Navigation

Preface by Alan Hinkes OBE
Foreword

Chapter 1 Why use a map and compass?
Chapter 2 Map essentials – scales and grids
Chapter 3 Map symbols and contours
Chapter 4 Walking with the map
Chapter 5 Introducing the compass
Chapter 6 Choosing your compass
Chapter 7 Taking a bearing from the map
Chapter 8 Taking a bearing from the ground
Chapter 9 Walking with map and compass
Chapter 10 Route planning
Chapter 11 Night and bad weather navigation
Chapter 12 Technology – GPS and computer mapping
Chapter 13 Where now?

Appendix A Answers to questions
Appendix B Useful contacts and addresses
Appendix C Further reading
Appendix D Navigational aid

January 2021

Figure 2.17 correction

Clearly-written and concise... an impressive update to the original book

Navigation is one of the keystones to a good day on the hill or a good expedition. Pete Hawkins captures the importance of this throughout the revised version of his 2007 book. Throughout the book he returns to this theme to stress to the reader that navigation is a skill that will enhance your experiences out of doors, whatever activity you are involved in. Selling navigation skills as a route to to enjoying yourself and relaxing more is an excellent pitch, compared to the sense that navigation is something that must be endured.

The book is clearly-written and concise with colour diagrams throughout. Diagrams with clever modifications are used to the full: for instance removing the compass needle to explain taking a bearing from a map to emphasise the use of the orienting lines in this operation (fig. 7.2 a, b). The text also has good contrast, which is an advantage in poor light or for those using glasses. I particularly valued the multiple explanations of the same topic, which is usually a sign of an instructor who has mastered a topic. For instance, as well as the familiar means of remembering the order to give grid reference numbers, ‘Along the corridor and up the stairs’, Pete offers the idea of drawing an ‘L’, which also conveys the correct pair of bounding lines to use. In future, I plan to use this method when teaching this aspect of navigation.

For the person learning their navigational skills directly from the book, without the help of a formal course or experienced mentor, the material is covered in a logical fashion and builds towards bringing all the elements together. The maps chapter covers a wide range of map types that are available, rather than just focusing on OS maps. In the compass chapter Pete goes beyond the trusty Explorer 4 to cover thumb compasses. Quizzes and resources are mentioned throughout the book. Attention is paid to questions about the place of satnav systems and how to get the most out of digital mapping, while focusing on physical paper maps as the key tool. Even the navigation tool included acts as a ‘call-to-action’ by getting the user to fill in their own values to create a personal tool, rather than just offering a standard card. The concluding sections in the book also gives advice about how to keep your skills current using orienteering courses and suggestions for face-to-face courses.

Overall, this is an impressive update to the original book that is a worthwhile purchase for anyone who wants to continue developing their navigation skills for the hills.

Dr Al McGowan: Geologist, Palaeontologist, Natural Historian, Hill and Moorland Leader with Expedition Skills Module (MTUK). Website: hillsofhame.wordpress.com

What a great book on navigation

Too often in life we don’t acknowledge good work when we see it. I’m reversing that trend today.

I picked up a navigation book in Waterstones, the best of the bunch. What a great book on navigation; clear, concise and an engaging tone of voice. From a navigation perspective, ‘you’re the bloke!’ What a star you are!

Iwan, by email