of slope to locate your position. Using your compass, take a bearing down the line of the slope, i.e. the line that a rolling boulder would take. Transfer this bearing onto the map and search for any slopes matching that aspect.
For example, if you found yourself near a slope with a bearing of 130 degrees (roughly south-east facing, you can eliminate any slopes within your rough search area that do not have this aspect. Using this method, you can narrow down your position and locate yourself.
Resection
If you are fortunate enough to have eyes on two or three recognisable features in the distance, e.g. mountaintops or lakes, you can use a technique called resection to triangulate your exact position. Take a compass bearing to one of these features, and using the edge of your compass or a pen, plot a line on the map from this landmark that follows this bearing. Your position lies somewhere along this line.
Repeat this process with the second recognisable feature, plotting another line on the map. The exact point of intersection is your current location. For greater accuracy, you can use a third or even a fourth feature. But arguably, if you can recognise this many landmarks, you can’t be very lost!
Keeping Yourself Safe
Hopefully you never run into difficulty during your time in the mountains, but for your safety and peace of mind, you should always know what to do in an emergency.
Carry essential gear
Many fell runners try to carry as little as possible so they can run faster, but there’s a reason the Fell Runners Association recommends a minimum standard for race kit. This includes:
A waterproof jacket with hood and taped seams
Hat and gloves
Map and compass
Whistle
Emergency food
If you are injured or lost in the hills, hypothermia is a very real risk. Having some warm layers and extra snacks will keep the cold at bay and give you a chance to get help. A whistle is a good way of calling for help if your phone isn’t working, and an emergency blanket and personal first aid kit are strongly advised.
Know when to call for help
Getting a bit lost is not an emergency, as long as you can use the tools outlined above to relocate yourself. But if you are seriously disoriented in poor weather or are badly injured, you will need to call Mountain Rescue. There are 47 volunteer Mountain Rescue teams across England and Wales, each one assigned to a particular upland area. As soon as they receive your call, a local team will mobilise to help you. To get through to Mountain Rescue, you just need to call 999 then ask for Police - Mountain Rescue, sharing your location and details of any injury.
Know your location
When calling for help, you’ll need to give your exact location. The more accurate you can be, the easier it will be for Mountain Rescue teams to find you. A six-figure grid reference is the accepted standard, which you can easily work out from the gridlines on your map. Alternatively, apps such as OS Locate will tell you your grid reference instantly.
If you are completely lost and don’t know your location, just give as much information as you can. This should include your planned route, last known location, and any nearby features.
Share your plans
As with any adventurous activity, you should let someone know your intended route and expected time of return. If you injure yourself and are unable to get help, they will raise the alarm when you fail to show up. It will only be a matter of time before Mountain Rescue finds you.
Take Your Fell Running Navigation Skills to the Next Level
Strong navigation skills are essential for success in fell running, both for enhancing performance and ensuring your safety in the hills. By honing your ability to read a map, use a compass, and interpret the landscape, you can enjoy the sport with greater confidence. Whether taking part in a race or running for the pure joy of spending time in the hills, the sense of self-reliance that comes from mastering navigation is profoundly satisfying.
Remember, navigation is a skill that requires regular practice. Take time to build your knowledge in a variety of terrains and weather conditions. With time, the fells will become your playground and you’ll be ready to face any challenge they throw your way.
To enhance your fell running navigation skills and prepare for your next race, book onto a Peaks and Dales Navigation For Fell Runners course in the beautiful Peak District. You'll have the opportunity to learn from an experienced mountain leader and fell runner, and practise the skills outlined above in challenging technical terrain.
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