The Ultimate Navigation App: How to Use OS Maps

Your smartphone’s GPS can pinpoint your location within 15 metres when conditions are perfect. GPS functionality now comes built into almost every mobile device, making digital location services more available than ever.

Basic GPS capabilities alone won’t cut it for serious outdoor adventures. Whether you are hunting in New Zealand, or hiking in the Rocky Mountains, having the ability to have pre-downloaded maps on your phone to use offline is essential for modern navigation.

OS Maps provides detailed mapping features designed in Great Britain but has detailed maps for the United States, Northern Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

A premium subscription gives you access to route planning with automatic distance calculations, augmented reality navigation, and custom paper map printing. with support for offline use, custom route planning, and advanced tools like 3D terrain visualisation and augmented reality (AR).

This article will show you how to use the OS Maps app effectively, whether you’re planning weekend strolls or challenging hikes. You’ll learn everything from simple navigation to advanced features like “snap to path” in National Parks. These skills will help you move confidently through the great outdoors.

Getting Started with OS Maps

You’ll need to get the OS Maps app on your device first. The official app from Ordnance Survey is accessible HERE. You can also find it from both the App Store for iOS devices and Google Play Store for Android devices.

Understanding Free vs Premium Features

OS Maps comes in two service levels. The free version gives you simple mapping features, while the premium subscription lets you discover the app’s full potential.

Premium Subscription Benefits:

Access to all 607 OS Explorer and Landranger maps
Offline map downloads for use without signal
Custom route planning with automatic snap to path
3D terrain visualisation
Augmented reality navigation
Custom map printing options

Free Version Features:

Simple street and footpath mapping
Limited route planning capabilities
Standard map viewing
Location tracking

A premium subscription costs £34.99 per year, which works out to £2.92 per month. On top of that, it comes with a 14-day free trial of the premium features so you can test everything before you commit.

Try the OS Maps 14-day free trial HERE.

The app has a great feature for paper map owners. If you’ve bought a paper map with a mobile download badge in the last five years, you can get the digital version in the app for free. This gives you an affordable way to access premium mapping for specific areas without needing a full subscription.

Essential Navigation Features

OS Maps has a reliable navigation system that makes outdoor exploration available to more people. Its user-friendly interface lets you switch between different map types and scales based on what you need.

Using the Simple Map Interface

You can toggle between standard mapping, aerial imagery, and 3D views with the app’s interface. The navigation improves when you add map overlays like National Cycle Network or National Park boundaries. The interface shows your current location clearly, which makes tracking your position on the map simple.

Understanding Map Scales and Types

OS Maps comes with various map scales for different purposes:

OS Explorer Maps (1:25,000): Shows detailed features including paths and buildings.
OS Landranger Maps (1:50,000): Displays roads, large paths and key landmarks.
OS Road Maps (1:250,000): Presents roads and towns over larger areas.
OS Tour Maps (1:100,000): Offers overview of transport connections.

The map types available include:

Standard topographic mapping for detailed terrain information
Aerial imagery for satellite views of the landscape
3D mapping for understanding elevation changes

Accessing Offline Maps

Downloading maps for offline use is one of the app’s best features. You can access important mapping data even without a mobile signal. Your device’s battery life lasts longer when you use offline maps in flight mode.

The offline mapping system lets you:

Select specific areas for download
Store multiple map sections
Access saved routes without internet connection
View map details in areas with poor reception

OS Maps brings together traditional cartographic excellence and modern digital convenience. A premium subscription gives you access to all 607 OS Leisure paper maps on multiple devices, providing detailed coverage for your outdoor activities.

Click Here to get OS Maps

Planning Your First Route

OS Maps makes outdoor adventures more exciting with its route planning features. You’ll find complete tools that let you create your own paths and find existing routes.

Creating Custom Routes

The snap-to-path feature makes route creation easy and precise. Here’s how to plot your first route:

Select ‘Create Route’ from the top menu
Choose your activity type (Walk/Hike)
Click your starting point on the map
Add subsequent waypoints along your intended path
Let the snap-to-path tool line up your route to existing paths
Review the automatically calculated distance and elevation

You can plan or edit your route on any device. Most people prefer their laptop to plot the original route and their phone to make changes while outdoors.

