Just been given rather useful app called "Outside".
Full 1:50000 OS mapping for free.
I don't expect it to be free for long though.

Any others for the non luddite amongst us.

Routebuddy - allows access to offline OS mapping. You do have to pay for the maps (£20 for each 1:50k region, eg Wales + W Mids) though there are some free ones like 1:250k road maps. Works well on OS X and you only pay once for the maps to use on all devices - iPhone, iPad and computer.

Compass
Planet Finder
Night Sky
Bike Hub
Cycle Network
Met Office
Yr.no weather
Kindle
McD's Finder :D

I still really like Viewranger. You pay for OS maps but can download OSM maps free. Works across all platforms and you only pay for the maps once.
Maps aren't too expensive either 1:50K is £5.99 for national parks etc. Works offline.
Route creation is easy, especially on the ipad. Syncs with dropbox. Like the option to print maps of your route too. Comes out in a handy pdf document that you can save for another time.

Cyclestreets is good too. Not so much for off road stuff (although it does use sustrans routes). You type in start and end points and it gives you 3 route options (busy, moderate, quiet). There's an option to export the gpx too so it's a really quick way to find a route.

I have just put view ranger on my android tablet, what's the free osm you mention?

Just downloaded the Outside app - looks good!

Ray Young wrote:I have just put view ranger on my android tablet, what's the free osm you mention?

OSM is Open Source Mapping so map information uploaded via a community of people. Not always as accurate as Ordnance Survey maps but constantly evolving. Google it to the wiki link for more info of how and why etc....

On the map options you can switch between different map types in the "organizer" folder. You have the premium maps which are OS and then you have the online maps which are OSM based (with different options for cycle maps with different legends, contour info etc). If you're at home with a wifi connection, you can view the online maps and plan your routes without a problem.
If you loose the connection though, the maps will disappear but you have an option to download OSM map tiles to the device memory to use when you aren't connected to the internet - if you wanted to actually take your android device out on the hills.
If you buy the ordnance survey maps, they actually download to the device so are stored in the memory.

When you create a route and "syncronize" the device it will upload it to the server so you can view and print it via your PC (and choose the map output including OS if you pay for it.).

As an example of how well it works, I'm heading off to Wales this weekend for a bit of walking. I planned a route on the ipad using OS maps (but could quite have easily used OSM maps). Saved it, synchronized it and then went on my work PC and logged into my viewranger account via the website (could work via your tablet web explorer) and viewed the route. Selected the option to print the map in OS 1:50,000 format (although I could have chosen others) so I only have to carry a piece of A4 paper as backup. Emailed the pdf to my mates so they can see the route and print if they want.
Because I created the route it, I also exported the gpx to my Garmin. If you find a route someone else has created, you can't export the gpx file but you could leave it visible while you copy the route again yourself as a new route.

Have a play with the software and see how you get on. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

OK thanks, will have a play but I am a bit computer useless .

Ray Young wrote:OK thanks, will have a play but I am a bit computer useless .

Sure you'll be fine Ray. Let me know if any probs.
The thing I like is that it's a good backup for those times when you don't think you need a map like if i'm out on the road bike and I go exploring, I know that if I get lost, I have a map on my phone that doesn't rely on a mobile signal.
I've used the app as a gps on walks before and it works well but is limited by battery life.

Touch screen tablets work really well for route planning, much easier than using bikehike.

I've also just got an android phone and put view ranger on that too with a view to using it as a back up to paper maps for when the track disappears.

I've got memory map on my elderly iPhone and think its ok but hardly understand what I am doing
I also installed it on my mini ipad and found that the arrangements for map buying have changed. Some techy person explained it very patiently but I hadn't a clue what he was on about.
Anyways, I still carry paper maps to be sure that I'm lost!

Is there a 'best' map app? Something that has all the OS 1:50,000 historical info and compensates for slowness of understanding?

Hi Dan K. Plotted a route on the computer, named and saved, it then transferred it to both tablet and smart phone, seems to be working fine except printing it out. Only printing half the map and not very big, half A4 sheet. How do I print the whole route and bigger size? Thanks, Ray.

Ray Young wrote:Hi Dan K. Plotted a route on the computer, named and saved, it then transferred it to both tablet and smart phone, seems to be working fine except printing it out. Only printing half the map and not very big, half A4 sheet. How do I print the whole route and bigger size? Thanks, Ray.

I've only used it for walks where I guess the distance is shorter so I get the whole route in. You could try splitting the route into smaller legs.
I'm in Wales at the mo so I'll have a play when I get home on Sunday and see if I can get it to work...

OK, thanks, will give it a go, route was 70 mile figure 8.

So far I'm loving the view ranger app. Route plotting on a pc is a joy compared to OS getamap. How practical do you think it would be to use this on a phone for say a two day ride if you took a spare fully charged battery and portable charger of some sort and stopped all non essential apps running? Of course you'd have to keep it waterproofed.

Just found another useful part to the viewranger app. Buddy beacon, use it like a spot tracker, anyone you give your user name and ID code can check where you are on viewranger .com

Ignore the above, it stops working when your out of mobile signal range then starts again when your back in .

Ray Young wrote:Just found another useful part to the viewranger app. Buddy beacon, use it like a spot tracker, anyone you give your user name and ID code can check where you are on viewranger .com

It also drains the battery. Sent my phone flat in 4hr!

If you have a signal OS Atlas is a good app for Android - free 1:50k OS :D