http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: "End of the road for paper maps?" en Mon, 01 Jun 2026 06:10:59 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=3#post-147490 Wed, 02 Apr 2014 12:55:30 +0000 Cyclingmollie 147490@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The OS shouldn't stop printing the full coverage of paper maps until the whole country has mobile phone reception. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=3#post-147444 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 22:30:43 +0000 fimm 147444@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My father is/was a Town Planner (now retired). But his degree was in geography. And he likes maps. Thank you for the link to the map shop. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=3#post-147436 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 21:50:37 +0000 LaidBack 147436@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>No... it's good to know the connection with the RSGS. There are worries that geography is getting shoved off curriculum. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=3#post-147435 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 21:49:24 +0000 LaidBack 147435@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>No... it's good to know the connection with the RSGS. There are worries that geography is getting shoved off curiculum. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=3#post-147433 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 21:19:03 +0000 Stickman 147433@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I hope that I didn't come across all la-di-da!</p> <p>He got his fellowship for services to geographical education (i.e. many years at the chalkface of a secondary school!!) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=3#post-147430 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 21:05:02 +0000 LaidBack 147430@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I'm a mere member.... (!)<br /> </em><br /> I should have known but it's possible he could have been an RGS member as that's based in London and maybe better known.<br /> Actually he could be member of both <em>(sound of hole getting dug)</em></p> <p>Wonder if fimm's dad is RSGS or RGS? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=3#post-147419 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 18:12:08 +0000 Stickman 147419@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Laidback: my dad is an honorary fellow of the RSGS. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147416 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 17:54:23 +0000 LaidBack 147416@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Fimm and Stickman - you both have Geographer dads?</p> <p>Recommend they visit The RSGS headquarters in Perth. (Fair Maid's House).</p> <p><em>And not just because I do freelance design work for them.<br /> </em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147403 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 16:26:04 +0000 Slug 147403@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have absolutely no idea. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147401 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 15:57:07 +0000 cb 147401@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Presumably if they had used the GPS 'properly' by typing in a destination and navigating to it they would have steered a straighter path?<br /> It sounds like they were being lazy and watching their position on the on-screen map. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147393 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 15:17:23 +0000 Slug 147393@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was up the Ben couple of months ago with some Hungarian and Polish climbers but due to conditions, we were limited to the tourist track. On reaching the half way lochan, it was whiting out and blowing a hoolie, so we carried on in two groups, my group using map &amp; compass and theirs using GPS.</p> <p>We all made it okay, although they were somewhat slower than us, and the reason for that became evident when we got home and downloaded their recorded GPS data. It showed them zigzagging their way - all over the place - to the summit, narrowly avoiding the north face - which had a four metre cornice on it - and the treacherous Five Finger gully on the southern side. Visibility down to no more than a few metres, they could easily have fell through a cornice or wandered into 5 finger. As I was on a bearing, straight up and straight down, no narrow misses and considerably less effort, and although I don't have any recorded data to prove that, I'm happy to stick with map and compass, thank you! </p> <p>In saying that, I do have a GPS, but only ever use it to give me a grid reference... which it is very good at! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147389 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 14:38:56 +0000 Rosie 147389@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks for the tips about map holders. Will definitely get one. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147387 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 14:33:39 +0000 Stickman 147387@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.carsonclarkgallery.co.uk">Carson Clark</a></p> <p>Canongate.</p> <p>(Edit - link fixed) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147386 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 14:30:55 +0000 fimm 147386@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There's a map shop on the Royal Mile? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147385 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 14:30:08 +0000 Stickman 147385@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@fimm: </p> <p>My dad too! (Geographer and map collector). </p> <p>Last year a geographer friend and his wife visited us from the US. I was giving the grand tour of Edinburgh when we passed the National Library exhibition about Collins. We spent a few hours in there. We then had to stop at the map shop on the Royal Mile. </p> <p>His wife had the same resigned look as my mum whenever maps appear. We made it up to her in quality ales and whisky later. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147375 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:52:20 +0000 fimm 147375@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My father collects OS 7th (I think - 1960s anyway) series 1" maps printed on cloth.<br /> He's a geographer. He likes maps. He's also got a lot of 1:50000 maps. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147373 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:48:58 +0000 cb 147373@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>"Expensive, innacurate and generally downright wrong paper maps which show you how many acres you own or how much taxes you are due from your peasants are certainly mediaeval"</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Mapmakers-Pioneers-Cartography-Antiquity/dp/0712668128">The Mapmakers</a><br /> is an excellent history of the evolution of the map. Interesting the effect that religion had on stifling the progress of map making. