This holiday was based at the Langstrath Inn and Knotts View B&B in Stonethwaite village, Borrowdale.

Everyone arrived over the late afternoon, and we all met up at the Langstrath Inn for a drink. We decided to have a chat about the basics of map reading while waiting for supper. It was a good opportunity to find out what the group's previous experience with maps and compasses - if any.

After dinner we played a card game in the Langstrath lounge, using a deck made up of OS map symbols - of course!

After breakfast we spent a couple of hours in doors to start with, using the big dining room table at the Langstrath Inn for looking at maps and discussing the basic concepts involved in map work and navigation.

Mid morning we headed out, and set off towards Castle Crag across the valley - stopping for a mid-morning drink in Rosthwaite on the way.

Women took turns at leading the group, working in pairs to take us to specific points on the map.

Those not leading had to keep track of where they were being led to - and on arrival we all compared notes.

Since this was the first day only, we concentrated on handrail style navigation - following identifiable features (a path, then a stream etc) to get to where you want to go.

This went so well that I was confident we could start to work with bearings the next day....

We started with another morning session around the table today, using the views out of the windows to identify the surrounding features.

Today at mid morning we set out towards Watendlath up the bridle path, detouring to Joppelty How.

Here there are some good open spaces for practising using a compass, taking bearings, and learning strategies for locating places off path.

This next photo (right) shows the group weeping for the camera after following a bearing across boggy ground.

4 of the group are staying at Knotts View B&B close to the Inn run by Ann Jackson - a mine of information about the area, including the origins of some the Borrowdale's interesting place names...

Blue sky this morning after a couple of overcast days.

Today, again in the warm dining room of the Langstrath, we went over a few more advanced navigation techniques.

Later we went out to consolidate all that we'd covered over the last two days.

Our route took us up onto High Doat with beautiful views of the surrounding high fells dusted with snow.

All too soon it was time to say goodbye and start our journey's home.

Women felt that they'd learned a lot, and were keen to keep practising the techniques they'd learned.