Understanding contour lines allows you to visualise the shape of the ground in terms of rise and fall or ‘vertical relief’. This is really useful as it allows you to understand how hilly an area is.

But its more than that, by understanding the shape of the ground we use it as a feature to collect or a handrail to follow whilst navigating. It can also give us vital information when planning a route, or looking for a place to camp.

In this video I’ll take you through contour lines, hill shapes, spurs, and concave vs convex hills. More importantly, we’ll talk about how you can use the information to your advantage when navigating.