I use an android app called Back Country Navigator. It gives you os explorer maps with gps coverage for the entire country. It was about £7 to buy but i got the 14 day trial about 18 mths ago and it's still working I use it walking in the lakes but always with a paper map too. It's great for just double checking you're on the right path with the gps, rather than walking a couple of miles and realising you're in the wrong place. Great for just passing the time of day if you love looking at maps like i do.

There is no substitute for a real OS map - especially hand held against the car steering wheel at a racy 70mph ;)

dave broome wrote:

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Ordnance Survey have launched their OS Maps online mapping service, which offers complete online access to 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 OS maps for an annual subscription. This could be worthwhile for those travelling around a lot in the UK. Though I much prefer a paper map to viewing one on a PC/tablet/phone the cost of a full set of paper maps would be considerable, not to mention the shelf or box space needed for them all.

-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 27th of June 2015 10:49:26 PM

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Hi Dave,

You can get 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 OS mapping for free on www.streetmap.co.uk. Only a limited area is displayed for printing but it does cover the whole country and can be very useful.

Cheers John

Ordnance Survey have launched their OS Maps online mapping service, which offers complete online access to 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 OS maps for an annual subscription. This could be worthwhile for those travelling around a lot in the UK. Though I much prefer a paper map to viewing one on a PC/tablet/phone the cost of a full set of paper maps would be considerable, not to mention the shelf or box space needed for them all.

-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 27th of June 2015 10:49:26 PM

I have TomTom [one shared account so on both mine and my better half's phones for one payment four years ago!], then I use Bird of Britain and Ireland by Birdguides and web access to Rare Bird Alert [can get enough signal to use it almost everywhere must be low data requirement as it'll open when other websites wont] and then OS Map finder with some pre-purchased areas and sometimes buy a few tiles of mapping if I'm off somewhere new. It's all on an iphone, hope that helps give you some ideas?

Thanks fellas.its been a real help.and my android has been fine for what I need it for(although frustratingly I can't access xeno canto anymore since I dropped it down the toilet)I just read on this forum about the best birding apps only being available on i-phone.got one called nature mobile which is ok but there are massive gaps in species,songs,calls,etc.one thing I will definitely do is get insurance on my next phone!

I use a combinmation of apps (free) on my iPhone:

Nav Free UK & ROI - A decent free sat-nav app - not as good as proper sat-nav - but it is free!
Google Maps app - generally use this to plan journeys.
Maps - the Apple app that people hate - good for directions when walking down streets - no good when you are treking through fields etc.

Also have OS converter which converts OS refs to WGS84 (used by iPhones) - includes map.
And Gridpoint - tells you your current grid ref - don't think I've ever used this in the field though.

I also use the Birdguides app. It's a free app but you need to subscride to Birdguides to get the data (sightings) to work on it. This pinpoints sightings, gives info on the sighting, then gives you the route to the bird (with distance and journey time). Very useful when you are in unfamiliar areas.

Nothing against iPhones, but don't discount android either. Some good nav apps available for these too!

Cheers Craig.someone suggested the Magellan explorist then I saw the price and thought **** that for a game of soldiers.think I may wait til I get a new phone in a few months and look at the option Pete mentioned.and while I am at it treat myself to the birdguides app.all the best apps seem to only be available for i phones.
Thanks for the help anyway.
Cheers Chris.

The Garmin Montana 600 might fit the bill, but its pricey and I can't work out whether you can navigate off road using a grid ref. if you're prepared to pay £400 + then I'd check it out fully first.

Thanks for the replies.mainly for the car Craig but a bit of walking aswell.just being greedy really.any device that you can put grid references in to make life easier to pinpoint certain areas.been using the method John uses but sometimes you can be a fair way from where you are meant to be.

What do you want to use it for Chris? I think some of the more walking orientated GPS devices do turn by turn road stuff but they're very expensive.

I have TomTom and Ordnance Survey mapping on my phone [you can buy OS maps a tile at a time if you like now] - I hate carrying loads of devices and that way can use my phone for driving and walking/birding and occasionally to make a phone call

I always use my tomtom and find a postcode of the nearest pub in google then use that as a point to head for then usually most places are not miles away,I am not sure any are much good a grid references,but good luck finding one,I paid about £70 for mine about 6 years ago and as long as I remember to update the maps,its been brilliant :)

Been looking on the internet at various makes/models etc and its sending me dizzy.a lot of the directions you get in books,magazines,forums etc are given in grid reference form and I am basically looking for a unit for that purpose.the Garmin nuvi 550 seems to work as a traditional sat nav and 'off road' unit aswell.some people mentioned apps for phones but say they are reliant on a decent signal.I know you can input lat/long references on some units but the converters are inaccurate sometimes.any thoughts/opinions on this would be great.
Cheers Chris.