Navigation without GPS rewards a different kind of attention. Instead of following a dot, you continually compare the route description, map, terrain, distance and direction.
Work in checkpoints
Break the route into short, memorable sections. Before leaving a junction, know the next landmark, approximate distance and what would tell you that you have gone too far.
Notice the shape of the land
Roads and tracks change, but ridgelines, valleys, rivers and major climbs are more durable. Use them to confirm that your position makes sense.
Correct early
The cheapest navigation mistake is the one you notice after 200 metres. Stop, think and backtrack before uncertainty becomes kilometres.