If life was in a place where I could do another TGOC I would be very tempted to have my whole route printed out on double-sided cloth maps at 1:50k from Splash Maps.
Granted it would not be cheap. However I think the benefits would far outweigh this big drawback.
So let’s look at how I arrived at what many, especially Challengers would consider a controversial opinion.
I first heard about Splash Maps watching a YouTube video by Hidden Valley Bushcraft maybe two years ago. It definitely was over a year ago for sure.
At the time I thought that’s an interesting idea, and thought nothing else about it until recently.
I can’t remember precisely why or how Splash Maps entered my consciousness again. I suspect it was another YouTube video but which I couldn’t tell you.
The important thing is they caught my imagination this time, and I acted on those thoughts.
So the first benefit is that they are custom maps.
I had three ideas for maps I’d like. The first was for a map that covered Shouldham Warren, another for Holkham, and a third and final one that covered Frensham Ponds and Hankley Common. So that’s two maps I’d use regularly and one for visiting Nathan.
Using their website and the custom map option I selected to use the 1:25k scale. Manipulating the area covered for my first custom map it became obvious I could not only cover Shouldham Warren but also Roydon Common and the area I walk round there. Perfect.
For the Holkham map I was able to remove a lot of the sea, and cover all of the nine mile walk I’ve done in that area.
The second benefit is even wet they are usable and don’t fall apart, or get damaged by the water.
Continuing on from the previous benefit these cloth maps are much more durable. They can be scrunched up, folded up anyway you like, rolled up, tied round something, without getting damaged. Yes technically they can be torn. But that’s going to be something you are going out of your way to do, doing it deliberately.
The next benefit is they are light.
The maps can also be printed double sided, cutting down on the number of maps needed and weight.
Folding the Splash Map to show just the area you are interested in is also magnitudes easier and doesn’t require origami skills.
With the Splash Maps I also bought a couple of the fabric pens they sell. This allows me to mark the maps, and with whatever I mark on the maps wash it off. So this could be looked on as a negative that to mark the map you need a special fabric pen.
The maps don’t have the magnetic declination info on them or the more comprehensive map legend of OS maps. So before using the map it’s worth checking what the magnetic declination is and make a note of it for that location. A simple map legend is sewn onto the map on one edge.
The edges are stitched and the fabric is a polyester (no turning into char cloth), and the map size of 72cm by 72cm.
As you can probably tell I like these maps. Yes they are not cheap. But I think the positives outweigh this major negative.