best app for hiking the peak district

glenimp617

glenimp617

glenimp617

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30 Sep 2005
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Hi all,

Decided to book a day off work last week and ended up walking in the peak district. Snap decision, even had my going out shoes on :D anyway, I've been bitten by the bug now.

I plan on doing at least one peak walk a month. There's a website which has a route mapped out which I'd like to do. There's a GDX? file I can download with the route all mapped out.

ok, so I know many people just go and explore, but due to work and the distance from my house to the peaks, I only have a certain amount of time to drive to the peaks, do the walk and get back home to sort the kids out.

My map reading skills are all but zero. Is there an app (don't mind paying) for android which has all the gubbins on like gps, maps, route planner etc etc :confused:

Thanks
 
No idea about apps but do spend some time learning how to read a map and use a compass properly! The amount of stories I hear of people getting into trouble because they lack these basics skills is worrying!

:)
 
Psymonkee said:
No idea about apps but do spend some time learning how to read a map and use a compass properly! The amount of stories I hear of people getting into trouble because they lack these basics skills is worrying!

:)
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This, there's also plenty of sites that will go through how to navigate, which will be better than nothing. then If you have a printer you can use bing maps, as they have OS map layer for free, which is just stupidly good.

OS maps have an official android app, no idea what it's like, but you want an app that uses OS maps.
https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop/mapfinder/mapfinder-android.html
 
Viewranger is a good app but you have to buy OS maps to use in the app. I've used it in the past and works quite well. You can download routes too. I'd back up what others say here and say don't rely 100% on a phone when out in the wilds!
 
Richy888 said:
Viewranger is a good app but you have to buy OS maps to use in the app. I've used it in the past and works quite well. You can download routes too. I'd back up what others say here and say don't rely 100% on a phone when out in the wilds!
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I've used viewranger for about 5 years and concur - its brilliant if you don't mind paying for the maps. It's only reliant on a GPS signal which basically means its no good in caves else you're good :D
It's got me out of a few sticky spots in the Cairngorm's and Dartmoor but definitely no harm in taking a paper map as backup.
Only negative is the interface isnt that great imo - takes a but of getting used to, but for plotting out and recording routes using OS maps along with giving you lots of data on speed/elevation etc it's awesome.
 
robj20 said:
I use view ranger and have never paid for maps, works just fine using the openstreet maps.
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Aye well true, but I'm not sure they're as good as an OS map when off the beaten track. If your half serious about walking/rambling then the OS maps are a must.

I've found View ranger works well with the OS maps and don't rely on mobile signal. Only note of caution is batteries run out and smart phones can break. No use telling mountain rescue your phone crashed and so had no idea where you were when they come to rescue you :rolleyes:
 
thought viewranger was going to be great, but so many maps are only on mobile devices, why aren't they all on both.

want something that intergrates well on mobile phone and laptop, and covers UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzland and Italy preferably down to equivalent of 1:25000 OS explorer maps. 50k would do.

I find the open maps are missing some footpaths, however they are great as they are free.
 
Richy888 said:
Aye well true, but I'm not sure they're as good as an OS map when off the beaten track. If your half serious about walking/rambling then the OS maps are a must.

I've found View ranger works well with the OS maps and don't rely on mobile signal. Only note of caution is batteries run out and smart phones can break. No use telling mountain rescue your phone crashed and so had no idea where you were when they come to rescue you :rolleyes:
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I find openstreet maps much better, a lot of unofficial paths are on there, colour coded so you know which is which. Done me fine all round the lakes and scotland.
 
robj20 said:
I find openstreet maps much better, a lot of unofficial paths are on there, colour coded so you know which is which. Done me fine all round the lakes and scotland.
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I should check these things out before commenting :D I haven't given the open Street maps more than a quick glance.

Will these 'Unofficial' paths get u shot by the landowner :eek:
 
Richy888 said:
I should check these things out before commenting :D I haven't given the open Street maps more than a quick glance.

Will these 'Unofficial' paths get u shot by the landowner :eek:
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I haven't found any problem paths, from what i have seen you plot a new path it then needs confirming before it goes live. There mostly paths that are there just not on most maps. I compare it with the printed OS maps when i'm walking.
 
Glaucus said:
thought viewranger was going to be great, but so many maps are only on mobile devices, why aren't they all on both.

want something that intergrates well on mobile phone and laptop, and covers UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzland and Italy preferably down to equivalent of 1:25000 OS explorer maps. 50k would do.

I find the open maps are missing some footpaths, however they are great as they are free.
Click to expand...

Not sure what you mean here - if you've purchased the maps/tiles on you're phone then they are available to use via myviewranger.com... At least all the os explorer maps I own are.
 
Maverick, free os maps, tis great. Think you had to apply for some kind of free licence for the maps though to get it to work, details were on the Maverick website.
 
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