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ROUTE PLANNING
A Basic Guide to Planning Your Own Walks.
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AREA MAP
- Always use a good map - this should be at least of scale 1:50 000 (about 1 inch to the mile),
I prefer 1:25 000 because this shows plenty of detail, such as stone walls etc., and it will usually
cover more than enough area for walking purposes, unless you happen to be walking near to the map edge.
- In the UK maps produced by Ordnance Survey
are the best. The Landranger Series, 1:50 000, covers all areas of the UK. There is also an
Outdoor Leisure Series of 1:25 000 maps which cover recreational
areas such as The English Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, North Wales etc.
COMPASS
- A compass will be an essential complement to your map. I always use a Silva compass. The Silva company
produces a range of compasses starting at about $25,
I have found that novices find the cheaper models easier to
learn, and they are perfectly adequate for all a walkers' needs.
- Click here for a link to more info. on the SILVA Compass.
MEASURING DISTANCE
You can employ various methods to calculate the length of your proposed walk:
- Lie a piece of thread along the route and measure its length against the scale line on the map sheet.
- Use the edge of a sheet of paper and mark off small sections of the route with a pencil on the edge of
the paper. Measure the total distance on the maps scale.
- Use a little map distance measuring wheel to run over the route. Reading of the appropriate scale will give
you the correct distance. These little 'trundle wheels' cost about $40.
ROUTE PLANNING
It's a good idea to use a route planning sheet, such as the example below, to help you to organise your
route data.
Using your map, compass and method of measurement, all of the columns except for those relating to time can be
completed.
Time calculations are processed by using 'Naismith's Rule':-
- Count 15 minutes for every 1Km travelled (1.5 mins. for every 100 metres)
- Count 15 minutes for every 100 metres of ascent, nothing is counted for descent.
For a large, printable blank route card CLICK HERE.
For a worked example of a route card CLICK HERE.
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Route Planner |
Name of the route - |
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From - |
To - |
Map - |
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Grid ref - |
Grid ref - |
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From |
To:--- |
Magnetic
Bearing |
Ground
Features |
Distance
(metres) |
Time
(minutes) |
Height
Gain(m) |
Time
(minutes) |
Time for
Section |
Time
from
Start(mins) |
Any Other
Comments |
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Summary of route: Total Time to allow = (total time + ten minutes rest each hour)
Distance walked =
Height gained =
Use an Ordnance Survey map to enter the appropriate details. For every 1 Km. Walked count 15 minutes and each 100 metres of ascent = 15 minutes.
