The Ordnance Survey National Grid squares NY and SD cover the Lake District. These squares are 100 kilometres across. Each of these squares contain 100 smaller squares of 10 kilometres (10 across and 10 up). Each of these 10 kilometre squares also contain 100 smaller squares of 1 kilometre, incrementally reducing in size: 100 metre, 10 metre and finally 1 metre squares.
The four main types of grid reference numbers used here consist of:
- 4 digit grid reference, such as NY2622. This indicates a square of 1km x 1km.
- 6 digit grid reference, such as NY 263 224. This indicates a square of 100m x 100m.
- 8 digit grid reference, such as NY 2638 2249. This indicates a square of 10m x 10m.
- 10 digit grid reference, such as NY 26385 22491. This indicates a square of 1m x 1m.
The numbers can be written with or without spaces but here it is preferred to use spaces for the 6, 8 and 10 digit numbers simply because it is easier to see the numbers for eastings (first set of numbers) and northings (second set of numbers).
We generally use the 2 digit number for category pages to show a collection of photos that were taken in a 1km x 1km grid square. This is the largest grid square we use. Information on photo pages will generally include a 10 digit number as this indicates the exact location of where a photo was taken. Other instance may include the 6 or 8 digit numbers to indicate the location of something larger such as a lake or village.
Each category page will show a map and nine clickable grid reference numbers. This is the navigation grid to move from one square to its adjacent neighbour. For a grid square category to exist (blue link) there has to be at least one photo contained within it. The goal is to include photos of places and subjects of interest in as many 1km squares of the Lake District as possible – that's 2342 squares to choose from! The Lake District is pretty big when you think about it that way.