Navigation Training at your Leisure.

I was tidying up a few days ago and I found some lovely feedback I got from a participant on one of our two day NNAS Navigation Skills Courses a few years ago. It was quite a long note but the piece that made me think more was this.

“….Right from the start she made us feel relaxed and was extremely patient. I really enjoyed her company and was so pleased to find a normal person leading the course! I was afraid I would be trained by a gung-ho youngster, but instead I found our trainer was a really, really nice woman who didn’t care that I amble up hills. This course is very woman friendly (well everyone friendly, actually) and avoids any competition. Participants are not judged by their physical appearance and you won’t feel intimidated……”

Beck at Gordale Scar

It was nice to be called “normal” under these circumstances as I think I am! Everybody can get involved in navigation from all ages to a wide range of abilities. Over the years we have had triathlon competitors, ultra runners to women who are out walking their dogs on their own. I often fall into that category.

The point I want to make is that you do not need to be super-fit and you do not need to climb mountains to enjoy the feelings of freedom and adventure that you can get when out exploring the countryside with your map and compass.  In fact the fresh air and exercise, at whatever level, can help your fitness, reduce your stress and allow you to get some perspective in your life.  I love to go out walking and having some time away from work and other commitments. It works for me, every time.

Navigation skills can be taught all year round.

You do not need to be going very far, or very high to see beautiful views in the Yorkshire Dales but being able to read a map and use a compass confidently is essential to your enjoyment and safety.  Learning these skills with us can be done at a pace to suit you. I do not like having to worry about keeping up with other people especially when I am trying to learn. Your sole purpose becomes trying not to be left behind or look bad which is no state of mind for you to learn in. Gaining navigation skills is not about speed. Yes, there are elements when you need to time yourself covering a distance but that is about you learning what your speed is so you can make estimates on ground covered when you are the navigator.

None or our navigation  events are rushed but we thought that some people might like to come to the Yorkshire Dales to learn and develop their map and compass skills in a more leisurely way and one where they have also have time to spend exploring the area on their own. With this in mind we will be running a three day midweek Navigation Skills at your Leisure event on Monday 19th, Tuesday 20th & Wednesday 21st May. Each morning there will be 4 hours of skills training in a different place each time and then you will be free to explore the area on your own or relax at where you are staying. We can recommend different places for all budgets that welcome walkers and muddy boots. The 3 days will be a NNAS Bronze/Silver Course which is accredited with a certificate and badge on successful completion. If you do not want any form of assessment that will be entirely up to you so do not be put off. The cost of the three days is £126.00 and this will include a local, qualified and experienced instructor, the loan of a map and compass for the duration and a badge and certificate at the end. Want to know more? Contact me on 01729 824455 or email pam@yorkshiredalesguides.co.uk

Cannot do those dates?  If you like the idea of doing some training over a longer period but these dates are not suitable please get in touch as we can usually arrange other dates to suit. Don’t forget Yorkshire Dales Guides does not have any minimum numbers so once one person has booked on any of our events it will go ahead. There is nothing worse than making all your accommodation and travel arrangements to find out your course has been cancelled! Not with us.

Time for some planning

Holiday Evening Caving Trips – October Dates

Introductory Caving Trips suitable for individuals, couples and small groups. The caves are not tight and you can walk in many sections. There are some stooping and crawling sections and even a few optional squeezes if you would like. There are some deep pools, waterfalls and small climbs but nothing that an averagely fit person with a sense of adventure will not be able to do. It’s a great chance to do something a bit different with some of your family or friends in an area famous for its caves.

People often ask what is the difference between a cave and a pothole. In this area we tend to use the word caving more often than not. Officially caving is mostly a horizontal system with a few small climbs whereas potholing involves pitches which are vertical drops. These can range in size from a few metres to hundreds of metres.  This trip is definitely a caving trip. If you like it you can come back and learn some SRT to tackle before going an exploring on a vertical trip.

These Caving Trips start at 5.00 pm and finish at approximately 8.00 pm so not too late for the younger ones and time to go for a bar snack locally afterwards if you want.

Your local, qualified and very experienced instructor will meet you at the parking place nearest the cave near Horton-in-Ribblesdale and directions to the site will be given on booking.

Everyone will change into the caving kit at the road head and walk a short distance to the cave before going underground.

We supply – Caving oversuits, helmets, lights, belts, wellies, and all safety gear. We will supply you with a simple kit list on booking but it will not include the need for any specialist clothes. You will  need a full change of clothes for afterwards though as you will be getting a bit wet.

The minimum age is 8 years old. As we are an AALA  licensed provider we can take children under 18 without a parent or legal guardian being with us. We just need their written consent or verbal if you are bringing your own child to the caving venue.

The price is £25.00 per person. You can book and pay online or use our contact page to email or phone us.

Holiday Evening Caving Trips

Monday 21st October 2013

Tuesday 22nd October 2013

Monday 28th October 2013

Tuesday 29th October 2013

 

MORE HOLIDAY EVENING CAVING EXPERIENCES

 

Introductory and Intermediate Holiday Evening Caving Sessions.

