Creating Garmin Waypoints

 from British National Grid References

12/02/04

Updated 28/02/05

For UK users of Garmin GPS's, its well worth knowing how to use British National Grid references. Just follow the instructions bellow, it may look a little complicated, but once you've done this a few times it becomes very easy!

To get you started we will create a waypoint for Castlerigg Stone Circle, Cumbria.

National Grid Reference: NY291236

Setup

Open the Garmin mapping software.

Edit/Preferences (Ctrl+Shift+P) click 'Position' tab and select 'British National Grid' - OK.

Create a new waypoint

(The map screen doesn't need to be showing the area of the new waypoint)

Click anywhere on the map page with the Waypoint tool selected, a new waypoint window will pop up like this

In the first field (Name:) type in a description i.e. 'Stone' or leave it as a number.

In the second field (Description:) enter any useful information, or leave it set to the time and date.
 

In the third field (Position:) we need to type in the correct coordinates for Castlerigg Stone Circle.

Convert the given grid reference as shown below

Grid Reference NY291236

          becomes NY 29100 23600

The seventh field (symbol) choose a symbol from the menu to suit the waypoint and in the eighth field (colour), choose a suitable colour for the symbol.

The eighth field (display) leave as the default, 'symbol & name'.

Click the 'Show On Map' button (bottom right of the window) and the map will zoom to the waypoint on the map and centre on it. 

Click 'OK' and you’re done!

The new waypoint is bottom right in the above map and also in the waypoint menu (top left), ready to save or upload to your GPS.

Note

OS grid references are usually given as 6 figures because from a paper map, that's as accurate as you would expect to get, GPS's work to a much greater accuracy, hence ten figures.

Understanding the British National Grid 

Understanding the British National Grid "Interactive pages":

Printable PDF (right click links and "save target as" or just click to open):

Sites with OS grid references

Ordinance Survey PC calendar wallpapers with the picture location in Lat/Long or National Grid format

English Heritage & The National Trust -  Preserving England's historic environment

Top UK Pubs - with grid references

Disclaimer

The information freely given here is intended to be an aid in using your Garmin GPS software

I am not responsible for you driving off a cliff chasing a waypoint you incorrectly calculated :)

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