Hard Copy Large-Scale Walking And Cycling Maps
For those who prefer a real map in their hands, or who like them for planning purposes – and for retracing memories.
All maps available at Stanfords, who deliver worldwide and can print maps specially (www.stanfords.co.uk, 7 Mercer Walk, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9FA. + 44 207 836 1321)
UK
Ordnance Survey Landranger 179 1:50,000 Canterbury and East Kent
Ordnance Survey Explorer sheets 150 and 138 1:25,000
France
IGN maps
Stanfords (as above)
Cycling maps: www.freewheelingfrance.com
Switzerland
Special hiking editions of the topographical survey of Switzerland at 1:50,000, and also 1:33.333 waterproof and tear-resistant hiking maps.
Also at
Italy
Kompass 50K hiking maps
Stanfords (as above)
also
Via Francigena Apps
The official European Association of the Vie Francigene EAVF (AEVF) app
https://www.viefrancigene.org/en/app/ iOS and Android, allowing GPS navigation from Canterbury to Rome. Do not rely on this for information on accommodation in the UK or France. To be used in conjunction with CPR’s accommodation list and our own Booklet of Accommodation and Facilities on the VF in France, updated every year (available from our online shop £5.00)
Sloways
iOS and Android. GPS navigation along the whole Via Francigena route, from the Great San Bernardo Pass to Rome, more than 1000 km divided in 45 stages. The maps and detailed descriptions can be pre-downloaded to the smartphone, which can also work without any internet connection.
Dormi Topo Francigena (2019)
The AIVF has merged now with the European Association of the Via Francigena . This Google app is therefore a year out of date (2019), but includes the EAVF official stages, variants, and historical variants, plus accommodation.
http://francigena-international.org/en_GB/applicazioni/
Mapping Apps
These will give you not only a map, but you can decide what points of interest to show on it, for example accommodation, food and drink, shopping, public transport, health and medical, money, and also tourist guides on places to see, how to get about, order a taxi.
A major challenge with all navigation apps is that GPS drains battery power, so use the app only when you need to. An external battery pack, about 8000mAh, reduces the risk.
The “free” maps in many apps are from the community-driven openstreetmap.org so coverage detail may vary by region, especially in the country side away from roads. Download all maps required along your route when you have a wifi connection.
Pocket Earth (free and Pro version)
(iOS only)
Very good on iPhone and iPad. The Pro version includes standard maps offline. You can buy extra topographic maps in-app. Helpful information is available about hotels, restaurants, bars, tourist sites, even metro and public transport info. There are also individual travel guides for numerous locations and Wikipedia articles to provide information about many locations. All can be downloaded and accessed offline with Pocket Earth. It is easy to navigate and use, which can sometimes not be true of an application brimming with information. Pocket Earth is an application well worth a download whether the free or Pro version.
• Easily readable offline maps.
• Access your maps online and offline.
•. Shows only the info you want.
•. Works anywhere… cities, small towns, in the country side.
•. Street address search (online)
• Import/Export support for GPX and CSV files
https://pocketearth.com
MAPS.ME
Similar, but available for both iOS and Android. Offline navigation.
https://maps.me/
Locus Map
Android only. Recommended by experienced pilgrims. In the free version you can download maps for offline, plan routes (automatically worked out), save and upload GPS files, record a track you are walking on, and measure distances. The paid-for version gives elevation profiles as well.
locusmap.eu
Open Street Map
The classic version is good for street maps, restaurants, hotels, attractions etc. OSM Open Topomap is good for walking trails, and is downloadable. Another downloadable alternative is OSM MTB Europe.
openstreetmap.org
Mapy.cz
Also allows you to download maps for offline use. When online you can switch between the map and satellite view. This app covers all of Europe and the Czech Republic.
www.en.mapy.cz
Wikiloc
iOS and Android. Outdoor navigation app which lets you track your walking or cycling with GPS and navigate over 15 million trails worldwide.
Géoportail
https://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/
Excellent French and European topographical maps, zooming down to street detail, and showing tracks and paths.
iPhiGéNie, maps of France (also Italy, Switzerland, England)
These are topographical maps, the iPhiGéNie app is pure joy to use.
Installing the app is free but upgrade versions are available which allow you to zoom down from all of France to 1:12500 and further to 1:3125 and finally aerial photo 1:1560. With the Vmax module you can record tracks, manually create and edit, export-import and follow tracks in GPX format, add waypoints/POIs etc.
If you search inside the app. You will find the Italian 1:200k, 1:100k, 1:50k, 1:25k maps by Geoportale Nazionale. They are useful in the countryside because they give small communal roads, mule tracks and “strade bianche”. .
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/iphigénie-maps-of-france/id350346756?mt=8
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iphigenie&hl=en_GB
Swiss map mobile
You can download the app for free and see all maps online. You get 10km2 map for free offline use, which is very little. To get and save more maps for offline use you have to subscribe for a year at CHF38. Good topographic maps from 1:1million down to 1:10000. https://map.schweizmobil.ch/?lang=de&land=wanderland&route=all&bgLayer=pk&season=summer&resolution=50&E=2526464&N=1163736&trackId=4692485&logo=yes&layers=Wanderland
Weather Apps
BBC Weather
Worldwide coverage, iOS, Android and Amazon
bbc.co.uk/weather
Météo-France
iOS and Android
http://www.meteofrance.com/appli-meteo
MeteoSwiss
iOS and Android
www.meteoswiss.admin.ch
Meteo.it
iOS and Android
https://www.meteo.it/mobile-app/
Transport Apps
Rome2Rio
This app will tell you how to get from A to B.
Whether you’re traveling by flight, train, bus or a rental car. The app gives you estimated prices, journey duration and booking details from over 5000 companies in 160+ countries.
Enter any address, landmark, or city as your destination and the app will instantly display all your travel options. View journey times, prices and all your different transport choices in one convenient place, along with accommodation searches and booking options.
https://www.rome2rio.com/about/rome2rio-app/
SNCF (Assistant) – Transports
French national railway timetables and booking, available iOS and Google Play.
The Trainline
Railway information and booking through Europe
https://www.thetrainline.com/
DB Navigator
Die Deutsche Bahn “Anwendung”, the German railway’s travel app. does about the same in Europe as Rome2Rio and you can book and buy tickets too. You can select German or English language.
https://www.bahn.com/en/view/booking-information/booking/db-navigator-app.shtml
TrenItalia
The App of the Italian State railway. FS – Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane.
The Italian’s app allows you to buy your tickets for national and regional travel, display, change, apply for a refund of purchased travel tickets … and much more!
https://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en/Purchase/Mobile-Ticketing