Walking App suggestions please (city directions not exercise).

gramps · Sunday at 5:46 PM

In London yesterday I tried to use Google Maps with my iPhone and Airpods to direct me around the city, without needing to walk around with the phone in my hand.
The previous day I had mapped out a route on Google Maps, saved it via Calendar and it worked - sort of!
It just didn't seem to keep up with where I was or where I wanted to be next, so I was constantly having to second-guess it as it wasn't talking to me and I eventually just abandoned using it.

I just need to have something that allows me to programme a walking route with multiple 'via' points and for it to direct me street by street to all of the locations I want to visit.

Any proven suggestions please?

seaodyssey · Monday at 7:41 AM

Many years ago, last time I tried that, I thought the tall buildings were blocking the gps signel to some extent.
Maybe go old fashion and use a city guide (map)

skullfunkerry · Monday at 8:09 AM

Have you tried Apple Maps? I generally prefer that to Google, I find the directions are a lot clearer.

AndrewFlannigan · Monday at 9:14 AM

seaodyssey said:
Maybe go old fashion and use a city guide (map)

That would be my approach.

I was given an A-Z when I first arrived in London in the early 1960s and I think I still have it somewhere. No problems with batteries running low or blocked signals!

gramps · Monday at 10:42 AM

I didn't get notifications for the replies ... apologies for my apparent lack of manners folks!

seaodyssey said:
Maybe go old fashion and use a city guide (map)

AndrewFlannigan said:
That would be my approach.

I was given an A-Z when I first arrived in London in the early 1960s and I think I still have it somewhere.

I did consider that approach but my preference is to be fully aware of my surroundings rather than consulting a map (or phone) ... which also gives a suggestion of vulnerability to being a 'target'.

skullfunkerry said:
Have you tried Apple Maps? I generally prefer that to Google, I find the directions are a lot clearer.

I haven't but did wonder this morning if Apple + Apple + Apple might produce better results :thinking:

I'll give that a try.

garryknight · Monday at 10:49 AM

I use Apple Maps but a friend of mine swears by the Organic Maps app, which is free and based on OpenStreetMap. It is an offline map so it takes up storage space but means that you can use it where you can't get a mobile data connection. Plus the maps are updated twice a month.

gramps · Monday at 11:17 AM

garryknight said:
I use Apple Maps but a friend of mine swears by the Organic Maps app, which is free and based on OpenStreetMap. It is an offline map so it takes up storage space but means that you can use it where you can't get a mobile data connection. Plus the maps are updated twice a month.

That's useful Garry, I'll have a look at that one too.

realspeed · Monday at 11:22 AM

Gramps Don't worry, the only time to worry is if your in london and the digital map shows you in Paris. Then your problems really start.

G.K.Jnr. · Monday at 1:00 PM

garryknight said:
I use Apple Maps but a friend of mine swears by the Organic Maps app, which is free and based on OpenStreetMap. It is an offline map so it takes up storage space but means that you can use it where you can't get a mobile data connection. Plus the maps are updated twice a month.

Never seen that app before Garry, looks to be really useful. Thanks for the heads up I'll be downloading it a little later.

"I think my wife will also find it very useful as she's lost anywhere further than the end of the drive"

Beetnik · Thursday at 1:02 PM

Tall buildings are your problem - to use the app without internet, open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, select "Offline Maps," and download a specific area.

benc98 · Thursday at 1:18 PM

It's the opposite of what you're after, but how about having no fixed route / destination and walk in a direction based on intuition. Learn into the idea of the derive..

gramps · Thursday at 1:19 PM

Beetnik said:
Tall buildings are your problem - to use the app without internet, open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, select "Offline Maps," and download a specific area.

Didn't know you could do that, thank you!

gramps · Thursday at 1:23 PM

benc98 said:
It's the opposite of what you're after, but how about having no fixed route / destination and walk in a direction based on intuition. Learn into the idea of the derive..

I've done that for most of my visits to London & Birmingham but the visits have been less structured, particularly in London there are routes I want to follow/places to visit.
My old legs don't have much scope for aimless/endless wandering!

redhed17 · Thursday at 2:53 PM

For many years I have used an app on Android called OsmAnd for maps. This allowed me to download maps for the area I was visiting, and used the phones GPS to get my location. I could also put a destination in and it would show me the route. I have just looked and you can add multiple way points.

I think you can also get it to 'speak' the directions, so in theory, start the journey, put the phone in the pocket, and listen on headphones for how long to walk, and when to turn into a different street.

I just use it by looking at the screen when needed.

gramps · Thursday at 3:54 PM

redhed17 said:
For many years I have used an app on Android called OsmAnd for maps. This allowed me to download maps for the area I was visiting, and used the phones GPS to get my location. I could also put a destination in and it would show me the route. I have just looked and you can add multiple way points.

I think you can also get it to 'speak' the directions, so in theory, start the journey, put the phone in the pocket, and listen on headphones for how long to walk, and when to turn into a different street.

I just use it by looking at the screen when needed.

Looks like a subscription model options £14.99 & £69.99 but I can't see any detail.

redhed17 · Thursday at 7:37 PM

gramps said:
Looks like a subscription model options £14.99 & £69.99 but I can't see any detail.

On Android it is free as far as I can see, and it seems similar on iOS. But I'm not an Apple person so don't know what the version of the app is like, or costs on their app store.

Their website here also says there is a free option. That seems to include the navigation option too.

When I first started using it 10+ years ago I think, you could download the maps for whole countries, but that has morphed into regions in a country. You can download 6-7 maps for free. I tend to be in one region on a holiday, so no great problem, and when I fill up all the free map slots, I uninstall, and re-install, and start from blank again.

You can pay to download for unlimited map downloads and other features, but imho you don't need to do it.

I hope it is still free when I need it,

though it isn't as much as problem as it once was, as I have roaming data allowance when I am abroad, which is part of my data plan if I need to access a map. I'll still use the free option unless there is something I can't access with OsmAnd.