Understanding magnetic north with Steve Backshall and Ordnance Survey

Steve Backshall, #GetOutside Champion, shows you how to allow for the differences between grid north and magnetic north.

[jbradshaw]

Another way to remember if you need to add or subtract is as follows: If you going from a grid to a mag bearing then 'add' because the world is bigger than the map. If your going from a magnificent bearing to a grid bearing then subtract/takeaway as the map is smaller than the world. This has helped quite a few students I have taught with dyslexia .

[vancemccolm]

This is the best land navigation site that I have come across. Techniques are clear and concise, no sidebars yapping about this and that while someone is trying to learn something new.

[corcaighrebel]

Thanks for these videos which I must look over again tonight, some critical information conveyed in an easy to understand way.

[mickhursey]

Thanks Steve, really good Video and as a complete beginner, I thought it was clear, concise and has given me a great foundation to start from.

[shazadkhan]

Hi mr Steve
I really appreciate your great and successful effort
This is been wonderfully explains everything
I’ve watched 20s of videos about it but couldn’t get my head around
I’ve learnt everything in these short 8 videos
Wonderful Steve I can appreciate your knowledge and hard working and thinking for how to make a Beginner understand
Very helpful
Thank you

[dragonflyfly]

Too fast, lacks detail. Even on pause i have no idea what he is aligning with what. i can see the 5 degrees W declination on my compass, now what? Do I ignore the gig red arrow in the bezel?

[TheBirdbass]

....clear, concise explanation...does exactly what it says...etc, etc. Thank you.

[jonwilliams]

Brilliant, clear, I now know which aspects I need to brush up on

[RopeAccesspainter]

thanks, this will help with my sons map reading skills.

[honeybee]

Thank you man, this was really helpful to me.

[BuddhaLrd]

Really helpful playlist. Thanks for simplifying things.

[BrightonandHoveActually]

The variation data on the legend is only correct at the date the map data was collated - not even when it was bought.

I have some very old maps which are still useful but the variation is now significantly different to what they say.


From there I can get recent data and know the correct correction (if you see what I mean)!

If you have a posh compass which can be adjusted to allow for this, you can also do that before you go - but keep a note of it anyway just in case it gets lost and must be replaced during the trip.

[yocky]

I have to agree that this isn't particularly well explained. Talking through the actual figures on the map in the video would have been better.

[dayzgone]

all rest of this series are brilliant buyt this one has confused me alot, any better explanations?

[rustyhoops]

yep agree could have explained it better for the purpose of using your own map for your area...although less than 2 degrees is not much of an adjustment to make

[allenheart]

Because of the coming micronova, declination is moving much farther, and much faster and so declination information is likely incorrect but there is still a way to recalibrate magnetic declination using the shadow of sticks recording the path of the sun---rotation of the earth has not yet changed. First stick will show East. Mark it with a sharp stick pushed in. After a few minutes you can mark sun shadow travel where the shadow has moved - Push another stick in to mark West. Lay a straight stick from the E mark to the W mark. Geographic north or True North is 90 degrees from the E-W line. With your compass pointing toward True North, note how far off your compass is now. That is your true up-to-date declination. My up-to-date declination is 30 degrees, 15 degrees off from the official declination for my area. More on micronova in my 2nd book, Surviving the Micronova: This Train Is on the Tracks will be available in September.

[jaydenbird]

i used a bar magnet and it didnt take me north,
any tips?

[garyturnbull]

This didn't really explain anything about the magnetic declination on OS maps. I'm a begginer to map reading, and maybe I'm missing something, but there was zero information in this clip.

[pmh]

mistake in will sometimes hear people talk of magnetic declination, when they really mean magnetic variation in the UK. Declination is different, as it is the measure of the difference between true north and magnetic north, and as we in the UK don’t need to concern ourselves with True north, we can forget the proper definition of declination

[colinanderson]

ok that website is exactly wats needed and is now saved thx, however my gripe is if you only have a map in front of you, The explanation on the map legend does not read easily, (to me anyway)  however now I have that website I no longer need  to try and decipher wots written, I am doing the "fan dance" Wednesday and according to your website there is less than one degree variation which isn't worth worrying about anyway + theres a well trod footpath by the looks of it  8-) .many thx and apologies, was having a bad night .colin