
- Member of the Mountain Training Association
- MTA Hill & Moorland Leader
- DofE Assessor
- ITC Level 3 Award in Outdoor First Aid
- Bronze, Silver & Gold NNAS Award holder
Learning navigation skills is all about you, but you may want to know a bit about me.
My name is Michael Hatch and I founded Red Kite Navigation in 2022. This followed many years working as a mountain leader and cultural tour manager all over Europe, and then in the offices of a hiking tour operator in the UK, The time came when I wanted to spend more time out of doors and help people to get more out of their time in the countryside. I prefer remote places and little-used trails, and the best way to find these special places is by using a map and compass. I hope I pass my enthusiasm for this on to my clients.
Using a map and compass is above a lot of fun, so learning how to do it should also be engaging, informative and entertaining. I really enjoy my days with clients, whether they are complete beginners or want to take their skills to the next level. At the end of the day in the hills my clients are invariably buzzing with enthusiasm, ready to take on challenges they never thought possible.
I live near St Albans, so base my training days in the Chilterns, mainly near Berkhamsted, Tring, Chorleywood and Wheathampstead. I also run courses in the North Downs near Dorking These areas are perfect for honing navigation skills, having a variety of beautiful walks and interesting navigational terrain at any time of year.
If you have any special requests or would like to find out more about any of the courses I run, please email me on michael@redkite-navigation.com.