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Until we could carry them with us on mobile devices like phones, digital maps were for planning outdoor routes before printing these off for taking them with us. Now, the data and the routes can be entirely electronic so long as your device has the battery life to support the desired activity and there are plenty of places to recharge it along the way.<\/p>\n
Anquet, now riled by many, was my starting point before unstable software led me to look at Mapyx Quo. SityTrail, Memory-Map, Routebuddy and Outdooractive have been added to my collection since then. While some look at the route planning functionality on offer, these apps are no use if the mapping data are not available in the first place. With all of these, I get to survey maps for the U.K., Switzerland, France, Slovenia, Norway and the U.S.A. This collection of tools also offers maps for Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands too, so there is good coverage all around.<\/p>\n
For a time, the OSi had their Trail Master series for parts of \u00c9ire, but that seems to have gone by the wayside to leave Mapyx Quo and Viewranger as options for displaying Irish digital maps. That illustrates how much has changed in the world of digital mapping, with providers coming and going. Now, we are seeing the national mapping agencies and other publishers themselves embracing digital delivery.<\/p>\n
Walking maps are being made available on the web by others too. For instance, Bing Maps<\/a> has 1:50000 and 1:25000 data from the Ordnance Survey, while SysMaps<\/a> also can do this along with maps from the likes of France and Germany, so you can broaden your horizons if the need arises. On occasions, the available maps are better for outdoor enthusiasts than those on a national agency's own portal. That<\/a> from Germany's BKG<\/a> comes to mind here, as does the one<\/a> from Italy's IDN, so there is a growing number of such national portals.<\/p>\n As good as Google Earth and services that work from its data like Mapcarta<\/a> have become, they do nothing to take from maps created by national mapping agencies, so it is encouraging that we see so many ways of getting and working with their data. It just goes to show how important maps are to outdoors folk, and the newfound ability to have them with us on devices that can locate us as well only underlines that.<\/p>\n AllTrails<\/a><\/p>\n When I first found this, it must have been a place to source hiking ideas because that is where I once put it on this website. However, there now is an app and various subscriptions allowing for use on Android and iOS. The map data are web viewable too, as are various hiking trails, even with the free subscription, and there is a premium version too. It has plenty of uses when it comes to looking at hiking possibilities in Europe and North America. So far, it has been useful for Irish and Scottish rambling, as well as surveying hiking options around Oslomarka. With all the crowdsourcing of routes, it pays to be careful when following any one of these; a bit of common sense should address that concern, though.<\/p>\n Anquet<\/a><\/p>\n Outdoor Map Navigator (OMN) is the flagship digital mapping platform from British company Anquet Technology Ltd, founded in 2001 and based in Poole, Dorset. The platform specialises in providing Ordnance Survey mapping solutions for outdoor enthusiasts including walkers, cyclists and emergency services across both consumer and enterprise sectors. OMN operates across Android, iOS, macOS and Windows PC under a single subscription, offering access to high-quality Ordnance Survey maps including Explorer 1:25,000, Landranger 1:50,000 and detailed Vector Map Local at 1:10,000 scale depending on subscription tier.<\/p>\n The platform excels in offline functionality, allowing users to download maps, view live GPS location, record tracklogs and plan routes without internet connectivity, whilst Anquet Cloud synchronisation enables seamless data sharing across devices. Advanced features include waypoint creation with over 200 icons, route styling options, GPX import and export, offline search capabilities for postcodes and place names, OS grid reference support and a high-definition print engine for scaled route prints.<\/p>\n Avenza<\/a><\/p>\n Once spotted because of its inclusion of National Geographic mapping, this mapping application by Avenza Systems Inc. operates on iOS and Android devices, enabling users to navigate using georeferenced maps even when offline through GPS positioning. The app provides access to maps via the Avenza Map Store, including offerings from National Geographic, US Forest Service and other major publishers, while also supporting custom map imports in formats such as GeoPDF, GeoTIFF and JPEG with world files.<\/p>\n Users can create interactive annotations through placemarks with attached notes or geotagged photos, record GPS tracks with elevation and distance measurements, and establish geofences that trigger alerts when entering or leaving designated areas. The application organises features into manageable layers and supports coordinate format switching, including WHAT3WORDS integration for precise location sharing.<\/p>\n Three subscription tiers serve different user needs: the free version allows basic functionality with limited map imports, Avenza Maps Plus provides unlimited map imports for recreational users, whilst Avenza Maps Pro adds professional features including shapefile support, GPS device integration with Trimble and Bad Elf hardware, GPS averaging capabilities and custom symbology options. Users particularly value the reliable offline navigation in remote areas and the flexibility for importing specialised or custom maps, though some note the interface lacks the refinement of competing applications like Gaia GPS despite its robust GIS functionality and comprehensive mapping capabilities.<\/p>\n Gaia GPS<\/a><\/p>\n Another app that was essential for my North American hiking (especially around the San Francisco Bay Area), this is serves hikers, trail runners, backcountry users and outdoor professionals across iOS, Android and web platforms with seamless device synchronisation. Reviews consistently praise the intuitive interface, reliable navigation accuracy, excellent organisational tools for managing route collections and comprehensive data tracking capabilities, though some critics note the subscription cost, limited UK-specific mapping compared to dedicated Ordnance Survey apps, privacy concerns with default sharing settings and occasional data accuracy inconsistencies.