Scottie,
Lots of good advice above. To which I'd add: start with the bigger picture before focusing in. The point about three distinctive features (like railway lines and roads) to confirm that you have reached your chosen reference point is a good one, but you often need to be reasonably close to your reference point before you can see them.
When I'm further away I find it easier to concentrate on larger landmarks that are more easily distinguished (coastline, ridges, estuaries, tall masts, reservoirs and lakes are good). They're easy to see on the map so I can judge where I ought to be in relation to them. Then when I'm a couple of minutes away from my chosen reference point I start looking out for its distinctive identifying features.
Don't give up – it'll be worth it in the end!