Navigation Challenge: Match the Image to the Map

It doesn’t take long to learn the basics of map reading: understanding the different lines and symbols is a good place to start! Our friends over at Borderlands Outdoor have put together the following challenge to see whether you can match the photographs to the correct Ordnance Survey map section. Can you do it?

It might be a bit trickier than it seems at first. Or maybe it will be too easy if you know the contours of the land and the twists and turns of the River Wye well. We’ve blurred out some of the main place names as that would make it far too easy. The answers are at the bottom of the page.

If you get stuck our Map Reading: Symbols for Beginners and Navigation For Beginners articles might help!

Image 1:

Image 2:

Image 3:

Image 4:

Image 5:

Map 1:

Map 2:

Map 3:

Map 4:

Map 5:

Scroll down for the answers:

.

.

.

.

Image 1 = Map 1 – This is the iconic Bigsweir Bridge across the River Wye with Wales to the west and England to the east. We know you probably recognised the bridge but did you recognise its map location? The clues are in the large area of flat ground immediately to the north and south of the bridge and the steep wooded hills on either side as well as the National Trail (green diamonds) the Offa’s Dyke Path which can be seen to the east. Bigsweir Bridge is one of many crossings on the river as the main Wye Valley road (the A466) winds its way through one of the most scenic drives anywhere in the UK.

Image 2 = Map 5 – This is of course the Redbrook Bridge, also known as the Penallt Viaduct, again with Wales (the village of Penallt, Monmouthshire) to the west and England (the village of Redbrook, Gloucestershire) to the east. The former railway bridge now carries the long-distance Wye Valley Walk across the river where it almost meets with the Offa’s Dyke Path on the road above. The pub at Penallt is marked with a tankard sign on the map which also helps with identifying the location. Although the pub is in Wales its car park is across the bridge in England!

Image 3 = Map 4 – This is the confluence of the rivers Monnow and Wye at Monmouth, as seen from the Duke of Beaufort Bridge looking west. On the map the bridge has orange dots on it indicating a cycle route and beyond is Monmouth hidden by trees in the photo. Monmouth is the ancient county town of Monmouthshire and takes great pride in its heritage as the birthplace of King Henry V.

Image 4 = Map 3 – Taken from the banks of the river at Ross-on-Wye looking south- east towards the town. The steeple of St. Mary’s Church is clearly visible in the picture, marked as a black circle with a cross on top on the map. It would be easy to confuse this with map 2, but the church there has a tower (black square) rather than a steeple (black circle) as in this photo. Ross-on-Wye is a charming market town with beautiful riverside pubs and lovely independent shops.

Image 5 = Map 4 – This is taken from the same bridge as image 3 but looking the opposite way, south-east back down the River Wye! The Monmouth Viaduct is visible in the photo, this former Wye Valley Railway bridge crossed the river from Monmouth Troy station and is marked on the map as a pair of straight black lines stopping at the river’s edge. If you look at the opposite bank on the map, you’ll see where the railway line once continued.

Map 2 doesn’t feature in any of the images but the winding river, castle, two national trails and the Wales Coast Path marked on the map identify it clearly as Chepstow!

Created by Borderlands Outdoor who offer navigation courses throughout the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley which can help you to learn to navigate in the great outdoors so you can explore with confidence.