The ability to navigate and relocate is an essential part of being outside and enjoying the hills safely.
Like other Mountain Rescue England and Wales teams, we’re delighted that the Ordnance Survey are supporting our members by giving them free access to the OS app.
Mountain Rescue’s figures from 2022 showed that over one in three callouts in England and Wales were due to basic mistakes and poor planning, with 17% caused by human error, 9% by bad decision making and 9% by inexperience.
One of the biggest issues is people not having an OS Map to navigate the environment.
Increasingly, more and more people are relying on mobile phone apps to navigate. But very few mapping apps have the accurate detail required to navigate safely in remote areas.
Mountain Rescue England and Wales has recommended OS Maps App as the navigational phone app of choice when heading out into Northumberland National Park.
If you can, download the OS Locate app which is free and will give you your height and location. The OS Maps App will provide you with even more information and greater detail.
©Photo – North of Tyne MRT Helly Hansen
