Mountain Navigation: Essential Tips for Navigators

May 16, 20234 min read

Updated: 14 minutes ago

Navigating the mountains effectively requires skill, preparation, and the right tools. At Lake District Mountaineering, we teach navigation courses designed to help walkers. climbers and aspiring Mountain Leaders to become confident navigators. Here are some key insights and practical tips to enhance your mountain navigation skills.

Choosing the Right Map: Scale, Type & Storage

Selecting the Right Map

Choose an appropriate map for your region.
Common scales:
- 1:25,000 (1 cm = 250 m) – highly detailed, ideal for most navigation.
- 1:40,000 – good for broader overviews and longer routes - a better choice for Scottish Highlands, or winter navigation.
Recommended maps for the Lake District:
- Ordnance Survey OL Explorer maps (OL 4, 5, 6, 7).
- Dorrigo Dinky+ (covers much of the Central Fells).
- Harvey Maps (available in 1:25,000 and 1:40,000).

Storage & Protection

Fold your map to display your planned route before setting out.
Store it accessibly – in pockets, inside your jacket, or between your rucksack and back. This means you'll BE BOTHERED to check it!
Use a waterproof map case (A4/A5 size recommended) to protect against rain and wear. Take the string off the case so it doesn't wrap you up in the wind.
I recommend this map case
Be cautious: Some waterproof paper maps do not have waterproof ink, which can rub off - this makes a map case essential.

Compasses: An Essential Navigation Tool

We recommend the Silva Expedition Type 4 Compass, features include:

Multiple scales (1:25,000, 1:50,000, 1:40,000) for accurate distance measurement.
360-degree housing, essential for taking bearings.
Long baseplate for improved accuracy when following bearings.
Magnifying glass to assist with detailed map reading.
Ruler: For measuring features - 1mm = 25m (1:25K) so it's important to know the scale of what we are aiming for.

Timing & Distance Estimation

Accurately estimating time and distance helps you stay on track. Use the following formulas:

Walking Speed Timings

3 km/hr = 20 min per km (2 min per 100m) Formula: distance ×2 (e.g., 400m = 4×2 = 8 min)
4 km/hr = 15 min per km (1.5 min per 100m) Formula: distance ÷2 + distance (e.g., 400m = 4÷2 + 4 = 6 min)
5 km/hr = 12 min per km (3 min per 250m)

Tips for Accurate Timings

Use a timing card to simplify calculations.
Adjust for terrain: Add 30 sec per 10m of ascent.
Add 1 minute per 10m in steep terrain
Consider factors such as heavy packs, darkness, and rough ground, which slow progress - adjust your timings appropriately.

Pacing: Measuring Distance with Steps

Count every double step to determine paces per 100m.
Adjust for terrain: Add 10% for each change; rough ground, uphill, or poor visibility would be three separate changes meaning you should account accordingly
Beads or tally markers can help track multiple 100m intervals - important not to lose count.
This technique is best for short distances (up to 500m) to pinpoint specific locations.

The Navigational D's: Key Strategies for Route Planning

1. Description

Identify what you should see along your route.
Use storyboarding to visualise your journey.
Note collecting features/tick off's (landmarks to confirm progress).
Plan a catching feature (something obvious to indicate you've gone too far).

2. Distance

Measure distances using the appropriate map scale.
Grid boxes on OS maps are always 1 km, making rough estimates easier.
Use the roamer scale that corresponds to your map scale to determine how far your leg is.

3. Duration

Use timing formulas to calculate how long each leg should take (above)

4. Direction

Determine your general direction (N, E, S, W) before setting off.
In poor visibility, use a compass bearing for accuracy.

Alternative Model: DDTT

Another simple method is DDTT - this is my preferred teaching model for navigation courses:

Direction
Distance
Time
Terrain (description of features, hazards, and catching features)

Map Orientation & Bearings

Orienting Your Map

Align the red compass needle with north on the map.
Turn the map around you (make sure you are still as you turn the map) - there is no need to spin in circles.
Keep a thumb on your current location for quick reference (thumbing the map)

Taking & Following a Bearing

Estimate the general bearing:
- North = 360°
- East = 90°
- South = 180°
- West = 270°
Avoid 180° errors by double-checking your bearing (knowing your rough direction is what helps here)
Hold the compass at waist height, align the red needle with the orienting arrow ("Red Fred in his bed"), bring up to your eye line and walk towards a sighting feature (rock, bush, etc.). This is important, if you stare at the compass, you'll walk off the bearing

Understanding Contours: The Shape of the Land

Contours indicate elevation changes and terrain shape.
1:25,000 maps use 10m contour intervals.
Harvey Maps use 15m contour intervals.

Key Contour Features

Index contours (bold lines) = every 50m.
Close contours = steep terrain.
Wide contours = gentle slopes.
Spurs (ridges) = convex outward.
Valleys (re-entrants) = concave inward - 'contours re-entering the land'
Navigate on change gradient! Steep to flat, flat to steep, these are physical changes on the ground that happen under your feet as you walk! Be reactive to it and use the feedback to determine your location on a slope.

Relocating: Finding Your Position if Lost

Key Questions to Ask:

Where was my last known point?
How long have I walked since then?
In what direction?

Terrain-Based Relocation

Angle: Am I on a slope? How steep is it?
Aspect: Which direction am I facing?
Altitude: Have I gained or lost height? (Altimeters can help but require regular calibration. I use my altimeter in increments - using to reference my height gain and height loss between certain points, giving me more accuracy and confidence.