Lost in the Numbers
Lost in the numbers; navigation for brains that think differently
For many people, map reading is an enjoyable puzzle. For others, it’s a source of quiet dread.
If you live with dyscalculia, maths anxiety or simply find numbers slippery and hard to hold onto, navigating with a map and compass can feel overwhelming. It’s not a lack of intelligence or ability but rather a difference in how the brain processes numerical and spatial information.
That’s why we're running No Numbers Navigation; an online workshop designed especially for people who find handling numbers tricky (but more on that below!)
First, let’s talk about why traditional navigation teaching can feel so difficult to grasp and what can actually help.
What Is Dyscalculia and why does it affect navigation?
Dyscalculia is often described as ‘number dyslexia,’ though that’s a simplification. It’s actually a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how someone understands and manipulates numbers, quantities, sequences and sometimes spatial relationships.
But people with dyscalculia are not the only people who struggle in these areas. Those with neurodivergences such as ADHD, autistic traits, dyspraxia, dyslexia and various anxiety disorders also fall into this category, together making up around 10-15% of the population.
Difficulties arise because there are many mathematical concepts involved in navigating with a map and compass, such as grid references, bearings, contour intervals, distance, pacing and timing calculations to name but a few. Everyone is different of course but this leads to some common challenges such as;
Difficulty with numbers, scale, distance estimation
Trouble understanding ratios (e.g., 1:25,000 scale)
Struggling with bearings (e.g., 240°), angles, and basic arithmetic
Confusion converting map distance to real-world distance
Working memory challenges (holding route steps in mind)
Losing track of orientation
Difficulty with directional concepts
Trouble aligning map to terrain
Difficulty processing symbols quickly
Directional confusion (e.g. number or left/right reversals)
For some, learning to navigate in a group setting can be intimidating
My story
I have lived with dyscalculia since I was a child but I only got diagnosed more recently, as an adult. I struggled with times tables at school, I hated maths and avoided it at all costs. It shaped my life choices (at school and later university subjects), my career path and even basic adulting, now that I’m a mum with two kids. Some of my most stressful moments have been number-based exams and mountain leader training/assessments. The vacuum I experience in my head on a daily basis, makes me feel stupid, embarrassed and sometimes full of shame. But I’m not 'stupid' (and have plenty of letters after my name to prove it)! I have a PhD in neurobiology and am a qualified science teacher, which might go some way to explaining my fascination in this topic! But despite all this, I struggle with ‘really easy’ mental arithmetic and orientation/directional concepts. If you put me on the spot with a numerical question, my mind will often go completely blank, exacerbating an already struggling process. I’ve spent my whole life steering conversations away from numbers, cracking jokes and generally masking like a pro.
Know what else? I can navigate (it has taken me years to be able to say that!) I don’t have a great ‘sense of direction’ but I don’t need it - that’s what a map and compass are for. You just need to know how to use them. But therein lies the rub.
Learning how to navigate and build confidence has been a long journey for me. After my Summer Mountain Leader (SML) training, it took me a full decade to finally pluck-up the courage to take the assessment!
Navigation teaching often assumes comfort with numbers, which unintentionally deters people who process numerical information differently. But you can still be a good navigator. You might just need to do things a bit differently, take a bit more time over your decision-making or simply find you own way to do it.
The emotional side of number-based navigation
One of the biggest barriers isn’t ability, it’s confidence. Dyscalculia isn’t something that suddenly appears in adulthood. It’s a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference. Most adults with dyscalculia have been living with it since childhood, often without it being recognised or supported.
And that matters. Because the difficulty with numbers is only part of the story. The emotional imprint left by years of struggling is often just as significant. When number processing is neurologically harder, repeated difficulties (often experienced in public) can shape someone’s self-belief. And over time, this can become real anxiety, avoidance panic/mental block and low confidence. Being put on the spot or asked in front of a group to ‘work out the bearing’, can bring back that same feeling of blind panic, sending you into a flat spin. Experiences like this can make learning in a group setting (and navigation assessments especially) feel extremely daunting.
No numbers navigation
If maps have ever felt intimidating and especially if that’s because of numbers, symbols or ‘3D thinking’, then this workshop if for you. We take a calm, visual and practical approach:
Step-by-step explanations
Understanding before calculation
Simplified compass techniques
Reducing reliance on mental arithmetic
Building confidence gradually
Top tips for finding your own way with navigation
Okay, so we can't remove ALL the numbers but we can strip it back to basics to help you get to grips with the core concepts. If maps have ever felt confusing or stressful, this workshop is a supportive place to build confidence and discover how to learn at your own pace. There’s no pressure, no being asked to answer questions, no performing in front of others. You can simply listen-in from the comfort of your own home and practice in your own time. It’s suitable for walkers and runners, and absolutely no prior experience is needed.
Navigation is a skill, not a maths test
I hear these two phrases from people all the time; ‘I can’t navigate’ or ‘I’m just bad at maps’ but often they’ve never learned or simply haven’t been taught in a way that is accessible to them.
Even if you struggle with maths, you can get yourself safely around the mountains without getting lost in the numbers.
Join us this Wednesday at 7pm on Zoom (Weds 30th September). Don't worry if you can't make the time/date, just register and you'll receive the recording to watch in your own time.
REGISTER HERE.
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