The article Ordnance Survey Map Symbols and articles linked to it show the symbols used on OS maps, with geograph photos to illustrate them. This article shows map extracts, and invites you to identify symbols on them. For most there is a link to a photo illustrating the feature - press shift and click the link if you want the photo in a new window.
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1. What is the black line along the coast?
{ High water mark} photo
2. How does the Tyne change at this bridge?
{ It is tidal on the right below the bridge, but not tidal above the bridge} photo
3. What is the symbol in the blue circle?
{ National Trust - limited access } photo
4. What type of public right of way is the track (line of alternate red dashes and dots)?
{ Restricted byway ; as explained in caption to photo, previously called a Road Used as a Public Path (RUPP) } photo
5. And what type of public right of way is the track marked by red crosses?
{ Byway open to all traffic } photo
6. What is the symbol in the blue circle (first map)? and more of the symbol in this area
{ Radio or TV mast } photo
7. And what is the rather similar symbol in this blue circle?
{ Wind generator} photo
8. What are the three symbols in the blue circle?
{ Public footpath, Footbridge, and railway (single or multiple tracks) } photo
9. What do the chevron symbols represent?
{ locks - each chevron is one canal lock } photo
10. What do the chevron symbols represent?
{ Two chevrons together shows a road with gradient 1 in 5 or steeper; one chevron on a road shows gradient between 1 in 5 and 1 in 7 } photo
11. What does the cross symbol indicate?
{ site of monument } photo
12. What does the cross symbol indicate?
{ Religious building without tower, spire, minaret or dome } photo
13. How does the railway cross the stream?
{ On a viaduct } photo
14. What type of road? (it may help to compare with road in the next question as well)
{ Road generally more than 4m wide, unfenced one side } photo
15. List the symbols in this grid square, the central 1km square bounded by blue lines (the answer lists 16)
(Note: to reveal answer, select from first brace { down through blank lines to second brace }.
{
Road generally less than 4m wide(yellow);
Road generally less than 4m wide, one side unfenced(yellow, dashed line one side);
Other road, drive or track (thin black lines both sides of the track with green circles);
Byway open to all traffic (red + - + -);
National trail (red diamonds);
Public footpath (short red dashes, hard to see, it goes round the southern rim of Barbury Castle earthwork)
National or regional cycle network (green circles);
Path (dashed black line);
County boundary (line alternating long black dashes and dots);
Visible earthwork (lines of black triangles near or in two circles in bottom right of square);
Non-Roman archaeological or historical feature (Gothic script for word "Tumuli");
Contour at 10m interval (brown lines);
Contour at 50m interval (thicker brown lines);
Height in metres (figure 231);
Nature reserve (blue bird);
Mixed wood (green area top right has symbols like deciduous trees and symbols like fir trees; the green area bottom left only has a deciduous tree symbol within the square, but a fir tree symbol just in the next square);