Routecards & Route Planning

It is vital that you can see the public rights of way and landmarks on the map when navigating. Too much ink means that you won't be able to see what you are walking on and have a greater risk of straying off onto the wrong path. Therefore:

• Using the exact 6-figure Grid Reference, mark a small circle on each of your designated checkpoints.

• Using small V-shaped arrows, mark your route along the footpaths, bridleways, minor roads and paths, with the arrows spaced out so that you can see what you are walking on. The point of the V will show your direction.

• Avoid writing anything else on the map so as to not cover up any important information.

• If marking a laminated map, use a permanent ink marker pen, and then rub out your markings using meths or similar after the expedition.

Walking Speed

On average, teams on a DofE expedition will often walk at a speed of around 3kph on flat, even terrain. This might be quicker if walking along a long-distance cycle trail or road, or if carrying less kit. Equally, this might be slower if walking on uneven ground, such as rocky outcrops or open moorland terrain.

3kph makes calculations simpler i.e. 1km takes 20 mins, 0.5 km in 10mins, 0.25km in 5 mins.

Height Gain

When walking uphill, it tends to take longer. On average, we tend to allow an extra 1 min for every 10 metres climbed. On many maps, contour lines are spaced at 10m intervals, so this works out at 1 min per contour line.

When going downhill or staying at the same height, there is NO HEIGHT GAIN, and therefore you should record 0.

Journey Time

The journey time is therefore a combination of your walking speed and height gain i.e.
3km per hour + 1 min for every 10m climbed.

Use the following set of "D"s to help:

• Destination

• Direction

• Distance

• Duration

• Description

• Danger

Routecards are tabular forms which are built around these 6 "D"s. They help to inform all parties - participants, supervisors and assessors - of the intended route, time of arrival at each checkpoint, and what actions to take in bad weather or emergencies.

When describing a route, follow this simple "recipe":

• Type of Path (footpath, bridleway, track etc).

• Direction & Distance.

• Distinguishing feature (wood, farm, hill, church, pub etc).

• To a point where you change direction or path type changes.

Plot your route on the map, highlight your start and 6 checkpoints. Using the Karos Adventure Bronze Routecard template:

• Complete the header line with name of school, team number and start time.

• Complete the footer line with the names of participants in your team. 

• Record the name of your start and each checkpoint, along with the 6-figure Grid Reference of each location.

• Record the direction to get to each checkpoint using cardinal and inter-cardinal points (N, NE, E etc).

• Using string to measure the distance between checkpoints, record the distance of each leg in km, rounding up to the nearest 0.25km (0.25km, 0.5km, 0.75km, 1.0km etc). Only write the numbers, without symbols or letters.

• Using the map, record whether you are going uphill by writing "UP". If you are going up a steep slope, write "UP STEEP". Otherwise, leave the cell blank.

• The journey time will be calculated for you. Decide on how long to take for breaks and planned activity, recording this in the format h:mm (i.e. 10 mins would be 0:10). The overall time will then be calculated for you.

• Describe the route you would take to get to each checkpoint, referring to landmarks, names of farms, public rights of way, directions etc.

Plot your route on the map, highlight your start and 6 checkpoints. Using the Karos Adventure Silver & Gold Routecard template:

• Complete the header line with name of school, team number, goal and start time.

• Complete the footer line with the names of participants in your team. 

• Record the name of your start and each checkpoint, along with the 6-figure Grid Reference of each location.

• Record the direction to get to each checkpoint using compass bearings. Only write the numbers, without symbols or letters.

• Using string to measure the distance between checkpoints, record the distance of each leg in km, rounding up to the nearest tenth - i.e. recording in 0.1km increments. Only write the numbers, without symbols or letters.

• Using the map, if you are going uphill, record the height gain in metres above sea level. If you are going downhill or are flat, write 0. Only write the numbers, without symbols or letters.

• The journey time will be calculated for you. Decide on how long to take for breaks and planned activity, recording this in the format h:mm (i.e. 10 mins would be 0:10). The overall time will then be calculated for you.

• Describe the route you would take to get to each checkpoint, referring to landmarks, names of farms, public rights of way, directions etc.

• Record the location where you would escape to in the event of an emergency or poor visibility when on high ground (Gold only).

• Record your Bad Weather route to take in the event of poor weather if the original route is on high ground (Gold only).

Plot your route on the map, highlight your start and 6 checkpoints. Using the Karos Adventure Silver & Gold Routecard template:

• Complete the header line with name of school, team number, goal and start time.

• Complete the footer line with the names of participants in your team. 

• Record the name of your start and each checkpoint, along with the 6-figure Grid Reference of each location.

• Record the direction to get to each checkpoint using compass bearings. Only write the numbers, without symbols or letters.

• Using string to measure the distance between checkpoints, record the distance of each leg in km, rounding up to the nearest tenth - i.e. recording in 0.1km increments. Only write the numbers, without symbols or letters.

• Record the number of portages you need to take during each leg of the route (i.e. carrying your canoe round hazards such as locks).

• The journey time will be calculated for you. Decide on how long to take for breaks and planned activity, recording this in the format h:mm (i.e. 10 mins would be 0:10). The overall time will then be calculated for you.

• Describe the route you would take to get to each checkpoint, referring to landmarks, names of farms, public rights of way, directions etc.

• Record the location of any portages or hazards on each leg of your journey.