LOSE YOURSELF without getting lost
The OS Maps app is the ultimate companion when you want to go on a proper adventure, with the confidence of knowing exactly where you are and what you’re facing
If there’s one good thing lockdown has done for us, it’s doubled down our excitement about getting back in the mountains and discovering new trails. We’ve been whiling away the dreary winter nights dreaming about where to ride next, once it’s safe to do so. If you’ve been planning a big adventure too, then download the OS Maps app. As well as giving access to comprehensive Ordnance Survey mapping for the whole of Great Britain – with an unmatched level of detail and at a range of scales that are perfect for planning and following routes – it’s packed full of features perfectly suited to mountain bikers.
Ever ventured somewhere new but found yourself axle-deep in a bog and with no clue where you are, or bitten off more than you can chew and wound up broken and exhausted, pushing your bike up an unridably steep climb? We have. And as character-building as those days may be, they’re not exactly fun, and mostly leave us wishing we’d planned things more carefully. Thankfully, the OS Maps app has all the tools you need to avoid those situations.
Not only is the terrain data far more detailed than with any other mapping software, but you can visualise it in 3D to get a real feel for what your ride will be like. Plus, if you’re creating a route through a National Park, there’s a handy snap-to-path function to ensure you’ll stay on course. Just imagine – no more wet socks, pointless diversions or getting shouted at by angry farmers!
More than just an app for your phone, OS Maps is designed for use on computers and tablets too, syncing automatically between devices so you can plan routes on the big screen to follow on the go. Localised maps can be downloaded too, which is great if you’re heading off-grid and into the wild. Save your favourite routes and share them with friends, or do it the old-school way and print them out (at A4 or A3 size). Because let’s face it, technology, as great as it is, does run out of battery, and there’s nothing like a good old-fashioned paper map to pore over and get excited about.
OS Maps isn’t just for planning epic adventures. Sometimes it’s great to simply ride from your door, click go and let the app record where the trail takes you. Or if you want the hard work done for you, or are unfamiliar with an area and want to discover something new, you can choose from over half a million ready-made routes, spread over the length and breadth of the country.
It’s got us thinking about where we want to head first. Bikepacking across Dartmoor? Big climbs and steep rocky chutes in the Lake District? Rock slabs and epic views up in the Scottish Highlands? Or maybe just around the corner – we bet there’s some amazing singletrack on our doorstep that we’ve not yet discovered. We’re itching to jump on a bike just thinking about it!