Basic Navigational Skills for Women

Your Gateway to Hidden Treasures!

Learning basic navigational skills is your gateway to discover hidden waterfalls, conquer epic peaks, and simply banish the fear of getting lost on a countryside walk!

At Women Outdoors, we understand the joy (and sometimes fear) that comes with venturing into the wild. That’s why we’re here to empower you with the knowledge and confidence to navigate like a pro!

We realise there are a few bits to learn, and practice definitely makes perfect, but below are our best pointers to get you heading in the right direction! That’s a good start at least! However, for those that would like a more detailed guide, why not join other ladies on a Women Outdoors Beginners Navigation Course in the beautiful Peak District National Park?

First Step - Learn The Art of Map Reading!

There are three main things you need, which go hand in hand together, a map, a compass and a sense of adventure!

First things first, you need to choose the right map for your chosen area. OS Maps really are your gateway to adventure! These detailed maps reveal every twist and turn of the trails, helping you plan your route and identify landmarks and features. Again, using code AF-WOUTDOORS-M1, you’ll get 10% discount too!

Learning to understand the scale of the map, will help you determine distances accurately. The most common scale for Ordnance Survey (OS) maps for hiking is 1:25,000, meaning that everything is 25,000 times smaller on the map than in real life. This is represented by 4 centimetres on the map equalling 1 kilometre in real life. There are other scales, such as 1:50,000 meaning, everything is 50,000 times smaller on the map, resulting in less detail and less features. Understanding the scale will help you measure the distance and calculate how long the walk will take you, as detailed in Step 3 below.

By familiarising yourself with common map symbols representing features like roads, footpaths, walls, water bodies and landmarks, you’ll be able to get a much greater understanding of where you can and can’t walk and what landmarks to look out for to guide you on your way. All list of all OS Symbols can be found here, which is a really good to study before you head out with your map and compass: https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/guides/guide-to-os-map-symbols/

Understanding the Contour Rule is a really important tool too! The distance between each contour line equates to an incline or decline of 10 metres. Therefore, the closer the lines are together, the steeper the incline or decline. Understanding this, enables you to plan a route that suits your fitness levels and stamina.

By learning how to how to read grid references, you’ll be able to pinpoint specific locations on the map. If you’re given a grid reference, you can use the letter that corresponds to the vertical grid line and the number that corresponds to the horizontal gridline, to find the nearest box on the map, so you can head for your chosen point.

The best bit – using all of the above pointers, you can then learn how to create your very own chosen routes!

Second Step - Learn How to Use a Compass!

Once you’ve familiarised yourself with your map, the next step is to learn to use it in conjunction with your compass.

Most compasses have a red arrow which points to magnetic north. By holding the compass flat and turning it until the red arrow aligns with the north marker on the compass, you can soon find which direction is north! That’s your first hurdle sorted!

Once you know which direction is north, you can then align your map (which also has an arrow pointing north). You’ll then be able to match your surroundings with those mirrored on your map, looking out for landmarks, paths, roads, etc. This is known as ‘’setting your map’’.

By pointing your compass at your chosen destination, you can then determine the direction of your chosen interim landmark or final destination. A number will be shown on your compass, known as the bearing. You then need to ensure you keep to that same bearing as you head in a straight line towards your chosen destination! As I’m sure you can appreciate ladies, this is a little difficult to explain without a demonstration, so here’s a really handy video to explain how to take a compass bearing. Or of course, why not join a Women Outdoors Navigation Course where you can be taught all this in person, with other lovely ladies!

There are many compasses on the market, however, here at Women Outdoors, we always recommend Silva Expedition 4 Compass. It has all the features you could need whilst developing your navigational skills, fits perfectly into your pocket, but best of all, by using code AF-WOUTDOORS-M1, you’ll get 10% discount too!

Third Step - Understanding Distance & Timings!

Now for the best bit! Once you understand your map and compass, you can then start to calculate the distance and timings, so that you can plan your chosen route, and start to plan your next adventure!……………

Keep Your Eye on The Forecast!

The weather in the UK is notorious for sudden change! You can be heading off on your hike in glorious sunshine, only to be blessed with heavy rain, or even worse, thick fog which can really hinder your sense of direction, so be sure to check the forecast before heading out on your hike.

It’s really important to keep your map clean and dry, so that you can keep a close eye on your route, whatever the weather. Here at Women Outdoors, we always recommend a Waterproof Map Case such as this one from Cotswold Outdoors, with our usual 10% disccount using code AF-WOUTDOORS-M1.

For more of our tried and tested hiking kit, and more discounted items, check out our Hiking Kit List For Women here!

Join the Women Outdoors Navigation Crew!

We appreciate that all of this may sound quite a lot to take in – you’d be right to be fair! That’s why we provide regular Beginners Navigation Courses in the beautiful Peak District National Park!

Our supportive, all-female navigation courses are designed to take you from map-fumbling newbie to a confident outdoor navigator. Imagine the thrill of conquering a challenging hike, knowing you planned your very own route!

Our friendly female instructors will break down navigation skills into easy-to-understand steps. They’ll teach you essential map reading, compass work and route planning in a safe and supportive environment, while you have fun and connect with other like-minded ladies, who share your passion for discovering the great outdoors!

So, whether you choose to join us at Women Outdoors, or go it alone – grab your boots, your map, your compass and your sense of adventure, and let’s get navigating, ladies!