Services
Introduction to Walking Days
To help take the step from walking along paths and country lanes to the upland regions of Great Britain, Compass Rose utilises the Chiltern Hills and North Wessex Downs to introduce navigation including map and compass, timing and pacing and what to do if temporarily misplaced.
What to carry can be a confusing task, especially with the array of clothing and equipment for sale. We can advise you what to carry in your rucksack for a day in the hills and on equipment and clothing.
The weather can make or break a day on the hills; we can look at sources of weather information and interpret this as to how it can affect your day.
All our walks will encourage discourse on the upland environment considering access, history, flora and fauna, geology and local mythology. This is a two way experience as we all have something to add and learn.
Mountain/Hill Days
On the mountain days we can take what we have experienced in the local hills and put it into practice in the uplands of Great Britain. (The Introduction Days are not a prerequisite for the mountain/hill days.) Locations will include: Snowdonia and the classic ascents of Snowdon; the Lake District where we can explore the Langdale’s, Scafell or Helvellyn following in Wainright’s footsteps; Scotland where we can explore the dramatic hills of Glencoe on the West Coast or the massive plateau of Cairngorm on the East Coast.
On the mountain days we can consider in more detail: equipment; the weather and the effects of the mountains on weather patterns; route finding; identifying hazards; navigation, looking at interpreting maps in more detail using contours and features.
Rock Climbing and Abseiling
At Compass Rose we can either incorporate a taster session of rock climbing and abseiling into a weekend of walking or, for those who wish to, we can arrange for a weekend of climbing.
This is an introduction to climbing and will take place at single pitch venues. Sessions will include personal equipment, climbing and protection aids and the basic techniques required to climb safely.
Venues could include Snowdonia with the dramatic Llanberis Pass as a back drop or Shepherds Crag in Cumbria.
We can also arrange for climbing wall sessions at our local climbing wall over winter to increase fitness, confidence and practice basic skills.
Team Development
Businesses with small workforces cannot function without teamwork and the ability to multitask. Working together will improve relationships, increase productivity and develop the ability to solve problems. Activities also allow for an avenue to let off steam. Incorporated with a social event, for example a BBQ or a meal, team development tasks will do much to bring a team together.
Team Development programmes can be full or half days at a venue of your choice. The programme will focus on:
- Planning
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Reviewing
The nature of the activities is levelling, where everyone will have the chance to come to the front as a leader or planner or doer. All activities need a planning stage where communication is important, especially the ability to listen and present ideas. The doing stage requires constant reviewing and micro changes to the plan to ensure success, also a sense of humour and not taking yourself too seriously. Finally a review of the activity, looking at what worked, what didn’t and how lessons learned can be taken to the work place.
Accommodation and Transport
Flexibility is the key. At Compass Rose we have the luxury of entertaining small groups, where a degree of flexibility can ensure an appropriate itinerary where everyone ’s needs and objectives are catered for.
As part of our commitment to the environment we encourage participants to share transport to venues wherever it is practical. Directions and information will be provided during the booking process.
Accommodation is purely down to individual tastes, however to allow for continued learning, sharing of experiences and reinforcing friendships with like minded people, we recommend accommodation close to the start and finish point of the walk.
A list of accommodation is available on request. All the accommodation features in the UK’s No 1 travel guide series ‘Good Guides’, all the establishments have been carefully selected through recommendations and experience.
Please see booking instructions for equipment and medical details.
