Ordnance Survey 50K Map Symbols

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Introduction

Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 scale maps use about 140 standard symbols. Geograph now has photos of almost all the types of feature depicted by symbols. A set of articles has been developed to show photographs, and map extracts with the symbols. Geograph contributors have suggested the examples.
Symbols are shown on the maps, and online on pdf pages OS 1:50,000 map symbols and1:50,000 symbols, Welsh. Some symbols show features not visible on the ground. Ordnance Survey also lists hundreds of abbreviations; only a few are in the key on maps. We have an article OS abbreviations listing abbreviations that can appear on 25k or 50K maps, and giving examples we have found of their occurrence.

See also OS master map topography - beta version for links to other OS documents. It links to OS master map typography, added here for reference.

We also have an article listing descriptive words on OS maps - see descriptive words .

Articles for types of symbol

Links will be added here as the articles are developed.
Abbreviations
Antiquities
Boundaries
Heights and rock features
Land features
Railways
Rights of way and access
Roads and paths
Tourist information
Water features

News about changes

We have noticed several changes or additions to symbols used on OS 1:50,000 scale maps. The changes are implemented progressively, probably first on the on-line map, and in geographic areas that require revision. Here are some that we know about from 2008 and 2016. Because 1:50,000 maps displayed on Geograph photo pages are from 2006, to see new symbols click on displayed map in photo page for online map initially at 1:25,000 scale, click minus to see 1:50,000 scale online map.

Noticed in July 2008:

• In the Tourist Information section, there is now a symbol for World Heritage sites. For an example see TQ1877 : Water lily house, Kew Gardens in Kew Gardens, click on the displayed map to get the current map. The symbol appears on both the 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 scale maps.
• Recreation/Leisure/Sports Centre now has a symbol in the Tourist information section. For an example see TQ1067 : New Walton swimming pool at TQ106677, click on displayed map for online map.
• Caravan site with campsite has a single new symbol where there used to be two symbols; this is in Tourist information, for example SW8671 : Old MacDonald's Farm and Caravan Site, near Porthcothan.
• In the Other Public Access section the symbols for cycle routes are being changed. The previous scheme was that National/Regional Cycle Network had solid green circles, with green dashes for a surfaced cycle route. The new scheme is that on-road cycle routes have solid green circles, traffic-free cycle routes have empty green circles. For an example see SO1662 : Dolau - New Radnor Road, click on the displayed map to get the current online map, click the circle to the left of the + sign to see the 1:50,000 map.
• Spot height in brackets. In the Heights and Rock features section, there is a note under the spot height definition on paper maps saying: "Where two heights are shown, the first height is to the base of the triangulation pillar and the second (in brackets) to the highest natural point of the hill." An example is at NR818682 on the 1:50,000 map (not shown on the map on the Geograph site).
• CG - Cattle Grid not Coast Guard. In the Abbreviations section, because coastguard is replaced by Coastwatch or Look out station, CG will in future be used for any new cattle grids - but there may not be any examples of this on the maps yet.

Noticed in October 2017, revision starting 2016:
Wind Turbine in General section. See ND2751 : Flex Hill and Achairn wind farms at grid reference ND 273 516.
There are several changes on access land shown in the Land Features section. Additions, some replacing Forestry Commission symbols, are:
National Resources Wales see SH7955 : The A470 heading south.
Forestry Division Plantation (Isle of Man) see SC2373 : Earystane plantation, Isle of Man.
Manx National Heritage see SH7955 : The A470 heading south - symbol is shown on map extract on photo page.

Comments and discussion

Two discussion areas open to registered Geograph users:
Examples as suggested by Geograph contributors
Discussion of OS map symbols