How To Use A Compass

The first question should be why do I want to use a compass? What can it do for me?
Having understood that the compass needle always points in the same direction, we can use this to help us travel to any point which we can see. (later on, we will use the compass with a map, which is a bit more useful). We could use this technique when the land is not flat and we would therefore loose sight of the end object when we go down the valleys.

1. Firstly always hold the compass flat, otherwise the needle will touch the bottom or top of the housing and then it won't always point to the North. Seems silly to mention this, but you would be surprised at how many people when they are first using a compass don't do it.
2. Point the compass base (direction of travel arrow) to the object you wish to go to.
3. Keeping the compass pointing in the correct direction and flat turn the housing until the orienting arrow in underneath the RED end of the Needle
4. Look at the number on the compass housing where it touches the direction of travel arrow. Remember the number, which is the bearing to your destination. You need to remember the number since you could knock the compass housing while traveling which would then mean the compass you set up so beautifully is now pointing to the wrong place!
5. Following the direction of travel arrow, keeping the RED end of the needle over the orienting arrow. If you look at the compass say every 50 - 100 meters, it should get you to your target. Don't watch your compass all the while, if you don't want to fall over an obstacle.

How To Set A Bearing

Suppose you want to go West from your present position. Looking at the compass housing we can see the 'W' symbol.

1. We now turn the compass housing until the 'W' is over the top of the direction arrow.
2. Turn the compass base (keeping it flat) until the RED end of the needle is over the top of the orienting arrow.
3. As above, keeping the compass flat, follow the direction arrow.

Which North?
Believe it or not there are three North Poles. True North, Magnetic North and Grid North. (the latter is only applicable to the UK). True North is the Geographical North Pole i.e. the one at the 'top of the world'. Grid North is where all the grid lines of a UK map point to. Magnetic North comes from the earths magnetic field and wonders around a bit.
When using a compass it will indicate magnetic North. When you need to transfer a bearing from the compass to the map, you need to alter the bearing (number of degrees) to compensate for the difference. The little rule when in the UK to remember how to alter the number is
"When going from small to large, add the difference. When going from large to small subtract i.e. make the number smaller." Therefore when going from a map (which is small) to the outside world (which is large) add on the difference to make the bearing bigger. When going from the outside world to the map, subtract the difference.

However after all that, the difference between magnetic North and Grid North (declination) on Cannock Chase is three degrees. Therefore, when taking a bearing from the outside world to use on a map, you should take away 3 degrees from the bearing you read on the compass and vice versa.

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