Walk in Scotland Club

If you love walking in Scotland, you've come to the right place. Check out our skills for the trail below. It will help you to get the most out of your walking break to Scotland.

Skills for the Trail
In partnership with the Mountaineering Council of Scotland's safety team, these tips aim to help those relatively new to walking to learn more about maps and navigation.

Scotland has many waymarked trails from short local loops to dedicated long distance routes and, what's more there are new ones being added or signposted all the time. However, for many people it's the wilder walking that in a UK sense is almost unique to Scotland that attracts them - giving them opportunities to get away from it all and really explore.

In order to increase safety, a map and compass and the ability to navigate are essential companions but it is not only the wilderness walker who can benefit from these skills - anyone who would like to explore a bit more widely can add greatly to their enjoyment by learning the basics of maps and navigation.

The contents of text detailed below is subdivided as follows.

1. What is a map?
2. Scale
3. A quick way to estimate distance
4. Paths, tracks and roads
5. Access and Rights of Way symbols
6. Contours and their relation to the landscape
7. Symbols
8. Orientation
9. The Compass
10. Planning a route

1. What is a map?
Essentially a map is a plan of the land but, unlike the view you would get from the air, it is selective in what it shows - certain features may be missed out and others "exaggerated" in significance - the line showing a main road for example can be much more obvious on the map than the road is on the ground.

All the features you'll see on the ground are illustrated on maps by symbols and the shape of the land is shown by contour lines (this is covered in one of the next topics).

It's worth remembering that a map shows the land at a particular point in time - the time it was surveyed. As roads or houses are built, forests are planted or valleys are flooded for reservoirs the landscape can change from what is shown on the map so the more recent your map the better.

Also the scale of the map has a major impact on how much can be shown - a large scale map has more space to show the land in more detail but this means that only a smaller area of land can be shown while a small scale map shows a larger area but with a lower level of detail.

2. Scale
For many people new to maps the concept of scale can be the most difficult to grasp but this needn't be the case. All maps are drawn to scale so there is a direct relationship between distance on the ground and distance on the map. For obvious reasons a map can't show everything at the same size that it is on the ground so everything is scaled down and the amount by which it has been scaled down is then indicated by the scale of the map. In Scotland the most common maps for walkers are at a scale of 1:50,000 or 1:25,000.

A map at a scale of 1:50,000 means that 1 centimetre on the map represents 50,000 centimetres on the ground. A little simple arithmetic therefore tells us that 1 cm on the map represents 500m on the ground or that 1 km on the ground will be 2 cm on the map. On a 1:25,000 map 1 centimetre represents only 25,000 centimetres or 250 metres so 1 km on the ground is 4 cm on the map so more detail can be shown than is possible on a 1:50,000 map.

3. A quick way to estimate distance
As explained in the section on scale a measurement on the map can be equated to a specific distance on the ground so we can use this to calculate how long our proposed walk will be. However, walks rarely follow a straight line so it can be difficult to measure the distance along a winding route. However, a useful way of estimating the distance is to use the grid squares shown on the map. Irrespective of the scale all popular walking maps show the National Grid and conveniently for us the sides of each grid square are 1 km. The distance diagonally across a Grid Square is approximately 1.5 km. We can therefore reasonably accurately estimate the length of a walk by counting how many squares the route crosses, either straight across (1 km) or diagonally across (1.5 km). The average speed of a reasonably fit person is about 15 minutes per km on flat ground and so it is possible to work out how long a walk should take. Remember that this does not include any height gain, rough ground or stops for rests (these more detailed calculations are covered under Planning a Route).

4. Paths, tracks and roads
One of the best features of maps is that they often show paths and tracks which can be linked to form a walk. Most significant paths will be shown on all maps but here large scale maps such as the 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey maps or Harvey Superwalker maps come into their own as they show more minor paths.

Part of Scotland's attraction is the wilderness of its countryside. Mountain paths are not signposted and even those marked on maps may sometimes be difficult to trace. It's very easy to follow a sheep or deer track that leads to nowhere! Use your map and check your location at all times.

5. Access and Rights of Way symbols
The number of rights of way symbols on maps in Scotland is far less than in other parts of the U.K. because the historical basis of walking in Scotland has always been based more on mutual tolerance and open access rather than legally defined routes.

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 confirms a general right of responsible access to most land in Scotland. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code has recently been launched and further details about the Code can be found here

6. Contours and their relation to the landscape
The biggest difference between a map and the real world is that although the real world can be viewed in three dimensions, a sheet of paper only has two. To get around this problem, many maps show the third dimension (height) by way of contour lines. A contour is a line connecting all points at the same height. On most Ordnance Survey maps used by walkers the contours are shown at 10m vertical intervals.

