Map and Compass: Taking and Following a Bearing

Use a baseplate compass and topographic map to walk to a destination you can't see.

1. 1

   Find your location on the map and your destination. Draw a line between them.

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2. 2

   Lay the compass edge along that line with the direction-of-travel arrow pointing toward the destination.

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3. 3

   Turn the bezel until its north-south lines are parallel to the map's north-south grid lines, with 'N' pointing to map north.

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4. 4

   Adjust for declination (shown in the map margin): add or subtract the degrees as noted, or use a compass with adjustable declination.

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5. 5

   Read the bearing at the index line — e.g., 72°.

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6. 6

   Hold the compass flat at your waist, arrow pointing forward. Turn your body until the red magnetic needle sits inside the red outline arrow ('red in the shed').

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7. 7

   Look up along the direction arrow and pick a landmark (tree, rock) on that line.

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8. 8

   Walk to it, then repeat: needle in shed, pick next landmark. Don't watch the compass while walking.

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9. 9

   Count paces (about 60–70 double-paces per 100 m on flat ground) to estimate distance.

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10. 10

    If an obstacle blocks you, walk around it with right-angle offsets and count paces back to your line.

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Saved steps go to My Survival Notebook.

The magnetized needle aligns with Earth's magnetic field, which points toward magnetic north, not true north. Declination is the angle between them and varies by location and year.