Orienteering maps are rather different from the maps you are probably used to, but are drawn using an internationally agreed set of colours and symbols.
To begin with, they are at a large scale – typically 1:10,000 (1cm on the map represents 100m on the ground), but sometimes as large as 1:4,000 (1cm on the map represents 40m on the ground); then things happen really fast!
Then the symbols and colours are different, and show very detailed features that aren’t marked on ordinary maps.
Let’s have a look at the most common ones.
First of all, the background colours:
Yellow is used to show open areas – by which we mean without any tree cover – such as moorland, parkland, or playing fields. A bolder shade indicates that the ground is easier to cross – for example, short grass.
White shows woodland or forest that is easy to run through.
Different shades of green show woodland or forest that is harder to run through; darker means harder.
Note: a special “olive green” colour is used on maps of urban areas, to indicate an area that you must not enter. Usually common sense will tell you (it may be private gardens, for example), but if you’re running in an urban or sprint race: be aware!
On top of these you will see features marked in brown, black and blue.
Brown is used to show ground features: contour lines, which show you the shapes of the hills and valleys; knolls (small mounds), depressions and pits (small holes in the ground), ditches, gullies and earth walls.
Black is used for roads, tracks and paths, as well as rock features such as cliffs or crags, boulders and caves, and man-made features such as buildings, walls, fences, bridges and statues.
Blue is used for water features, such as lakes, rivers, streams and marshes.
Finally you will see your course “overprinted” in purple.
Just knowing a few symbols and colours will get you a long way on most maps, but as you progress you will want to learn more. You can find complete printable guides at maprunner.co.uk