navigation/map reading book or guide?

Not off the top of my head. Most good outdoor skills books should have at least one chapter on basic nav.

 Other places to look are the BMC, Cicerone Books, Scout Shops, outdoor shops, etc.

 If you know someone who is a good navigator with map and compass, ask them to take you out and show you/teach the basics.

 It can be a lot easier learning 'on the ground' from someone than from a book.

huskyman wrote (see)

It can be a lot easier learning 'on the ground' from someone than from a book.

Even if I'd written a navigation guide, I'd still have to second that comment!

Mountain Navigation by Peter Cliff (yes, really!) is very good on the basics and probably all that most people will ever need.

Highly recommended and only £6.30 from Amazon.

The Peter Cliff seconded, but the experience thing absolutely the best.  Orienteering is a really good way to get in to map use, and it's actually fun in its own right. 

Here's the BOF web page, find a local(ish) club and get involved!

Pete.

Huskyman: Thanks for that, I do have a friend of mine who is handy with a compass, just wanted to read a little more into it also.

Jake: Lol 'Cliff', he was born to write the book, just had a look on Amazon and the reviews look great, its just what I wanted really, especially being fairly small and thin as they say, I can take it with me. Think I will order this, thanks.

Peter Clinch: Ye I will look into that, seems like a good way to learn.

Sam09: Is it this one?  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Navigation-Walkers-Julian-Tippett/dp/1871890543/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336982557&sr=1-3 Seems to get good reviews too. Thanks.

Now, I know they pretty much do the same thing and probably any proper one will do, but can anyone recommend a good compass, which one do you guys use?

Silva are one of the major compass manufacturers, and there are several models which are useful for walkers: Field (entry level), Ranger (fine for many people) and the Expedition which is their 'top of the range' walkers compass.

I use an Expedition when I might want to do some real nav, but take a more basic one (can't remember if it's a Field or a Ranger) when I'm familiar with the area I'm walking in and aren't going to have to do anything fancy.

Hi,

Ye just been looking at the different models funnily enough.

Can't see me wanting anything more than the Ranger, probably the field one would be fine but its not much more money to go for the Ranger.

Just seen them for the bargain price of £13.75 on fleabay, they are more like £20 everywhere else!

Thanks.

Amazon sell them cheap, as do The Outdoor Shop. Make sure it's not a 'sighting compass', just the one with the flat plate and the bezel. If you can't see yourself wanting anything more than the Ranger, you won't need a sighting compass either!

Have fun.

Hi,

Ye searched everywhere and its the cheapest by some way, its definately the right one.

Thanks.

I use an expensive sighting compass, 'casue I'm a terminally sad Gear Junkie.  To be honest it doesn't do much more than a basic model, and I've done some of my best navigation work with a basic one.

Any Silva or Suunto protractor compass should be fine as long as you can read the thing.

Pete.

You can download a free Map Reading guide from the Ordnance Survey website:

OS Map Reading Guide

The BMC also do a free booklet, aimed at those who are new, or relatively new, to hillwalking.

BMC Hill Walking Booklet

Lorraine