TRF Forums

you can get access to OS Landranger and Explorer equivalent maps for free online. Some of them allow you to plot routes that you can later transfer to a GPS unit

1. Bing maps - if you go to https://www.bing.com/mapspreview and then zoom in a bit (e.g by clicking on the + icon) you should see a drop-down top right that allows you to switch from Road (map) to Ordnance Survey. Depending on how far you're zoomed it in, it will show 1:50,000 (byways are shown in red +-+-+-+-) or 1:25,000 (byways are shown in green +-+-+-+-)

2. https://www.walklakes.co.uk/maps/ - you need to register (it's free) to be able to log on to see OS Explorer Mapping. You can plot courses - which will give you an idea of distance - and can be later transferred to GPS/phone.

Paper maps are well worth investing in, you can get them at WH Smith but you'll usually find that you can order them online including postage cheaper from Dash4It https://dash4it.co.uk/

HTH

Some good information being given, keep it up.

OS have an app for the Landranger which is free.
You can plot a route, record a route and download .GPX files on the device.
Downloading a .GPX file is done very simply by emailing the file and then using the "copy to OS Map" option (same as viewranger app)
I think it's better than the Viewranger map because it appears exactly as the paper OS map.

The on line site is OK but you have to pay to do the stuff above.

So I use http://www.satmap-xpedition.com/ to plot routes and create a .GPX file

Steve

Personally I would not recommend 1:25 for a beginner and would suggest 1:50 landranger would seem to cover most needs and cover approx. 4 times as much area for a similar price and bulk of carrying them. .

TRF Road conservation officers will need 1:25 for more detailed work but I believe it is rare to see them on a trip except for discovering lost trails.

I would suggest you start with 1:50 landranger for your local area or area to ne visited - then move on from there to 1:25k when you are inspired to get involved in Road Conservation work.

See Ordnance Survey Blog Map reading skills: url]https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/blog/2015/10/map-reading-skills-which-os-map-do-i-need/[/url]

For electronic mapping I believe the most widely used system in the TRF would seem to be Viewranger. It is also starts from free - working on most cheap smartphone (eg an old android device), and is the newest of the systems Again it works best in 1:50 as 1:25 moves too quick and has too much detail when on a bike.

Start here for more information. Isn’t there an app for that? | TRF
http://www.trf.org.uk/portfolio-item/isnt-there-an-app-for-that/

I still use the legacy system of satmap expedition but only for more complex tasks such as combining and editing gpx files. Viewranger have asked how they can support us better and this is one area of improvement - but not many beginners need this from day 1, and frankly if you are this involved in Ride Leading etc you may wish to have Memory Map installed on your PC and you will have upgraded from Viewranger to a Garmin unit.

I addition to local group training, the TRF will be offering GPS workshops around the National Conference programme. Garmin and Viewranger have already offered to support these. I know my local group - Herts have asked for this over the winter months.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/TrailRidersFellowship/events/

See the Horizons Hubb national conference on Jun 15th will feature the TRF running GPS workshops across the weekend.

Meanwhile happy to organise these at other National Conferences if there is sufficient demand. Happy to discuss offline by phone


Mario
Mario@trf.org.uk
07721 480000

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