1. Map symbols

2. What are map symbols?
Maps give us a lot of information and there is not much room for labels.
So we use symbols to save space and make the map easier to read.
Symbols may be simple drawings, letters, shortened words or coloured shapes or areas.

3. How can we use them?
A map will always have a key to list and explain the meanings of the symbols used.
It is therefore not necessary for you to learn all the symbols as you will have a key.
However it will make it quicker if you are familiar with some of the more common ones.

4. OS map symbols
Ordnance survey (OS) has its own set of map symbols, often copied by others.
These symbols can be grouped into categories like places of interest (usually shown in black), points of interest for tourists (blue), etc. but every map will have a key for reference.

5. For example the following symbols all indicate churches
Some map symbols can tell you more than just the location of a feature.
For example the following symbols all indicate churches
– but each one will tell you a little bit about what the church looks like.
Click to find out what......

6. For example the following symbols all indicate churches
Some map symbols can tell you more than just the location of a feature.
Chapel
For example the following symbols all indicate churches
Church with a tower
– but each one will tell you a little bit about what the church looks like.
Church with a steeple

7. Areas of woodland too will tell you what type of trees are to be found.
Below is the symbol for a mixed woodland, but the trees could be shown as either just coniferous or just deciduous.
Coniferous
Deciduous

8. Map Symbols Lets start to identify some important symbols.
Can you guess what these symbols mean?

9. Map Symbols Lets start to identify some important symbols. Campsite
Car Park

10. Try and memorise these! To test yourself...... Public Convenience
Coniferous wood
Secondary road
View point
Quarry
Public Footpath
Information centre
Public phone
To test yourself......

11. Click here for the answers
Back to main session..

12. Click here for the answers
Secondary road
Back to main session..

13. Click here for the answers
Secondary road
Information centre
Back to main session..

14. Click here for the answers
Secondary road
Information centre
Coniferous wood
Back to main session..

15. Click here for the answers
Secondary road
View point
Information centre
Coniferous wood
Back to main session..

16. Click here for the answers
Secondary road
View point
Information centre
Quarry
Coniferous wood
Back to main session..

17. Click here for the answers
Secondary road
Public Convenience
View point
Information centre
Quarry
Coniferous wood
Back to main session..

18. Click here for the answers
Secondary road
Public Convenience
View point
Information centre
Public phone
Quarry
Coniferous wood
Back to main session..

19. How well did you do? Secondary road Public Convenience View point
Information centre
Public phone
Quarry
Public Footpath
Coniferous wood

20. Recap
All (OS) maps use symbols to identify features. – There is a key on all maps.
The symbols are not to scale and are made up of words letters or drawings.
The symbols are broken down into different sections.- Places of interest, Boundaries etc
Symbols can tell you more than just the location of a feature.
The more map symbols you can remember the easier you will find navigation.
Back to main session..