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By Gemma, 28, November, 2011 8:00 am

The New Forest offers miles of traffic free cycle routes

Today on the Ordnance Survey blog we’re going to talk about traffic free cycle routes. In Great Britain we’re blessed with 10 000 miles of traffic free cycle routes and today we’re going to share our top five locations with you.

Traffic free cycle routes are denoted on Ordnance Survey maps in one of two ways – first there is a trail of orange circles and the other is a red number in a clear box – denoting that it is part of the national cycle network.

The following are our top five locations for traffic free cycling in Great Britain – do you agree with our choices?

1. Peak District
   The Peak District offers miles of traffic free cycle routes including disused railway lines and some parts of the Trans Pennine Trail. Visit Peak District offers a selection of downloadable routes that take in quiet country lanes and traffic free routes.
2. Edinburgh
   There are some great traffic free cycle routes around the Scottish capital and surrounding area. Sustrans offers a downloadable guide to some of these routes that will take you around Edinburgh, Fife and the central borders area.
3. New Forest
   There are some great traffic free routes that go across the New Forest National Park. Whilst you may not have cars to deal with – you may come across the occasional New Forest pony on your route! With the area not being known for its hills – the relatively flat terrain is great for gentle cyclists like me!
4. Brecon Beacons
   The Brecon Beacons have 6 dedicated traffic cycle routes that offer distances suitable for half day and full day rides.
5. London
   There are some great stretches of traffic free cycling in London. There are large parts of the Thames Path that you can cycle along without the fear of a taxi, bendy bus or anything else getting in your way.

So these are our top 5 suggestions for traffic free cycling in Great Britain – where are your favourite routes?

Photograph: Gillian Moy via Geograph

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By Gemma, 23, November, 2011 8:00 am

Here on the Ordnance Survey blog we usually provide you with walks of the week that are in rural locations. Today I thought we’d head into a city instead and take a walk around London. Having lived in London for a while I always preferred to get around the city on foot rather than by public transport. It often felt quicker and it meant I got to see a side of London I wouldn’t usually get to see.

On our walk today we're heading over the Millennium Bridge towards St Pauls Cathedral

Today our walk is 4.5miles long and I would allow 2 hours to complete it (not allowing for browsing in the shops / have a drink at a cafe!!). The walk starts at Waterloo Station (as that’s where my train from here in Southampton would get into) but there are various other tube stations along the route including Charing Cross, Westminster, Leicester Square and St Pauls that are within very easy reach of the route. The route has been plotted for you on OS getamap.

Walking out of Waterloo Station we head down onto the South Bank, past the Royal Festival Hall and head east. At a weekend there is plenty of street theatre entertainment along this part of the Thames. We walk underneath Waterloo bridge and past the National Theatre. If you decide to walk this in the summer make sure you keep an eye out for their Watch this Space festival with free theatre, music and dance events outside the theatre. Continuing along we pass Gabriels Wharf with it’s delightful craft shops, cycle hire and cafes. The next place of note is the Oxo Tower followed by Sea Containers House. As we continue along the Thames Path, we pass under Blackfriars Bridge where we come to Tate Modern. This is where we cross to the north bank of the river going over the Millennium Bridge.

Crossing over the bridge we continue walking straight ahead of us until we get to St Pauls Cathedral. This is where we make a left turn and head along Cannon Street and onto Fleet Street. As Fleet Street becomes The Strand we pass the High Courts of Justice and make our way onto the Aldwych and into Theatreland.  Walking past the Aldwych Theatre we turn right after the Novello Theatre and head in towards Covent Garden, after turning left onto Russel Street.

We'll be walking past Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament back over Westminster Bridge

Covent Garden is the perfect place to while away many an hour either listening to buskers, watching street entertainers, having a relaxing drink or browsing through the shops. Once you’ve had your fill of Covent Garden head along King Street and then Garrick Street until you come to Leicester Square.  You want to head to the diagonally opposite corner of the square to the one you’ve entered – you’re looking for Panton Street where you take a left turn along Whitcomb Street that will bring you down into Trafalgar Square.

From here we’re heading down Whitehall, past Downing Street and onto Parliament Square where we see the Houses of Westminster and Big Ben. Turning left at the Parliament Square we’re headed across Westminster Bridge and then head east again, back along the South Bank, passing the London Eye where a right turn brings us back to Waterloo station and where we started.

