Ok so I can see this getting slated and me getting some abuse but between all the members here there is a wealth of knowledge I’d like to tap.
Having always used a sat nav since the day I passed my driving test I’ve never actually needed to use a map, I have a local map of my county that I used to use to deliver cars when the nav wouldn’t work so I can find a specific street when I’m in the area, but really if I was going to have to drive a longer distance and rely on a map I’d end up getting lost or taking a wrong turn. So I’m going to regret this thread but how do you use a map? How do you plan your route and not end up getting lost? Hints and tips please for someone who wants to stop relying on the Sat nav.
I think you need to be more specific about what you want to know?
As it’s not 1st April you must be a brave man. 
Invest in good maps that show sufficient detail, I think there’s a co called Philips who does maps which include bridge heights and weight restrictions.
Use your index and make sure you have the right spelling for towns (I once confused Loughton and Luton - big difference).
In this instance though I personally feel that Satnav takes a lot of stress out of journey planning - just try to use a ‘truck’ one so it takes bridges and restrictions into account. If you ‘plan’ your journey on the nav you can then have your map pages open so if you can’t get a signal you’re not completely lost at sea.
As in all things practice - look up a journey that you know well an see what it looks like on the map and go from there! Good luck.
Start at the index. Look up the town (ensure it’s the right town in the right county)
Here you will see something like
Newport,Gwent 25e6
This tells you that Newport Gwent can be found on page 25 grid square e6
Turn to page 25 and locate grid E6 (along the bottom of the pages you’ll see a letters and up the side numbers)
Once you have located e6 and with it Newport see what road takes you to Newport
Trace that road back to a junction (assuming the road number changes) follow that road til the road number changes and on and on until you reach your start point or ideally somewhere you have been before.
From there it’s a simply a case of driving (you can do that right?) to either the place you’ve been before and navigating from there, or from your start point and navigating from there to your destination.
If you are not familiar with maps and map symbols I suggest on your next night out (or instead of going on the lash) study a map use the key and index a number of times.
Phillips Truckers atlas is a good place to start then buy good quality town maps for towns you’re going to travel to a lot.
To give you an idea I have probably 30 maps in my lorry and I consider myself a local driver. I don’t do European and I don’t get up to Scotland often.
Common sense with a good measure of looking at road signs is vital when free styling your way with no sat nav.
Good luck drive and well done for at least trying not to be yet another brain dead nav led steering wheel attendant
Is map reading not taught at school anymore?
With someone asking such a ridiculous initial question , it puzzles me as to how this person originally found his way
out of his mother`s womb at such an early age. 
Cheers , cattle wagon man.
Tipper Tom:
Start at the index. Look up the town (ensure it’s the right town in the right county)Here you will see something like
Newport,Gwent 25e6
This tells you that Newport Gwent can be found on page 25 grid square e6
Turn to page 25 and locate grid E6 (along the bottom of the pages you’ll see a letters and up the side numbers)
Once you have located e6 and with it Newport see what road takes you to Newport
Trace that road back to a junction (assuming the road number changes) follow that road til the road number changes and on and on until you reach your start point or ideally somewhere you have been before.
From there it’s a simply a case of driving (you can do that right?) to either the place you’ve been before and navigating from there, or from your start point and navigating from there to your destination.
If you are not familiar with maps and map symbols I suggest on your next night out (or instead of going on the lash) study a map use the key and index a number of times.
Phillips Truckers atlas is a good place to start then buy good quality town maps for towns you’re going to travel to a lot.
To give you an idea I have probably 30 maps in my lorry and I consider myself a local driver. I don’t do European and I don’t get up to Scotland often.
Common sense with a good measure of looking at road signs is vital when free styling your way with no sat nav.
Good luck drive and well done for at least trying not to be yet another brain dead nav led steering wheel attendant
Could I possibly add Orientate the map as well in regards to the direction you are going?
happysack:
Is map reading not taught at school anymore?
