Copse & CompassHow to Read a Topographic Map Without a GPS
This piece walks you through contour lines, scale and symbols so a paper map actually makes sense on the trail. You'll also learn a simple way to check your position without relying on a signal.
Editors' picks
Practical guides and honest stories for anyone who loves a weekend outdoors, written by people who actually go.
- 1 Backpacking Stove Types: Canister, Liquid Fuel or Wood-Burning Camp & Gear9 min read
- 2 How to Build a Safe Campfire in Wet Woodland Woodcraft & Campfire8 min read
- 3 How to Choose a Trail Within Two Hours of Home Weekend Trip Planning8 min read
- 4 Trekking Poles vs No Poles: Which Suits Your Knees and Trail? Trail Skills & Navigation8 min read
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Questions readers ask
Who actually writes the guides on Copse & Compass?
Named editors and contributors who walk the routes and use the kit themselves. Every article carries a byline, and you can see who wrote it and why they were the right person for that particular trail.
How is Copse & Compass funded if nothing is for sale here?
Through a reader-supported newsletter and a small amount of clearly disclosed advertising that never influences what we write. We don't sell products or take payment for a favourable mention.
Can I suggest a trail or a topic you should cover?
Yes, send it through the contact form and someone on the editorial team reads it. We can't promise every suggestion gets written up, but we do keep a running list and it genuinely shapes what we cover.
What happens if a route or fact in an article changes after publishing?
We correct the article and add a short note at the bottom with the date of the change, so anyone who read the original version can see what shifted.
We only publish a route or a piece of kit advice once someone on the team has actually tried it themselves. That's the whole rule.
Who writes here
Rosalind FairweatherSenior Trail Editor
Tom AshworthGear and Kit Editor
About Copse & Compass
Copse & Compass is written by a small group of hikers, weekend campers and one very patient knot enthusiast who test most of what we write about on our own days off. We write for people who want a two-day escape into the woods without overthinking the gear or the route. Every how-to and comparison is checked against current trail advice and, where it matters, against manufacturer specifications before it goes live.
About usWrite to the Editors
Send us a question, a topic you'd like covered, or a correction if something in an article doesn't match what you found on the trail. We read everything ourselves.