BBgt

Planning drives on the train journey sounds like a good idea - it's going to be a long one between York and Penzance. I'm going to try to stick to main roads (avoiding twisty, narrow lanes) as much as possible - will a road atlas pretty clearly delineate road types as well as attractions? In other words, will I know what I'm getting into before turning down a road I may regret?

janisj

>>I'm going to try to stick to main roads (avoiding twisty, narrow lanes) as much as possible -<<

Not really possible in most parts of Cornwall. Don't worry -- the driving is easy. There are really only three 'main roads' - the A30, A394 and the A39 and even they are narrow-ish and twisty/turny in places.

>>will a road atlas pretty clearly delineate road types as well as attractions<<

Yes

>>In other words, will I know what I'm getting into before turning down a road I may regret?<<

Not always but not w/ a GPS either.

BBgt

Thanks Janis - I'm now feeling totally confident. ;-) Or at least, feeling resigned to dealing with whatever it takes to get where we want to go!

bilboburgler

I drive all over UK with a £2.99 map as described by Janisj bought in a fuel station, it's about 10 year's old and I use GPS.

What I think gives you the best service is to use GPS with the latest data files. I find "Here" offers the best APP on an android phone and these files are updated monthly. You down load them at home and just plug your phone into the charger point in the car. Zero cost. I would use that over paying any extra to your car hire company. Since you can buy a good Android for £90 in the UK you do the math(s).

I cannot comment on CA road map data files, the OS system was set up as part of the country's defense and its roots are older than the British army. The only danger used to be that farm lanes were confused as motorways by exhausted Romanian truck drivers, most of which is now ended.

Buy the OS maps if you want to see the quality of British map design and detail. I certainly use them whenever I go walking, because GPS is only correct within 3metres and in walking that is the difference between being on the wrong side of a hedge

ESW

I can assure Biloburglar that I was NOT pulling the OPs leg about the Ordnance Survey maps. The maps may have been originally designed for the defence of the nation but are now recognised as some of the best and most accurate maps in the world. I think his comment about “The only danger used to be that farm lanes were confused as motorways by exhausted Romanian truck drivers, most of which is now ended” probably refers to all the problems with GPS in the early days. I can’t see a Romanian truck driver using an OS map...

If you are able to read a map you don’t need GPS. The only advantage of one of these if you are in a big town or city and don’t know where you are going. If you rely on GPS in a place like Cornwall (or any country area for that matter) you are likely to miss a lot of the ‘secret’ places only discovered with a map. GPS doesn't allow you to suddenly explore when something catches your imagination and doesn't give you teh wider picture of teh surrounding area.

A road atlas is fine for general navigation but by its very nature doesn’t have the detail of the OS maps. If you are planning on doing any walking then the OS map is essential.

The road atlas marks the main attractions but it is not always easy to see how to get to them and you will be dependent on the brown road signs. These are fine for major attractions.

“will I know what I'm getting into before turning down a road I may regret’
You have a much better chance of working this out from an OS map. They mark all the minor roads, including farm tracks... Being serious, you are unlikely to get into problems and it will be very quickly obvious. In this case, turn round at the first available gateway!

Don’t stick to the main roads all the time but do explore some of the minor roads to really get a feel for Cornwall.

bilboburgler

ESW, I've confused you.

The data is all from the OS map used by GPS, so drivers could be confused by their GPS (OS data) early on, now, luckily now sorted out.

we are in utter agreement that the OS maps are the best, and hence the data is also the best.

BBgt said "Question about those Ordnance Survey maps - if we get one, would you bother with GPS? I've read that GPS can be a bit unreliable in Cornwall, although I usually don't travel without it." (that was the leg-pull comment)

BBgt have fun.

MmePerdu

ESW has made one of the best points of the discussion, studying an OS map is the way to discover the things we didn't previously know were there to visit, and the greatest advantage to having a car. I've never heard of a GPS offering suggestions of places in the neighborhood, whereas the OS map will show the locations of historic sites, houses of note, footpaths, pubs, gardens and many more. I only have the 1:25,000 scale to refer to but I suspect the 1:50,000 will have a number of them too.

I suppose, as in everything, there are those of us with a particular affinity for a thing, in this case OS maps, for their own sake as well as their usefulness and for the rest a "road atlas" will get them there. OS maps are wonderful things, even just open on a table to study with no intention of going anywhere. In their way, not unlike works of art.

BBgt

I really appreciate this informative discussion! The only solution as I see it is to have a road atlas, OS map and GPS. As I said earlier, Mom and I both love maps, and I'm sure I'll get years of enjoyment out of a map "just open on a table to study", so any maps will be a good investment.

I have an Android phone and had wondered if I could just use it for navigation, but am still not sure about how my data usage will work over there. It's on my list of things to investigate - which I will now do with the Here app in mind.

ESW

Hooray, another fan of the OS maps. Thank you MmePerdu, you summarised my feeling better than I could myself.

bilboburgler

"
I have an Android phone and had wondered if I could just use it for navigation, but am still not sure about how my data usage will work over there"

I only learnt this year. You down load the maps where you are now. The GPS is free, just the set the location switch on. Then the GPS follows the data. No roaming involved. Here also tells you where the local sights, as you set it. Also in the UK any place with an real interest gets a Brown sign (yes it is brown and it is a sign).

But yes there is something nice about a piece of paper

BBgt

Thank you, Bilboburgler - This is now loaded onto my phone and is one less thing to think about!

janisj

I have tons of OS maps -- for every corner of the country collected for years. They are WONDERFUL for walking and exploring. But not for driving IME/IMO. Using a road atlas is much easier. I've used GPS a few times in the UK too -- sort of a 'braces and belt' situation. I'll always have an atlas and will use GPS if it is included w/ the car.

No matter if you use a GPS/road atlas/OS . . . Once you in the area of any attraction the ubiquitous brown tourist signs will lead you to the entrance.