Er…Grid refenrences are sort of used in Geography…but to teach someone to read a map is usually left to a dwindling few who wish to take part in the ‘Duke of Edinburgh’ Award.
Even when I was at school (92-97) there was no map reading beyond giving a 6 figure grid reference to emergency services and using very very basic navigation all in the class room.
Orientating the map has value but I didn’t want to give the OP too much information to begin with and risk worrying him
a little tip I found useful when starting out in this job (3yrs ago) use your map as described above , but also set your sat nav BUT ! with sound turned off . then basically ignore it until you get off the main drag and going "round the houses " . I found that knowing the “crutch” was there if needed took a lot of stress away .
Tipper Tom:
Even when I was at school (92-97) there was no map reading beyond giving a 6 figure grid reference to emergency services and using very very basic navigation all in the class room.Orientating the map has value but I didn’t want to give the OP too much information to begin with and risk worrying him
So a compass is out the question?
sinclair89:
Tipper Tom:
Even when I was at school (92-97) there was no map reading beyond giving a 6 figure grid reference to emergency services and using very very basic navigation all in the class room.Orientating the map has value but I didn’t want to give the OP too much information to begin with and risk worrying him
So a compass is out the question?
definitely … well I found the water in the cup that floats the needle spills out 
sinclair89:
Tipper Tom:
Even when I was at school (92-97) there was no map reading beyond giving a 6 figure grid reference to emergency services and using very very basic navigation all in the class room.Orientating the map has value but I didn’t want to give the OP too much information to begin with and risk worrying him
So a compass is out the question?
We used a compass at school. Mainly for drawing circles with. As for a directional compass no never used one at school. Used one in cadets and the TA but never at school
Tipper Tom:
sinclair89:
Tipper Tom:
Even when I was at school (92-97) there was no map reading beyond giving a 6 figure grid reference to emergency services and using very very basic navigation all in the class room.Orientating the map has value but I didn’t want to give the OP too much information to begin with and risk worrying him
So a compass is out the question?
We used a compass at school. Mainly for drawing circles with. As for a directional compass no never used one at school. Used one in cadets and the TA but never at school
I think the difference is where people attend after school clubs such as cubs, scouts, sea/air/army cadets where map reading is taught.
Most of TT’s advice is spot on. Start at your destination and work backwards. Using a map gives a much better overall picture of your journey and direction compared to a satnav.
Get a little notepad and just write down road numbers and junction numbers once planned. This saves having to keep looking at the map.
One thing I’ve found that a map helps with is actually where you are and what towns etc are around you. Where as if I use sat nav (albeit rarely) I tend to have tunnel vision and only see where I’m going to
Tipper Tom:
One thing I’ve found that a map helps with is actually where you are and what towns etc are around you. Where as if I use sat nav (albeit rarely) I tend to have tunnel vision and only see where I’m going to
very true ! I used to know exactly where I was going to , but hadn`t a ruddy clue as to where I was 
Thanks for the advice, I was worrying about coming back to this thread lol, we were never taught any map reading skills in school and when I went to college I’ve studied agriculture and mechanics so none of that is really any use. But really thanks for the advice, I don’t want to have to rely on navs I’d rather be able to know where I’m going instead of being given directions.
m1cks:
Get a little notepad and just write down road numbers and junction numbers once planned. This saves having to keep looking at the map.
That’s what I do especially if out on the motorbike, kinda hard to read maps on the go on two wheels but place names to look for and road numbers. I usually end up on the right road in the wrong direction though! 
I used to teach map reading in the army to new recruits, very few had come across it before so it was always interesting. For me its always better to have a map, takes a few mins to plan a route and actually see where you are going & what type of terrain you should be going through. I mainly use the sat nav to give me an approximate arrival time, I just don’t trust them when pulling a 15ft+ trailer.
Just make sure you have the correct map/street A to Z for the area you need, I looked on page 25 6e and it’s nowhere near Newport, Gwent. I was using the Tyne & wear book mind. Ba doom tish, right I’m off.