How to Find/Follow a Bearing: Using a Map and Compass for Navigation

Figure 1. A common type of compass for its low cost and easy to use features.
Some of the important features to identify are the heading arrow, which indicate
 your direction of travel. Also note the red arrow inside the compass dial which
 points to the red "N". This can be used in finding a bearing or, for more general
 purposes, to find north. The dial is the final important aspect of the compass.
 The dial can twisted and, with the proper knowledge, used to find a bearing.

1) Align edge of compass between points A & B,

 as shown in figure 2.

Figure 2. Align the straight edge of the compass between
your points, sometimes it's helpful to even draw a line on
you map to indicate your direction of travel. Make sure to
the compass facing the correct way. Note the arrow on the
top right of the compass, this should be pointing
TOWARDS your direction of travel.

2) Orient compass dial to map North/True North, as shown in figure 3.

Figure 3. Orient your compass to your map. Keeping the
edge of your compass connecting the two points, turn
the dial on the compass towards North on the map. Often
times orienteering maps with have grids on them which
you can use to help guide your orientation of your
compass. This can be done by making the grid parallel to
the lines on the inside of your dial. figure 4 shows a close
up of the compass and is easier to see the parallel orientation
lines.

3) Record the bearing closest to the direction-of-travel line on the compass. This will be the bearing you will need to follow to reach your destination.

If you have multiple points to travel to, it is common practice to write down the bearing on your map so you can continue to navigate your points without having to find your bearing at every point. Figure 4 shows the compass on the map with the bearing towards the direction of travel.

4) Keeping the compass at a comfortable chest height (preferably away from any metal objects), turn your body until the red end of the needle is in the red arrow/box on the compass. This position is often referred to as getting "red in the shed."

5) Now facing the same direction, turn the dial to the same bearing you just found.

6) To reach your location, all you need to do is keep the red end of the needle in that red box and you will travel along that same line you drew from points A to B. Figure 3 shows a compass oriented to the map. Notice how the lines inside the dial are parallel to the grid lines on the map. This technique is helpful when trying to ensure the compass is oriented as accurately as possible to north on the map. Here is a video describing the process above.

Figure 4 shows a compass oriented to true north on a topographical map.