Finding Pre-made Routes

OS Maps gives you access to a huge collection of pre-made routes. You can find routes from two main sources:

Recommended Routes – Verified trails from outdoor organisations and trusted brands
Community Routes – User-generated paths shared by fellow outdoor enthusiasts

Your route search can be filtered by:

Difficulty level
Duration
Activity type
User ratings
Route type (circular or point-to-point)

Saving and Organising Routes

Saving a route you’ve created or found is simple. Here’s what you need to do:

Open the upper left menu
Select the ‘Save Route’ option
Enter your route title and description
Add an email address to share routes

Your saved routes get stored with unique ID references that you can find later in the ‘My Routes’ menu. Premium subscribers can export their routes as GPX files to use on GPS devices or bike computers.

The app’s home tab works as your personal route hub where all your saved and bookmarked routes live. Each saved route lets you:

Get directions to the starting point via various navigation apps
View the route in 3D
Look at elevation charts
Edit route details
Share with fellow hikers

Using OS Maps for Navigation

OS Maps turns your mobile device into a powerful outdoor companion. Its Locate Me feature shows your exact position on an Ordnance Survey map, and it works even in remote areas without mobile signal.

Real-time Location Tracking

A pink arrow shows your exact location and moves as you walk. You’ll see key navigation details that include:

OS grid reference coordinates
Elevation data
Longitude and latitude details
Digital compass bearing

The app has an augmented reality ‘camera compass’ feature. You just need to point your phone’s camera in any direction to see your heading on the right bearing.

Following a Planned Route

You can tap ‘start route’ to begin navigation once you’ve picked your route. The app shows where you are on the planned path and alerts you if you stray off course.

You should download your maps before heading out to ensure reliable navigation without internet access. The app’s GPS system works without mobile signals, so you can count on it even in remote spots.

Understanding GPS Accuracy

Civilian GPS devices are accurate within 5-10 metres 95% of the time, with height accuracy between 15-20 metres. Your GPS performance can change based on these factors:

Clear Sky View: You’ll get better GPS accuracy with an unobstructed view of the sky
Device Settings: Your phone’s GPS needs proper calibration to work its best
Battery Level: Low battery might reduce your GPS accuracy

Here’s how to get the best GPS performance:

Let your device settle for a few minutes before you start navigation
Update your device’s satellite information regularly
Try using flight mode to save battery while keeping GPS working

The app’s GPS tracking works best when used with traditional navigation tools. OS Maps has great features, but you should carry a paper map and a compass as backup for safety.

Click HERE to have a look at Ordnance Survey paper maps and HERE for compasses.

Advanced Features and Tools

OS Maps revolutionises outdoor navigation with its cutting-edge features. These tools take your planning and navigation experience beyond regular mapping capabilities.

3D Mapping and Terrain View

You can visualise routes before heading outdoors with the app’s 3D mapping feature. This helps users understand challenging terrain and check route difficulty. The 3D view works like this:

Select your planned route
Tap the 3D view option
Point your device at a clear surface
Let the app create a 3D terrain model
Use pinch gestures to zoom and rotate the view

Mountain routes work best with the Tabletop 3D feature that lets you preview elevation changes and terrain challenges. You can look at your route from any angle and make smart decisions about your trip’s difficulty.

Augmented Reality Navigation

The AR feature takes real-life navigation further by identifying over 200,000 locations across the UK. Your phone’s camera shows:

Hills and mountains in view
Coastal features
Lakes and waterways
Transport hubs
Settlements
Woodland areas

This feature helps you understand your surroundings better by revealing what lies beyond your immediate view. A tap on any labelled point shows extra details about that spot, including nearby walks and places to stay.

