I've always used 1:25k maps until I bought the Anquet Harvey's Lake District CD. Now I have the 1:50k GB North, and I'm trying to decide whether to buy the 1:50k GB South or the Snowdonia CD that comes with both 1:25k and 1:50k, as well as photos.

I've just printed off 2 maps of Borrowdale, an area I'm pretty familiar with. In comparison with the Harvey map, the 1:50k version looks very small and indistinct. That may simply be because I'm not yet used to them, though.

Those of you who walk, and need to be able to rely on a map for close navigation in grotty weather from time to time: what would your choice be?

Many thanks!

25,000. They show field boundaries and I'm used to them.

50,000 for general planning though.

1:25k for same reason as JJ - field boundaries v useful in locating your position, micro nav etc, etc. It's fine to plan at home on a 1:50k, but then I take the 1:25k with me on the day.

with jj on that one.
1:25 also show tracks and other paths that the 1:50 don't which can make your route planning more interesting and also means that you don't wander off on the wrong path. (well usually anyway!)

and they have Sundance covers

It sounds as though you all think the same way as me. Thanks for help :)

1:25 for walking definately, 1:50 are useful for cycling as you can cover far more ground on a bike.

See also:

<a href=”http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/forum/forummessages/mps/dt/4/utn/6838/last/1/V/1/SP/”target=_blank>Link

Or if link doesn't work, as it probably won't cut and paste:

http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/forum/forummessages/mps/UTN/6838/URN/5/dt/4/srchdte/0/cp/1/v/1/sp/

Thanks Steve - I missed that one first time round.

No problem - from your other post tonight I take it you're coming up to Scotland - if so it would definitley be worth looking at Harveys own maps ie not the OS CDs they now also seem to be doing (assuming they have coverage for the area you are going to).

Looks like this topic was covered on this thread but I use the 50s mostly and cardinal directions with intentional deviation.

I’m just used to the 50s I guess, and they work.

I didn't realise that Harveys made their own maps! I must go and take a look. Thanks again, Steve :)

Harveys maps are excellent - I use the Cairngorms one regularly - but they don't cover the whole of Scotland. For long walks like the TGO Challenge I use the OS 1:50,000 maps, which I find perfectly adequate.

I use 1:50 000 normally and they're fine to be honest. I'm used to them and they show enough detail without showing too much - eg on the cuillins, you can't actually tell what direction the main ridge goes on the 1:25 000 map as the wee crag symbols cover it all up!

Thanks again, peeps. Having read these responses in conjunction with those set out in the earlier thread that Steve mentioned, it sounds as though quite a lot of people find 1:50s fine. I think that for now I'll go for the GB South 1:50k rather than the Snowdonia one, as there's so much more ground covered.

yeah... 1:50,000.

25,000 i find has too much detail on it for general use.

I can use both fine, just dont like changing between the two, confuses my poor little brain..!

25,000 is my choice for countryside walks where every stream is nice to have marked but 50,000 serves me fine on dartmoor where I do most of me walking.

Dartmoor is mainly compass-navigation (on the high-moor at least), so every teeny wincy detail is just too OTT.

Had a lovely pea-soup yesterday - savage conditions, had less that 5m visibility at some points, had to switch on for once and concentrate on being nav!

I've Tracklogs 1:50 for GB which I use for areas I go to infrequently and MTBing, those I spend a lot of time in I'll purchase (OS or CD) at 1:25

I'll put my vote in too.
50k for planning, and generally. I print one off for my walks and use that for most of the walk. But, as someone said, they don't show all the paths, and lack field boundaries (absolutely vital handrail!).

I am in the process of going over to 25k digital, and would rather have those maps in my pockets as last few times i have gone the wrong way, whereas had i looked at the 25k map (that was immpossible to get to in the top pocket of my 'sack) the extra details would have enabled me to find my way, no problems.

So if I had to choose, i'd go for 25k for use in anger. Though the 50k ones canonot be beaten for getting an overview of an area (to visualise the terrain).

The 1:25k are probably best in "rural" situations. They can be useful in picking out which of many paths to take. However, the 1:50k are more than adequate in truly "wild" country (I'm thinking Scottish Highlands here) as (a) you need fewer for those longer walks and (b) there's less chance of picking up the wrong path etc. I find the 1:25k have just too much detail under most circumstances.

Thanks, Colin :)