Best method to navigate a tour?

[psmiffy]

• I was going to post something similar but someone beat me to it
• Having considered the matter carefully over the years I have come to the conclusion that Maps are the way to go
• However a GPS is a great toy to look at when there are too many trees blocking the view
• It is just a matter of picking the right map

 

[Ticktockmy]

Like so many on here I use the standard A5 road maps for finding my way around the UK, however as I also like to go off road using bridleways, cart roads and landrover trails I print of the off road sections at 1:50,000 or 1:25000 OS maps using memory map. However I also have a Satmap GPS which into it I download all of my planned route, which I find handy if I find myself disorientated in the wild of Scotland, Wales or indeed any where I cannot get a fix on the OS map. When I have been touring through Asia, I found that having set the GPS to Lat/Long I could get a good idea of my location using the Lat/Long details shown around the Margin of the large scale country maps.

 

[samid]

It is just a matter of picking the right map

I read through your "Maps: What I use" post on CGOAB, and it seems that there are no really good maps suitable for cycle touring in the UK, or did I miss them? (A few years ago I used pages torn from a Michelin atlas, which had campsites - and they were really handy even though they missed a few sites, and had some non-existing ones too. It is a pity if the campsites are no longer marked on those.)

 

[vernon]

Will you be telling us where this 4,200 miles will take you, or have I missed it on another thread?

BTW +1 for paper maps.

Northern Tier.

Subject to being granted a US visa I'll be flying out late June/early July.

 

[vernon]

I read through your "Maps: What I use" post on CGOAB, and it seems that there are no really good maps suitable for cycle touring in the UK, or did I miss them? (A few years ago I used pages torn from a Michelin atlas, which had campsites - and they were really handy even though they missed a few sites, and had some non-existing ones too. It is a pity if the campsites are no longer marked on those.)

The Philips road atlases had camp sites marked on them. The maps were based on OS maps. Maps are out of date the moment that they are compiled and printed.

There's no obligation for a camp site to remain in business because it's on a map

There might also be criteria for selecting the camp sites that do appear on the maps. In some instances they might have been established after the map was committed to print.

 

[leaf17]

Thanks for all the advice - plenty to consider!

Seems as though I'd be daft not to take paper maps, but not sure there's a consensus on what digital aid to take, if any. Popular GPS units seem to hold their value pretty well so I guess the worst case scenario is that I get one and put it on eBay after the trip and lose a few quid.

 

[samid]

This thread prompted me to check if updated editions were available for the maps I used several times already in Scotland - OS road travel maps, 1:250000 scale, 3 maps covering all of Scotland with good detail, campsites etc - and was unpleasantly surprised to find out that those maps were discontinued, with the ones I have (2008/9) being the latest, and not available any more, ones. After some googling I did find a replacement - the same 3 maps are being reprinted by a Scottish company Nicolson Maps, (with #2 covering the West coast also being out of print for now - ordered the other two, as my copies are rather worn now), but it is still a disappointment that OS stopped printing those very useful scaled maps.

 

[jay clock]

In addition to all the above get the outstanding and free maps.me app. Allows 100% free offline (no data usage) mapping to show where you are and down to alley level. Get the app free then all the countries or regions also free

 

[psmiffy]

In addition to all the above get the outstanding and free maps.me app. Allows 100% free offline (no data usage) mapping to show where you are and down to alley level. Get the app free then all the countries or regions also free

Ive got that on my tablet - yes it is beautifully detailed - but it is not what I want from a map for touring - what I want is something that I can see the roads on for the next 50miles or so to my probable todays destination and pick a route by eye with a single glance - unless tablets suddenly get into the 36" foldable screen variety I will be routing around in the bottom draw of my filing cabinet for my 15yr old 250k ordance survey (they are not up to date but it not likely that I would want to travel on any of the new roads anyway - ie M6toll)

 

[totallyfixed]

Yes, paper maps always the best, but if you don't want to carry a ton of them do what we did on our recent tours, photograph the relevant bits of the map on your phone, works very well.

 

[Nigeyy]

I think it depends.

At the moment, where I am in life is I have to work, have kids, live and work in the USA where the holiday time is notoriously bad, so you get the picture: I'm usually very short of time. While in my cycle touring Nirvana it would be lovely to find out I'd taken a wrong turn that may extend a tour by a day but been rewarded with some beautiful landscape or memorable chance encounter with a character, realistically, I'm more like "oh no, I have to get back to right route so I can get back in time....".

So at the moment, when I do go touring, the best option for me would be a pre planned route with a gps that provides turn by turn instructions. Alas, I haven't got one, but this would be my ideal solution. I'd really like it if I could just set off and concentrate on the scenery and enjoying ride, rather than be stopping frequently* to check a map. I find, given my current situation, its frustrating to have to keep stopping to check. I've not got a tour planned this year, but next year I am intending to get a gps that is capable of this for my next tour. Even if I had more time, I still like the idea of not having to stop frequently to check a map!

On the other hand, good maps are great; they never run out power, and they provide a much better big picture of where you are going as opposed to a tiny screen. Plus, you'll never have to wait for them to pick up a signal .


*to be fair, the signage where I live is notoriously bad, so it does necessitate frequent stops and checks. It's not unusual for roads to "disappear" (ha! Route 57 western Massachusetts ), not be marked at all, or -my personal favourite -for there to be no signs at an intersection, but once you choose (hopefully) the right road, you find a sign about a mile down that tells you where you are. I do think as a whole, most European countries offer much better signage.

 

[jay clock]

Ive got that on my tablet - yes it is beautifully detailed - but it is not what I want from a map for touring - what I want is something that I can see the roads on for the next 50miles or so to my probable todays destination and pick a route by eye with a single glance - unless tablets suddenly get into the 36" foldable screen variety I will be routing around in the bottom draw of my filing cabinet for my 15yr old 250k ordance survey (they are not up to date but it not likely that I would want to travel on any of the new roads anyway - ie M6toll)

Agreed. What I use it for is when I suddenly find myself lost or attempting to find a final location for the day. Whip out the phone and within seconds I can see exactly where I am

 

[psmiffy]

Agreed. What I use it for is when I suddenly find myself lost or attempting to find a final location for the day. Whip out the phone and within seconds I can see exactly where I am

I don't do "lost"