OS maps alternative

Despite it being completely laden with glitches and bugs for years, I have been using the OS maps app for navigating and planning MTB routes for the lack of any decent alternative.

Are there any other map apps out there with a comprehensive record of the UK’s paths and bridleways? And where you can plan a route by snapping to path anywhere- even since they added this to OS maps it is still largely unusable

Thanks

Open Cycle Maps. Many route planners have an OCM layer (Ride With GPS, etc). Not as accurate as OS, but pretty good.

Sometimes it is really useful to find exactly where you are – take the faint boggy track on the left side of the abandoned barn not the one on the right that just leads to a boggy field full of nettles and brambles.

For that you need the OS 1:25000 and OSM does not cut it. Viewranger used to be the answer.

For just plotting routes I use garmin connect and expect it to need some help when I get to where I’m going.

I’ve looked
ViewRanger was great
Is maps is the best of the bad bunch

The premium app uses OS 1:25000- it is good for navigating when it works. It just often won’t load the map even after it’s been downloaded, and zooming out slightly makes all bridleways disapear.

It is at least good to know if there’s nothing better

I plot routes on Strava and import the gpx to Maverick GPS navigation app on Android, it has an OS layer(and many others) that goes to 1;25k, caches on your phone as you scroll through the area you’re going off off line use. I’ve used it for years and don’t use anything else for riding or hiking mapping for work and please.

I’m finding the OS mapp really useful, am I just getting insanely lucky?

What problems are people having?

On OS Maps I get the delays in maps loading, and have been caught out in non gps area where I have downloaded maps and they just don’t appear

Harveys maps are good and comprehensive. I find they often have better marking of paths and the scale is 1:40k which I like fir mtb ing.

Outdoor Active has both OS map layers and Harveys map layers, I switch between then depending what I’m doing.

Harveys lake district paper map is ace because it’s centered on the middle rather than the OS where you are likely to need 4 maps to cover the middle bit.

Same as funkydunc here.

If you’re having problems loading maps in OS, turn on aeroplane mode for a brief interval: the map loads, and stays when you turn aeroplane mode off. I’m assuming it’s the app looking for a signal and getting confused when it doesn’t find one.

If you’re having problems loading maps in OS, turn on aeroplane mode for a brief interval: the map loads, and stays when you turn aeroplane mode off. I’m assuming it’s the app looking for a signal and getting confused when it doesn’t find one.

Yes – I use this work around too. I just wish there was an option to use offline maps by default if you want to. It feels like a total no brainer.

I’ve been poo poo a number of times when I say this but I don’t think the offline map sections are anything like big enough. On memory map you could have the whole of the UK offline and it was still fast and snappy. I need 5 or 6 offline maps with OS Maps just to cover the Cairngorms. With modern phones’ processors and storage capacity it is not good enough imo.

I just create a custom map of whatever size I need by putting dots in opposing corners of whatever square/rectangular area I need to cover.

I got transitioned from ViewRanger to Outdooractive and I quite like it.

Switch between OS and OSM easily, there are Harvey’s maps in there too. Offline mode works well and for the most part route planning works ok too. Occasionally you have to switch off auto routing and do a small section manually but it’s not often.

Offline mode seems like a good tip, thanks!

What problems are people having?

Main issue i currently have and have had for over a year now is that, if I’m following a route, it doesn’t follow me so instead of seeing my position in centre of screen, as i move, it’ll stay on wherever the screen was at….very basic ask, very annoying  as i then have to re-centre (yes, it is showing blue circle). Reported probably year ago and they did respond saying known issue but never fixed

I just create a custom map of whatever size I need by putting dots in opposing corners of whatever square/rectangular area I need to cover.

There are times of year where I’m in the hills every day with work or sometimes if I’m assessing multiple groups I can be going in and out in multiple places on the same day. Having to download a map for every day if a non needed faff. Using lots of pre loaded areas means sod and his laws means the bit I want is overlapping two user predefined areas so I load out multiple overlapping areas with my own defined gride system I have to remember. Using waaaay more storage than just having one big download. Just let me download the whole of the north of Scotland in one and be done with it. If other apps can handle than much, I can’t see what OSMaps can’t.

I’m having the same issues
It looks like it’s hunting for days when the area is already downloaded in offline maps.
It’s a really poor app compared to ViewRanger
Have you noticed how slow the offline maps take to upload as well. This system makes no sense either – I don’t know why there is a maximum size.

If you’re having problems loading maps in OS, turn on aeroplane mode for a brief interval

This explains it then, I use my phone in airplane mode to save battery

Memory map or the newer memory map for all apps on android are pretty good. You are able to download maps for offline use so no need for a data connection. Works pretty well in my experience, but need to use the PC version to plot routes (and then save to the cloud to view on your phone.)….and sometimes the easiest way to plot a detailed route is to plot roughly in memory map, import to strava maps, use their great drag and drop, and then export that back out to memory map…..