<\/p>\n The app provides an extensive library of map layers including topographic maps, satellite imagery, National Geographic Trails Illustrated maps, USFS maps and international options like IGN maps for Spain and France, Swiss Topo and Ordnance Survey OpenData for the UK. As well as the possibility of accessing content from Outside Inc.<\/a>, premium subscribers gain offline map downloads, multiple overlay capabilities with adjustable transparency, advanced route planning with global path snapping, GPX import and export functionality, elevation profiles, area calculators and photo geotagging features.<\/p>\n Garmin<\/a><\/p>\n BaseCamp<\/a> is a free desktop application serves as Garmin's primary tool for mapping and trip planning on Windows and macOS systems, allowing users to create and organise waypoints, routes and tracks while managing map data for transfer to compatible GPS devices. The software supports multiple file formats including GPX, FIT, TCX and KML, offers both 2D and 3D map views with satellite imagery integration, and provides geotagging capabilities for photos. However, development has significantly slowed, leading to concerns about broken features and long-term sustainability. Garmin now promotes its cloud-based Explore platform as an alternative, which offers better integration with modern devices like inReach units and seamless syncing capabilities, though it lacks many of the advanced editing tools and analytical features that made the desktop application popular among serious route planners and outdoor enthusiasts.<\/p>\n Hiiker<\/a><\/p>\n Available on iOS, Android and web platforms, this hiking and navigation app provides outdoor enthusiasts with trail planning and navigation tools. The app provides access to verified hiking trails worldwide, along with free offline map downloads that enhance safety in remote areas without internet connectivity. Users can plan custom routes through the built-in Route Planner, record their hikes with detailed statistics including distance and elevation gain, and share data with platforms like Strava or export it as GPX files. The app supports waypoints for marking important locations and offers GPX file import and export capabilities for integration with other hiking applications. A premium PRO+ subscription unlocks specialised high-resolution maps from providers like Ordnance Survey UK, Harvey Maps and USGS, along with advanced features such as terrain distance measurement and stage-by-stage route breakdowns.<\/p>\n Komoot<\/a><\/p>\n Often spotted in The Great Outdoors magazine, this German-founded outdoor platform serves hikers, cyclists and runners by combining route planning, navigation and community features into a comprehensive adventure tool. Users can discover ready-made routes shared by the community alongside points of interest such as scenic viewpoints and caf\u00e9s, whilst the intelligent planning system allows plotting based on activity type, terrain preferences and difficulty levels with detailed elevation profiles and surface breakdowns. The platform particularly appeals to beginners through its intuitive interface and community-driven route discovery, though some experienced users find limitations in manual route control where the system favours scenic paths over direct routing.<\/p>\n The platform excels at turn-by-turn voice navigation with offline functionality once maps are downloaded, and routes synchronise across multiple GPS devices from manufacturers including Garmin and Wahoo, though recent changes now require new users to subscribe to Premium for device syncing capabilities. Cross-platform compatibility spans iOS and Android apps plus web interfaces, making it accessible across different devices whilst maintaining synchronisation between planning sessions and field navigation.<\/p>\n Mapyx Quo<\/a><\/p>\n Developed by Mapyx as part of 3SGroup, this sophisticated digital mapping software suite launched in 2006 primarily serves Windows users whilst offering additional web and mobile support. The platform bridges consumer mapping and lightweight GIS functionality, providing advanced control and flexibility for both enthusiasts and professionals through its modular approach where the core software remains free but requires purchasing specific map tiles or subscriptions for detailed UK coverage. The system supports Ordnance Survey maps including Explorer and Landranger series for Great Britain, and Ireland through Discovery and Activity maps, alongside OS Street View, though subscriptions apply only to the Windows application whilst mobile users must purchase tiles separately even with existing subscriptions.<\/p>\n Key strengths include power-user functionality with rich control over routes, tracks, areas and layers, offline OpenStreetMap support for viewing layers like Mapnik and OpenCycleMap, and GIS-style project management with multiple layers, folders and advanced editing capabilities including long undo history. However, the platform remains tightly focused on Ordnance Survey content with no published evidence of official mapping beyond the UK and Ireland, making it an excellent choice for UK-based users requiring detailed mapping with full editing control but less suitable for those needing global coverage or primarily mobile-focused navigation experiences.<\/p>\n Memory-Map<\/a><\/p>\n For a time, I found that this longstanding GPS navigation and mapping platform came in useful for surveying international hiking possibilities. It operates across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Linux systems, offering comprehensive outdoor and marine navigation tools. The application provides access to an extensive digital map store featuring international topographic maps including OS Explorer and Landranger maps for Great Britain, USGS topographic quads for the United States, Hema 4WD maps for Australia and various state topographic maps for Australia and New Zealand. Marine users can access NOAA nautical charts for the USA and British Admiralty charts for the UK and Ireland, whilst the platform also supports custom map imports, including scanned maps and GeoTIFF files.