THE

scout ASSOCIATION QUALITY TRAINING FOR QUALITY SCOUTING

OF MALTA

Scout Skills
Mapping
INFORMATION SHEET

A map is a picture of a given area of what interest on the map. In this case, the map
the ground looks like from directly above. will be divided into squares (or grids) with
When undertaking a journey, we need to be letters along the bottom and numbers up the
able to find our way around competently, sides. In the example below, the Police
sometimes in unfamiliar territory. It is then Station on the map would have the
that we need to be able to use and read reference A8 in the key.
maps. The type of map required will depend
upon the journey or destination.

A simple sketch map is maybe all that is

required to find a room or building, or it may
be a road map which helps you plan long
distance routes across a whole country.
There are also town maps and Ordnance
Survey maps. All maps are drawn to a scale
which means that a defined length on the
map equates to a real length on the ground,
for example one cm = one km.

Road Maps

When travelling by road it is important that

maps show routes clearly. One purpose of
these maps is to show easily the type of
road that you are either on, or wish to be on.
It may be a straight, wide road like a Ordnance Survey (O.S.) Maps
motorway which will allow many miles to be
travelled at high speed or it could be a Ordnance Survey produce very detailed
narrow, winding road that twists through maps which are the most commonly used
villages and towns. for hiking and expedition type activities.
They show all features including footpaths,
hills, valleys, water-courses, railway lines,
Town Maps built up areas and so on. Thin orange-brown
lines called contour lines on these maps
A town map concentrates on important indicate the height of the land above sea
buildings and other features in the town as level and their shape indicates the shape of
well as the streets and roads. Due to the the land itself. Lines drawn close together
amount of detail, the features might be indicate that the land rises or falls (that is
numbered, in which case you would refer to gains or loses height) rapidly, while contours
a key at the bottom or side of the map. Much spaced more widely apart show that the
more detail, including all the street names, slope, either up or down, is more gentle.
might be placed in a separate key in Each contour will have its height above sea
alphabetical order and this might include a level printed on it at intervals so it is easy to
reference to enable you to locate a point of decide if the ground is rising or falling.

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Grid References Tricks of the trade

A grid system divides the whole area of the • The more you use maps, the more
Maltese Isles on maps into squares using conversant you will become with them
lines running north to south and others and how they translate into the real
crossing them, east to west. Each line has a thing.
number and by using these numbers, an • Practise grid references. How accurate
area on any map can be located. For even can you be?
greater accuracy, each square can be • Ensure that you have the right sort of
mentally divided by 10 on both lines and map for the occasion. A map which
reference to these more accurate numbers gives too little or too much information is
will enable particular features to be located. of little value. For example, an
Ordnance Survey map will not help you
Indeed, the grid system on Ordnance find Acacia Avenue in the local town!
Survey maps enables a location to be
identified to within 100 metres, using a six
figure grid reference and no matter what the
scale of map, this grid reference will remain TEACH YOURSELF
the same. Therefore, grid references can be
transferred between Ordnance Survey maps Mapping is a skill, like many others, which
of different scales. For details on how to find becomes easier with practice and familiarity.
a grid reference, please see the Teach
Yourself information section in this pack Time
Each Ordnance Survey map has a letter
code. Learning basic map reading will take from
30 minutes to three hours. You may wish to
approach the subject in small bites, or you
Symbols may prefer to get stuck in and learn as much
as possible at once.
Map symbols are the signs or diagrams
shown on a map to indicate physical Equipment
features. A ‘legend’ or 'key' of what these
symbols mean is given at the same point on You will need a variety of maps including
or in the map for identification. A number of town maps, road maps and Ordnance
the more common map symbols are shown Survey maps of different scales. Compass
below. These will be consistent on all work is not involved at this stage.
modern O.S. maps but they might vary on
other sorts of map, so it will be worth
checking that on the map you are using that Learning all about it
the symbol means what you think it does!
Before having a go, it is advisable to read
the Information Sheet in this pack, if you
have not already done so. This outlines the
different types of map and their uses.