7. Symbols
Not all symbols on a map are necessarily going to be relevant to walkers - for example on most walks in Scotland you aren't likely to come across a motorway or a windmill! However, not only do some symbols assist with navigation, but others shown on a map can help you plan a more interesting route - taking in a castle or an ancient monument for example. Other symbols such as those for a bridge or a triangulation pillar (generally referred to as a trig point) can help you identify exactly where on the route you are. Some of the more useful symbols are roads, tracks and paths; streams and rivers; bridges; lakes; pylon lines; buildings; woods of different types; triangulation pillars; rock outcrops, cliffs and scree.

8. Orientation
Orientate or "set the map" by identifying features on the ground and rotating the map until everything matches up. For example you may be at a path junction with two paths going off in different directions. Turn the map until it matches the directions of the paths. Keep the map stationary in the orientated position and then line yourself up so that you can draw an imaginary straight line going from your chest, through your location on the map and continuing to the place on the map that you want to go to. You now have the map orientated and set in the direction you want to go.

Another way of orientating the map is to use a compass. Place the compass anywhere on the map in any position and simply turn the whole map (not the compass) until the north end of the magnetic compass needle points to the top (north) of the map and is lined up with the grid lines.

When you have reached your destination repeat the process. If you are turning to a new direction, you will have to turn the map relative to your body to keep everything lined up. The writing on the map will only be the "right way up" if you are travelling north. If you are travelling south, the writing will be upside down - this is OK.

9. The Compass
Compasses have been used for centuries to find direction. Walking compasses combine a magnetic needle with a protractor baseplate which enables a bearing to be taken from the map and then followed on the ground. A compass is an essential part of any hillwalker's equipment. It is important to practice taking and following compass bearings before getting into situations where you will have to rely on this skill.

1. place the compass on the map with the edge of the compass along the desired line of travel. Make sure the direction of travel arrow is pointing the right way;
2. keeping the baseplate stationary, rotate the compass housing until the N on the dial points to North on the map. Check that the compass housing red or black north/south lines are parallel with the north/south grid lines on the map;
3. hold the compass in your hand and turn yourself until the red end of the compass needle (North) coincides with the red arrow in the bottom of the compass housing (don¿t alter the bearing on the compass). The front of the compass with the direction of travel arrow is now pointing towards your destination;
4. yhe most accurate way of following the bearing is to line up a feature on the direction of travel, walk to the feature and then repeat the process.

For more information and useful diagrams, visit compass manufacturer Silva's website.

10. Planning a route
Your trip will be more enjoyable and safer if you plan the route prior to setting off. The key points to consider are:-

The length of the route
Choose a walk which is appropriate to you or your group¿s experience, fitness, navigation skills, knowledge of the area and for the prevailing weather conditions. As a general rule, take children only on routes which allow for a safe and easy retreat. Do not take children on long walks. Most areas of Scotland have walks to suit all levels of ability. Consider turning back if someone in your group is tiring or getting cold.

Hazards
Go over the route on the map and check whether there are any hazards such as steep ground, cliffs, rivers or streams. Remember that streams can rise rapidly and become impassable. The terrain underfoot can vary from easy going to very difficult rough ground and boulder fields. If you are not sure about the type of terrain your walk will cover, ask locally for advice before setting off. During the summer months you may still find patches of snow. You should avoid these areas unless you have the skills to cope with the extra hazard. Remember, many mountain accidents result from a simple slip. It can snow during any month of the year in the Scottish hills. Hillwalking in winter should be regarded as mountaineering and requires extra precautions. Daylight hours are shorter and weather conditions are more severe.

Shelter
Do not assume you will find emergency shelter on the Scottish hills, as even those marked on maps may not be suitable.

Clothing and Equipment
If you are heading into remote or hilly terrain always carry a map and compass and practice using them before getting into a situation where you need to rely on these skills. Carry equipment for use in an emergency such as a torch, whistle, First Aid Kit and emergency shelter. Your footwear should provide good ankle support and have a firm sole with a secure grip. Take ample food and drink for the entire group. Warm, wind and waterproof clothing is essential. This should include gloves, hat, fully waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers and spare clothing such as a warm sweater. Remember, it will get colder and windier the higher you climb.

Before you go
Before setting out on any trip, obtain a weather forecast from national and local radio, television, newspapers or one of the dedicated weather forecast telephone services. Leaving word of where you are going can be a good idea. If you do, don't forget to advise them when you return.

In an emergency

1. treat any injuries as best you can;
2. calculate your exact position on the map;
3. if possible, leave somebody to care for the casualty whilst others descend with a map to get help. If you have a mobile phone you may be able to call for help immediately but remember that in many areas of Scotland it is not possible to obtain a signal;
4. dial 999 and ask for the Police;
5. report the map grid reference of the casualty's location and details of the casualty's condition.