Maps Question

[ianb]

Hi

What are the favoured map scale and or type?
When I first learnt my navigation skills back in the 80’s we only used OS 1:50 000 but I wondered if it is better to go with the OS explorer 1:25 000

R’s

Ian

[clunk]

i prefere the 1;25000 scale , just because of the better detail

[Ant]

The question sounds like your asking which is the norm.

Personally I'll use both. Say, for a family holiday to a new area where the car is used a lot I'll use the 1:50,000 maps as they are a lot more detailed than a road map. For walking I prefer the 1:25,000 scale.

[wandering_fox]

Depends on how far and for how long you are going on what terrain!

If you are walking in a straight (ish) line, it is not difficult to walk off a 1:25000 map, requiring carrying a lot of extra paper, and hassle (in the rain) with map cases. In some terrains, field lines are rare, and the precise position of a rock or a clump of heather is not important.

However for many terrains the vast extra detail in 1:25000 means it is the only sensible choice - is the unmarked right of way on the left or right side of a fenceline? can be a vital question only answered by a 1:250000.

If you're cycling then 1:50000 because the distances rapidly make 1:25000 worthless, and a 1:50000 has all the roads on it.

Caving surveys may go down as small as 1:2500 because you cover that much less ground, and the features are that much closer together.

[MariaD]

For walking I always use 1:50,000, even in very remote, pathless areas. For almost all situations (cycle / run / walk / scramble / climb) I find the 1:25,000 completely unnecessary and if you cover any sort of distance you have to keep refolding it, which is annoying. You have to buy more of them as well!

However, for winter climbing I might use 1:25,000, as I'd be more likely to visit a remote corrie where the identifying features are under snow and need the extra accuracy to locate the right crag / buttress.

[Special_K]

For walking I use and teach to use the 1:50,000's if you use them properly they give you enough info to figure out where you are and where to go.

I learnt to use 1 inch to 1 mile a fair while ago. They were a pain to use :eek:

[guru]

I have to say I much prefer the OS explorer 1:25 000's, don't find folding or refolding much of a problem

[CamperPete]

I always use the Harvey Superwalkers 1:25 (waterproof) for walking, excellent detail, smaller and lighter than the OS 1:25 maps..........just have to remember the contours are in 15m gaps as opposed to 10m on OS maps....... or is it the other way round? ;-)

[fishy1]

I always use the 1:50000, mainly because I have access to a large amount of them and I don't have any 1:25000, so I save money. I also have anquet maps in 1:50000, which is excellent.

[insane_climber]

1:25000

[Pigdog]

For the lakes I use the BMC maps, 1:40 000.

I prefer them to OS maps. Not sure why just seem easier to read. Plus there plastic so dont rip easily.

They have a few others as well https://www.thebmc.co.uk/Pages.aspx?page=49