Natural navigation expert Tristan Gooley visits CH

Christ’s Hospital welcomed natural navigation expert Tristan Gooley on 18 November, as he joined around 40 pupils from our Blues’ Expedition and Exploration Society (BEES) for a hands-on, outdoor session.

Tristan is founder of the Natural Navigator school and is the only living person to have both flown solo and sailed singlehanded across the Atlantic. Vice Chair of Trailfinders and a global authority on using nature’s own signposts, he has sold millions of books on the subject.

The visit began with a short talk in which Tristan introduced the principles of natural navigation – from reading trees and water to understanding the sun’s position. Pupils then set out on a navigation exercise using maps and compasses. After 15 minutes, the group were asked to put their equipment aside and switch to navigating using only clues from the natural environment. Guided by Tristan, pupils learned to identify subtle indicators in the landscape before returning to their original task and integrating their new skills.

The session offered a unique chance for BEES pupils to expand their confidence outdoors and discover how ancient techniques remain both relevant and rewarding.