Outdoor skills

Halloween

How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse (with Maps, Not Apps)

By Hilary Pullen

Published on October 2, 2025

3 min read

The OS Guide to the Zombie Apocolypse

So, the dead have risen. Society has collapsed. Your phone battery is at 2%, and the last signal bar flickers like a dying torch. What now?

Fear not, brave wanderer. Ordnance Survey has your back (and your grid reference)

1. Offline is the New Survival Mode

When zombies chew through the data centres, your GPS app becomes a glorified torch. That’s why paper maps are your new best friend. They don’t need charging, they don’t crash, and they don’t ask for updates mid-escape.

Pro tip:

OS Explorer maps show footpaths, bridleways, and terrain, perfect for finding sneaky escape routes or remote hideouts.

Bonus: You can use them to start a fire (only if you have a spare).

SHOP PAPER MAPS IN YOUR AREA

2. Compass: The Original SatNav

Forget Google Maps rerouting you through a zombie-infested supermarket. A compass never lies. Learn to take a bearing, follow a heading, and orient your map. It’s like magic, but with magnets.

North is your friend. Unless the zombies are coming from there. Then… maybe south?

A Beginner’s Guide to Using a Compass

3. Know Your Grid References

When you’re radioing fellow survivors, shouting “I’m near a big tree!” won’t cut it. Learn to use OS grid references to pinpoint your location with military precision.

“I’m at SU 373 154” will be far more helful than “I’m by the old pub with the broken sign.”

What Three Words: RUN ZOMBIES COMING (the only ones you’ll need)

A Beginner’s Guide to Grid References

4. Avoid Urban Areas

Cities are basically zombie buffets, crowded, noisy, and full of deliciously panicked humans. Your best bet? Head for the hills. Literally. Use your trusty OS map to plot a route through remote footpaths, dense forests, and wild National Parks where the only thing chasing you might be a squirrel.

And if you really want to up your survival chances, master the art of night navigation. With a compass, a (wind up) headtorch, and a bit of practice, you’ll be gliding through the darkness like a stealthy cartographic ninja (we have lots of them at OS HQ – so head for Southampton if in need of assistance)

Advanced navigation for poor visibility

5. Contour Lines Save Lives

Those squiggly lines on the map? They show you where the high ground is. Zombies are notoriously bad at climbing. Head uphill. Use your map to find ridges, hills, and defensible high ground – just like our ancestors did. Try hunting out ancient hillforts which are marked clearly on all OS Maps.

OS tip:

The closer together the lines, the harder the climb both for you and the undead.

Advanced guide to reading contours and relief

Map Reading Skills = Survival

If you can read a map, you’re already ahead of 90% of the population (and 100% of zombies). Practice now. Before the apocalypse. Because learning under pressure is hard when being chased.

Weekend idea:

Go on a hike. Pretend the cows are zombies. Stay alive.

When the Zombies rise, the OS Paper map will become your most treasured posession . It’s not just a tool, it’s your lifeline. So stock up on paper maps, skill up, and stay sharp with lots of navigation practice.

In the zombie apocalypse, navigation is everything. The question is do you have the skills to survive…. let us know – tag us on our socials! @ordnancesurvey

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By Hilary Pullen

Meet Hilary, Editor of OS Maps Discover. Hilary is based in North Wales and loves hiking with her dogs in the mountains of Eryri and Bryniau Clwyd, you can find her on Instagram @nearlyuphill and read her guides to walking in North Wales.
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