Good Map App

Q. Hello, I'd really like to find a good app for my phone which has footpaths on it. I've spent quite a bit downloading apps to find that they either don't have any walks in Hertfordshire or they don't show footpaths or I can map my route but it doesn't have an option to plan the route first! I have 2 dogs and I like to go explore different walks but don't want to lug a paper map with me. Anyone know a good app please?

Katie Tant, Welwyn

A. Its a good idea to take a map but it`s a bit of an old chestnut to say phones might break or batteries go flat. Maps can be lost too.In Most parts of England and even Wales you are not so very far from civilisation as to get lost, unless totally hopeless at navigating in which case a map will not help much either. Try reading up on Ordnance Survey mapping online. For £20 a year you can create, or down load thousands of routes within the UK. Most smart phones with Ios or android systems will show Ordnance survey maps on them. imho, it is fantastic value. Hand held GPS gadgets are great but tend to be fiddly to operate and the screens are smaller generally. They are however rugged and usually waterproof. I have and use etrex 10 & 20x both great. The 10 is very basic though & does not show any meaningful map on its screen. I mostly use a tough phone now with the Ordnance survey app on it....just fantastic. If you plan on climbing mountains or high peaks, its a good idea to take a map but obviously need to be able to navigate properly. I hike in Wales & England and found its a good idea to print out the area Im walking in on a sheet of A4 paper.(you can get waterproof paper too, or just put it in a plastic cover). Then I download the route onto my smart phone or dedicated GPS or both (belt and bracers type of thing). Sorry for longwinded answer, but personally I think the Ordnance survey app is the best....it has its quirks but does show all footpaths and depending on the scale you look at, hedgerows too! along with a myriad of other landmarks and contours et c to help you find your way around.. :))

Geoff Reeves, Birmingham

A. "Don't want to lug a map with me" !!! What happens if your phone dies or breaks? A map weighs very little and should always be taken with you.

Hugh Evans

A. Hi Katie, You need something for your desktop for planning/review and something for your mobile. Someone like Memory-map or Mapyx will sell you both the software and OS maps with footpaths. There are other - much cheaper or free - maps around. Try a Google search for 'Smartphone maps britain' and look at apps like Locus or Back Country Navigator for Android or Galileo GPS for iPhone/Pad.

John Thorn, Cardiff

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