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Are you keen to explore your local area? Here’s some apps that can help you get the most out of your next walk.
Getting outside for a walk can do wonders for your physical health and mental wellbeing. It might be to clear your head, stretch your legs or walk to the local shops.
There are useful websites and mobile apps to research, plan and track your daily walks. With so many to choose from, where do you start?
Apps can help you discover new routes, connect with nature and enjoy shortcuts or sites of interest. Here are some of our favourites:
NHS Active 10: This free app helps you to record minutes walked each day, increase your walking ability and reach your goals.
Strava: A free app suited to those who make regular walking journeys. Strava allows you to record a range of exercises, including walking and wheeling. So you can revisit and share your daily walking journeys with friends, family and colleagues.
Strava also offers a Global Heatmap feature. This shows a colour-coded map of popular routes recorded by other users. The brighter the route, the more popular it is
GoJauntly: A free app filled with scenic routes for your daily walks. The app shows urban and accessible nature walks right from your doorstep. You can create your own, search for curated routes and record your favourites for others to enjoy.
PlotARoute: A website where you can use an online map to plot out new walking routes you’d like to try. You can also explore and download routes created by other users.
You can search nearby, search for a location or free roam an interactive map. Click on “Routes” at the top of the page and then click on “Find a route”. A list of routes and details about each will appear on the left. View, download, share or save your routes for later use.
Google Maps and Google Streetview: A popular, well-known app available on mobile or desktop. The app and website offer the quickest and most convenient route.
Google Streetview allows you to plan to a granular level by offering a virtual 360° view of your route.
Apple Maps: This app for iOS is popular for Apple devices and desktop use. It offers you a selection of quick, convenient and scenic routes. Plan walking or wheeling journeys around sites of interests, attractions or rest stops.
You may wish to use a weather app or site such as AccuWeather, BBC Weather or the Met Office. You can search for these on your mobile app store.
Share your location using navigation and geo-location tools like What3Words.
Planning a journey with others? Messaging apps such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and Telegram allow you to record and share media, live locations and voice notes. This can help planning, communication and sharing memories.
WalkHighlands: A free website and app with a wide selection of paths, routes and trails. You can find detailed descriptions, GPS mapping and maps to support your journey.
OS Maps: A mobile and desktop app, great for discovering longer routes in both urban and rural areas. Listed routes include distance, duration, difficulty, elevation and weather and descriptions.
You can use the app to plot a walking route or download and explore routes created by other users. Free to download from Google Play and the Apple store.
Komoot: A popular app which offers you routes to explore nature. The app includes ready-built routes, or you can plot your own. The app offers routes based on distance, difficulty and public transport links. You can also use route highlights or turn-by-turn navigation.