Custom Map Printing

OS Maps gives you flexible printing options that serve as a backup navigation method. Map scales include:

Explorer (1:25,000) for detailed terrain views
Landranger (1:50,000) for broader area coverage
Explorer Enlarged (1:10,000) for specific locations

Your printed maps can include:

Personal route lines
Custom titles
Cover text
Specific area selections

You can adjust route line thickness, transparency, and colour for custom routes on printed maps. A physical backup provides crucial safety redundancy for outdoor adventures.

Premium subscribers get access to these advanced features for any outdoor activity. The 3D preview helps you check routes before taking on challenging terrain, so you can plan within your comfort zone. Digital convenience and traditional navigation reliability blend naturally in these tools.

Click Here to get OS Maps

Safety and Best Practises

Your safety should be the top priority when you head outdoors with OS Maps. You need to know how to manage your device’s resources and have reliable backup options that can make a vital difference in emergencies.

Battery Management Tips

Your device’s battery life will determine how well you can navigate digitally. A typical day hike using OS Maps can drain your battery by a lot – users report up to 85% battery consumption over 8 hours. Here’s how you can optimise your device’s power:

Enable aeroplane mode when using offline maps.
Reduce screen brightness.
Disable auto-brightness features.
Turn off Bluetooth and WiFi unless needed.
Use night mode on OLED screens.
Close background applications.
Download maps for offline use before your experience.

A portable power bank is vital for extended trips. You should get a separate GPS device for longer expeditions to save your phone’s battery for emergencies.

Click HERE to check out this excellent power bank from Elecom.

Backup Navigation Methods

We strongly suggest carrying traditional navigation tools among OS Maps. Paper maps and compasses remain essential because:

They don’t need battery power.
They work in all weather conditions.
They help build better navigation skills.
They’re reliable backups if technology fails.

To prepare well, print relevant sections of your planned route using the OS Maps custom printing feature. Keep these printouts in a waterproof map carrier to protect them from the elements.

Click HERE for a Silva Prismatic Compass.

Emergency Features

OS Maps has several features that could save your life. The Locate Me function is especially valuable and offers:

Precise GPS location without mobile signal.
Exact OS grid references for emergency services.
Elevation data and compass directions.
Location sharing capabilities with friends and family.

The app’s augmented reality compass turns your phone into a navigation tool and helps you quickly find your bearings if you get lost. Here are more emergency preparations to boost your safety:

Carry a whistle – Six loud blasts repeated every minute is the universal distress signal.
Pack a decent headlamp with different light modes for emergency signalling.
Store emergency contact numbers in your device.
Keep your phone in a waterproof case.

Mountain Rescue England and Wales officially recommends the OS Mountain Rescue England and Wales highly endorses the OS Maps app as its preferred navigation tool. However, it emphasises the importance of preserving traditional navigation skills and suggests using digital tools as a supplementary resource rather than a substitute. Maps app as their preferred navigation tool. All the same, they stress that digital tools should complement, not replace, traditional navigation skills.

You should always share your planned route and estimated return time with someone you trust. This practise will give a quick response if you don’t return on schedule.

Note that technology can be unpredictable. Phones can be dropped, batteries can die, and GPS signals can be unreliable in certain conditions. A multi-layered approach to navigation and safety is vital for your outdoor adventures.

Conclusion

The OS Maps app will transform your outdoor adventures with reliable guidance, detailed mapping, and safety features. Your smartphone turns into a powerful navigation tool that comes with complete OS Explorer and Landranger maps, 3D terrain views, and augmented reality features.

A premium subscription realises the app’s full potential and gives you access to all 607 OS maps, offline downloads, and custom route planning tools. You can improve your outdoor navigation skills by visiting the OS Maps website HERE to check subscription options and start your adventure today.

Digital convenience paired with traditional navigation methods will give you safety during adventures. It’s important to keep your device’s battery charged, carry backup navigation tools, and share your planned routes with others.

The OS Maps app and proper preparation let you explore trails confidently. You can find new paths and traverse challenging terrain while staying safe outdoors. Start with small trips and practise often. Your navigation skills will grow with each adventure.

For more information on the tools discussed in this article, explore the links below.

Ordnance Survey:

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