Road maps show routes and types of road.

A good starting point is to measure
distances between two points on the map
using a piece of string and the scale of the
map.

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Alternatively, you could use a sheet of plain can be found at the top and the bottom of
paper and a pencil, marking off the distance the map. Similarly, the lines running from
on the straight stretches of roads and again, side to side are called northings and also
check them off against the scale. Once you have a two digit number. This grid is on all
know the distance between two points, you OS maps which cover the Maltese Islands.
can start to estimate the time it would take to
travel between those two points using Here is an example. Imagine that you wish
different average speeds. to find the grid reference for the ‘Tas-Salib
Church in Fiddien Valley’
The most effective way to become familiar
with road maps, is to act as a navigator on a
journey and to follow the route on the map.

The best way of becoming familiar with

Town maps is probably by walking a given
route and specifying certain features
(buildings, road junctions, rivers and so on)
which must be found.

Ordnance Survey maps, as already

mentioned, are the most detailed maps
available and as well as featuring physical
landmarks, have contour lines which
indicate the height of the land by linking
together places of equal height above sea
level. The closer the contour lines, the
steeper the land. Read, from the top or bottom edges of the
map, the number of the vertical (easting) line
This can be most simply demonstrated by on the left-hand side of the church. In the
comparing the contours near Dingli Cliffs diagrams, it is 44.
and the south east of Marsascala
In your mind, divide that square into vertical
In order to become familiar with some map tenths (as shown in detailed insert) and
symbols, try cutting a square about 2cm x decide how many tenths from that easting
2cm from the centre of a plain postcard. the church is. In our example, it is 2.
Place the postcard over a map. Examine the Therefore, the easting reference is 442.
portion of the map that is visible and try to Whether reading or quoting a grid reference,
describe the details to another person. the first three numbers always relate to the
easting.
Another useful exercise is, using the same
postcard and a local O.S. map, to try and Now, working in a similar fashion, read the
visualise what the area looks like from a number of the nearest horizontal (northing)
given point or grid reference. Then go to the line below the church. In the example, this is
location itself and see whether it looks 72.
anything like you imagined!
Again, in your mind, divide the square
Grid reference is a means of locating any horizontally into tenths and decide how
point on the map by using a six figure many tenths the church is above the 72 line.
number. All O.S. maps have thin blue lines In the example, it is 3. Therefore the
running top to bottom and side to side in northing reference is 723.
parallel to form a grid pattern of squares.
The lines running up and down are called
eastings and have a two digit number which

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The six figure grid reference for the ‘Tas- Can you do it?
Salib Church in Fiddien Valley is therefore
442723. When you feel confident about maps, check
how you are doing and see which of the
Here are a couple of simple mnemonics one following you can tick off:
of which might help you to remember which
set of numbers to read when working out Estimate distances using the map's scale ß
grid references: Recognise 20 common map symbols ß
Follow a route as a navigator in a car ß
‘through the door…and up the stairs’ or Visualise ground features from the contours
‘You can walk before you can fly’. of a map ß
Give a six figure grid reference ß
Walk a route, noting features on the map ß
So you want to know more?

• Find out how to set a map, then follow a

route using the map;
• Learn about bearings;
• Talk to another Leader in your Group or
District about mapping;
• Find out about Route cards and how to
complete one.

Your notes on this session

Safety rules

By themselves, maps are absolutely safe. It

is only when people get hold of them that
they become dangerous! Failing to correctly
estimate the distance between two points
whilst out walking can have disastrous
consequences. Equally, you might have
measured the distance accurately but
forgotten to take into account the fact that
you are climbing the equivalent height of
Mount Everest between those two points
simply because the ground is undulating.
Never set off walking in unfamiliar territory
without letting someone know exactly where
you are intending to go.

You will also need to have a basic

knowledge of the compass and how to set a
map and follow compass directions if you
are to undertake a hike or expedition.

