Expert Outdoor Guides from Ordnance Survey

Unlock the Outdoors: Expert Tips and Inspiring Stories to Fuel Your Adventures

Outdoor Guides and Ideas for Exploring Great Britain

Discover expert outdoor guides covering walking, cycling, wild swimming, outdoor skills, navigation, wildlife, wellbeing, National Parks and great places to explore across Britain. Whether you’re planning your first hike, learning map-reading skills or looking for seasonal inspiration, you’ll find practical advice and ideas to help you get outside.

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Welsh Lakes

Circular Lake Walks in Wales

October 13, 2026
5 min read

Explore our collection of circular lake walks in Wales, from Eryri to Bannau Brycheiniog, Wales has over 100 lakes to explore.

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The Proven Health Benefits of Getting Outside in Winter

October 13, 2026
6 min read

Don’t let winter get you down! Get Outside and start reaping the proven mental and physical benefits of spending just 2 hours a week in nature

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Horror film lessons in navigation

If Horror Movie Characters Used OS Maps, They’d Probably Still Be Alive

October 9, 2026
6 min read

Horror movie characters are famous for bad decisions. This Halloween, we’re exploring the navigation mistakes that might have been avoided with the OS Maps app.

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3 women looking at os maps app on a phone outside

How Long Will a Walk Take? Understanding Naismith’s Rule and Scarf’s Method

October 8, 2026
7 min read

From Naismith’s Rule to Scarf’s Method, learn how walking time calculations work and how to estimate the time a hike will take

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The Northern Lights, visible over Scotland

The Best Hikes to See the Northern Lights In the UK

October 6, 2026
5 min read

Explore the best night-hikes to maximise your chances of catching the aurora borealis in the UK. Find suggested walking routes in this OS guide.

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Big Ben and Westminster Bridge lit up at night

Best Places in England to Stargaze

October 2, 2026
8 min read

Despite light pollution in big cities, there are some fantastic opportunities for stargazing in England. See OS Maps’ top stargazing spots in England here.

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moss identification uk

A Guide to Types of Moss in the UK

October 2, 2026
7 min read

Are you a Bryophile? Become a more mindful hiker by learning the names of a few types of uk mosses

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The Hermitage

Britain’s Best Autumn Walks

October 1, 2026
11 min read

Discover the best autumn walks across Great Britain, with colourful woodland trails and scenic countryside views.

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view from boot of car

Safe Car Camping Tips and How It Gave Me More Confidence to Hike Solo

September 29, 2026
9 min read

Kate of She’s Going Solo shares her tips for safe car camping in the UK. – plus she shares three great tried and tested hikes