Map Scales explained

In this video, I’m comparing different map scales —1:50,000, 1:40,000, and 1:25,000—to help you understand how to choose the right map scale for hiking, walking, and navigation. Starting with a clear explanation of what map scales mean, I’ll show how each scale changes the level of detail, from large-scale terrain features to specific details like paths, walls, and landmarks.

I’ll be testing each map type on a route from Malham Tarn to Fountains Fell Tarn to see the differences firsthand. We’ll explore how the 1:50,000 map provides a broad view ideal for general navigation, the 1:25,000 map gives detailed features perfect for complex or precise navigation, and the 1:40,000 map offers a balanced view. Along the way, I’ll explain how to read map scales and why each scale might be better suited for different types of terrain or outdoor activities, from hiking and cycling to trekking in rugged areas.

If you’re curious about how to navigate with maps of different scales or want tips on picking the best scale for your next outdoor adventure, this video will give you the answers!

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[phys.ed]

Consistently one of the best Youtube channels for excellent factual content (and a bit of waffle). Love a map 😊

[BuckMckawtheotherone]

The rope bound coils seem to be like what we use in Canada to prevent erosion of hillsides. We use them on freshly disturbed hillsides. New highways, for example, that have ditches on each side of a hill in the road, use similar restrainers at intervals from top to bottom of the hill. This stops the fast flow of water down off the road into the ditch. We may have learned this from beavers, who build stepped dams on a downhill river, forming stepped pools at certain contour elevations. Clever beavers.

[WildFayah]

Those rope bound coils are probably sediment control wattles used to stop sediment run off after a patch of land is stripped bare.

[TayWoode]

Take no notice of people saying you need a script. That’s for those people who do everything in a shouty voice, annoying jump cuts, zoom in and outs, loud music, unfunny wisecracks, sat with a background of swirling graphics aimed at people with short attention spans. This is nice and calming and interesting and I can absorb the information without having to rewind or constantly put subtitles on

[BSJ-VT]

A glacial waffle!

The artistic nature of the Ordance Survey maps is one of the things that attracted me to your channel. The waffles are an added bonus!

They're erosion control barriers. Water flows through, soil gets trapped..

[glyngibbs]

I come for the maps, but I stay for the waffle. Thank you for your efforts.

[Hector-vxyc]

Hi Wayne, my friend we love your waffles!! It so educational, you’re a wealth of knowledge!! I really enjoy the waffles, embrace it, you are an awesome educator!! Bless your heart my friend, thank you so much for sharing your experience and knowledge!! STRENGTH AND HONOR my friend be well!! 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽💯💯💯❤️❤️❤️ from Washington state 🇺🇸

[PD]

Tarn is an Old Norse name. In Swedish it is called Tjärn. The definition is the same, the lake lacks drainage only evaporation. Tjärn lakes are usually found in forest areas. If it is located in marshland, it is called Göl. A Tjärn lacks peat banks, and has clearer water than a göl.

[Єнот-тй]

Never apologise for the "waffle" - never! It's part of the reason I watch out for your videos dropping! 🙂

[brianscott]

When you mentioned that the military funded the mapping of the country was this in preparation of a possible invasion by Napoleon, and did they concentrate their efforts initially around the south east coastal area only expanding the project once the threat had dissipated?
It has been years since I’ve attempted long day walks in the hills and usually just stick to the same established tracks around my home town, hence my navigation skills have become rusty. I do enjoy watching and listening to your videos and interested in your little snippets of history or geography that you impart. Your narrations help the map features come to life and tell their story.

[doughobbs]

The bales you asked about are for peat errosion control and stabilisation, in the Peak district the Kinder, Bleaklow, Featherbed Moss etc. have loads in place

[jeremygharrison]

The thing about scales, more generally, is use the best scale for the job: 1:25000 to 1:50000 for walking, smaller scales or 1:250000, or even smaller might be better for driving, or to get a national overview (to see where the hills are - but not to get around them); while really large scale maps and plans (110000, 1:2500 or larger) can be needed in urban areas, or for construction.

[RSLtreecare]

Brilliant, thank you. I really enjoyed this.

[heathcoat]

In the USA, we use something similar to those rope rolls, we use them for soil erosion control

[seamusdelaney]

I love all your excellent videos..Fan from Ireland

[seangalwaysg]

Thanks for taking the time to explain this. Saved

[KristoffKuche]

Rope wattles an old form of modern Geo-textile to control sediment/water movement . Generally used for good land stewardship, legally required in Canada .We use straw bales on the farm to establish cover on erosion prone soil . Funny I came across a beaver dam in Southern Ontario hiking the other day, a rare sight indeed . Thanks for your dedication to the hiking community !

[QuantumMechanic_]

A definition of "Shake Holes" would be nice . Very good video and thanks.

[istair]

An important caveat to OS 1:25, 000 vs 1:50, 000 is that for any given location, one of those maps may have been updated by Ordnance Survey more recently than the other. This might not be so obvious if using printed maps but can often be seen when using 'live' maps, such as via the OS layer freely available within the online Microsoft Bing Maps (if the browser location is set to UK).
The OS team are updating features on one or other of these maps every day, or thereabouts, to address natural changes (such as erosion) or man-made elements; however, some locations appear to get more timely updates than others (so perhaps they receive formal update requests), as many areas have very stale data, years out of date.

[ishystep]

As @wildfayah commented they are there to stop erosion in peat bog areas. They are often filled with wool. You will see a lot of them in the black mountains of south Wales.