Wild Camping & Night Navigation Snowdonia

Explore, Camp, Navigate – In One of the UK’s Finest Mountain Landscapes

Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park in North Wales is home to the highest mountains in England and Wales, including Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), as well as remote valleys, upland lakes, and expansive moorland. This training weekend is based in some of the more secluded areas of the park, offering the ideal terrain for realistic wild camping and advanced navigation challenges.

This experience is designed for confident hillwalkers looking to refine their mountain skills and build independence in the hills. The focus is on wild camping and night navigation — navigating accurately in low light and poor visibility conditions, often the true test of mountain competence.

What We’ll Cover

Night Navigation Skills

  • Accurate compass work in darkness
  • Micro-navigation: following precise legs between small features
  • Navigation strategies in poor visibility
  • Using pacing and timing when visual cues are limited
  • Navigating to contour features and small targets
  • Relocation strategies and error management
  • Night-specific safety considerations and group management

Wild Camping Skills

  • Site selection with weather and environmental factors in mind
  • Efficient pitching and packing systems for wild terrain
  • Lightweight kit setup for mountain bivouacs
  • Water sourcing and purification in upland areas
  • Cooking and eating in poor conditions
  • Overnight mountain safety, including weather management
  • Leave No Trace principles in practice

Prerequisites

This is not a beginners’ course. To get the most from this experience, participants must:

  • Have a good level of hill fitness
  • Be able to carry a fully loaded backpack for multiple hours over rough ground
  • Already possess a solid grounding in daytime navigation skills (map, compass, contours, bearings, etc.)

If you’re unsure whether this is suitable for you, feel free to get in touch here.

Kit List

Navigation

  • OS Explorer Map OL17 (Snowdon & Conwy Valley)
  • Compass (Silva Expedition type or equivalent)
  • Map case (waterproof)
  • Headtorch with fresh batteries and a spare set (or spare torch)

Camping

  • Lightweight tent, tarp or bivvy setup
  • Sleeping bag (3-season minimum)
  • Insulated sleeping mat
  • Backpack (50–65L recommended)
  • Stove + fuel
  • Pot/mug and utensils
  • Meals + snacks for two days (hot meals advised)
  • Water bottles or hydration system (2L capacity minimum)
  • Water purification method (filter, tablets or UV)

Clothing & Personal Kit

  • Waterproof jacket and trousers
  • Insulating layers (fleece/down/synthetic)
  • Warm hat and gloves (plus a spare set)
  • Comfortable base layers
  • Sturdy hiking boots (worn-in)
  • Gaiters (optional but useful)
  • Dry bags or waterproof liners
  • Personal first aid kit
  • Emergency whistle
  • Sunscreen, sunglasses, toiletries
  • Notebook & pencil

Check out our available dates here.