UK ISAR team from across the country came together in June to take part in the UK ISAR International Navigation Course, hosted by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in the Cairngorm National Park.
Held from 16–19 June 2026, the four-day course provided delegates with the opportunity to develop and enhance the traditional navigation skills essential for operating safely in remote wilderness search and rescue environments.
The training began at Forfar Community Fire Station before moving into the southern Cairngorm National Park, where participants completed a combination of classroom-based learning and practical exercises in challenging terrain.
Throughout the course, students received instruction in a range of core navigation disciplines, including map awareness, compass use, pacing for distance, contour interpretation, understanding magnetic variation, resection and triangulation, speed, time and distance calculations, navigation aids, night navigation and route planning.
The practical element of the programme allowed delegates to put these skills into practice in realistic scenarios, culminating in a student-led confirmation exercise that tested their ability to navigate confidently and safely across remote terrain using traditional map and compass techniques.
The course was designed to build confidence in navigation without relying on satellite-based systems, ensuring UK ISAR personnel continue to develop the resilience and capability required to operate effectively in environments where technology may be unavailable or unreliable.
Hosted by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the course brought together personnel from UK ISAR teams across the UK, providing an excellent opportunity not only to develop individual competence but also to share operational experience and strengthen relationships between partner organisations.
