A new year of outdoor adventures is about to begin! Before it does, let’s take…
Planning an outdoor adventure? From hiking to biking, skiing to stargazing, there are loads of apps to help you have the best experience outdoors. Here’s our pick.
Cycle.travel
Exploring the outdoors on two wheels? Cycle.travel shows you scenic traffic-free cycleways and quiet lanes to cycle on, away from busy roads. The free maps can be used offline, and the app also offers spoken directions. One Google Play review describes it as “the best app for finding cycle routes”.
Hipcamp: Camping & Glamping
Some call this the Airbnb of camping and glamping and they’re not wrong. Book unique campsites, glamping holidays, caravan resorts and more. Search for outdoor experiences too, covering everything from wild swimming spots to goat yoga! Check out community reviews and pictures to help you pick your next break – which you can book well in advance or up to the hour of your holiday using the app.
Merlin Bird ID
Planning to go birdwatching? Merlin Bird ID is your go-to app with an impressive 4.9 rating on Google Play. The app gets data from the world’s biggest database of bird sounds, sightings and photos, so can accurately help you identify birds and discover more about them. You can identify birds by uploading a picture, answering a few questions, sharing bird sounds or exploring birds in the area you’re in. It also has a personalised Bird of the Day feature, plus the option to list all your bird sightings, so you can keep track of all the bids you spot.
Met Office Weather Forecast
The Met Office Weather app offers free hourly and daily weather forecasts, so the weather won’t get in the way of your outdoor adventure. Forecasts are available up to seven days ahead, to help you plan. It covers wind, rain, temperature, UV index and pollen levels. Real time alerts – about thunderstorms, snow, ice, fog and winds – keep you safe. Sunrise and sunset times are available too. Heading to the beach? A recent app update has added wave heights, tide times and safety advice covering 500 beaches across the UK.
Mountain-Forecast.com
It’s always important to keep track of weather conditions when you’re going up a mountain – which is where this app comes in. It gives forecasts for over 11,000 peaks across the world, helping climbers, snowboarders, skiers, hikers and mountain bikers make decisions based on accurate weather forecasts. The app shows weather at different elevations, hour-by-hour. Detailed satellite and topographic mapping is available, and forecasts and maps can be used offline too.
OS Maps
If you’re into walking, hiking, running or biking, this award-winning app is for you. Created by OS, the app has GPS navigation and the high-quality mapping you’d expect from Britain’s national mapping agency. Look up curated routes from outdoor organisations and experts, like Countryfile and Mountain Bike UK, for guidance on your next adventure. Maps can be downloaded so you can use them offline. There’s the option to record your activities to track your fitness as well. We’d recommend using this alongside a paper map which is always useful too, particularly if your phone runs out of battery.
Stellarium Mobile – Star Map
This is one for the stargazers! The easy-to-use app turns your phone into an awe-inspiring planetarium. Install the app and point your phone at the sky to see stars, constellations, satellites and planets in seconds. The app gives a night sky simulation that you can base on any time, date and location. The app is free, but you can upgrade to a paid version, Stellarium Plus, for even more features.
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