I use ViewRanger on iOS whenever I’m going on new unknown-to-me all mountain adventures. I plot the route manually using the web browser ViewRanger account getting my route info from other people’s Strava or magazine routes and carefully plot my own version looking at the cycle maps, satellite map and flicking between them on ViewRanger until I’m roughly happy it might work out.
Then I save the route to my account, go to the iOS app and go through the clunky fandango to sync the route to the phone (with the latest version it is a little bit better but still not 100% user friendly).
Then when I’m out I’ll stop and check where I am when I’m unsure and check I’m following the route using the app. I don’t have the phone out all the time. I just stop and have a look. It’s been brilliant for finding new trails. Especially when the start point or turning I need to find is unknown to me.
When I’m on an adventure like that I’m stopping to take photos and enjoy the view regularly so checking the ViewRanger app is no bother. It’s just a really enjoyable way to mountain bike on real mountains.
If there’s a better app than ViewRanger for this kind of thing I’d love to know about it.