Mastering the Art of Map Reading

Getting from A to B has never been so important. In the age of Google Maps and Waze, good old-fashioned map reading has become a lost art – unless you're in the Army!

Map reading is a key lesson you'll learn during your basic training, both in the classroom and out on the training area. If you haven’t done DofE, orienteering, or Ten Tors, it may be a new skill for you. Don't panic! Your instructors will teach you this essential skill in stages and ensure you get plenty of practice. Watch our video and master the art of map reading.

What You’ll Need:

• A map

• A compass

• Something to point to things on the map (pen/pencil/twig)

Step 1 – Get Familiar

Start by opening up your map on a flat surface. It's a good idea to use a map of a location you're familiar with, like the area where you live. This will make it easier to spot rivers, roads, railways, and other landmarks you know. You'll also be able to understand distances better. Have a look at different locations on the map and see if you can find where you are. Use the key at the bottom of the map to learn what all the different features are. It will have small images with explanations next to them. Make sure that when you're pointing to things on the map, you use a pen or a twig – your instructors won’t let you use your finger, so there’s a top tip to get ahead of the game!

Step 2 – The Finer Details

If you look over the map, you'll see some wavy red lines. These are called contour lines and represent the height of an area. For example, the closer together the lines are, the steeper the ground is there. When the lines have bigger spaces in between them, it means the ground is flatter. You'll notice that there are a number of lines that run up and across the map. Where these lines cross over, they make lots of small squares called grid squares. Depending on what map you're using, the grid squares will represent different distances. Every map has a scale, which you can find from the information at the bottom of the map.

Step 3 – Route Planning

On exercise or operations, you'll use a map to plan your routes and look at the ground around you. You may have noticed the numbers next to the lines on the map; these are called coordinates. These help you find where you are by focusing on a smaller area. When you're on exercise, you'll be given a set of coordinates which will tell you where you're carrying out missions. You'll be able to look at that area on the map and understand the ground better by identifying roads, rivers, woodblocks, and built-up areas. By counting the grid squares along your route, you'll be able to estimate the distance you need to travel. All of this information will help you plan your route more effectively.

Step 4 – The Compass is Your Friend

You may not have ever seen or used a compass before, but that doesn’t matter. They are easier to use than they look and will soon become your ally! The main focus of the compass is the red needle in the middle, which always points north. You can orientate yourself to the ground and find the direction you need to go in by using your compass. Lay your map down and place the compass on top of it. Rotate your map until north on your map is pointing in the same direction as the red needle. You now know where north is and have found the direction you need to travel in.

And that is map reading 101!

Map reading is something that some people pick up quickly and others take a bit longer to grasp. It can be a bit overwhelming the first few times you're on the training area trying to work out where you are and how to get to your next location. If you start to understand the basics now, things will make more sense when you begin your training and help take some of the pressure off.