Abstract: An orienteering compass comprises a compass housing (3) with a movable north indicator (4) and a base plate (1) having a fixed course line (5). To enable directions to be extracted and checked in a simple fashion, and to enable a map to be read more positively when orienteering, the compass housing (3) is non-rotatably connected to the base plate (1) and the base plate together with the compass housing is arranged so that it can be pressed against and readily held on a map with the course line (5) in the desired direction. Preferably, the course line (5) extends in front of the compass housing (3) and coincides with a longitudinally extending edge (6) of the base plate (1).