Ok I travel to the lakes quite a bit and have the books etc on rides but must say i do struggle a bit to follow routes. what is the bast way of doing this? i don't mind investing in garmin and the likes but can't be bothered to put in own routes, basically as i don't know any and cross referencing from the books sounds painful.
So, are digital maps available? basically i want a tom tom for trails single track ?
The maps are available for sure, number of different apps you can use - I have viewranger on my (android) phone. Are you asking about the availability of routes that you can stick on them? It's not something I do but it seems dead easy - thread on here discusses various sites you can go to for gpx routes:
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/good-places-to-get-gpx-mtb-routes
Whether you want to use your phone or buy a dedicated gps is a good question. The phone can do it all but you need to permanently install the maps on it - otherwise you'd be relying on the phone signal to download maps out in the hills. You can simply buy the map (OS 1:50 thou entire UK is 90 quid for viewranger), or I think there are legal downloads that will also let you also get open source maps for free. The phone's battery will suck balls compared to a gps, and a smartphone is not something you'd usually mount on a bike's handlebars for easy viewing (maybe some people do this, not sure - guess it depends how comfortable you are with the risk of trashing the phone in a crash).
From the sound of it you don't want any hassle, so maybe the gps with pre-installed maps is the best bet? As you can tell, I'm no expert - plenty on here are though so can give you better info. Also loads of threads on the subject recently which have decent info.
The phone probably won't be waterproof. As I have recently found to my cost 
thanks for info so far guys,
Get the National Cycle Network app - you can download 25k maps onto it free. Highly recommended.
I got the biologic iPhone case from Evans cycles its a bit pricey but there's not much else out there . I mounted it to my stem and it's been fine so far even done a few trail centers with it on and it's not moved ,
I use the "UK Map" app with my iphone4. Cost £7.99 which includes a full road map of the GB. You can then download map tiles at 25,000:1 (and 10,000:1) giving OS-style mapping. Downloads are free, just use WiFi. I just carry my phone inside one of those plastic sandwich bags in my pocket. Works a treat. Battery life never a problem even on full day rides.
See my post on this thread.
AlasdairMc - Member
Get the National Cycle Network app - you can download 25k maps onto it free.
Just download this it's great and completely free , thanks for that
Viewranger App....download 1;25000 OS maps as needed in 5km square grid "tiles" (app comes with credit to buy tiles and top ups available "in app") so no need to fork out£90.00 for the whole country.
Mount in waterproof case....best find on my internet hunt and brilliant in practical use is this.... http://www.cyclewiz.co.uk/BikeConsole-Bike-Mount-for-iPhone-4S-4-3GS-3G_AY5CC.aspx?0
....allows rotation to landscape and handles cross country off road well with the supplied mount. Probably not ideal for full on black route trail centre but then why would you need it then anyway??!
Best feature of the viewranger app.....you can mark out waypoints on a chosen route and then with it handlebar mounted the GPS dot shows you where you are on your route with the route a series of coloured lines(customisable in colour/thickness) along your waypoints. You can export or import routes as well. Turn off wifi and bluetooth, tone down screen brightness and get 4 hour+ rides on a iphone 4. Turn off screen lock and tone down brightness further and you have a brilliant night ride always on map with live location update! Run it alongside an app like cyclemeter and you get to track speed, distance, altitude, and route on map + ability to export, give live tracking info, track competitors etc.
I have been able to chart out night rides in completely unknown countryside near where I live, on and off road and discover lots of new territory without having to stop start to look at conventional maps to work out where the hell I am. Result.
thanks people you have answered my questions and I've found what i need,
Gone with the view ranger and downloaded routes from links above.
Perfect. ok well will tell you how i get on in a few weeks.
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