1. Leading Cadet Training
Basic Navigation
Leading Cadet Training
Bearings
and Distances
Lecture 3

2. Revision Ground to Map We have examined setting the map,
and working from
Map to Ground.
Remember
Mag to Grid…..GET RID
Grid to Mag…..ADD
Now we will examine
Ground to Map B A x

3. Compass Bearings Ground to Map Take a Bearing
Select the feature on the ground
to which you wish to take a bearing.
Hold the Compass steady
and level.
Point the Direction of Travel Arrow at the feature,
and rotate the Housing until the red end of the needle
is in line with the ‘N’

4. Compass Bearings Ground to Map Take a Bearing Read the Compass Bearing
shown on the housing
from the Index Line
This is your Mag Bearing
which you can either travel along
or convert to a grid bearing by subtracting
the magnetic variation.
(Remember Mag to Grid……Get Rid) x x

5. Compass Bearings Ground to Map Take a Bearing
Convert to a Grid Bearing.
Place the Compass
on the map and
keeping the bearing set
on the Housing,
rotate the whole Compass
until the Orienting Lines are parallel to the Eastings.
The edge of the Compass should run through
your position and show the bearing on the map. x A

6. Compass Bearings Following a Bearing
Hold your compass level and steady.
Ensure the red end of the needle is in line
with the ‘N’ on the Housing.
Follow the direction of travel arrow.
Line up the direction arrow with a physical feature
(e.g. tree, pylon, tower).
Use this as a reference point which is easier than
following the compass every inch of the way.

7. Measuring Distance Timing Pacing
Measuring distances accurately is important because:
it both keeps you on schedule and reduces the area
of uncertainty in your position.
There are two main ways
of measuring and
estimating distance:
Timing
Pacing

8. Distances Use the edge of the compass to measure the distance. or
Use a strip of paper
with 2 marks on it.
Then measure the paper
against the map scale:

9. Timing If you know how fast you can walk,
you can work out how long it will take you
to cover a known distance.
For example:
If the distance to your
next objective is 2km,
and you walk at 4kph –
it should take you
half an hour to reach it.

10. Timing By walking for half an hour or so, you should
be close to your objective.
This is not as easy as it sounds.
Things to consider are:
Going Uphill.
Going Downhill.
Fitness.
Terrain.
Load.

11. Timing Use your map and Naismith’s rule to calculate
the time it will take to get from one place to another.
NAISMITH’S RULE
Carrying little –
5kph + 1min for every contour climbed.
with a load –
4kph + 1½min for every contour climbed.
Plus
½ min for every contour down a STEEP slope

12. Timing Use your map and Naismith’s rule to calculate
the time it will take to get from one place to another.
Therefore,
with a load:
4km per hour + 30 mins
for every 200m uphill
and
10 mins for every 200m
going down steep hills

13. But over short distances only.
Pacing
Where very accurate distance measurement is
required you could try counting the number of
paces you take.
This practice is used
by orienteerers and with
lots of practice can be
very accurate indeed –
But over short distances only.

14. Errors No matter which method of estimating distance you choose,
there will be an error attached to it.
This is particularly true when you are
inexperienced.
If you add to this the possible error
in measuring direction,
you will begin to see the difficulties that can lie ahead.

15. Errors Assuming a possible error of +/- 10%
in measuring distance travelled
and one of +/- 4° when measuring direction,
you can see how quickly your area of uncertainty
can grow as you walk along.

16. Errors The lessons you must learn from this are:
Keep the legs of your route
as short as possible.
Practice your compass work until
you can take accurate bearings.
Practice pacing and timing
to reduce the error rate. 5 6 7 4

17. Check of Understanding
Using a compass to take a bearing on a distant object
what would you do first?
Align the red compass needle
with the object
Turn the capsule housing
to subtract the GMA
Point the direction of travel arrow
at the object
Turn the capsule housing to align
the orienting lines with the object

18. Check of Understanding
What is the best way to measure distance on a map
without a pair of dividers?
Use the edge of a compass
Draw a pencil line and measure it
Make dividers with your fingers
Fold the paper to use the map scale

19. Check of Understanding
Measuring distances accurately whilst hillwalking
is important because it:
Calculates your speed of travel
Keeps you on schedule
Pinpoints your position accurately
Chooses the shortest route

20. Check of Understanding
How much time should be added for every
200 metres climbed with a pack,
according to Naismith’s rule?
15 mins
20 mins
25 mins
30 mins

21. Check of Understanding
Walking 1 km over reasonably flat ground in 20 mins.
How long will it take to cover 4.5km?
40 mins
60 mins
90 mins
120 mins

22. Check of Understanding
When walking on a bearing, in good visibility,
the best technique is to . . .
Follow your compass
and ignore the countryside
Select a feature along your
intended route of travel
Select an object 10 metres ahead
and walk to it
Send a team member 50 metres ahead
and walk to them

23. Check of Understanding
When navigating,
in order to reduce errors to a minimum,
you should . . .
Always follow the established
paths and tracks
Walk as quickly as possible
to your destination
Measure distance and bearing
as accurately as possible
Never follow the established
paths and tracks

24. Leading Cadet Training
Basic Navigation
Leading Cadet Training
End of Presentation