You may have seen us taking Ade Edmondson caving on ITV’s The Dales on Monday night and would like to try caving too. If you are on holiday in the Three Peaks area of the Yorkshire Dales during any of the holidays or you or someone you know who lives locally has wanted to try caving then this is the trip for you.

You can book one of our early evening caving sessions that we run during the holidays.  The next one is Monday 7th May 2012. These trips are particularly aimed at families where perhaps only some want to give it a go. The minimum age is 8 years old. The caving trips are also open for couples and individuals.

Climbing down to Dr Bannisters

If you have been before and would like to visit another cave with some vertical sections then in the summer holidays we will be running theses intermediate sessions on Tuesday evenings.

Each Introductory or Intermediate Caving Experience costs £25.00 per person for a 3 hours with a qualified and experienced instructor and includes a caving oversuit, wellies, helmet, belt and light. They start at 5.00 pm and finish by around 8.00 pm

If you have younger children or a bigger family or group we would suggest you book a session for just you.

These trips cost from £160.00 for a group of up to 6 people which is less than £27.00 per person with all kit listed above plus fleece undersuits and a CD of photos of your adventure. The trip can then be geared towards your group and at a time and date suitable for you.

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL

Read more at Caving Courses

Caves in Flood Course

Due to several requests Dave Gallivan will be running this one day practical course. It is aimed at all cavers including those who maybe responsible for taking others caving but would equally be of use to individuals or club cavers.  It will be based on the Long Churn Caves above Horton-in-Ribblesdale and look at weather forecasts, high water indicators both above and below ground, and other factors to take into consideration when you decide to “Go or Not to Go?” 

For more information and dates

Caving Competition Result

 What was the name of the Cave – ALUM POT is the correct answer.

Several people got this right so we asked James at Castleberg Outdoors in Settle to pick one of the names “out of a hat” All written onto neatly folded pieces of paper so he could not see anything.  The winner he pulled out was Rachel Storry.  She is very happy about the caving but particularly pleased about the meal at The Traddock !

All the other people with the correct answer will be given a one off discount voucher for one of our activities.

Watch out for another competition soon.  This one will be aimed at walkers and/or people wanting to improve their navigation skills.  Its all part of celebrating our 20th year in business.

What is the name of the cave

Go Dales Caving Course Video

 

Caving group

We have now produced our first video on YouTube.   It is of the first caving trip with one of the young women’s groups with the Go Dales Project. The next session they took part in was learning vertical caving techniques (SRT) in our barn at Hornby Laithe near Stainforth, Settle. They learned to prussic and abseil up and down the ropes, traverse and pass belays. They used the ropes and platforms in our barn including our new high level traverse and wall. This is preparing them for their next trip underground when they will be using ropes to explore deeper into the cave. That’s when the real adventures begin.

SRT Wall

 

Watch the video at   http://bitly.com/dSAwTk  

More information on caving courses at all levels

 

Filming with Lakes TV

Dave YDG, John & Simon Lakes TV and Kevin from YDG. Pam of YDG took the pictures

 Last Tuesday we spent  a few hours going on a caving trip down Valley Entrance and into Kingsdale Master Cave with John McKeown of Lakes TV and their presenter Simon Rodger.  Due to the heavy rain the night before it was quite a wet and “sporting” trip but everyone had a good time and hopefully got some good footage. Watch this space for when the finished article is available. We can’t wait!

Simon Rodger talking to Dave Gallivan of YDG

 

 

 

Kevin making sure John McKeown is safe for his filming at the pitch head.

Simon coming out of the cave

Caving for young women – Take your breath away ……

HOLIDAY EVENING INTRODUCTORY CAVING TRIPS

Go beyond the show cave and explore the beauty of the Dales underground in a small group.

Are you on holiday in the Three Peaks area of the Yorkshire Dales during 2011 or maybe you are someone local who has always wanted to try caving?

These sessions are particularly aimed at families where perhaps only some want to give it a go. The minimum age is 8 years old. The caving trips are also open for couples and individuals.

The cost is £22.50 per person for a 3 hour trip with a qualified and experienced instructor and includes a caving oversuit, wellies, helmet, belt and light.

If you have younger children or a bigger family or group we would suggest you book a session for just you. The trip can then be geared towards your group and at a time and date suitable for you.

More information and dates or buy a session online.

Winter Caving Experience

Cave entrance on a winters day

Caving is one of the activities we offer that does not have to stop in the winter months.  Giant icicles hanging from the roof at the entrances and the fact that the cave environment is often warmer than it is outside give a new dimension to the experience.

We provide fleece undersuits, caving oversuits, wellies, helmets, belts and lights. All you need is some thick socks and perhaps a scarf and gloves for the walk to the cave entrance.  You would meet us at our barn for kitting up too before leading you up to the venue.  More information and booking