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different features are found on town, road

HOW TO TRAIN OTHERS and O.S. maps.
This section is designed to give some Map scales can be confusing. It is quite
practical ideas about you can help other significant that we often describe the
people to understand mapping. This might distance between two points in terms of
be Leaders or Scouts - either in an informal time, rather than distance. We know it takes
way on a Troop night or more formally on a about an hour to get from home to work but
skills workshop, training course or we haven't got a clue how far it is! Spend
something similar. time on this important aspect of mapping.
Objectives Training activities
By the end of the session, participants will 1. Working in pairs, with maps, work out
be able to: some grid references.
2. Make a sketch map of the venue that
1. Describe the key elements of road you are currently in, using scales of your
maps, town maps and Ordnance Survey choice.
maps; 3. Run a quiz night type activity with
2. Identify a minimum of 20 symbols used rounds on road signs, map symbols and
on maps and describe their meanings; so on.
3. Demonstrate the use of a six figure grid 4. Make up bingo cards of map symbols
reference; and play the game with a set of map
4. Demonstrate the use of an Ordnance symbol cards or on an OHP
Survey map; transparency.
5. Describe the terms 'eastings', 'northings' 5. Give each participant some paper and a
and 'scales' on an Ordnance Survey pencil. Describe a journey by reading it
map; from a map. For example, 'I left the local
6. Demonstrate how contour lines may be church and walked due north for 100
interpreted into land surface shapes. metres to the Post Office. Through the
orchard to the east of the Post Office, I
Time could hear a train on the railway line
although it was 2 kilometres away. From
Approximately one hour. the Post Office I walked a further 400
metres due north to the bridge over the
Equipment canal. A boat was passing through the
lock. The Bridge public house seemed
Road maps, town maps, a selection of very busy...' and so on. Participants
Ordnance Survey maps. should make a sketch map and
compare results.
Visual aids: 20 map symbols on cards; 3D 6. Participants, in small groups, make a
model of ground features to illustrate display or mapping board showing map
contour lines; large sheets of paper and symbols and their meanings.
pens; games equipment as necessary. 7. Participants, again in small groups, are
given a copy of the same map (one per
Training method group). They then work out the answers
to a number of written questions. For
Although some explanation of key elements example:
and terms will be necessary, make this
• What is the best walking route
session as practical as possible.
from 'A' to ‘B’?
• What is the best driving route
Stress the need for different types of maps
from 'A' to 'B’?
for different situations. That is, explain that

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• If you stood on top of the hill at Describe ground features from contour lines
... (six figure grid reference), ß
what would you expect to see if
you were looking in a south So they want to know more?
westerly direction?
• You are at point Z ... (six figure • Learn to use a compass with maps;
map reference) when a cyclist • Learn about bearings;
says that he is lost and asks for • Talk with another Leader about map
directions to get to Y. Using the reading skills;
map, what instructions should • Check for mapping requirements in the
be given? Scout Award, Pathfinder Award,
8. Give each group a copy of the same Explorer Award and Chief Scout's
Ordnance Survey map. Call out various Award;
objects or places. Give a point to the • Read Back to Basics available from the
person who first calls out the correct grid Information Centre, Gilwell Park.
reference number or who runs up to a • Put it into practice - go out and use it!
flip chart or board and writes it down
accurately.
9. In small groups, make a 3D model from Your notes on this session
polystyrene tiles, papier mache and so
on, to represent a hill or feature from the
map, to scale.
10. In groups, or as individuals, ask
participants to draw a sketch map that
would enable a foreigner who is unable
to communicate in English, to find his
way between two local landmarks.

Hints and tips

• Learn to use a map keeping it the right

way up. Do not turn it round.
• Practise estimating distances by pacing
out across open stretches of ground.
Place a coin or marker on the ground
and walk, say, 100 metres; stop and
turn right, walk 100 metres; stop and
turn right again and walk 100 metres;
and once again, stop, turn right and
walk 100 metres. You should arrive
back at the marker!

Checking their progress

Ask participants whether they feel they are

happy with their ability to:

Know the difference between town/road and

Ordnance Survey maps ß
Identify 20 map symbols ß
Give six figure grid references ß
Estimate distances ß

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