This is a good way to get a general idea, but unless your local solar noon happens to coincide with noon on your watch, it's going to be off. For instance, sola

This is a good way to get a general idea, but unless your local solar noon happens to coincide with noon on your watch, it's going to be off. For instance, solar noon at my current location is around 2:00 pm. As long as the sun is out, it's a good way to stay oriented and keep to a general heading. It works well when combined with local features and topography. So you can say something like "I'll keep heading more or less south until I see the river, then I know I can follow it upstream to the bridge and intersect the road back to my car."