Just for info I spoke today to one of the Garmin guys at the Outdoor Show and asked if they intend to upgrade Topo maps to show paths etc, ie to be more like OS maps and more useful.  He reckons that they have to get it sorted with OS and OS have to get rights of way etc all confirmed by each individual County Council Rights of Way Depts so all takes time.  Seems a bit odd considering the likes of memory map have had it for ages.

 It seems that they plan to do just that later this year so for anyone plannig to buy a Topo map it may well be worth hanging on a bit.

Personally I think the current Topo map is pretty much a waste of time.  The free Scottish contour map does almost as good a job for nothing. 

Hi Parky –

Thanks for your swift response, I will now go ahead & purchase 60Csx. I'm glad I found the Outdoors Magic website with such good hands-on knowledge available!

Ref discussion of Garmin TOPO maps -

I had hoped to download my Anquet maps but found that Ordnance Survey licensing prohibits this & means purchasing Garmin TOPO maps. I felt better disposed to TOPO after reading a report on “walkingworld.com“.

I read about the Scottish contour maps but the cautionary warnings and complexity of installation put me off attempting to use them. (does anyone know if installation is easier than it sounds ?)

Yep, thats what I thought as well Parky but couldnt be bothered agueing with him.

Be good  though if they do get it sorted but knowing them theyll probably want about two hundred quid for it.

Had a look at the Colorado on the stand.  I certainly wouldnt consider getting rid of my 60CSx in  favout of it.  Nice big screen but the Garmin bod admitted it doesnt have any more functionality then the 60CSx.  Could also be a bugger to operate the rotating wheel thingy with gloves on.

The Active 10 looks very good , if I ever bought a GPS that would be the one for me .

I still have reservations over there use though . Itsv ok for those of us with ..er... mountaincraft to pick one up and use it and findit 'better' maybe than a map, but folk with no idea at all are buying them as a short cut to mountain safety.

A few weeks ago I met a fella who has just begun going camping with his two boys ,  once he found out my passion for the outdoors he excitedly started to tell me all about his adventures ,unfortunately non involved the ability to read a map or even have the faintest idea that the hills could be dangerous . I did nt wish to discourage him though and tried to edge the conversation towards him learning some skills before committing his family to the winter hills . He said that he knew about maps and compasses but could,nt be bothered  with them and was going to buy a gps cos itll be much easier .

After talking with him on a couple of occasions it was pretty clear that he knew bugger all about maps or compasses or gps,s for that matter , and all he was going to do was spend a load of dosh on  an expensive toy thats going to spend its life sat at the back of a cupboard after its first outing , If only I could talk him into buying Active 10 then i could have a cheap one next xmas.  

This is the problem , that whilst both gps and maps need a certain amount of mountain craft to be able to use them on ourhills with a degree of safety , people who do not know this think that the technology will keep them safe and that it is only map use which needs applied skills .

 There are folk putting themselves into danger through not having relevent skills but they do have a gps so thats all right then.

Can't remember if I've mentioned this - I use Fugawi Digital Maps v4.5 from Amazon for route planning (with 60Csx) as it's only £40 for the south of England - you get OS style mapping plus street names.

Best of all Fugawi comes with a PDA version that allows me to carry the maps with me - you cut out the areas you want - I've got slices of land from Penzance to Bristol. I find this very handy as I don't have to remember which paper map to bring - My PDA also has a GPS receiver which Fugawi will use and has tracks/routes/waypoints but doesn't autoroute like the 60Csx.

whilst i in no way endorse or encourage such action, if you have broadband try using a BitTorrent programme. you may be able to download the Topo stuff to have a "try before you buy". i understand (cough) that the programme comes with a resitration code cracker. i believe some people have this loaded onto their gps for evaluation purposes and that some people think it is total pants for the money garmin are charging for it.

but then, that's just what i've heard......