I have been fascinated by maps since a child. I read them like books and they take me on adventures even when I sit at home with a cup of tea. In developing this upgraded website, I have an objective to make it as map rich as possible. Many adventure sites lack this geospatial context, and it can be difficult to understand the dimension of the adventure in words alone.
In the early days, I would carry a map and compass. Today, I use a variety of Smartphone navigation apps, and this has transformed navigation in the outdoors (as long as you remember to download the offline maps). If the terrain, and mobile coverage is a challenge I continue to take a map, as phone batteries can fail, or you can lose or break your precious device. If you are exploring an area, then a smartphone GPX route will take you to where you want to go, but only a map will take you somewhere new.
Most people will be familar with Google Maps, or Apple Maps, depending on your smartphone preference. These are incredibly powerful apps for finding accommodation, shops, restaurants and points of interest. They are less useful for walking trails and paths, but very good for cycling and campervan trips. I choose between Outdooractive and OS Maps, to give me Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 scale maps with paths. These maps are perhaps the standard for clarity and are cherished by everyone who uses them. I feature these maps for each adventure page, with the official GPX route, or one which I have taken. I will endevour to keep these up to date, but encourage you to source you own versions, from a number of sources given below. Some feature elevation profiles. If you have a subscription to OS Maps, my links will allow you to use my routes.
“A device will take you where you want to go; a map will take you somewhere new”
But these maps do not give a rich picture of the landscape, communities, nature, public art and geology. In addition to writing, I am developing ‘experience’ maps which show the interplay between these attributes, specifically as they relate to the path. I have started with the King Charles III England Coast Path, Wales Coast Path, and my walk from Berwick to John o’ Groats, along Scotland’s east coast. These maps use ESRI’s ArcGIS online platform, which is a gateway into huge library of publically available maps and resources, which I aim to ‘mash up’ with my own media, gathered as I walked.
A disclaimer is needed: The routes and information in this website can quickly become out of date and should only be used as a guide to walking the paths. I try to use the latest route data, but path conditions change constantly through erosion and diversion. So do not blindly follow a route if your eyes tell you another story. You should learn how to use a compass and maps and the principles of navigation, even if the path is clear and signposted, which is the standards for National Trails. After 40-years experience I still get lost.
There are alternatives to OS Maps. Try Harvey Maps, as they are ruggedised, waterproof maps designed for outdoors and many are printed for specific long distance routes. Pay a visit to Stanfords in Covent Garden, where you will find every possible map options for any adventure, almost anywhere on Earth.
To explore the maps I have built, visit the pages on this website.
EXPERIENCE MAPย โ full version with interactive panels and clickable links to resources, geology, stoical quotes and detailed maps, best viewed on a desktop/laptop.
EXPERIENCE MAP โ MOBILE new version, which can be used in the field with a mobile signal, allows clickable detail on every element displayed. Use in conjuntion with you navigation maps and apps. Basemaps can be changed to reveal more detail and every element is clickable.