Grid reference guides

Short, practical guides to using grid references in Great Britain.

• How to read a grid referenceA step-by-step guide to reading and giving a British grid reference, with a worked example on Snowdon.
• 6, 8 and 10 figure grid references explainedWhat the number of digits in a grid reference means, how precise each one is, and which to use for walking, DofE, surveys or emergencies.
• Grid references for DofE expeditionsHow to use grid references on a Duke of Edinburgh expedition, from planning a route card to checking in with your supervisor.
• Giving your location to the emergency servicesHow to call for help in the UK outdoors and describe exactly where you are using a grid reference.
• Grid reference vs What3Words vs lat/longAn honest comparison of OS grid references, latitude/longitude and What3Words for describing a location in Great Britain.