Map Reading Help
For beginners and those who find it difficult

Mapreading is very much a matter of practice, constantly comparing what you see on the map with what you see in the country around you.
You can get practice by following on the map any of the walks described on this website (or in any other publication), both at home before you start and on the walk itself.
You can also take a map with you on a led walk (though it may be tactful to make sure the leader does not think you are doing this because you lack confidence in his/her ability to find the way !)
Always have the map readily to hand, preferably open. (You may find a map case helpful, or use a plastic bag).
Hold the map the right way round for the direction in which you are walking, i.e. walking south have the southern edge of the map away from you. Like this, features that are to your left on the ground will be to the left on the map and vice versa.
Even when the route is obvious, match up what you see around you with what you see on the map. This will help you to get a feeling for scale and distances.
If you can keep your thumb on your last known position on the map, that will help you to find your place again more quickly.
Remember that while the Ordnance Survey will have incorporated the most significant recent changes (roads and new buildings) the last full survey for the map may have been done 20 or 30 years ago. Changes to hedges, fences and farm tracks since then are unlikely to have been recorded.

For further practice, try the following:

Little Kimble mapreading exercise
Aimed at beginners and near-beginners, the instructions walk you round a very attractive route, explaining what you should be looking for and the techniques you can use. A full day, or can be split into two parts.

DIY Walks
Some walks for those who would like to find their own way from the map, without a full route description.