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Severnside Ramblers
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The Ramblers’ Association is a registered charity (England & Wales No 1093577, Scotland No SC039799) and company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales (No 4458492)
Registered office: 2nd Floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW
Copyright © 2013 Severnside Ramblers

Navigation for Walkers - Basic map and compass skills are useful for many walkers and essential in hilly, heavily wooded and remote areas. Even if you are following a signed route or using a good guidebook, knowing how to find your way around with a map will give you more options for diversions and escape routes, and help if you get lost or encounter damaged or missing signs. Navigation skills are also essential for walk leaders intending to take groups of people out into the countryside. See Ramblers Walk Leader Training Toolkit for more information.
Grid references

If looking for grid references or wish to convert to Lat and Long try UK Grid Reference Finder.
Thanks to Leslie Davison for the information.
Some useful sources of information:  

Ordnance Survey Website -  Map Reading for the beginner to the advanced map reader.
Ordnance Survey Getamap service - subscription required


Books worth having a look at:

Navigation for Walkers - by Julian Tippett  ISBN 978 1 904207 62 7

Map and Compass - The Art of Navigation by Pete Hawkins  ISBN 1 85284 3942

Hill Walking - The official handbook of the Mountain Leader & Walking Group Leader Schemes,  written by Steve Long with contributions from MTT Staff   ISBN 0-9541511-0-0

Navigation - Techniques and skills for walkers by Pete Hawkins ISBN 978 1 85284 490 5

Navigating with a GPS - Effective skills for the outdoors by Pete Hawkins ISBN 978 1 85284 491 2

Ultimate Navigation Manual - all the techniques you need to become an expert navigator by Lyle F Brotherton ISBN 978-0-00-742460-3

Mountaincraft and Leadership - Eric Langmuir,  ISBN 1-85060-295-6
Recognised as the official handbook of the Mountain Leader Training Boards of the UK the book is an  invaluable reference for everyone, whether novice walker or experienced mountain leader, who wishes to venture into and enjoy the British hills in safety.

Maps, guides and navigation

some useful links:

Map reading

Ordnance Survey

Planning a route

Routecards

Using a compass

Harvey Maps

Digital maps

Using a GPS

Ramblers Walking Guides

Walking Guide Books