How To Take A Bearing Using A Compass
Taking A Compass Bearing From The Map
Parts of a Compass
1 Base Plate
2 Lines Parallel to long edge of Base Plate
3 Direction of Travel Arrow
4 Magnifying Glass
5 Circular Bezel or Housing
6 Orienting Lines. Red North. Black South
7 NSEW, Cardinal Points and Degrees
8 Magnetic Needle. Red points to Magnetic North
9 Red North Arrow/Orienting Arrow
10 Index Line
11 Ruler
The Circular Bezel 5 rotates.
The Orienting Lines 6, the NSEW / Degrees 7 and the Red North Arrow/Orienting Arrow 9 rotate with the Bezel.
The Red Magnetic Compass Needle 8 is ‘free floating’ and points to Magnetic North
The Index Line 10 does not move and stays in line with the Direction of Travel Arrow.
What is a bearing?
A bearing is the angle measured between North on the map and your planned direction of travel.
From ‘A’ to ‘B’ is the Direction of Travel.
The Bearing is the angle X˚ between the Direction of Travel line and a line pointing from ‘A’ along or parallel to Grid North on the map.
Taking a compass bearing from the map: Step by Step
- Identify where you want to start. Point ‘A’ and where you want to go. Point ‘B’.
- Identify ‘North’ or the ‘Top’ of the map. (The letters in town names and peaks will be running Left to Right or West – East)
- Identify the ‘Direction of Travel Arrow’ on the compass.
- Line up the long edge of the compass from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’. You may also use any clear line running along the length of the compass.
- Make sure that the ‘Direction Of Travel Arrow’ is pointing in the same direction as your journey, from ‘A’ to ‘B’.
- Identify the Red North Arrow/Orienting Arrow on the Compass Housing. It points to ‘N’ on the housing. (Not the magnetic needle, that is a different ‘arrow’)
- Rotate the Compass Housing until the Red North Arrow/Orienting Arrow points to ‘North’ or the ‘Top’ of the map. It lines up with the lines on the map called the Map Grid, pointing North on the Map.
- Read your ‘Bearing’ at the ‘Index Line’ (end of the ‘Direction of Travel Arrow at the Compass Housing’).
Taking a compass bearing from the map: Step 1
On your map, identify the two points ‘A’ and ‘B’.
‘A’ is where you are, ‘B’ is where you want to go to.
Line the long edge of the base plate or one of the long parallel lines up between ‘A’ and ‘B’.
IMPORTANT: Point the direction of travel arrow on the compass in the same direction as from ‘A’ to ‘B’.
Hold the map and compass together firmly.
Taking a compass bearing from the map: Step 2
Keep the compass lined up between ‘A’ and ‘B’.
Gently rotate the Circular Bezel (Housing) until the Orienting Lines on the Bezel are parallel with the grid lines running South to North on the map.
Ensure that the Orienting Arrow on the Bezel is pointing to Grid North marked on your map.
You have now set the bearing. You can remove the compass from the map.
The free floating Magnetic Compass Needle is not used in this part of the process and can be ignored
Taking a compass bearing from the map: Step 3
How to walk on a compass bearing
