ACW - OSM maps

OSM (OpenStreetMap )

OSM now includes ACW and all linked/shared Long Distance paths

See http://hiking.lonvia.de/?zoom=12&lat=52.40651&lon=-1.53815&layers=FFBTT for result.

Background

At the Godiva Festival we were asked for information/help to get ACW on OSM (OpenStreetMap - the Open source map of the world, nor including virtually all streets and increasing details of buildings, woods, footpaths, etc.).

I was able to cover ACW very fast, initially just providing the gpx file, then by checking/correcting/improving the result.

OSM already had Heart of England Way and Centenary Way just about complete, but very little for Millennium Way or Shakespeare's Avon Way, so I added the parts of these shared with ACW, then linked the shared bits and extended them some distance beyond. After that I added ACW Circular Walks, and part of North Arden Heritage Trail/Parish Walk Fillongley. Together this gives a good map of the network closely linked with ACW.

What you can now see:

Abb'n Name Status

ACW A Coventry Way complete

Cnna ACW Circular Walks 01 to 21A complete

HEW Heart of England Way nearly complete

CW Centenary Way nearly complete

MWW Millennium Way from Balsall Common to Long Itchington

SAW Shakespeare's Avon Way from Long Lawford to Stratford-upon-Avon

NAHT North Arden Heritage Trail from Moat House Lane just south of Shustoke to CW on west side of Nuneaton

PWF NAHT Parish Walk Fillongley complete

Other many footpaths all over UK, Germany and spreading worldwide ... find out by looking!

Using above link you see the footpaths on a background of the default OSM street view, with the named walking routes highlighted and labelled with an abbreviated name.

If you open an OSM user account, you can open the editor and see with a background of a Bing Aerial map - but take care not to edit and save anything by mistake!

Other viewing tools are available or being developed, but I know of none worth recommending just now - but search for yourself, and let me know if you find one others may find useful!

Guide to using Lonvia

Zoom

Use the + or - or the slider on zoom bar at top left of map area, or scroll wheel on your mouse. Hint - when you zoom in with the mouse, first position the pointer near the area you wish to zoom to but on the side nearest the map border of the area - as the area you want gets near the centre, move cursor to centre of area you want and continue zooming.

Pan

Left click and drag. If you want to move a long way, zoom out first, then pan, then zoom in

Routes Button

Zoom in to the area you want to see in more detail, and then click ROUTES at bottom-right of map area, then:

Click the Full Name of the walk you want to read more details about. Not only can you read details, the route gets highlighted in Yellow (... and even if the only bit in sight is in the corner of the map, hidden behind the details panel! ). You can zoom or pan to see it all or the bit you want.
The detail panel checks the distance mapped as well as showing the distance claimed.
If the length is defined as (e.g. for NAHT - North Arden Heritage Trail "length=26 mi") it converts this to km and shows both near the top. In this example Length: 41.8km (mapped: 14.3km) meaning that I have mapped the bottom 14.3 km out of the 41.8 km/26miles total.
You can also check for errors - I found Centenary Way has been given data as "le3ngth=100 mile" which gets shown but not converted to km". I also found that for PWF (NAHT Parish Walk Fillongley) I had put "length=6 miles" which it also ignored - it only understands mi ! (I have of course corrected these - but tell me if you find others)
You will also notice that the ACW Circular Walks have distance issues. Sometimes it is simple rounding (Cyril rounded to nearest 0.5 km); sometimes re-use of part of the route for outward and return legs (e.g. C18 Watery Lane leg); but sometimes probably Cyril got the basic measure wrong?
Use Back to route list link if you want to see above examples, and note that as you zoom and pan the list in the Routes in Region gets updated.
When you've had enough of this detail close Routes in Region pane (click x in TR corner of panel)

Pan & Zoom to see other areas. As you zoom in you get more detail.

As an example try C02X (ACW Circular Walk 02X (eXtra to visit Berkeswell Windmill)) - zoomed out and you won't even see it named! Zoom in and you will see the Windmill. Zoom in more and you will see it even the windmill named, and note that the driveway to it is coloured red because it is a private road! I will add a comment that it is only open on the first Saturday from April to October - or at least it was in 2005 - do you know the current status? When open? Has it got its sails back on (I seem to remember reading they were being repaired)?

gpx Button

On the route pane for each route, you will also find a gpx button. Click this and you can download gpx file for that route. This gpx file may then be loaded to your GPS mobile device, and you may be able use it to help find your way!

There are a few possible issues with gpx files produceed this way:

They are in an unusual format. They do however load into Google Earth OK, so this may not be a problem.
They will have more points than needed, because each path or road junction adds extra points, as do every change of surface, embankment or not, bridge or not, etc. For the 40-mile route his means you currently get about 1150 points derived from Lonvia, compared to less than 970 for the same detail of route derived from Bing.
Lonvia gives the route clockwise, not in order drawn as from Bing.

I will do a few more tests, then load some samples on http://www.acoventryway.org.uk/news-gpx-files_01.htm and consult experts soon.

Other Buttons

DON'T click Hike & Bike Map link - that's just an acknowledgement of the site where they get the optional Hillshading from. Similarly for some of the other links in the borders

Settings

if you want to see Hillshading, click the white + sign in the blue semicircle at Top Right of Map area, then change Hillshading from 0% default - 100% makes Coventry and the rest look a bit like the Hike & Bike map. More useful to try maybe to change Route Layer to the default I get of 80% or whatever you like best.

About this map ...

Gives links to background information about the tool, and some hints on how to use. Also links to OSM and OSM Beginners Guide.

Queries or More Information

If you want more info, or have found features you believe others may be interested in, please webmaster Subject: ACM OSM maps.

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