A question for Ordnance Survey experts

[ColinJ]

I have the entire mainland UK as one huge digital Landranger map (1:50,000) but this evening I was looking at one of my old paper maps. It is a 1:25,000 map from 1983 - Outdoor Leisure 27, North Yorkshire Moors, Eastern area. (Were they really only £2.95 then!)

I am thinking of going cycling in that area in 2012 so I was looking for where the steepest road climbs are. Then it struck me - there are no chevron symbols (< and <<)anywhere on the map! It is the only one of my OS collection not to have them marking steep hills. Can somebody explain why they are missing?

 

[vernon]

You have a rare misprint. Get it on Ebay!

My 2002 map has chevrons on the steepest roads. You really might have a misprint.....

 

[fossyant]

Cyclists were well 'ard in the 80's - none of this chevron stuff. 42x21 and all that.

 

[MockCyclist]

Does the legend show the chevrons? I have a 1978 (£1.95) Outdoor Leisure which has minor roads in an alternate white and brown, but no chevrons and no chevrons in the legend.

My more modern OL26 does have chevrons and they're in the legend.

 

[ColinJ]

You have a rare misprint. Get it on Ebay!

My 2002 map has chevrons on the steepest roads. You really might have a misprint.....

That's what I thought at first, but ...

Does the legend show the chevrons? I have a 1978 (£1.95) Outdoor Leisure which has minor roads in an alternate white and brown, but no chevrons and no chevrons in the legend.

My more modern OL26 does have chevrons and they're in the legend.

... there are no chevrons in the legend either so if it was a misprint, they misprinted that too!

Cyclists were well 'ard in the 80's - none of this chevron stuff. 42x21 and all that.

They can't walk now, mind!

I could probably get away with 39/28 on most steep hills if I was fit and at my best cycling weight (about 12 stone), but I'd always prefer to spin a light gear on the steep stuff.

I have a dodgy right knee, a cramp-prone left foot, and both hips are on the way out with arthritis so I can't afford to get macho with my gearing. My dad couldn't walk without a stick by the time he was 60, needed 2 sticks when he was 65, and could hardly walk at all for the last 13 years of his life. I don't want to end up the same way if I can help it!

 

[daSmirnov]

Bing Maps has the Ordnance Survay maps available, with the gradient chevrons. :-)


http://www.bing.com/maps/ just select OS from the road drop down menu, and zoom to the right level and it'll show up. Comes in very handy.

 

[ColinJ]

Bing Maps has the Ordnance Survay maps available, with the gradient chevrons. :-)

http://www.bing.com/maps/ just select OS from the road drop down menu, and zoom to the right level and it'll show up. Comes in very handy.

I found that a while back. As I mentioned above, I have the entire UK Landranger map on my PC, but Bing is useful for showing other people bits of OS maps. In many places you can zoom in to 1:25,000, which is great.

I couldn't afford to buy the UK mapping at 1:25,000 scale. (It is overkill for road cycling but ideal for offroad MTB riding and walking.)

 

[ColinJ]

I'm going to contact OS to see if the map is a misprint. It is in a pretty reasonable used condition, though not mint; some scuffing and creasing of the cardboard sleeve.

 

[Zoiders]

It still has contour lines on it does it not?

 

[ColinJ]

It still has contour lines on it does it not?

It does. The only things I noticed missing are the chevrons. The North York Moors area has some really steep hills, so there should be chevrons all over the map!

 

[Zoiders]

It does. The only things I noticed missing are the chevrons. The North York Moors area has some really steep hills, so there should be chevrons all over the map!

And the contour lines are closer together when what?

 

[albion]

opencyclemap is great for showing the hills.With so many hills in the moors I'm sure you will also be appreciate it for its contour line artistry

 

[ColinJ]

And the contour lines are closer together when what?

I know all about contour lines - I just wanna know if I can flog my map for loadsa money!

 

[ColinJ]

Also ...

I have the entire mainland UK as one huge digital Landranger map (1:50,000)

So I know where all the chevrons on all the roads on all the individual OS maps should be!

I just want to know about my one particular 1983 map ...

 

[MockCyclist]

I think it's extremely unlikely to be a misprint. The maps are printed from litho plates so you'd hardly have a map if the black plate was missing.

I just looked this up in my OS Descriptive Manual (1975). Outdoor Leisure maps are based on 1:25000 mapping and neither the First nor Second Series mapping uses chevrons for gradients. Your map should state which series of 1:25000 mapping it was based on.

My guess is that chevrons were introduced when the 1:25000 maps became known as Explorer, and this would then filter through to the OL series.