One of the most essential items in the walker’s pack is a decent map. With so many different types, which ones should you buy? Here’s a brief run-down of the maps available for outdoor activities in the UK by the Ordnance Survey, Harvey Maps. and others We reviewed the waterproof or laminated versions where possible in […]
Navigation Skills 3 – What’s the best map for walking? Read More »
You may recall our first look at the Compass Caddy a few weeks ago, so here’s an update on what’s in it for you if you support this innovative new bit of kit via Kickstarter. £1 – Gets you good karma, and your name on the website. £14 (or £12 if you get in early) for
Compass Caddy Kickstarter Update Read More »
We told you first about the Compass Caddy, and we’ve finally got out onto the mountains of Snowdonia (on the Marchllyn Circuit, if anyone’s interested) to test one of the first prototypes. As it’s been printed on a 3D printer, which is pretty cool in itself, we’re not reviewing this fully just yet as the build quality
Compass Caddy First Look Read More »
Ever got frustrated with trying to use your walking poles and compass at the same time? Well there’s now a solution, the Compass Caddy, or there will be if there are enough backers on Kickstarter to make this a reality! The Compass Caddy easily clips onto most standard walking poles, and holds your compass firmly in
Breaking News – Compass Caddy Kickstarter Read More »
While you should always carry a map and compass (and know how to use them!) a GPS device is still a useful bit of kit in the mountains. Our smartphones and tablets have come on leaps and bounds in the last few years and can be as useful as a proper GPS (close, but not
Navigational Skills 14 – What’s the Best OS Mapping for your Smartphone? Read More »
This is the classic map reading skill, where you can determine your location accurately by pinpointing two or three other features. Transit Lines – This is when a number of features will line up directly from one location. This will provide you with a perfect line – and you’ll be located somewhere along that line.
Navigation Skills 13 Resectioning Read More »
Often, just a map and a bit of observation can help you locate yourself. A few clues, built up can take you from having a vague idea of where you are to pin point accuracy. Of course, almost any feature on the map can help you locate yourself, but some of these won’t be immediately
Navigation Skills 12 Useful Features to Locate Yourself Read More »
There are even more techniques that help you follow your route accurately. These can be used when following a route in full visibility as well as when you’re following a bearing. They can used in conjunction with a bearing, or as a much more straightforward alternative. To follow a route well you’ll need to know: How far is
Navigation Skills 11 Keeping on Track Read More »
We’ve already mentioned the basics of taking a bearing, but you’ll need to master a few more skills in order to be able to follow it accurately. Take your bearing accurately. Practice, practice and practice. You’ll be very unlikely to take both the perfect bearing and follow it perfectly, so consider that for just a 1° error,
Navigation Skills 10 – Better Bearings Read More »
Why Take a Bearing? Navigation, in its simplest form is the art of getting from where you are to where you want to be, or from A to B. The most straightforward way to get from A to B is a straight line, or as the crow flies. This may not always be practical in
Navigation Skills 9 Taking a Bearing And Following it Read More »
So you can now read your map, you’ve got your route all planned out and you can identify a compass from 50 metres. You’ll be glad to know, you’re ready to try some skills out in the field. How to handle and hold the map Is it in a case? Don’t go with it hanging
Navigation Skills 8 Orienting, Setting or Thumbing the Map Read More »
What Compass? You’ll now need to buy a compass. We recommend that you get yourself kitted out this week ready for the next sections.You’ll also need 5 toggles, a map case and if you can’t store it in the map case then get a compass case. The compass does remain in place better on a
Navigation Skills 7 The Anatomy of the Compass Read More »
What counts as a decent brand of compass? We’ve used Silva, Suunto and Recta which tend to be quality compasses. I’ve a Suunto that’s now over 25 years old, it’s getting a bit dodgy, with something growing in the fluid, but still serves as an emergency compass. We’ll compare a standard Silva Explorer compass, which
Navigational Skills Cheap vs Expensive Compasses Read More »
What makes a good or unwise route? Bob wanted to plan a walk up onto Carnedd Llewelyn and then onto Carnedd Dafydd, starting from Bethesda. He was going to be dropped off at Gerlan, and picked up on the main road, so he planned a walk up Cwm Llafar, up to Llewelyn before following the
Navigational Skills 6 Planning a Route Read More »
Naismith’s rule, named after William W. Naismith, was devised in 1892 to estimate the time taken to cover distances in the mountains. He estimated that you: allow 1 hour per 5km walked and 1 hour for every 600m ascended. If you ever do a Mountain Leader or Navigation course, then you’ll have this drummed into
Navigational Skills 5 All you wanted to know about Naismith’s Rule and Route Timing Read More »
Tranter’s corrections are often quoted, but seem to be based on a strange premise of what constitutes fitness. The table below then corrects your Naismith Time depending on your level of ‘fitness’. It also goes as far as saying that this walk’s too much for you slow coach. All well and good, but my fully
Tranter’s Corrections? Read More »
What is a contour line? Contour lines denote the height of the land at any point along that line. So if you followed a 100m contour line around the hill, your altitude at every point would remain at 100m. That’s why traversing a hillside without loss or gain of height is known as contouring. Depending
Navigational Skills 4 All about Contours Read More »
The first thing you’ll need to get and become familiar with it the map. Forget the compass for now, that’s to come in a few weeks, so here’s the first few steps. We’ve mixed the article up with some videos from the Ordnance Survey site as well as a live map. You’ll need before you
Navigation Skills 2 Map to Basics Read More »
It’s essential to be able to navigate on the mountains, so we’ve put together an Introduction to Navigation series of articles that we’ll be publishing over the next few weeks that’ll give you the basic grounding. However, we suggest you invest in a good book, attend a course or join a more experienced hill goer. Or better
Navigation Skills 1 Why Learn to Navigate? Read More »
Map cases are never glamorous. The vision of a red socked rambler proudly walking with a map case hanging from his neck and flapping about in the wind seems to be one of those old clichés. I even went as far as using waterproof maps to avoid ever owning a map case. That’s all well and
Classic Gear Review 8 Ortileb Map Case Read More »
I’m usually torn when it comes to map cases. On some level, I think they’re useless and a waterproof map serves the purpose much better. On another, they work out cheaper if you need to buy loads of maps rather than just a couple. So when on home turf, I’m usually found with a waterproof
Berghaus Map Case Review Read More »
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