Direction

Key Concepts in Direction

The Cardinal Points

Four main cardinal points:

• North (N)
• East (E)
• South (S)
• West (W)

The Intercardinal (Intermediate) Points

These fall between the cardinal points:

• North-East (NE)
• South-East (SE)
• South-West (SW)
• North-West (NW)

Compass Bearings

Bearings provide precise directional information:

• Measured in degrees (°), starting at 0° (North) and moving clockwise around the compass. Examples:

• 90° = East

• 180° = South

• 270° = West

Using Direction on OS Maps

Identifying Directions Between Features:

• Place the compass rose (north arrow) on the map.
• Use the cardinal/intercardinal points to describe the direction of one feature relative to another.

Compass Bearings on Maps:

1. Draw a straight line between two points (e.g., a town and a hill).
2. Place a protractor at the starting point, aligning the 0° mark with the north.
3. Measure the angle clockwise to the line connecting the two points.

Magnetic North vs. True North:

• True North: Points to the geographic North Pole.
• Magnetic North: Points to Earth's magnetic north (varies over time).
• OS maps include magnetic declination in the legend to account for this difference.

Applications of Direction in Geography

Navigating

• Direction is used to describe routes, such as:
  • "The road runs northeast from the village to the forest."

Identifying Features

• Direction helps locate features about each other:
  • "The school is west of the church."

Quick Reference Table

Direction	Bearing (°)
North (N)	0° / 360°
North-East (NE)	45°
East (E)	90°
South-East (SE)	135°
South (S)	180°
South-West (SW)	225°
West (W)	270°
North-West (NW)	315°