If you’re a complete beginner, you could try working through our booklet on map reading skills here: There are also many organisations across Britain who offer map reading and navigation courses to ensure people can safely get out and explore the country.The easiest way to remember the mag variation (declination) rule is GRID (from the Map) to MAG, ADD.
Walk around in a circle until you have the compass needle lined up with the orienting arrow. In the military mils can also be used for judging scale and distance.Mils are a ratio of 1:1000, so that at 1000 yds or meters, 1 mil graduation means 1 yd or meter separation at that distance. They’ve had a quick internet search and believe the compass in question is a military style compass of some description. (im assuming 2 degrees is the diffrence for this date 31-12-2015 but to be honest im not sure of this ) please help as i just dont get itThe degree of magnetic variation is different across Britain, so we always show the variation for each area on each OS map. A compass helps you to find where you are and find your way; this is very useful but can be critical if you get lost and visibility is poor.Compasses come in many designs, but most compass features are the same as those found in an all-time classic compass like the Silva Ranger. We’ll be talking about this in more detail next week.To start with you need to know where you are on the map (point A) and where you want to go to (point B).Line up point A and B with either the side of your compass or one of the black lines running down the base plate, making sure that the direction of travel arrow is point in the direction you want to go in (so towards point B).Now you want to turn the compass housing bezel so that the “N” on the bezel and the orienteering arrow are point to grid north (the top of the map). The first is true north – this is where the north pole is and for the purposes of navigation can be ignored. Thanks!I think the best thing to do would be to check the user guides for Brunton on this one, they’re available here: We use Silva in our guides and advice and don’t have access to a Brunton compass to check this one out.I can not work out what this scale does, nor unfortunately can the staff in my local outdoor shop. Hold the compass flat and near your body, with the big 'direction of travel' arrow pointing straight ahead. Ignore any references to 'true north' as we don't need them. )This is fabulously easy to follow! If not have a quick look at our beginners Get the map flat - a stiff map case, flat rock or your knee works.Line up point A and B with either the side of your compass or one of the black lines running down the base plate, making sure that the direction of travel arrow is point in the direction you want to go in (so towards point B).A compass with a larger base is useful here for covering longer distances, but you can use a straight edge with a smaller compass.Now, hold the compass still and turn the compass housing Try to get this as accurate as possible - and if you have folded your map check which way is north!Again, ignore what the compass needle is doing at this stage.Now you need to allow for the difference between magnetic north and grid north. Walk around in a circle until you have the compass needle lined up with the orienting arrow.Look up, following the direction of travel arrow and pick a natural feature or landmark that is directly in line with where you are looking / where the direction of travel arrow points to.Walk towards this landmark and once there check your bearing, pick another landmark to walk towards. Learn how to create your own. Compass bearing, in degrees, minutes and seconds and decimal, adjusted for magnetic declination. Map or true bearing in degrees. To these can be added a fourth: Google Maps North.
Look for 'magnetic north'. Turn yourself The direction of travel arrow should still point straight ahead - that's the way you are going, towards B. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.