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147372 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:45:34 +0000 chdot 147372@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/zefal-map-holder" rel="nofollow">http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/zefal-map-holder</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.decathlon.co.uk/map-holder-id_2404604.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.decathlon.co.uk/map-holder-id_2404604.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147371 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:41:04 +0000 gembo 147371@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Decathlon used to sell handlebar map cases. Cheap. Bit flappy. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147368 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:28:33 +0000 EddieD 147368@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>We buy memory foam laptop wallets for the postgrad laptops.</p> <p>The ziplock bags they come in make excellent map cases - and with a bit of stiffening and gaffa, you can put them on your handlebars :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147367 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:25:24 +0000 crowriver 147367@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I'd guess that choosing who to ask has been a key skill in all ages and places! </em></p> <p>Can be an issue in the countryside. They might be the only other person you've seen for hours! In much of Scotland, the only other large mammals around outside towns and villages are a few inquisitive livestock, mostly sheep. Maybe they knoiw which direction to take at the crossroads with no signposts, but they can't speak your language. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147366 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:23:52 +0000 crowriver 147366@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Rosie, EBC a bit too generalist. Need a touring specialist (mail order) like <a href="http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s146p0">Spa Cycles</a> or <a href="http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/map-holders-dept280_pg1/">SJS Cycles.</a> (Other bike shops are, of course, available and many do mail order). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147363 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:14:18 +0000 chdot 147363@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"to be pendantic, parchment is animal skin."</p> <p>Yes (I knew that) - meant papyrus! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147360 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:12:45 +0000 kaputnik 147360@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I asked about a map case on the handlebars from the Cycle Co-op. They told me they only had Smartphone fittings.<br /> </em></p> <p>Solution = Otrlieb bar bag and the stud-on map case (also good for hillwalking). Only issue is you need to wedge bluetac into the studs when not using the map case, unless you like endless rattling noises. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147355 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:04:26 +0000 Rosie 147355@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Disadvantage of paper maps - they can flap around and scare horses (which I did once).</p> <p>I asked about a map case on the handlebars from the Cycle Co-op. They told me they only had Smartphone fittings. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147351 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 12:58:52 +0000 PS 147351@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>What about the silk maps the RAF had in WW2? Very dashing.</p> <p>And, of course, the Spokes buff map, as modelled by DaveC at last week's meeting. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147347 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 12:49:08 +0000 kaputnik 147347@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Before paper (don't forget the paper for the world's first banknotes was made up the Water of Leith) other materials were available inc. animal skins and parchment.</em></p> <p>Hence the name "Bank Mill". There was also a Bank Mill on the Esk at Penicuik, later part of the Cowan's fold, which also specialised in linen paper for bank notes.</p> <p>The rag-sorting and storing houses had a habit of catching fire.</p> <p>to be pendantic, parchment <em>is</em> animal skin.</p> <p>My dad still does on about writing on slates in early 1950s Orwell Primary school. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147337 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 12:17:49 +0000 chdot 147337@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<br /> England was squeezed between rebellion in Scotland and war with France when King George II commissioned a military survey of the Scottish highlands in 1746. The job fell to William Roy, a far-sighted young engineer who understood the strategic importance of accurate maps, yet his vision of a national military survey wasn't implemented until after his death in 1790.</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/about/overview/history.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/about/overview/history.html</a></p> <p>I'm sure some people here have fond memories of 20th C cloth maps. </p> <p>Before paper (don't forget the paper for the world's first banknotes was made up the Water of Leith) other materials were available inc. animal skins and parchment. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147333 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 12:12:24 +0000 wingpig 147333@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote><em>"Expensive, innacurate and generally downright wrong paper maps which show you how many acres you own or how much taxes you are due from your peasants are certainly mediaeval."</em></blockquote></p> <p>Old local maps we were shown at school seemed to be either a: large sheets of paper with little more than a vague representation of the position of the coast and major waterways yet with the names of <em>every</em> teeny little village carefully written in tiny loopy writing or b: vaguely physically accurate schematics of the local land's arrangement in terms of fields, most of which were marked "Vicar for tithes". </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12488&page=2#post-147329 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 12:08:16 +0000 kaputnik 147329@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Paper map (Early mediaeval tech?)<br /> </em></p> <p>Quality, accurate and affordable paper maps which are readily publicly available are probably more of a late 19th Century innovation.</p> <p>Expensive, innacurate and generally downright wrong paper maps which show you how many acres you own or how much taxes you are due from your peasants are certainly mediaeval. </p>