For this technique you will need:
- A protractor compass
- A map covering your current location and your intended destination
- Knowledge of your current position on the map
Step 1
Lay the map down on a flat surface so that you can see both your current position and your intended destination. The map does not have to be correctly aligned with the surrounding landscape. It is irrelevant which way the map is facing.
The map should be on a flat surface and showing both current position and destination.
Step 2
Place your protractor compass on the map so that either one of the long edges runs along the line that passes between your current position and your destination. Ensure that the direction of travel arrow on the compass is pointing in the direction of your destination.
Align one side of the compass with your current position and destination.
Step 3
Turn the compass housing until the orienting lines in the centre of the housing are parallel to the vertical grid lines on the map.
Turn the compass housing so that the orienting lines are aligned with the grid lines on the map.
Step 4
Read off the bearing at the point where the index line (the line at the bottom of the direction of travel arrow) intersects with the compass housing.
Step 5
Depending on where you are in the world, you will now have to compensate for the difference between magnetic north and grid north. The map should tell you how many degrees to add to the bearing. Calculate the correct bearing and adjust the compass housing so that the revised bearing is just below the index line.
Step 6
To navigate with the compass, hold it flat in front of you, with the direction of travel arrow pointing away from you. Now turn until the red part of the needle points to north on the compass housing. You are now facing in the correct direction.
To navigate, turn until the red needle points to North on the compass housing.
Tags: bearings, compass, Equipment, maps, Navigation, tutorials
Consulting the eTrex Vista Cx
When I set out to purchase a handheld GPS unit I was looking for something that would be sophisticated enough that I could leave the paper map in my backpack and not have to consult it. Essentially that meant finding a good mapping GPS unit. The eTrex Vista Cx with its large colour LCD display and ability to upload new maps, seemed ideal.
I’ve been using the Vista Cx for a couple of years now, and I still love it. During that time I’ve had only one issue with it. At one point it seemed to get stuck on the initial screen and the controls were unresponsive, but connecting it to the PC and running the firmware update programme seemed to fix that, and since then it’s been fine.
The Vista Cx is a nice solid piece of kit. It’s pretty robust, with a rubberised edge and buttons, and when you put it into the accompanying pouch it can withstand pretty much everything that the average day’s hiking throws at it.
Starting the unit up takes a couple of minutes as it locates the available satellites, but this needs to be done just once at the beginning of the day. From this point you have four main pages available:
- A map page, which will show a detailed map of your location, if you have uploaded one for the local area;
- A compass page, which shows your current heading as well as the direction and distance to the next waypoint;
- An altimeter page, which shows your current elevation as well as a graph showing your ascents and descents over time;
- And a menu page, which provides access to other features and settings.
The detail of the maps does depend on whether you have added the relevant map for the area you are in. The unit I purchased came with a set of European maps pre-loaded onto a microSD card (there is a slot for these next to the battery compartment inside the device). The maps were not as detailed as an OS map, but you can purchase additional, more detailed mapping of the area you do most of your hiking in.
The display works well, even in reasonably bright sunlight and there is a backlight for use at night or during poor weather.
The Vista Cx has some really nice features. One is the built in electronic compass. Having a built in compass means you can get an accurate heading even when you are standing still. If you have a GPS device without this feature then you must be moving before it is able to establish a heading.
Another thing I love about the Vista Cx is the ease of getting data into and out of the device. It’s supplied with a USB cable, so you can transfer route data easily to and from the included MapSource Trip and Waypoint Manager. I’ve also successfully used the Vista Cx in conjunction with the Memory-Map mapping software both for planning and downloading routes and for uploading data stored by the Vista Cx during the walk.
The Vista Cx now goes everywhere with me and I think it’s likely to be a hiking companion for some time to come.
Find great deals on the Garmin Vista Cx at eBay.co.uk
Tags: Equipment, eTrex Vista Cx, Garmin, GPS, mapping, Navigation
At the top of Firle Beacon
Location: Near Firle, East Sussex, UK (GR 486059)
Height: 217 metres (711 feet)
For this ascent I started in the village of Alciston, which is a good access point for the beacon (unless you want to cheat of course and start at the Bopeep Bostal car park near the top of the hill rather than from sea level). From Alciston it is a short but stiff climb up the side of the escarpment to reach the top of the South Downs and join the South Downs Way. You can then follow the South Downs Way to the west along the ridge to reach the trig point at the top of Firle Beacon.
