Navigation Skills for Walkers, Hikers and Ramblers

Can't find something? Click here for the A - Z

- Giving a Grid Reference

A grid reference allows you to reference any 100m x 100m square in mainland Britain (England, Scotland & Wales). A complete grid reference comprises two grid letters (which define a particular 100km x 100km square) plus a 6 figure number (which defines a particular 100m x 100m square within that larger square). For more information on grid letters - see The National Grid. Below is an interactive example of how to construct or locate a grid reference:

1. Establish the locations for which you need the grid reference - Point 'A' - in this case SD785442.

2. Find the blue vertical grid line immediately to the west (left) of Point 'A' - the '78' grid line. This grid line represents the first two numbers of the grid reference - 78. (Called 'The Easting' - because it increases as you travel East)

3. Next, find the horizontal grid line immediately to the south (below) of Point 'A' - the '44' line. This represents the fourth and fifth number in the grid reference - 44. (Called 'The Northing' - because it increases as you travel North)

4. Imagine this 1km square is divided into 100 smaller squares - 10 along the bottom and 10 up the side - represented as grey lines in the illustration above.

5. Estimate how many smaller squares point A is east (right) of grid line 78. This represents the third number of the grid reference - 5.

6. Similarly, estimate how many smaller squares point A is north (above) of grid line 44. This represents the sixth number of the grid reference - 2.

7. Finally, add the two grid letters which define the relevant square to the front of the reference - SD. These letters will be found in the map margin. You now have a complete grid reference for a 100m x 100m square.

Remember: Grid References are always read Eastings first followed by the Northings. This can be easily recalled using the phrase:

Go Along The Corridor (Eastings) before going Up The Stairs (Northings)

Note: It is important to note that the complete grid reference defines an area of 100m x 100m NOT a particular spot.

To contribute to go4awalk.com or to contact us about anything at all
- see Talk To Us. For help see Help.

NB. To see our navigational hills you must have the Macromedia Shockwave/Flash Player plug-in installed in your browser. This is free and comes as standard with later versions. If you have an early version browser - click here and follow Macromedia's installation instructions.

A - Z   Walks   Home   Log On / Accounts   Photo Gallery
Walk Ideas and Collections   Fell Facts   Places to Stay   Hill Skills
Walking Questions and Answers   Your Stories   News   Competitions
Product Reviews/Gear Tests   Walking Gear Guides   Contents
Peaks and Mountains   Peak Bagging   Find New Walking Friends
Ordnance Survey Walking Maps   Camping   GPS Waypoints for Walking
Walk Search   Talk to us   go4awalk.com Help   Free example walks

Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.