This morning the Ordnance Survey will unveil their much heralded free maps for anyone to use. However, the move is set to disappoint walkers as the 1:25 000 and 1:50 000 maps which were suggested as being made free in the consultation have been excluded and remain Crown Copyright. The Ramblers Association was reported in the Guardian as expressing disappointment that the popular walkers’ maps have been omitted from the maps made free.
Walkhighlands co-founder Paul Webster said “We think these maps should be available free to everyone. Walking has enormous benefits, whether to the nation’s health or to the rural economy. The cost of gathering the data for these maps is largely paid for by public money anyway. Walkhighlands will continue to offer free mapping at both 1:25 000 and 1:50 000, for all our routes and across the country.”