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@nobeerinthefridge - A lot depends on the area and how much any individual is prepared to enter details and/or update things. Then OSM is really only the data, the maps are actually generated from that data by people like Garmin, TomTom, Openfietsmaps, Talkytoaster, etc. and it's up to them what to include and how to display it.
There's a lot more data/detail than just "here's a path", you can have allowed/restricted classes of access; track surface; one way details for roads; preferred route for horses/cycles and much more.
I have. A growing number who lack confidence, ability to read the map and terrain, a lack of sense of adventure.
Ok, perhaps I worded something badly - but I’m guessing a very large number of them would be in exactly same boat even if you produced a map with colour coded trails on it? If you can’t read a map having a pink line to follow doesn’t help - at the very least you need to know how far things are and how long it will take. If you don’t have the sense of adventure a map doesn’t help - in fact you probably don’t even own a map. If you lack confidence you need someone to show you. Or do you come across people in Scotland who just need a loop drawn on the map in highlighter and off they go? (And therefore would presumably be better off with English style ROW marking - which was the point I was replying to)?
Yeah - I can't see a map style being an issue, though many folk prefer "trail-centre" style signed paths as they lack the skills/confidence to explore further.
We had a couple of holidays in that area camping at Sandy Hills. There are lots of walks that are easy to find. The coast path is fairly logical but probably mainly not riding (without significant pushing) but the bluebells running down the sand dunes to the beach were pretty stunning.
I seem to remember cycling into Dalbeattie forest from a path near Colvend on the tandem with the kids on so not technical riding.
Also the Forestry Commission have leaflets that show walks in even the smaller forestry areas and worth looking out for. I expect most of them will be on their website although not all appear when I looked just now. These showed a few good routes up small hills and other places to explore.
https://forestryandland.gov.scot/
Threave Castle near Castle Douglas was a good place to visit. A castle that needs a boat to get to and nature reserve between car park and ferry.
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/threave-castle/
Great place for a holiday. Will definitely go back.
Strava heatmap. Cancel your subscription after.
Some good suggestions so far near mabie, shambelie is great for just wandering and seeing where the paths take you and have some good short sections of biking. Have orienteered there a couple of times and the map struggles to keep up with what is on the ground.
Would also support the coast path round to rockcliffe is great and easy to follow although one for walking not biking maybe.
I find the D&G core paths network can be quite handy for finding rideable stuff, if a path is on the list here it is generally well used to be clear and if lucky there will be some sections ridden in off the main route just keep eyes out.
https://info.dumgal.gov.uk/mapviewers/pathsmap.aspx
Strava heatmap +1
And you don't need a subscription just a log in as its available on its own webpage or on the maps layer of the updated app, overlaid on basic OSM mapping. Have found a few new routes during lockdown using it.
Also Komoot for plotting a route. And it has just improved usability a lot in a recent update. IMO the path graphics are better than viewranger, though obv still need OS for detail, contours etc
There are a lot of routes on the OS app - tho it could do with some moderation as there is also a lot of trash.
Brilliant. Thanks all. Just need covid to play ball and keep Scotland open till we go!
That's going to depend on where you're coming from.
travel between Scotland and three local authority areas - Bedford, Bolton and Blackburn and Darwen - will be imposed from Monday.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-57200946
As someone already stated above, I found strava heatmap useful to identify paths (or at least where everyone else walked or cycled if you switch to that option) where no path/trail is marked on an OS map.
I have an old book of walks around the Galloway area. Top tip: if you ever see a place called Bog Wood take it as read.
The Galloway Hills, a walkers paradise. George Brittain. Lots of hand drawn maps.
Top tip: if you ever see a place called Bog Wood take it as read.
Same with Range of the Awful Hand and Murder Hole? 😉
Maiden's paps?!?
Apparently the murder hole by Loch Enoch only appeared on OS maps after it was mentioned in a fictional book in the 19th century.
I always read Clints of the buss wrong on 1:25k map...
Know one knows. Its all a bit of a mystery with capricious surprises thrown in. OS map is a decent start point. If its marked as doubletrack its almost certainly rideable varying from a wide gravel road to " a quad went along here not so long ago". If its marked as singletrack all bets are off. Could be a lovely bit of path. Could be absolutely nothing on the ground
Geograph helps as does google maps and other suggestions as above.
One encounter with the disappearing path was up in Glen Feshie. On the map a 4 mile meandering downhill single track connecting two estate roads. Well I did the climb. Sure enough a faint path that took me just far enough then disappeared. 4 mile downhill walk thru knee high heather. I was not a happy bunny.
Also beware the "drag your bike thru a swamp" sections but when you get the right bits its fabulous
One encounter with the disappearing path was up in Glen Feshie. On the map a 4 mile meandering downhill single track connecting two estate roads. Well I did the climb. Sure enough a faint path that took me just far enough then disappeared. 4 mile downhill walk thru knee high heather.
Ooh. Which one was that?
I would think with a crowded England
Pah. Most of it's not crowded.
The problem with exploring and following your nose (of which I've done plenty) is that you have to be prepared to spend your time hacking through bogs or head high bracken dragging a bike. It's ok once in a while but sometimes you really want a decent ride and it's frustrating as hell. Despite the access restrictions I'm willing to bet that parts of Wales and England have more actual paths and tracks than large parts of Scotland - down to population density as much as anything else.
I grew up in Southwick and New Abbey so know the area pretty well; feel free to send me a message if you want any info. The shop in New Abbey has a wee local walks map for sale. Id recommend the Waterloo monument walk from the village. you can link it on forestry tracks out to beeswing/lotus hill and the back of Mabie if you like.
Aside from Strava and the like. Scottish Hill Tracks book by the Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society. I'm a fan of the National Library of Scotland side by side map viewer - gives an idea of what was there in the past and you can compare aerial / LIDAR (sometimes) side by side with a newer map. Local walking guidebooks and maps are a useful source of information. A lot of it was just going out, exploring and taking the good with the bad.
Scottish Hill Tracks book by the Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society.
A reprint is (over)due. It would have been done by now but we couldn't get out to survey paths last year.
If you can, pop up and see Richie at "Rik's Bike Shed", next to Drumlanrig Castle. I had a sneak peak at the new blue he's building a few weeks ago & our 6 year old is going to love it.
I'd argue that Richie is probably the best trail-builder in Scotland & he knows exactly what the kids need for a great day out.
If you can get there on a weekend when there is a guided family ride from the shop, it'll be a memorable day (when we were on one, it involved biking, punching trees & pooh sticks :-).
As well as the biking & culture, there is also a great wee adventure playground at Drumlanrig.
Nobeerinthefridge:
Looking at that map at Dumyat and Cambu, there’s certainly way more in terms of paths/trails, but every other detail is pretty lacking, I’ve never used OSM, is it all like that?
You want topology as well ?!
OK then -
https://opentopomap.org/#map=15/56.15491/-3.87551
Ooh. Which one was that?
nn802896 to NN797973
I found out later others had tried the same path Jojo IIRC
I’d argue that Richie is probably the best trail-builder in Scotland & he knows exactly what the kids need for a great day out.
Pretty much inherited Drumlanrig, I'm not sure of his other work so can't comment on it. Depending on which way the wind is blowing, he's a arrogant arse as well.
@stirlingcrispin cheers, looks a wee bit better.