I’ve used backcountry navigator pro for many years, has always worked well for me. It doesn’t snap to path when you’re using the course creator, you just draw approx. Also it uses bing OS maps, so there is some sort of daily usage limit, so I just make sure I’ve got all the OS map area I need stored into my phone before a trip (which in most cases you’d do anyway). Don’t know how much it is these days, but it’s a one off purchase of the app with all maps incl. There’s a demo app to try before you buy. There’s also lots of other maps you can switch to, open source and official. A few years ago we used the Spain IGN 1:25k map when doing the bernia ridge walk

They also do a subscription version (XE) which might be better I’ve no idea.

There is a teeny weeny issue with OSM (or ball ache depending how annoyed you get with it). OSM is maintained as a WIKI – i.e anyone can contribute. Sadly some people have their own opinion on how roads/tracks/paths etc. should be plotted and annotated with little regard (or no knowledge) of how routing works.

Slowoldman, I interpreted the OP was looking for an alternative app to use OS maps on, not an alternative to OS.

Slowoldman, I interpreted the OP was looking for an alternative app to use OS maps on, not an alternative to OS.

The OP just asks for apps ‘with a comprehensive record of the UK’s paths and bridleways?’.

I would just suggest giving RwGPS a go. It’s free to plot and save a route.

IIRC it’s a premium feature to navigate it in the app, but you’re free to upload the saved route to your app/device of choice. The snap-to function generally works pretty well too.

If you’re an Android user I used to use this https://www.frogsparks.com

I haven’t used it for a few years but do seem to remember it has all the OSM on it and you could pay for OS.

Might be worth checking out?

I still have Viewranger + OS maps on all my devices and for my needs it works fine ( seeing exactly where I am on a map without any phone connection ) I don’t know whether I can still plot routes etc ..perhaps that functionality has gone . The main issue is making sure it never gets updated which will stop it working it seems.

Yep the OSM data is rarely accurate around my way. It’s causing some headaches for land managers and as it feeds a lot of third party apps is often routing people into dead ends etc. It can be tidied up but it needs a bit of time or a dedicated effort. I spoke to the osm team and Komoot about it and they say it’s the same in a lot of European national parks.

I quite like the os maps app as I guess I’m used to the os map. It’s much better now you can lock the 1:25k map.

Slowoldman, I interpreted the OP was looking for an alternative app to use OS maps on, not an alternative to OS.

First reply to the OP suggested OSM. Hence my post.

I use memory map for investigation and planning

https://w2.memory-map.com/cgi-bin/licuser.cgi?buydealer=1&feature=0x1002201

*fyi- perpetual means forever at this version (*no updates), so I re buy it every 4 or 5 years to get updates (*they used to have an annual sale but I’ve not seen an email from them about it for a while), I’ve not tried the subscription version.

Also it’s better on a pc than an iPad (more features work), and I’ve never tried it on a phone, but I’ve been using it for years for xc and walking routes, gpx to satmap etc etc.

I’m like Towzer, although I haven’t renewed for about 4 years.
I’ve also got Outdoor Active which was a transfer from Viewranger but it only works properly If I’ve got a signal. I’ve also got 1:25000 with that.
I don’t subscribe to the OS app but I can buy a paper map & download that via the scratchy panel code.

Outdooractive works fine offline but you have to actively download an area. The whole of the SW at 25k is about 500mb. There is a download icon top right.

@convert
Downloading maps for offline use is a bugbear of mine with many apps (still seeking a good replacement for Viewranger myself). Outdooractive is rubbish at it, but VR wasn’t much better to be fair. I’ve been trying Outdoor Map Navigator (OMN3) recently and it’s method is better: 50k data is downloaded by region (e.g. north of England) and 25k by National Grid letters – slightly annoying to have to look up the letters for an area, but they cover such a wide area you don’t have to do it very often.

Should mention that the pro version with OS maps is £28 a year though – bit more than others last time I looked.

I’m having the same issues
It looks like it’s hunting for days when the area is already downloaded in offline maps.

I raised this with OS as a fault and they said it’s set up to download the latest maps and to turn on airplane mode if you want it to use previously downloaded maps. This is a pain if you ask me, especially as I use Strava Beacon to let my wife know where I am. Also, the “latest” OS maps are often 10 years out of date so it’s hardly likely to make any difference.

I also have an issue with the red arrow showing where you are pointing in the wrong direction. For example, it shows you facing south when you are facing north! Needless to say, this is about as confusing and potentially dangerous bug as can be imagined. I haven’t found out whether it’s a problem with the app or a bug in the iPhone’s internal compass.

We’ve always used outdoorsgps.com which doesn’t seem to get much love but has worked well for us. It was better when you could buy maps for permanent use with no subscription but we’ve just moved to the annual subscription which isn’t expensive and also gives 1:25,000.

I’ve more or less given up on the OS app because of it letting me down when out of signal. I use plotaroute.com with the OS layer to plan and export routes then MapOut on my phone or my Garmin bike computer to follow them on the ground. I was a loyal ViewRanger user.

@thecaptain just downloaded for a look and seems good. Will give it a test for real this week. Thanks for the recommendation.