Ordnance Survey – Great Britain's national mapping agency

Map Reading Skills - Pathfinder Guides from Pitkin Publishing

02 April 2008

Map Reading Skills - Pathfinder Guides from Pitkin Publishing

The perfect introduction to map reading and basic navigation!

With Ordnance Survey maps now showing Access Land, where walkers can explore freely, there has never been a better time to enjoy the countryside. And here is the ideal guide for walkers who want to do just that.  Map Reading Skills is perfect for walkers who want to learn basic map reading skills, and discover how to use and get the best from their compass. 

This guide is fully illustrated with maps, diagrams and photographs and leads the reader informatively and entertainingly through the following topics:

- Introducing the map
- Understanding map scale
- Understanding ‘North’
- The National Grid and grid references
- Rights of Way and Access Land
- Landscape features and their depiction on maps
- Calculating distance and heights
- Reading and interpreting maps
- Planning a walk
- Using maps and finding your way
- Introducing the compass
- Using and walking with a compass
- Introducing GPS

The author
Terry Marsh, a professional outdoor writer and photographer, has many years’ experience in teaching map reading and basic navigation skills. He is an award-winning writer with over 50 books to his credit, and is currently the Secretary of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild.

Map Reading Skills is one of 90 titles in the Pathfinder® and Short Walks series of walking guides. Country-wide, these guides describe more than 2,000 walks, with detailed Ordnance Survey mapping and easy-to-follow route instructions. From extended strolls to exhilarating hikes, there is a walk to suit everyone.

For more information and to buy the guide visit our map shop. Here you will find the full range of Pathfinder Guides.

For more detailed information about Pathfinder and Short Walks guides visit our website at www.totalwalking.co.uk

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