A map would be little more than a collection of lines and colours without symbols to explain what everything represents. Map symbols provide a simple visual language that allows large amounts of information to be displayed clearly without cluttering the page with text.
Once you become familiar with the most common symbols, reading a map becomes quicker, easier and far more enjoyable.
Why Symbols Are Used
Imagine trying to label every river, church, woodland, footpath and railway line with text alone. Maps would become difficult to read and important information could easily be overlooked.
Instead, cartographers use standardised symbols that are instantly recognisable and take up very little space.
Good map symbols should be:
- Easy to distinguish
- Consistent across the map
- Simple in design
- Appropriate to their purpose
- Clear at different scales
The Map Legend
Every map includes a legend, sometimes called a key.
This section explains what each symbol means and should always be one of the first places you look when using an unfamiliar map.
Typical items found in a legend include:
- Roads
- Footpaths
- Rivers
- Buildings
- Woodland
- Boundaries
- Tourist attractions
- Public facilities
- Transport links
Although many publishers use similar symbols, there can be slight differences between maps.
Natural Features
Natural features are usually represented using colours and simple shapes.
| Feature | Typical Representation |
|---|---|
| River | Blue line |
| Lake or reservoir | Blue shaded area |
| Woodland | Green shading or tree symbols |
| Marsh | Blue reeds or marsh symbols |
| Sand | Pale yellow shading |
| Cliff | Short black hachures |
| Contours | Thin brown lines |
These symbols help readers understand the landscape at a glance.
Man-Made Features
Maps also include symbols for structures created by people.
Common examples include:
- Churches
- Schools
- Railway stations
- Bridges
- Tunnels
- Car parks
- Campsites
- Picnic areas
- Viewpoints
- Lighthouses
The level of detail depends on the purpose and scale of the map.
Colours on Maps
Colours are just as important as individual symbols.
Most modern maps follow broadly similar colour conventions.
Blue
Used for water features such as rivers, lakes, canals and reservoirs.
Green
Usually indicates woodland, forests, parks or areas of open access land.
Brown
Represents land height through contour lines and other relief features.
Black
Often used for buildings, names, boundaries and many man-made structures.
Red
Typically highlights major roads or important transport routes.
Understanding these colour conventions makes it much easier to interpret unfamiliar maps.
Footpaths and Rights of Way
If you enjoy walking, you’ll quickly become familiar with the symbols used for public access.
These may include:
- Public footpaths
- Bridleways
- Restricted byways
- Byways open to all traffic
- Long-distance trails
- National Trails
Each route type is shown using a different combination of coloured or dashed lines.
Tourist Information
Many maps include symbols that help visitors find useful facilities and places of interest.
Examples include:
- Visitor centres
- Museums
- Castles
- Historic monuments
- Picnic sites
- Viewpoints
- Public toilets
- Parking areas
- Campsites
- Youth hostels
These symbols make planning days out and holidays much more straightforward.
Don’t Assume Every Map Is the Same
Although many symbols have become widely accepted, there is no single universal standard used by every map publisher.
For example, a cycling map may emphasise cycle routes, while a road atlas concentrates on major roads and junctions. A topographic map, on the other hand, contains far more detail about terrain, paths and natural features.
Checking the legend before setting out can save time and prevent misunderstandings.
Learning the Most Common Symbols
You don’t need to memorise hundreds of different symbols.
Start with those you are most likely to encounter:
- Roads
- Footpaths
- Rivers
- Woodland
- Contour lines
- Buildings
- Railways
- Bridges
- Car parks
- Viewpoints
As you use maps more regularly, recognising these symbols soon becomes second nature.
Reading Between the Lines
Map symbols are designed to communicate information quickly and efficiently. A single symbol can often convey more meaning than several words of text, allowing maps to remain clear even when displaying complex landscapes.
Whether you’re planning a countryside walk, exploring a new town or studying geography, understanding map symbols is one of the simplest ways to improve your map-reading skills. Once you can recognise the visual language of a map, you’ll find it much easier to interpret the world around you.