Hill Skills and Navigation Courses

Plus size people can face a lot of barriers when accessing training and skills in the outdoors, so we’ve put together some courses that are exclusively for plus size folk. So if you’re worried about being slow up hills, needing regular breaks or just feel out of place in outdoors groups, this could be a great opportunity to up-skill, increase your confidence and meet some other lovely larger outdoors lovers.

About the courses

The courses are run by Every Body Outdoors, with teaching provided by Cat Forster from Latitude 534. Cat is a qualified Mountain Leader who has a focus and passion on working with under-represented groups, and we always have a member of Every Body Outdoors present as our Course Leader.

These courses are for plus size people of all genders to create a safe and inclusive space. We do not set a size restriction on this, but if you are smaller than a size 18/2XL we would ask you to consider if there might be other courses that you could attend.

Requirements for the courses:

While we want the course to be as inclusive as possible, there is a requirement to be able to do the following in order to complete the course:

- You need to be able to be on your feet and walking for around 6 hours a day. There will be plenty of opportunity for breaks and a slow pace both uphill and downhill on steep sections.

- You need to be comfortable with going off path, over rough ground at times in order to carry out some of the aspects of the course.

The courses

Intro to Hill Skills

Would you like to gain more confidence and skills in the hills and mountains? Not sure what you need to pack, what to wear or what to do in an emergency? Want to feel confident navigating using a map and compass when you’re out on the hills? Would you like to understand how to plan a route and work out how long it might take you? This is the course for you.

Our courses are just for plus size people so it’s a supportive environment for our attendees to get outdoors among people who understand the challenges that we often face in these spaces. We go at a very gentle pace (especially up hills!) and take lots of breaks!

Upcoming courses:

20 - 22ND SEPTEMBER: YHA CASTLETON, PEAK DISTRICT

Location: Course based in the Peak District at Castleton YHA
Timings: Evening session on Friday night starting at 7pm, then all day Saturday and all day Sunday, finishing around 5pm.
Cost: Course cost is £200. If you would like to pay in instalments, please contact steph@everybodyoutdoors.co.uk
Accommodation: This cost includes accommodation in a shared dorm room at the YHA. Food is not included, but there is a self catering kitchen or restaurant at the YHA, as well as eating options in Castleton itself.
Bursaries: We are offering a limited number of bursary tickets that will reduce the cost to £120. There is no strict criteria for these places, they are available for anyone for whom the cost is prohibitive and you can book a bursary place via the booking link below. If there is not an option for a bursary place, that means there are no spaces left.
More info: Course information sheet here.
Public Transport: The nearest train station is Hope, and we can arrange lifts from the station.
BOOK VIA THIS LINK

26 - 27TH OCTOBER: GOMSHALL, SURREY

Location: Course based in Gomshall in Surrey, meeting point is Tanyard Hall

Timings: All day Saturday and all day Sunday, starting at 9am and finishing around 5.30pm.
Cost: Course cost is £140. If you would like to pay in instalments, please contact steph@everybodyoutdoors.co.uk
Accommodation: Accommodation is not included. There are a number of B&Bs in Gomshall/Shere, plenty of nearby hotels, and a train station for train links further afield.
Bursaries: We are offering a limited number of bursary tickets that will reduce the cost to £80. There is no strict criteria for these places, they are available for anyone for whom the cost is prohibitive and you can book a bursary place via the booking link below. If there is not an option for a bursary place, that means there are no spaces left.
Public Transport: There is a train station in Gomshall.
More info: Course information sheet here.
BOOK VIA THIS LINK

Future dates (save the date!):

11th - 13th April, Peak District (tbc!)
25th - 27th April, Brecon Beacons

Improvers Navigation

Do you have basic route planning and navigation skills, but would like to be more confident in your navigation in the hills and mountains? Would you like to learn about bearings and micro-navigation techniques such as pacings and timings. Would you like to learn how to navigate in the dark or in whiteout conditions? Would you like to gain confidence walking on uneven ground and off path?

This course is ideal if you've already done our Intro to Hill Skills course, or are comfortable with basic route planning and navigation already. To join this course you should be familiar with OS maps, how to plan a route and following a map when you are out.

Upcoming courses:

27 - 29TH SEPTEMBER: LLANBERIS, SNOWDONIA

Location: Course based in Llanberis in Snowdonia
Timings: Evening session on Friday night starting at 7pm, then all day Saturday and all day Sunday, finishing around 5pm.
Cost: Course cost is £140. If you would like to pay in instalments, please contact steph@everybodyoutdoors.co.uk
Accommodation: Accommodation is not included. There are a number of options in Llanberis, including bunkhouse style accommodation at The Heights, B&B options throughout the town, and hotels such as The Royal Victoria.
Bursaries: We are offering a limited number of bursary tickets that will reduce the cost to £80. There is no strict criteria for these places, they are available for anyone for whom the cost is prohibitive and you can book a bursary place via the booking link below. If there is not an option for a bursary place, that means there are no spaces left.
Public Transport: The nearest train station is Bangor. We may be able to arrange lifts dependent on timings.
More info: Course information sheet here.
BOOK VIA THIS LINK

11 - 13TH OCTOBER: YHA ILAM HALL, PEAK DISTRICT - FULLY BOOKED

Location: Course based at YHA Ilam Hall in the south Peak District area
Timings: Evening session on Friday night starting at 7pm, then all day Saturday (including an evening session) and all day Sunday, finishing around 5pm.
Cost: Course cost is £200
Accommodation: Accommodation is included in a shared bunk room at the YHA. Food is not included. There is a self catering kitchen at the YHA or the option to buy food at the YHA restaurant.
Bursaries: We are offering a limited number of bursary tickets that will reduce the cost to £120. There is no strict criteria for these places, they are available for anyone for whom the cost is prohibitive and you can book a bursary place via the booking link below. If there is not an option for a bursary place, that means there are no spaces left.
More info: Course information sheet here
Public Transport: The nearest train stations around around 15-20 miles away (Uttoxeter, Belper, Buxton or Derby). We may be able to arrange lifts from stations dependent on timings.
JOIN THE WAITING LIST