If I wanted to pre-plan a route to find out mileage/ elevation etc. and then to subsequently transfer to a Garmin – what’s the best software to do that? Garmin Connect or other?

Lots of free online resources – bikehike, wheresthepath, walkhighlands etc etc. All give access to OS mapping, route drawing & editing and give elevation/distance etc.

I use (bought) Anquet mapping – who always seem to have some ‘special’ deal on.

I use the viewranger website. Ridiculously easy to use.

http://www.viewranger.com

+1 for bikehike http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php
Let’s you output to multiple different file formats including Garmin

Just remember to toggle the ‘Follow Road (google map)’ when you’re plotting anything off road.

I have all my routes saved in a dropbox folder which i share with my mates so they can open them in google earth or bikehike

Oooh, excellent.

About to route one for tomorrow.

I just use the Garmin route creator. At Garmin Connect, click the ‘Plan’ tab, select ‘Course’, create a route, save it, then send to device. Very easy and no silly bugs.

MapMyRide is popular too but the Garmin was tons easier for me.