2023 UPDATE: Please note this is a historic article and is now out of date; Viewranger no longer exists.
There is now a dedicated Walkhighlands app available to all for FREE.
Visitors and locals alike can now download detailed guides to walking routes straight onto their mobile phones following a new collaboration between Scottish based walkers’ website Walkhighlands and top mobile phone app ViewRanger.
Walkhighlands aims to boost Scottish tourism and encourage walking by publishing online guides and mapping; featuring over 1,350 routes, it is Scotland’s busiest outdoors website. The ViewRanger App turns smartphones into a complete countryside guide with GPS, maps, navigation and location sharing. The app is available for iphones, Android and most Symbian (including most Nokia) smartphones, as well as ipads. The two companies have teamed up to make Walkhighlands routes available within the ViewRanger app, so now walkers can download detailed routes direct to their phones.
“Our routes offer walks for all tastes from challenging ascents up the Munros to walks through Caledonian pinewoods or hikes exploring Scotland’s spectacular coastline,” said Walkhighlands co-founder Paul Webster. “ViewRanger is a superb and ground-breaking app. Users can purchase premium mapping such as location-aware Ordnance Survey maps which – like the routes – remain available even there is no signal – crucial for use in many parts of Scotland. We’re delighted to be able to offer Walkhighlands routes through ViewRanger.”
To help you get started over the forthcoming bank holidays, ViewRanger are offering four free routes to every registered user until 2nd May. To get free routes all you have to do is install the ViewRanger app on your smartphone (just 59p for Apple iPhone or use the 15-day free trial for Android and Symbian) and register. Then browse the routes, and the first four paid routes from any publisher will be delivered at no charge. The promotion runs over the period Sunday 17th April to Monday 2nd May, giving you a few days before Easter to select routes.
The ViewRanger app is a wonderful aid to making navigation easier and more enjoyable, but a traditional map and compass should still be always carried. Smartphones may be damaged by water or sudden jolts – a waterproof/robust carry case is recommended. Using any smartphone constantly in GPS mode will reduce the battery time available, therefore it is recommended to carry a spare/secondary battery or a non-mains charging accessory. In addition to the new smartphone app, all 1350 routes on Walkhighlands can still be accessed free of charge direct from the Walkhighlands website.