Learn essential outdoor navigation skills for Scouts, hikers and adventurers, including maps, compasses, bearings, GPS, grid references, orienteering and route planning.
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST If you realise you’re lost, stop and tell someone if you can. Continuing to walk without knowing where you are can make the situation much worse. If you’re in immediate danger, injured, lost after dark or unable to find your way to…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST If you lose your compass, don’t panic and don’t immediately try to navigate using guesses. If you aren’t certain of your location or direction, stop and reassess rather than continuing deeper into unfamiliar terrain. If you’re with a Scout group, tell your…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST If you lose your map, don’t simply carry on and hope you recognise the route. Stop and work out what you know before moving. If you don’t know where you are, don’t take unnecessary risks trying to find your way. Stay safe,…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST If you become separated from your group outdoors, your first priority is to stay safe — not to find everyone as quickly as possible. In many situations, stopping where you are is safer than wandering around looking for the group. If you’re…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST A compass bearing is a useful navigation tool, but a bearing on its own doesn’t tell you exactly where you are. When navigating outdoors, use a suitable map and compass together, consider the terrain and weather, and regularly check that your route…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Natural navigation can be useful, but it shouldn’t be treated as a replacement for a map, compass, GPS or other appropriate navigation equipment. Natural signs can be difficult to interpret and weather, season, location and local conditions can all affect them. When…
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Compass Basics A compass is one of the simplest and most useful navigation tools you can carry outdoors. Unlike…
A good outdoor adventure doesn’t start when you put your boots on. It starts with a map. Whether you’re planning a short Scout hike, a countryside walk with friends or your first independent day hike, knowing how to plan your route can make the difference…
When you’re outdoors, the landscape around you can provide a surprising amount of information. Hills, valleys, streams, ridges, woodland edges and other natural features can all help you understand where you are and which way you’re travelling. Learning to read these features is an excellent…
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Poor visibility can turn a familiar route into a challenging navigation exercise. Fog, heavy rain, snow, darkness and low…
