Contents: What is OpenStreetMap?

OpenStreetMap.org
Offline OSM maps

OpenStreetMap.org

OpenStreetMap is the ‘Wikipedia of mapping’. Just as Wikipedia is THE online crowd-sourced encyclopaedia, OpenStreetMap (OSM) is similarly great and unrivalled. OpenStreetMap’s mission is to map the planet and make all the related data publicly available and free to use. An Open-Source project it was launched in Britain in 2004 and using a  Wikipedia-like model it has been phenomenally successful. OpenStreetMap is here to stay.

It is an amazing resource that’s completely free to use. It is helpful to understand a little about OpenStreetMap and how it might affect which maps we take with us.

There are now excellent free topographic maps based on OpenStreetMap data, that cover countries all over the world. The OSM maps are viable alternatives to government agency mapping like the Ordnance Survey maps in the UK. Importantly, OSM-based maps will often show fine detail and paths that aren’t on the OS mapping. They can be excellent in towns as well as on the hills.

OSM data is behind much of the mapping on a huge number of navigation apps and web-based tools. Some popular apps like AllTrails, Komoot and Strava are totally reliant on OSM-based mapping. The best OSM maps don’t require huge amounts of storage and a detailed topo map of the UK could live permanently on your phone.

They can be used on smartphones, tablets, GPS hand helds, watches and computers. I have become a fan and use OSM maps on all those devices. If you’ve never used offline OSM maps before then do try them. I hope this website will make it easy to get started with them, to understand what OSM-based maps offer and what their limitations are.

Thinking about climbing Mont Blanc? OpenTopoMap shows the popular routes up. Looking for a restaurant, pharmacist or cashpoint in an unfamiliar town? These are shown or named on OSM maps. Maybe you want to avoid the scrambling off the north nose of Yewbarrow in the Lake District. The bypass path below Stirrup Crag is marked on OSM-based maps, here at WalkLakes. You won’t find this path on the 1:25k Explorer OS mapping.

If you don’t carry an OpenStreetMap-based map on your GPS device then you are missing out.

You can get a sophisticated phone app that will convert your phone into a superb navigation tool. This will then give you access to these free topographic maps for the whole world. What’s not to like?

A huge number of different contributors and various methods are used to help make OpenStreetMap. eg Surveying by mapping professionals, satellite aerial imagery, publicly available government agency data and GPS info from ordinary map users. Contours on many OSM-based maps are provided using free data supplied by NASA. In the UK there are OSM-based maps using OS contours.

Many parts of the world are already very well mapped. The map is always improving as it’s constantly being developed, updated and checked by the OSM community. I love the collaborative ethos and it has spawned many great OSM-based resources.

l OpenStreetMap l OSM FAQ l 

Offline OSM maps

OpenStreetMap based tools are often encountered online. eg PlotARoute.com is a great route planner. At least five of it’s map options are 100% OSM-based. Here’s the ‘Trails Map’ layer which is good for plotting routes on paths through the hills.

There will be very few online route planners that don’t have OpenStreetMap-based maps to use.

Perhaps less well known are the great offline maps. It’s these that are essential for navigating in the wilds. Many independent OSM map providers don’t have an online map at all but offer maps of whole countries to download (or even bigger regions), specifically for offline use. See the European options at OpenAndroMaps, this download page at AlternativasLibres or the maps at UK-based Talky Toaster.

The free OpenStreetMap data lends itself to making vector maps and so independent map-makers overwhelmingly produce vector maps. Get a phone app and try one on a hike 🙂

For some good examples of these OSM-based maps see map options. It should help you choose one for your phone or GPS device. Phone apps covers a few apps that can use these maps.