So that’s taken you on one of my favourite walks around London – where is your favourite London walk?

Photographs: Geograph

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By Gemma, 26, October, 2011 8:00 am

This month thousands of people found out whether they were successful or not in the ballot for a place in the Virgin London Marathon 2012. I have many friends who in previous years have entered the ballot with their athletic friends – apparently after a drink or two it seemed like a good idea to want to run 26.2 miles around London – and when the result of the ballot came through it has only been them, the least athletic one of the group, that got a place. Undeterred at the thought of not being able to run alongside their drinking buddies, they have taken the proverbial bull by the horns and trained and some how come out the other end. Today this blog is for you, if you’ve found yourself in that situation. You entered the London Marathon ballot not thinking you’d get a place, you have and now you’ve realised that you’re going to need to train, and train hard, to get through it.

To those who got their place in the ballot - this will be you in 2012 for the Virgin London Marathon

So where do you start? As a novice runner myself I’d say that getting yourself kitted out right is essential – especially when it comes to your trainers. Find your local running shop where they can assess your running style to advise on which type of trainers are right for you and your running style.

So once you’re kitted up – what’s next? If you’re fairly new to running I’d say that you need to start gradually and build yourself up. There’s a great organisation that I’ve come across recently called Park Run that organise weekly timed 5 km runs across the country that you can take part in. From these you can build up your running to 10 km runs, 10 mile runs, half marathons and then into the main event next April. There are plenty of directories of running events online – the one that I use is from Runners World. You may also want to think about joining a local running club that will cater for all abilities and speeds! They will also be able to help you and provide advice on training plans to get you to your target time.

If you’re looking for places to run – look no further than the Ordnance Survey website where OS getamap is a great tool for route planning. From it you can also find routes that others have recommended in your local area.

For those of you about to embark on training – I wish you all the luck in the world. For those of you who are experienced runners – what advice can you offer to novice runners?

Photograph: mrlerone via Flickr

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By Holly, 11, October, 2011 8:00 am

It may only seem like yesterday that the children went back to school – but the October half term holiday is looming. Today on the Ordnance Survey blog we’re offering our top ten suggestions on where to go and what to do this October half term.

1. 

   The Royal Armouries in Leeds, with free entry, is one of our top ten places to go for October Half Term

   Take on a mission! Mission Explore offers a variety of missions for your children to complete over the half term break. Some are location specific – others can be done anywhere.

2. Get closer to nature with Wildlife Whisperer. This exciting website from Simon King offers a wealth of information to help you get closer to the natural environment around you – and there are some great activities for children to do too.
3. Why don’t you getamap and go exploring – you may find picnic spots (if the weather is kind), pooh stick bridges and woods to kick up the autumnal leaves in!
4. You could plant a tree in the Cairngorms - or knit a mini hat there, or even meet some search and rescue dogs – there’s lots going on to keep you occupied! Continue reading 'October half term fun'»

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By Holly, 26, September, 2011 8:00 am

With an Ordnance Survey map you can see what's otherwise hidden from view.

Have you ever walked down the street or driven down a road and wondered what was the other side of that wall or just behind that hill? Has curiosity got the better of you? Today on the Ordnance Survey blog we’re going to look at how to discover those secret places!

Back in 2008 we had a stand at the Innocent Village Fete in Regents Park. The main part of our stand was a map of London. London is one of those cities where many people have no sense of direction in it as they use the map of the underground system to navigate by. Now there is nothing wrong with using the tube map – if it is a journey by tube that you are taking – but to understand the geography of London you need to see a proper map! It was amazing the comments that we received about the map – “I never knew there was a park that close to where I live” or “I always get the tube there but I could walk it – it’s not far” and so on. That weekend in London it was as thought we’d opened the eyes of people to a city that up until that time had been kept hidden from them.

If you want to see what is behind the wall, over the hedge or around the other side of the hill – get yourself a map. Suddenly everything will become clear. Whether in a city urban sprawl or out in the countryside – you’ll be amazed at what a map will tell you. It could be a monument, a stately home, the name of a wood or a pond you weren’t aware was there.

What have you found on a map in your local area that you didn’t realise was there?

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By Holly, 25, April, 2011 9:00 am

As we come to the end of one long bank holiday weekend – we have another one next weekend to look forward to. With thanks to Prince William and Kate Middleton, we have been given an extra bank holiday in celebration of their nuptials. Today we thought we’d have a look at our top 5 suggestions of what to do with the extra holiday.

