Compass Skills
Compass Points
The compass is split into 4 Cardinal Points:
North (0° or 360°)
East (90°)
South (180°)
West (270°)
There are various ways to remember the order:
Never Eat Shredded Wheat
Naughty Elephants Squirt Water
In-between these points are inter-cardinal points. There are:
4 Inter-Cardinal Points (NE, SE, SW, NW)
A further 8 intermediate directions between Cardinal & Inter-Cardinal Point. These are NNE, ENE, ESE, SSE, SSW, WSW, WNW, NNW.
Compass Bearings
Three steps to taking a simple compass bearing:
Using the "Direction of Travel" arrow on the compass, line up the edge of the compass along the direction you want to go from start (A) to your destination (B).
Turn the dial until the “N” on the dial points to the top of the map, and the lines inside the dial are parallel to the vertical grid lines on the map. Please IGNORE the needle at this point.
Read the bearing at the illuminated or white mark on the edge of the dial. The small lines are every 2°, longer lines are every 10°, and numbers every 20°.
When out in the field, with the compass set at the bearing you wish to travel, turn the compass so that the needle points to the "N" on the compass, and the direction of travel arrow will then point the way in which you wish to go. Find a landmark in that direction and walk towards it, checking your bearing as you travel.
