http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/outdoors/10732034/End-of-the-road-for-paper-maps.html
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
"End of the road for paper maps?"
(67 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
-
Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated...
I've found that electronic mapping doesn't allow for adequate advance planning and doesn't allow for on the fly changes "what's that over there" and the like - the screen area usually being much smaller than that available on even a small map.
In my Danish trip research, I've been realising that the OS spoils us. The Danish equivalent is print on demand, expensive and not as comprehensive as our own. I have managed to source some Danish Cycling Federation 1:100,000 maps (including guidebooks), but these are limited to print runs of ~8,000, in three languages, so perhaps only a few thousand in English. The (discounted) cost £22, compared to £7 a shot for the Landranger.
Robert
<heaving a sigh of relief>Posted 11 years ago # -
Daily Faragegraph prints inaccurate story shocker.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Paper maps are brilliant. I may be odd, but I can almost hypnotise myself with a Landranger of somewhere interesting. The same map on a screen...less interesting.
Posted 11 years ago # -
End of the printed newspaper and books imminent also. Not.
I like paper maps, but also use Googol, etc. Paper easier to carry; doesn't require batteries (except perhaps for torch to read in the dark); doesn't require network/GPS connection; not completely destroyed if it gets a bit wet.
Posted 11 years ago # -
"doesn't require batteries"
Yup - did a five day trip last year. Mate had a Garmin, all singing all dancing and frankly quite useful for altitudes. I had a bundle of five Landrangers and he was a bit superior until his battery ran down on day three.
Posted 11 years ago # -
frankly quite useful for altitudes
Can also use a smartphone with a free GPS app to determine position, altitude, etc. Doesn't need to be connected to 3G/wi-fi for this to work either.
Posted 11 years ago # -
My love of paper maps is often derided by my better half.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Garmin can be connected to the dynamo, I'm sure we all use, for charging.
Posted 11 years ago # -
In my Danish trip research, I've been realising that the OS spoils us.
I know what you mean. From experience, French maps don't show anywhere near as much detail and can be quite difficult to follow. The OS is one of those things where Britain is a world-leader.
The Better Together lot should be all over it. ;-)
Posted 11 years ago # -
"French maps don't show anywhere near as much detail"
Try navigating by Italian maps if you want a thrill. There's a bit of detail, but it tends not to correspond to the surface of the earth.
Terrifying when you're trying to get off a ridge in the Dolomites and the 'path' goes over a cliff.
Posted 11 years ago # -
The OS app is pretty good for small scale stuff and for pinpointing your location. Although I'd use it in combination with a paper map for anything remotely lengthy.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Terrifying when you're trying to get off a ridge in the Dolomites and the 'path' goes over a cliff.
I'm sure I heard some (possibly apocryphal) tale that there are hangovers from a less peaceful Europe in some countries' maps, in that they show paths that aren't really there or no paths where there is one in an effort to confuse whichever army was invading them the next time. I would hope that is a Daily Mail-style slander though...
Posted 11 years ago # -
there are hangovers from a less peaceful Europe in some countries' maps
You mean like military bases not appearing on (civilian) OS maps of the UK?
Posted 11 years ago # -
"You mean like military bases not appearing on (civilian) OS maps of the UK?"
Is that still the case??
Satellites made it a bit pointless!
Posted 11 years ago # -
For years secret military bases were ‘hidden’ from Ordnance Survey maps for fear of espionage and national security. But, with the arrival of readily available aerial imagery and web mapping, it was decided to reverse that policy. Whatever you think about that, the site Secret Bases makes for fascinating reading, and a great OS OpenSpace mash-up.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Don't even ask for topographic maps of the Eastern Atlas in Morocco - makes people very nervous. Something to do with the Algerians sneaking up on them over the mountains.
All this in an age when Faslane is in glorious detail on every desktop.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Someone at my work mentioned vaguely that she would quite like to cycle from Dalkeith. I was all over her with copies of Spokes maps and the Sustrans map Coasts and Castles South. I love paper maps - nothing makes me anticipate a cycling holiday more than poring over a Sustrans map.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Another vote for paper maps here. For me trying to navigate electronically, even with a 7 inch tablet, feels like keyhole surgery. I don't know how anyone uses mobile phones/handlebar devices.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Paper here too please. OS very good indeed. Canadian topographical maps pretty good too, but out of date (at least in my area).
Posted 11 years ago # -
Paper-based Ordnance Survey for the UK; Rand McNally or DeLorme for the US in my experience (though neither looks quite as aesthetically pleasing as OS).
Posted 11 years ago # -
Spokes maps very good for cycling in the Lothians.
I also have a selection of OS Landranger maps, which are fantastic for the details and overview.
For audaxes I tend to use pages cut from the Philip's Navigator Road Atlas of Scotland*. Nowhere near as detailed as OS Landranger (eg. no cycle paths indicated), but for on-road cycling, enough to get you along your chosen route at a reasonable lick. Tend to have a few sheets from these in the saddlebag in case I miss a turn or get a bit lost. Would also be handy taking the whole atlas in a pannier on a long tour.
* - Top tip: to save a few bob buy last year's atlas second hand on fleaBay, instead of buying new. You're chopping pages out of it anyhow...
Posted 11 years ago # -
As said Garmin or smartphone can run off the B+M Luxos light and was used on two bikes from here on LEL Audax.
Personally I love paper maps but used google on phone for last weeks tandeming round from Dunbar. Did have to stop for five mins in Kingston to get a rough fix as coverage was bit weak there.
Paper loads faster and you get a better screen size!Posted 11 years ago # -
Paper loads faster and you get a better screen size!
And the resolution is higher!
Robert
Posted 11 years ago # -
Paper loads faster and you get a better screen size!
And the resolution is higher!
Depends on the printer used surely...Posted 11 years ago # -
Depends on resolution of the digital base file...
Posted 11 years ago # -
You can put a paper map on the floor and crawl around it while planning ever more convoluted routes across it :-)
Posted 11 years ago # -
Give me a paper map in a waterproof cover any day over a fiddly little touchscreen covered in rain drops and in low-light conditions like today. Also there's nothign like ufolding yoru high resolution map on the cafe / pub table to at-a-glance plan your next move, something that's very difficult to replicate, even at home with a wide screen monitor.
And just try navigating a Sustrans NCN path by map. There's no resolution low enough! Even diligently following the signs at every (of the many) turns you are guarunteed to end up lost and in the "here be dragons" area of the map. Sometimes a general gist of the correct direction (sun on my left, sea on my right) is the best way to get where you're going.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I've funded one of these Hammerhead thingies. Hoping to get it in May if all goes to plan. I'll let you know the results once I test it properly.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Sometimes a general gist of the correct direction (sun on my left, sea on my right) is the best way to get where you're going.
Absolutely.
If however the weather closes in or the sun sets, a compass can be handy.
Posted 11 years ago #
Reply »
You must log in to post.
posts
