Navigation

Ben Nevis

a good example of a

potential serious problems for the navigator

it has many paths up to its summit,

they can all be a very tricky
(even dangerous)

it's not a place to use to learn
to navigate

Navigation can be a tricky business,
after all I should know having been lost more times than I can remember.

I have been walking along not paying attention and found myself on the wrong peak, this is fine when in reasonable weather.

But YOU MUST know how to rectify this mistake

for organisations concerned with the teaching of navigation see the links at main Navigation index

In the meantime learn the theory of navigation basics

National

Grid

Britain’s national grid
system is unique,
most countries use the Latitude and Longitude system of establishing position

The National grid system is very easy to use and very accurate to use

Learn how to use it, Understand the 100 km. main grid squares, the sub division into 1 Km. grid squares and accurate use of six figure grid references

North	True North	Is the North that is the actual "real" North, it is the top of the North / South axis around which the earth rotates. It is the North pole. However it is not used in navigation as grid North is much easier to use.
or North	Grid North	Is the northerly direction of the North-South grid lines on a map. The Grid starts at Greenwich, and uses lines of Longitude and Latitude. It is then sub devised into smaller areas (as used by the national grid.)
or North	Magnetic North	Is the North that the red end of the compass point is attracted to, and is therefore used for direction finding. It is a magnetic field in the earth’s crust that can reliably used for navigation. As we can calculate exactly where this North is, we can also calculate the difference between this and Grid North thus allowing us to determine correct direction of travel. Remember ~ The Magnetic North varies in different parts of the world
Gives you North	Magnetic Variation	There is the difference between magnetic north and grid north, because of this difference, we use a "Magnetic variation" when working from one to the other. This variation is found in the margin information of the map, it varies according to how far East or West you are, and alters with time. When transferring from map to the field this variation must be added, (and vice versa.)

This is the map monkey
look for him on my Site

r u a map monkey ?

do not look like this
when Navigating

Keep your map handy in all weathers

Remember a map is no good in a rucksack,
even in the rain keep it handy.
Use either a map case or have your map laminated.

It is often useful to cut out the area that you are to use
and laminate it, or cover in plastic
thus creating a map of waterproof manageable size.
(if you do this - remember to ensure your map
has grid numbers along each axis)