OS Map Symbols

Written by Stefani Mavrou on

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Communications

Roads & Paths

(Not necessarily rights of way)

S blue symbol os maps SERVICE AREA
7 blue symbol os maps JUNCTION NUMBER
M1 or A6 (M) os maps symbol MOTORWAY
A35 Os map symbol DUAL CARRIAGEWAY
A30 OS Map symbol MAIN ROAD
B3074 OS Maps symbol SECONDARY ROAD
NARROW ROAD WITH PASSING PLACES NARROW ROAD WITH PASSING PLACES
ROAD UNDER CONSTRUCTION ROAD UNDER CONSTRUCTION
ROAD GENERALLY MORE THAN 4M WIDE ROAD GENERALLY MORE THAN 4M WIDE
ROAD GENERALLY LESS THAN 4M WIDE ROAD GENERALLY LESS THAN 4M WIDE
OTHER ROAD, DRIVE OR TRACK, FENCED & UNFENCED OTHER ROAD, DRIVE OR TRACK, FENCED & UNFENCED
GRADIENT: STEEPER THAN 20% (1 IN 5), 14% (1 IN 7) TO 20%(1 IN 5) GRADIENT: STEEPER THAN 20% (1 IN 5), 14% (1 IN 7) TO 20%(1 IN 5)
FERRY; FERRY P - PASSENGER ONLY FERRY; FERRY P - PASSENGER ONLY
PATH PATH

Railways

MULTIPLE TRACK / SINGLE TRACK STANDARD GAUGE MULTIPLE TRACK / SINGLE TRACK STANDARD GAUGE
NARROW GAUGE OR LIGHT RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM (LTRS) & STATION NARROW GAUGE OR LIGHT RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM (LTRS) & STATION
ROAD OVER; ROAD UNDER; LEVEL CROSSING ROAD OVER; ROAD UNDER; LEVEL CROSSING
CUTTING; TUNNEL; EMBANKMENT CUTTING; TUNNEL; EMBANKMENT
STATION, OPEN TO PASSENGERS; SIDING STATION, OPEN TO PASSENGERS; SIDING

Public Rights of Way 

(Rights of way are not shown on maps in Scotland)

FOOTPATH FOOTPATH
BRIDLEWAY BRIDLEWAY
BYWAY OPEN TO ALL TRAFFIC BYWAY OPEN TO ALL TRAFFIC
RESTRICTED BYWAY (NOT FOR USE BY MECHANICALLY PROPELLED VEHICLES) RESTRICTED BYWAY (NOT FOR USE BY MECHANICALLY PROPELLED VEHICLES)

Other Public Access

OTHER ROUTE WITH PUBLIC ACCESS (NOT NORMALLY SHOWN IN URBAN AREAS* OTHER ROUTE WITH PUBLIC ACCESS (NOT NORMALLY SHOWN IN URBAN AREAS*
RECREATIONAL ROUTE RECREATIONAL ROUTE
ALTERNATIVE ROUTE (ENGLAND COAST PATH ONLY) ALTERNATIVE ROUTE (ENGLAND COAST PATH ONLY)
NATIONAL TRAIL NATIONAL TRAIL
SCOTLAND'S GREAT TRAILS SCOTLAND'S GREAT TRAILS
TRAFFIC - FREE CYCLE ROUTE TRAFFIC - FREE CYCLE ROUTE
NATIONAL CYCLE NETWORK ROUTE NUMBER - TRAFFIC FREE NATIONAL CYCLE NETWORK ROUTE NUMBER - TRAFFIC FREE
NATIONAL CYCLE NETWORK ROUTE NUMBER - ON ROAD NATIONAL CYCLE NETWORK ROUTE NUMBER - ON ROAD
PERMISSIVE BRIDLEWAY** PERMISSIVE BRIDLEWAY**
PERMISSIVE FOOTPATH** PERMISSIVE FOOTPATH**

*The exact nature of the rights of these routes and the existence of any restrictions may be checked with the local highway authority. 

