INTRODUCTION TO NAVIGATION

INTRODUCTION TO NAVIGATION

Reading a map is an essential skill for planning a walk and for knowing where you are.

You don’t need to be able to use a compass to lead a low level walk, but it can help. It is however essential to be competent in using a compass for leading remote and challenging walks.

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MAPPING BASICS

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1:25000 Explorer

Best to check date of issue as landmarks can change over time. Other maps are available, such as

Harvey's.

MAP TYPES

1:50000 Landranger

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4

5

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION!

WHERE AM I?

Give everyone 4 or 5 Grid References from the map and ask them to identify what they find there

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7

MEASURING SCALE

1:25 000 OS Explorer

1:50 000 OS Landranger

It might help you to remember that the larger the number in the scale, the smaller the scale of the map will be.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION!

MAP SYMBOLS

Split into groups and identify

the symbols

8

CONTOURS

How high is each hill?

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Contours closer together at top

Contours closer together at bottom

12AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION!

13MAP FEATURES

14PARTS OF A COMPASS

ALIGNING THE MAP WITH THE REAL WORLD

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(building)

(bridge)

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Read the bearing off here

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To follow the bearing:

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MEASURING DISTANCE

Grid squares

String method

Straight edge

Map measurer

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AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION!

FIND YOUR WAY

Give everyone 3 or 4 end points and ask them to identify what they are, the distance from each start to each end point and the bearing between them

START POINT GR X

WHAT IS FOUND THERE?

END POINT GR Y

WHAT IS FOUND THERE?

BEARING FROM X TO Y AND DISTANCE

438005

High House

405013

Youth Hostel at High Cross Castle

285 degrees

3.38 km

EXAMPLE

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TIMING YOUR WALK

When looking at timings for your walk consider:

• walking speed (vary with terrain, stiles, party etc)

Kph mins per km

3 20

3.5 17

4 15

4.5 13.3

5 12

• Climbing hills – Naismith’s rule 30 mins extra per 300m ascended (1 min per 10m contour line)

• Stops, including comfort breaks, lunch, etc…

• Contingency

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More advice and guidance can be found at the walk leaders pages of the Ramblers website:

www.ramblers.org.uk/Volunteer/AreaGroup/Resources/Led+Walks.htm

or email ledwalks@ramblers.org.uk

Thanks to all Ramblers groups whose websites were the source of some of the pictures.

FURTHER GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT

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