In the UK we are very fortunate to have some of the best mapping in the world. Plus, we have access to it simply and easily through Landranger and Explorer maps. The Ordnance Survey (OS) is a very important part of understanding the British landscape.
The Ordnance Survey, as the name suggests, has its origins in military mapping. It all started following the 1745 Jacobite Rising and initially surveyed the Scottish Highlands. It was in the preparations for the Napoleonic Wars that the OS really made its name. Even in recent conflicts, the OS created mapping such as maps of Antwerp and Brussels during World War II.
Leisure maps make up only 5% of the Ordnance Survey's revenue. Yet, they are the most important for recreational users. They show all the rights of way on the Definitive Map subject to scale limitations. They also show many, but not all, the routes included on the List of Street s "Other Route with Public Access" (ORPA).
Ordnance Survey mapping is fabulous. 1:25000 Explorer maps have field boundaries which means it is easy to find your way around the countryside. But maps, even maps as good as OS maps, cannot tell you what to expect. They can't tell you if the route is too narrow, has locked gates or a dangerous dog.
Rights of Wayfinder let everyone leave comments about what they found when they used the route. By leaving a comment, you are letting other people know what to expect.
Plus, some problems need to be resolved by the local council. A fallen tree obstructing the way or a missing signpost. Wayfinder lets you report problems that get passed onto the highway authority if applicable.
Unlike the Ordnance Survey, Wayfinder only lists a carefully curated set of rights of way. Only the most interesting are usually included. There are many miles of boring footpaths that run at the back of houses and we generally do not include them. Instead, you get the best places to walk, ride or drive in the Great British Countryside.
Ordnance Survey maps are so useful that Wayfinfder includes both Landranger (1:50000) and Explorer (1:25000). You can have the power of OS maps and the power of Wayfinder all together.