**Footpaths and bridleways along which landowners have permitted public use but which are not rights of way.

SCOTLAND

NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND, (ALWAYS OPEN / LIMITED OPENING - OBSERVE LOCAL SIGNS) NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND, (ALWAYS OPEN / LIMITED OPENING - OBSERVE LOCAL SIGNS)
FORESTRY COMMISSION LAND (NORMALLY OPEN -  OBSERVE LOCAL SIGNS) / WOODLAND TRUST LAND FORESTRY COMMISSION LAND (NORMALLY OPEN -  OBSERVE LOCAL SIGNS) / WOODLAND TRUST LAND

ENGLAND & SCOTLAND

FIRING & TEST RANGES IN THE AREA. DANGER! OBSERVE WARNING NOTICES. FIRING & TEST RANGES IN THE AREA. DANGER! OBSERVE WARNING NOTICES.

Access Land & Coastal Margin

ENGLAND 

COASTAL MARGIN COASTAL MARGIN
ACCESS LAND ACCESS LAND
ACCESS INFORMATION POINT ACCESS INFORMATION POINT
ACCESS LAND IN WOODLAND AREA ACCESS LAND IN WOODLAND AREA

General Information

Vegetation

(Limits of vegetation are defined by the positioning of symbols)

CONIFEROUS TREES CONIFEROUS TREES
NON-CONIFEROUS TREES NON-CONIFEROUS TREES
COPPICE COPPICE
SCRUB SCRUB
BRACKEN, HEATH OR ROUGH GRASSLAND BRACKEN, HEATH OR ROUGH GRASSLAND
MARSH, REEDS OR SALTINGS MARSH, REEDS OR SALTINGS

General Features

PLACE OF WORSHIP PLACE OF WORSHIP
CURRENT OR FORMER PLACE OF WORSHIP WITH TOWER CURRENT OR FORMER PLACE OF WORSHIP WITH TOWER
CURRENT OR FORMER PLACE OF WORSHIP WITH SPIRE, MINARET OR DOME CURRENT OR FORMER PLACE OF WORSHIP WITH SPIRE, MINARET OR DOME
BUILDING; IMPORTANT BUILDING BUILDING; IMPORTANT BUILDING
GLASSHOUSE GLASSHOUSE
YOUTH HOSTEL YOUTH HOSTEL
BUNKHOUSE / CAMPING BARN / OTHER HOSTEL BUNKHOUSE / CAMPING BARN / OTHER HOSTEL
BUS OR COACH STATION BUS OR COACH STATION
LIGHTHOUSE; DISUSED LIGHTHOUSE; BEACON LIGHTHOUSE; DISUSED LIGHTHOUSE; BEACON
TRIANGULATION PILLAR; MAST TRIANGULATION PILLAR; MAST
WINDMILL WITH OR WITHOUT SAILS WINDMILL WITH OR WITHOUT SAILS
WINDPUMP; WIND TURBINE WINDPUMP; WIND TURBINE
ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION LINE ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION LINE
SLOPES SLOPES
WELL; SPRING WELL; SPRING
BOUNDARY POST/STONE BOUNDARY POST/STONE
CATTLE GRID CATTLE GRID
CLUBHOUSE CLUBHOUSE
FOOTBRIDGE FOOTBRIDGE
MILEPOST; MILESTONE MILEPOST; MILESTONE
MONUMENT MONUMENT
POST OFFICE POST OFFICE
POLICE STATION POLICE STATION
SCHOOL SCHOOL
TOWN HALL TOWN HALL
NORMAL TIDAL LIMIT NORMAL TIDAL LIMIT
GRAVEL PIT GRAVEL PIT
OTHER PIT OR QUARRY OTHER PIT OR QUARRY
SAND PIT SAND PIT
LANDFILL SITE OR SLAG / SPOIL HEAP LANDFILL SITE OR SLAG / SPOIL HEAP