<\/p>\n Key functionality includes fully offline GPS navigation, advanced route planning with elevation profiles, 3D visualisation capabilities on desktop versions, cloud synchronisation of routes and waypoints between devices, and comprehensive printing options for creating route cards and map outputs. The platform particularly appeals to serious outdoor enthusiasts, professionals and marine navigators who require reliable offline navigation capabilities combined with high-quality official mapping sources and flexible customisation options for managing tracks, waypoints and overlays across multiple devices.<\/p>\n My Trails<\/a><\/p>\n It was the Discovery Walking Guides website that brought this tool to my notice: an Android application by FrogSparks that serves as an offline-capable topographic navigation and GPS tracking tool designed specifically for outdoor enthusiasts who require detailed mapping capabilities. The app provides access to numerous free online map layers including OpenStreetMap, Google and Bing, whilst also offering premium topographic maps for Great Britain, France, Spain and Portugal through subscription models that typically include free trial periods. Its GPS tracking functionality records comprehensive movement data including duration, distance, elevation and speed, with colour-coded visualisation options that help users analyse ascent patterns, GPS accuracy, slope gradients and speed variations directly on the map interface.<\/p>\n The application excels at offline map creation and downloading, allowing users to cache maps directly within the app without requiring desktop tools, and utilises hardware acceleration through OpenGL to maintain smooth navigation performance even when displaying multiple tracks simultaneously. Users particularly appreciate the application for its robust performance, extensive customisation options, precise tracking capabilities for off-road routes, and clean interface that prioritises functionality over aesthetics, making it an excellent choice for Android users who require detailed topographic mapping and GPS tracking capabilities.<\/p>\n OS Maps<\/a><\/p>\n Ordnance Survey's official mapping application brings comprehensive topographic coverage of Great Britain directly to mobile devices, featuring over 600 high-resolution Explorer and Landranger maps at scales of 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 respectively. The app operates on a subscription model providing unlimited access to all OS mapping data for England, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man. Premium subscribers can download maps for offline use, plan and record routes, import GPX files, access thousands of curated walking routes from partner publications, utilise a 3D aerial terrain view and print unlimited custom maps in various formats and scales. Additional global topographic coverage extends to the USA, Australia and New Zealand, making the application suitable for international adventures beyond British territories. Users particularly value the detailed regional mapping, robust offline functionality, intuitive route planning tools with terrain visualisation and flexible printing options for physical backup, with outdoor enthusiasts praising the service as excellent value for accessing authentic Ordnance Survey content with modern digital convenience.<\/p>\n Outdooractive<\/a><\/p>\n These days, this is my go-to app for outdoor navigation. There are providing tools for planning and navigating hiking, cycling, trail running, skiing and mountaineering activities. Handily, it operates across iOS, Android and web platforms with seamless device synchronisation and offers official topographic maps from approximately 25 countries including OS Explorer maps for the UK, Swisstopo for Switzerland, IGN for France and USGS for the USA.<\/p>\n Free users can search, plan, print and navigate routes whilst accessing community-shared content, while Pro subscribers gain offline map downloads, slope data, 3D fly-overs, augmented reality features called Skyline, live location sharing through BuddyBeacon and ad-free usage. The platform includes a thriving community element where users discover curated routes contributed by professional partners and tourism authorities, share and rate routes, and organise collections for future trips.<\/p>\n Safety features include real-time mountain and lake name overlays through camera-based AR technology, live location tracking for emergencies, avalanche reports and weather forecasts. Navigation capabilities encompass track recording with photo attachment, GPX export functionality, reliable snap-to-path routing with 3D previews and integration with popular fitness platforms like Garmin, Suunto, Strava and Fitbit. Professional reviews consistently praise its excellent European coverage, route discovery tools and mapping accuracy, with German consumer testing ranking it alongside Komoot for navigation reliability, making it particularly valuable for those exploring the UK and Continental Europe who require professional-grade mapping experiences.<\/p>\n Rother<\/a><\/p>\n It was while exploring European hiking that this guidebook publisher came to my notice by covering areas not already included in Cicerone's roster. More recently, I noticed that they also have apps for Android and iOS, as well as a web version for any other platform. The app provides over 14,000 professionally tested hiking routes across many regions including the Way of St. James and winter routes for skiing or snowshoeing, with tours that can be filtered by length, difficulty and child-friendliness.<\/p>\n Users can import GPS data from printed Rother guidebooks using QR codes, access free offline maps with GPS navigation showing live location on trails and plan their own routes or record their hikes. The app offers personalisation features such as creating tour lists and wish-lists that function as digital tour diaries, with a Gold subscription unlocking premium maps, turn-off-trail warnings and access to the complete map collection.<\/p>\n While the app provides high-quality, professionally vetted routes with excellent offline map support and GPS navigation capabilities, some users have reported that certain regions may lack comprehensive tour coverage and occasional performance issues such as map zoom lag have been noted. The app serves as a digital complement to Rother's guidebooks, bringing GPS import functionality, premium mapping and personal tour organisation into a modern mobile platform for outdoor enthusiasts.<\/p>\n