Having pored over the Ordinance Survey map of the area, there is little better than selecting your route, making essential decisions about tracks and positions, pubs, etc. Then setting off on your planned ramble across naturs countryside. Not forgetting to pause occasionally to confirm your exact location and enjoy the scenery.
Unlike orienteering, rambling is a completely non-competitive sport for all ages and degrees of fitness and skill. It provides the enjoyment of becomoing one with nature with the challenges of map, compass and navigation through woods, tracks and hills.
Rambling, taken seriously, combines map reading and navigation skills, with physical fitness and stamina.
SHOES: Strong shoes or boots with ankle support and non-slip soles allow a good grip on all types of ground – including wet mud and bare rock.
MAP: Ordinance Survey maps are designed to give detailed information on the terrain - hills, ground surface, and features such as boulders or cliffs so that the participant is aware of what to expect during their walk.
COMPASS: There are a wide variety of sophisticated compasses to choose from. They can be divided into two main categories - base plate and hand-held compasses. The base plate compasses lend themselves particularly to planning and use with the map, although they are versatile enough to be used as bearing compasses too. Hand-held compasses start from the basic (this way is North) type of device, right the way up to comprehensive compasses with inclinometers and mirrors to assist with accurate positioning and height measurement. With compasses, like most outdoor sporting equipment, you really do get what you pay for. Professional/expert compasses are extremely robust, often made from brass and an absolute pleasure to use. Lower cost models tend to have much fewer facilities and are generally made from lower quality materials.
PEDOMETERS: A pedometer is literally a walking meter, although different pedometers have differing characteristics and can be used as running meters, jogging meters, etc. In general the type of pedometer is indicated by the name:
Pedometers add another dimension to the rambler's knowledge of their position and basic information. These devices give an accurate measurement of the distance walked (run or jogged) and thereby, allowing for terrain, the experienced user can be fairly sure of their position on the route and the distance they need to travel to the next waypoints.
Pedometers, being independent of any external factors (such as GPS signals) work just as well in mountain passes and indeed below the dense woodland cover which tends to render GPS of little if any use.
MAP MEASURERS: These lightweight devices (also known as odometers) measure the actual track distance across a map, and are calibrated to the popular scales that are in general use. Simply set the measurer/odometer to zero and roll its small wheel along the actual route on the map to get the distance of the planned path. This instrument can be very useful if used in combination with a pedometer, especially in measuring the distance along winding paths. By reading off the distance traversed on the pedometer and rolling the map measurer along the route, a very accurate position can be achieved.
ALTIMETERS: Altimeters measure height above sea level, or more accurately they measure air pressure. They are effected by air density on the day and a good device will allow the orienteer to correct for this using air meteorological reports. These add the final dimension in providing an accurate vertical fix on the orienteer's position. Unlike GPS, which has some altitude abilities, the altimeter is lightweight and does not need clear horizons in which to receive sufficient signal for altitude readings.
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