Although Firle Beacon is not particularly high as far as hills go, because most of the surrounding landscape is at sea level it provides fantastic views to both the North, across the Sussex Weald and South, towards the English Channel.
At the top is a cluster of Stone Age barrows, although little remains of them now other than a few mounds showing the location of the original earthwork.
The trig point marking the summit of Firle Beacon
It is possible to descend from here on a path that runs down the distinctive broad shoulder of Firle Beacon that can be seen and distinguished for miles around. At the bottom a cinder track leads directly back to Alciston.
This is probably one of the more dramatic hills situated on the South Downs way and well worth a visit if you are in the area and have a couple of hours free. It is quite exposed up on the top though, so probably best saved for a day with good weather.
Video: Firle Beacon
Tags: Alciston, East Sussex, Firle Beacon, hills, south downs, video, walking routes
This is one book that no serious walker in the UK can really afford to be without. I’ve had various editions on my bookshelf for years and it’s one walking book that I refer to constantly. Essentially it’s a directory of all the long distance routes in the UK. It doesn’t just cover National Trails but any long distance route for which there is a published route guide available – that’s well over 500 walks!
The routes are listed in alphabetical order. The listing for each one shows the area the walk is in, its length in both kilometres and miles, locations of the start and finish (with grid references), the OS maps required and the available publications. There is also a brief description of each route, which is usually enough to give you an idea if the route is the sort of thing you are looking for.
At the back of the book is another list of the routes, this time in decreasing order of distance and a map of the UK showing the location of each route. There’s also a comprehensive list of addresses to obtain the various route publications from.
Although it’s a reference book rather than bedtime reading, with this on your shelf you’ll never be stuck for inspiration again.
Tags: Books, directories, listings
On the Seven Sisters walk from the book
If you are looking for ideas for a pleasant countryside stroll, there are plenty of guide books available for every part of the UK. Just browse in the local bookstore and you’re likely to find everything from pub walks to circular walks to family friendly walks. That’s all well and good, but what if you’re an experienced walker and you want something a bit more challenging – something that will get you exploring some of the wilder, more remote areas of the country? If that sounds like you, then Richard Gilbert’s book, 200 Challenging Walks in Britain and Ireland could be just the thing for you.
As you might imagine, for a guide book that focuses on some of the more challenging walks, the majority of the walks featured are in Scotland, the North of England and Wales. But if you don’t live in those areas, then there could still be some interest for you, as there are also eight walks in the West of England, 16 scattered across Ireland and even seven in the South of England.
The descriptions of each walk are kept brief and to the point (one page per walk). Rather than give a dull list of directions, Gilbert focuses on giving details of landmarks and directions that are genuinely going to be required, but often includes some general narrative on the history of the area and sights to look out for en route.
Each of the walks is accompanied by a route map and relavant facts and figures, such as the distance, transport links and the numbers of the required OS maps. It has to be said at this juncture, that this guide is intended for experienced walkers and should always be used in conjunction with a detailed map of the area.
To test drive the book I attempted walk #141 – The Seven Sisters and the Long Man of Wilmington, a 20 mile circular coastal route in the South of England. The quality of the walk was excellent, taking in one of the most beautiful stretches of British coastline. Although the inland return leg was not quite as dramatic as the initial cliff walk, it certainly was varied, with stretches along rivers, through woodland and ending with a good views over Eastbourne.
It was certainly a challenging walk in terms of length, but the terrain was nothing that any moderate walker would worry over and navigation was easy throughout. All in all it was one of the best walking days I’ve had in a while (fortunately the weather stayed kind to me), and it left me with an appetite for some of the more far flung walks in Gilbert’s book.
As a final note, the book is compact enough to fit in the glove compartment of a car, or even in a backpack if you don’t mind the extra weight. It also has three sections of colour photographs showing the landscape in some of the walks in the book. These should be enough to get you reaching for your boots, even before you start reading some of the descriptions. I can thoroughly recommended this book for the experienced walker who is looking for something more challenging.
Tags: Books, challenging walks, walking guides