Boundaries

NATIONAL NATIONAL
COUNTY (ENGLAND) COUNTY (ENGLAND)
UNITARY AUTHORITY , METROPOLITAN DISTRICT, LONDON BOROUGH OR DISTRICT UNITARY AUTHORITY , METROPOLITAN DISTRICT, LONDON BOROUGH OR DISTRICT
CIVIL PARISH (CP) (ENGLAND) OR COMMUNITY (C) (WALES)  CIVIL PARISH (CP) (ENGLAND) OR COMMUNITY (C) (WALES) 
NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARY NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARY

Heights & Natural Features

CONTOURS (MAY BE AT 5 OR 10M VERTICAL INTERVAL) CONTOURS (MAY BE AT 5 OR 10M VERTICAL INTERVAL)
SCREE SCREE
OUTCROP OUTCROP
BOULDERS BOULDERS
LOOSE ROCK LOOSE ROCK
GROUND SURVEY HEIGHT GROUND SURVEY HEIGHT
AIR SURVEY HEIGHT AIR SURVEY HEIGHT
WATER WATER
MUD MUD
SAND; SAND & SHINGLE SAND; SAND & SHINGLE

Archeological & Historical Information

SITE OF ANTIQUITY SITE OF ANTIQUITY
SITE OF BATTLE (WITH DATE) SITE OF BATTLE (WITH DATE)
VISIBLE EARTHWORK VISIBLE EARTHWORK
ROMAN ROMAN
NON - ROMAN NON - ROMAN

All information on this table is provided by English Heritage for England & the Royal Commissions of the Ancient & Historical Monuments for Scotland & Wales.

Selected Tourist and Leasure information

PARKING / PARK & RIDE, ALL YEAR / SEASONAL PARKING PARKING / PARK & RIDE, ALL YEAR / SEASONAL PARKING THEME / PLEASURE PARK THEME / PLEASURE PARK HORSE RIDING HORSE RIDING
INFORMATION CENTRE, ALL YEAR / SEASONAL INFORMATION CENTRE, ALL YEAR / SEASONAL PRESERVED RAILWAY PRESERVED RAILWAY  VIEWPOINT  VIEWPOINT
VISITOR CENTRE VISITOR CENTRE PUBLIC HOUSE/S PUBLIC HOUSE/S PICNIC SITE PICNIC SITE
FORESTRY COMMISSION VISITOR CENTRE FORESTRY COMMISSION VISITOR CENTRE CRAFT CENTRE CRAFT CENTRE COUNTRY PARK COUNTRY PARK
PUBLIC CONVENIENCE PUBLIC CONVENIENCE WALKS / TRAILS WALKS / TRAILS GARDEN / ARBORETUM GARDEN / ARBORETUM
TELEPHONE, PUBLIC / ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE / EMERGENCY TELEPHONE, PUBLIC / ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE / EMERGENCY CYCLE TRAIL CYCLE TRAIL WATER ACTIVITIES WATER ACTIVITIES
CAMPSITE CAMPSITE MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL SLIPWAY SLIPWAY
RECREATION / LEISURE / SPORTS CENTRE RECREATION / LEISURE / SPORTS CENTRE CYCLE HIRE CYCLE HIRE BOAT TRIPS BOAT TRIPS
GOLF COURSE GOLF COURSE HISTORIC SCOTLAND HISTORIC SCOTLAND BOAT HIRE BOAT HIRE
VIEWPOINT VIEWPOINT OTHER TOURIST FEATURE OTHER TOURIST FEATURE NATURE RESERVE NATURE RESERVE
PICNIC SITE PICNIC SITE FISHING FISHING Boat Trips OS Map Symbol BOAT TRIPS
GARDEN / ARBORETUM GARDEN / ARBORETUM WATER ACTIVITIES WATER ACTIVITIES SLIPWAY SLIPWAY
COUNTRY PARK COUNTRY PARK CATHEDRAL / ABBEY CATHEDRAL / ABBEY MUSEUM MUSEUM
NATIONAL TRUST NATIONAL TRUST HERITAGE CENTRE HERITAGE CENTRE BUILDING OF HISTORIC INTEREST BUILDING OF HISTORIC INTEREST
ENGLISH HERITAGE ENGLISH HERITAGE

All information above is provided and it is a copyright of the ©Ordnance Survey.