LIFESKILLS 101

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LIFESKILLS 101
BASIC NAVIGATION
Zoe OConnor, Heriot-Watt University
Mountaineering Club
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Outline
Using maps
The compass
Navigation techniques
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Maps Types of map and where to get them
Internet maps eg OS map option on Bing
Maps Club copies (Check website for map
list) Memory Map mapping software (Club has a
copy and can supply PDFs to print) Public
libraries Shops (Blacks, Tiso, Trespass,
Nevisport, Millets)
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Maps Scale and grid references
Ordnance Survey Maps Grid squares are 1km
x 1km (regardless of scale) Height is
measured in metres above sea level
British Grid Reference System
Britain divided up into 100km squares, labelled
by letters (eg NN)
Each of these is divided into 1km squares (grid
lines labelled 00 99)
Note to self the northings are the wrong way
round on this fix it!
Exercise taking grid references
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Maps Scale and grid references
150 000 scale 1mm on map represents 50 000mm
50m in reality
Covers large area might only need one page for
entire walk Features are easy to spot
125 000 scale 1mm on map represents 25 000mm
25m in reality
More detailed better for more accurate
navigation, but can lead to confusion if you
dont find a small feature you were looking for
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Maps Map symbols (OS version)
If in doubt Check the map key!
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Maps Contour lines
A contour line is a line drawn on a map joining
places of equal height above sea-level.
View
OS maps Contour lines at 10m intervals with
thicker lines at 50m intervals
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Maps Contour lines
Gentle slope
Steep slope
Ring contour (top of hill)
Saddle point (Pringle shape)
Spur
Re-entrant
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Maps Orientating your map
Your map will only look like this
If youre facing north
otherwise it will probably look something like
this
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Behold! The Compass!
Exercise Orientating a map using the compass
Caution! The magnetic needle can be interfered
with by metal/magnetic objects, such as
electronics (phone, watch, GPS), cattle grids,
metal fences, walking axe (if steel), iron in
hills (Skye!)
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Compass Bearings
Taking a bearing Point the compass in the
direction you want to travel Line up the bevel
lines with Magnetic North (the compass
needle) Read off the bearing
Following a bearing Rotate the bevel until the
bearing matches the direction of travel
arrow Point the compass out in front of
you Rotate yourself (and the compass!) until the
needle lines up with the bevel lines
This works the same whether youre
taking/following the bearing off the map or off
an object you see in front of you.
Exercise bearings using maps, bearings using
scenery
When walking on a bearing, pick out a distant
object on that bearing (preferably something
which doesnt move) and walk towards that. When
you reach it, repeat until youre at your goal.
When you switch from the real life to the map
or vice versa you need to account for magnetic
variance
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Compass Grid North vs. Magnetic North

• Can be as much as 4 in Scotland
• Check map for local variation
• Up-to-date maps more accurate (changes year by
  year)

How significant is the error?
Grid Bearing 282
Magnetic bearing 286
Without adjusting for magnetic variance
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Navigation Skills Judging distance
Pacing Average person 60 left-steps per 100m on
the flat More steps on rough ground, steep
ground Fewer steps on gentle downhill, roads
Timing Average walking speed 4kph Slower Steep
uphill/downhill, rough/boggy ground, blisters,
tired, heavy bag, unfit Faster Gentle
downhill Naismiths Rule 1 min per 10m ascent
-1 min per 300m gentle descent 1 min per 300m
steep descent
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Navigation Skills Route choice
Example Find the church!
Identify Attack Points (Find something obvious to
aim for)
Handrailing following a linear feature (fence,
road, treeline, river, lakeside)
Wrong Direction (Heading South)
Catching features (How do you know if youve gone
too far?)
Aiming off useful when aiming for a particular
point in a linear feature e.g. junction, split in
a stream
N
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Some last words
Practice these skills every time you go out into
the hills
particularly translating map-to-real-life
(heights, distances, slopes etc)
If you want someone to show you how to set the
map, take a bearing, etc when youre on a walk
then ask someone!
In Scotland, on the top of a hill, in winter, you
will (more than likely) find yourself in fog.
Pacing, timing, and setting bearings may be
essential, particularly if the path is covered in
snow (also highly likely)
Dont rely on other people to know where you are.
They might be wrong (it happens more often than
youd think!) and what if the group splits?
(Someone gets an injury or gets cold and wet and
decides to turn back it could be you!) This is
also why you should bring your own map compass.