OS Map Symbols

Written by Stefani Mavrou on

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Communications

Roads & Paths

(Not necessarily rights of way)

SERVICE AREA
JUNCTION NUMBER
MOTORWAY
DUAL CARRIAGEWAY
MAIN ROAD
SECONDARY ROAD
NARROW ROAD WITH PASSING PLACES
ROAD UNDER CONSTRUCTION
ROAD GENERALLY MORE THAN 4M WIDE
ROAD GENERALLY LESS THAN 4M WIDE
OTHER ROAD, DRIVE OR TRACK, FENCED & UNFENCED
GRADIENT: STEEPER THAN 20% (1 IN 5), 14% (1 IN 7) TO 20%(1 IN 5)
FERRY; FERRY P - PASSENGER ONLY
PATH

Railways

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

Public Rights of Way 

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

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

Other Public Access

OTHER ROUTE WITH PUBLIC ACCESS (NOT NORMALLY SHOWN IN URBAN AREAS*
RECREATIONAL ROUTE
ALTERNATIVE ROUTE (ENGLAND COAST PATH ONLY)
NATIONAL TRAIL
SCOTLAND'S GREAT TRAILS
TRAFFIC - FREE CYCLE ROUTE
NATIONAL CYCLE NETWORK ROUTE NUMBER - TRAFFIC FREE
NATIONAL CYCLE NETWORK ROUTE NUMBER - ON ROAD
PERMISSIVE BRIDLEWAY**
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)
FORESTRY COMMISSION LAND (NORMALLY OPEN -  OBSERVE LOCAL SIGNS) / WOODLAND TRUST LAND

ENGLAND & SCOTLAND

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

Access Land & Coastal Margin

ENGLAND 

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

General Information

Vegetation

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

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

General Features

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

Boundaries

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

Heights & Natural Features

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

Archeological & Historical Information

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

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