Navigation - Map and Compass Technique

This practical guide will help you get the most out of your map and give you the key skills to using your compass. It’s then down to you. Practice will make perfect, and with that will come the freedom and confidence to enjoy our hills and mountains.

As I sit at my computer writing this book, maps and compasses, the tools of the trade of the walker and hiker, surround me. A dozen compasses hang from shelves to my right, and behind me a stack of maps threatens to overwhelm their perch. Piles of CD-ROMs containing digital maps sit nearby, and there are at least four GPS receivers cluttering up the top of the filing cabinet. Navigation is very much a part of my life.

I started using maps and compasses in earnest over 20 years ago, and since then have derived a great deal of pleasure from them. Yet many people venturing into the hills and mountains consider them almost as an add-on, a second thought. Call it cowardice if you like – I prefer to call it common sense – but I would never think of going for a walk without a map at the very least.

Maps are a tremendous source of information and inspiration. They are a graphical representation of what we find on the ground and provide an excellent picture of what you’re likely to find whilst out on a walk. They’ll entice you to explore new areas or to reassess those you thought you knew well.

Owning a compass isn’t everything; knowing how and when to use it is! Contrary to what many walkers believe using a compass is straightforward and an easy skill to learn. The difficult part is knowing when it would be wise to use your skills, and when not to.

This practical guide will help you get the most out of your map and give you the key skills to using your compass. Then it’s down to you. As with any technique, knowledge alone isn’t enough. Practice will make perfect, and with that will come the freedom and confidence to enjoy our hills and mountains.