Navigation
This is a huge topic beyond the scope of this website. What follows is just some general information/advice for the inexperienced.
Mountain navigation is often much easier than finding your way around the road network with a road atlas or following an OS map in your local countryside - so if you've had problems with that in the past don't be put off. Mountain areas have fewer features to clutter up the map.
You do not need to be an ace navigator to take part in fell races
As long as you can read a map fairly well and can use a compass if all else fails to get your bearings then you'll be fine (see blow for a 'refresher' on this. Some experienced fell runners who take part in fell races all the time will admit to being a poor map reader.
There are some easy fell races that require hardly any navigational skills at all... and some fell races require good navigational skills, especially in poor weather and bad visibility. Check out before you go if the race will suit your level of experience/competence
If the weather is fair and the visibility is good then the navigation element of a race is markedly reduced or not relevant
Going on a recce (navigate your way around the fell race route beforehand) will make the navigational element much easier as you will recognise features and know where to turn and when you're on the right track during the race
If you've never done a fell race before, make your first an easy one and do it in good weather with good visibility
It is perfectly OK for you take a mobile phone with you on a fell race. It can be used in an emergency to contact others (but be aware reception may be poor). If you have mapping software on your phone you could use this in an emergency but you should inform the RO when you get back that you used it and you'll still be in the results but marked as NC (non-competitive) so are not eligible for prizes. The same applies to using a gps watch as a navigational aid. Have it as a backup, but only use it if you stray off route and get marked as NC in results.
If, when you look at a map, you see just a mass of incomprehensible squiggles, don't panic! You are not alone. To the uninitiated maps can be pretty confusing.