Here’s our simple guide to navigation to help you on your way….

Equipment

Before you set out you need to make sure that you have a good orienteering compass and an up to date Ordnance Survey map for the area you will be covering. Wearing combat trousers or a jacket with lots of pockets as part of your outdoor clothing will help you carry and access these items conveniently. GPS units work well but can be expensive and you will need to take extra batteries with you. Don’t rely on technology because if it fails, you will come unstuck. Make sure you have at least basic navigation skills to fall back on.

Map Reading

Your Ordnance Survey map will be divided into squares, each of which represents one kilometre. Features such as farms and churches are shown via a key while contour lines show the gradient of the land. By pinpointing the features around you and locating them on your map, you will be able to find out what your position is using the squares on the map.

Taking a Bearing

This is a very simple skill to learn and will enable you to find your way to your destination. First, find the two points on the map that you want to travel from and to and align your compass along the route. Next, rotate the compass housing until the orienteering lines in the centre are pointing towards the top of your map. Now rotate the dial until the North pointer lines up with the index line. The bearing at the bottom of the direction-of-travel arrow at the index line, is your bearing. To head in the right direction you will need to re-orientate your compass by turning it around until the magnetic north needle points in the same direction as the orienteering arrow. The direction-of-travel arrow will now be pointing to the direction you need to walk in to reach your destination.

Using a Compass

A compass should be quickly and easily accessible from your pockets, so pick the right outdoor clothing. Your compass needle will always point to Magnetic North – this is different to what is shown on your map which is known as Grid North. Take your bearing from the Grid North on the map, and make your adjustments. Once you’ve done that, use your compass to establish north on the ground, then follow your bearing.

Remember, practice makes perfect so get navigating!