Skills for the Hills: Do you know where you are going??
- 1:50000 = 1cm equates to 50,000 cm on the ground (500m) and 1km = 2cm on the map
- 1:40000 = 1cm equates to 40,000 cm on the ground (400m) and 1km = 2.5cm on the map
- 1:25000 = 1cm equates to 25,000 cm on the ground (250m) and 1km = 4cm on the map
- Check out the Romer scale on your compass to help measure distance on a map, depending on which scale of map you are using.
- 1:50000 = 1cm equates to 50,000 cm on the ground (500m) and 1km = 2cm on the map
- 1:40000 = 1cm equates to 40,000 cm on the ground (400m) and 1km = 2.5cm on the map
- 1:25000 = 1cm equates to 25,000 cm on the ground (250m) and 1km = 4cm on the map
- Check out the Romer scale on your compass to help measure distance on a map, depending on which scale of map you are using.
- 1:50000 = 1cm equates to 50,000 cm on the ground (500m) and 1km = 2cm on the map
- 1:40000 = 1cm equates to 40,000 cm on the ground (400m) and 1km = 2.5cm on the map
- 1:25000 = 1cm equates to 25,000 cm on the ground (250m) and 1km = 4cm on the map
- Check out the Romer scale on your compass to help measure distance on a map, with measuring bars tailored to the different scales of map
- 1:50000 = 1cm equates to 50,000 cm on the ground (500m) and 1km = 2cm on the map
- 1:40000 = 1cm equates to 40,000 cm on the ground (400m) and 1km = 2.5cm on the map
- 1:25000 = 1cm equates to 25,000 cm on the ground (250m) and 1km = 4cm on the map
- Check out the Romer scale on your compass to help measure distance on a map, with measuring bars tailored to the different scales of map
- For a bit more advice to help de-mystify map choice, watch this handy video from Glenmore Lodge:
- For a bit more advice to help de-mystify map choice, watch this handy video from Glenmore Lodge:
- For a bit more advice to help de-mystify map choice, watch this handy video from Glenmore Lodge:
- For a bit more advice to help de-mystify map choice, watch this handy video from Glenmore Lodge:
On some of the OS 1:25 000 maps 5 metre contours have also been introduced e.g. on the new edition for the Campsie Fells. Harvey Maps always have 15 metre contour intervals.
To help highlight the relief of the ground and make it easier to assess height gain or loss, index contours are marked in a thicker bold line every 50 metres on OS maps and every 75 metres on Harvey maps. Harvey maps use grey as well as brown contour lines to highlight predominantly rocky ground.
On some of the OS 1:25 000 maps 5 metre contours have also been introduced e.g. on the new edition for the Campsie Fells. Harvey Maps always have 15 metre contour intervals.
To help highlight the relief of the ground and make it easier to assess height gain or loss, index contours are marked in a thicker bold line every 50 metres on OS maps and every 75 metres on Harvey maps. Harvey maps use grey as well as brown contour lines to highlight predominantly rocky ground.
Contours appear every 10 metres on OS maps. On some of the OS 1:25 000 maps 5 metre contours have also been introduced e.g. on the new edition for the Campsie Fells. Harvey Maps always have 15 metre contour intervals.
To help highlight the relief of the ground and make it easier to assess height gain or loss, index contours are marked in a thicker bold line every 50 metres on OS maps and every 75 metres on Harvey maps. Harvey maps use grey as well as brown contour lines to highlight predominantly rocky ground.
Contours appear every 10 metres on OS maps. On some of the OS 1:25 000 maps 5 metre contours have also been introduced e.g. on the new edition for the Campsie Fells. Harvey Maps always have 15 metre contour intervals.
To help highlight the relief of the ground and make it easier to assess height gain or loss, index contours are marked in a thicker bold line every 50 metres on OS maps and every 75 metres on Harvey maps. Harvey maps use grey as well as brown contour lines to highlight predominantly rocky ground.
Grid North is the layout on your map with the North/South grid lines running vertically up and down the map. Your compass operates on the earth’s magnetic field and there is a difference between the two depending on where you are in the world and which year you are in.
In 2017 here in Scotland the magnetic variation is so small it is just not worth bothering with (around 1 degree in Aviemore in July 2017). So literally just take the bearing off the map and walk on it.
- Find out more about the different kinds of North with Ordnance Survey
- Check out the British Geographical Survey's magnetic angle calculator for your location!
Grid North is the layout on your map with the North/South grid lines running vertically up and down the map. Your compass operates on the earth’s magnetic field and there is a difference between the two depending on where you are in the world and which year you are in.
In 2017 here in Scotland the magnetic variation is so small it is just not worth bothering with (around 1 degree in Aviemore in July 2017). So literally just take the bearing off the map and walk on it.
- Find out more about the different kinds of North with Ordnance Survey
- Check out the British Geographical Survey's magnetic angle calculator for your location!
Grid North is the layout on your map with the North/South grid lines running vertically up and down the map. Your compass operates on the earth’s magnetic field and there is a difference between the two depending on where you are in the world and which year you are in.
In 2017 here in Scotland the magnetic variation is so small it is just not worth bothering with (around 1 degree in Aviemore in July 2017). So literally just take the bearing off the map and walk on it.
- Find out more about the different kinds of North with Ordnance Survey
- Check out the British Geographical Survey's magnetic angle calculator for your location!
Grid North is the layout on your map with the North/South grid lines running vertically up and down the map. Your compass operates on the earth’s magnetic field and there is a difference between the two depending on where you are in the world and which year you are in.
In 2017 here in Scotland the magnetic variation is so small it is just not worth bothering with (around 1 degree in Aviemore in July 2017). So literally just take the bearing off the map and walk on it.
- Find out more about the different kinds of North with Ordnance Survey
- Check out the British Geographical Survey's magnetic angle calculator for your location!
- Check out this useful wee film from Glenmore Lodge about how to use pacing when you are navigating on the hill:
- Check out this useful wee film from Glenmore Lodge about how to use pacing when you are navigating on the hill:
- Check out this useful wee film from Glenmore Lodge about how to use pacing when you are navigating on the hill:
- Check out this useful wee film from Glenmore Lodge about how to use pacing when you are navigating on the hill:
- Read more about some of these techniques on our website (scroll down to the bottom of this page)
- Find out about Mountaineering Scotland's one-day navigation courses to learn more with the help of expert instructors and other people who want to hone their techniques!
- Read more about some of these techniques on our website (scroll down to the bottom of this page)
- Find out about Mountaineering Scotland's one-day navigation courses to learn more with the help of expert instructors and other people who want to hone their techniques!