The eyes of the world will be on Westminster Abbey on 29 April. Photograph: Geograph

1. Join the wedding procession – given the reason for the extra holiday it seems only right that number one on our list is going to London and joining the thousands expected to line the route of the royal wedding procession. The carriage procession is due to travel along The Mall, Horse Guards Road, Horse Guards Parade, through Horse Guards Arch, along the south side of Parliament Square and into Broad Sanctuary. If you are around Buckingham Palace / The Mall you should also be able to see the balcony appearance once the newly weds arrive back at Buckingham Palace. If you can’t get to the route you will also be able to view the wedding and procession on large screens in London in Hyde Park and Trafalgar Square. Continue reading 'What to do with an extra bank holiday?'»

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By Holly, 21, April, 2011 9:00 am

This carved image of St George can be found at Bradfield St George Church in Suffolk (TL9059)

This coming Saturday should be an important day for the English – 23 April. It’s our patron saints day but whilst other nations go all out in celebration of theirs – the English are, generally more reserved. But today on the Ordnance Survey blog we thought we’d explore what happening across the country this weekend to celebrate St George.

Who was St George? According to tradition, St George was a Roman soldier and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian. He is not only the patron saint of England but also of Aragon, Catalonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, India, Iraq, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Serbia and Russia.

We often see depictions of St George slaying a dragon - this was a legend said to be brought back with the crusaders. The basic premise of the story of St George and the dragon is … a dragon (or crocodile) makes it’s nest next to the spring that provides water for the town of Silene (believed to be either modern day Cyrene in Libya or Lydda in the Holy Lands). This means that the people of Silene have to move the dragon everyday when they go to fetch their fresh water. To do this, each day they offer the dragon a sheep in sacrifice. If a sheep can’t be found then it is a maiden who is given instead (chosen by drawing lots). One day it is the princess who is chosen to be the sacrifice – and despite pleas from the monarch – the dragon insists on having her. Enter St George who just so happens to be travelling past. He protects himself with the sign of the cross, slays the dragon and rescues the princess. The grateful townsfolk of Silene then abandon their pagonistic views and convert to Christianity.

Continue reading 'For St George … and William Shakespeare'»

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By Holly, 11, April, 2011 9:00 am

This coming Sunday thousands of people will be taking to the streets of London to take part in the London Marathon. Whilst we all look on in awe at the elite runners at the front of the field breaking world records – it is those further back who possibly deserve the huge applause on the day. It is the “fun” runners - those raising money for one of the many good causes. These are the people who I applaud.

The Mall is a welcome sight to every runner in the London Marathon - you're nearly at the finish line!

Continue reading 'Marathon messages'»

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By Holly, 21, March, 2011 9:00 am

Join one of our paper map reading workshops

As we read last week in the guest blog post from Wildlife Whisperer – Ordnance Survey will be going around the country teaching beginner map reading skills.

The workshops are designed for beginners who are unfamiliar with map reading and compass navigation. What we want to achieve with the workshops is to make enjoying the great outdoors through the use of one of our maps more accessible.

This month has seen the Ramblers Association pledge to nudge the nation to their feet and get walking. As part of the launch of the Public Health Responsibility Deal which brings together organisations across the business, voluntary sector and retail, the Ramblers will be doing their bit towards changing the attitudes towards the health of the nation. With over 60% of adults in the country either overweight or obese, there is a need to do something to tackle the issue. With walking being the closest thing to perfect exercise perhaps our beginner map reading workshops will encourage you to your feet to explore the great outdoors that Britain has to offer.

Continue reading 'Map reading around Britain'»

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By Paul, 2, March, 2011 9:02 am

Walk about most towns or cities and the chances are you’ll see a scrap of land, a boarded up building or even just grassy verge that is crying out to be put to better use.

It’s waste land that is literally going to waste.

But what can you do about it? Over the course of the recession I can remember reading stories about local council’s offering otherwise empty shops to community groups, but I bet most of us wouldn’t know how to get involved, where these places were or how we could suggest a location.

That’s why we’re working with RIBA on the Forgotten Places London competition. Open to entrants across the country, the competition invites architects, artists, engineers, planners and designers to nominate neglected sites in the Greater London area and put forward proposals for their re-use.

RIBA is looking for your Forgotten Spaces in London.

Continue reading 'Putting forgotten places on the map'»