The hiking knowledge centre
From a route on a map to a plan for your day.
Understand the numbers, compare your options and check what the map cannot tell you. These explainers use worked examples and linked sources to help you make better use of every route in the directory.
Build your route-planning skills
All planning articles →Choosing a route
How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label
Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.
Read article →Understanding the map
Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb
Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.
Read article →Planning your day
Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace
Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.
Read article →Planning your day
Loops, out-and-backs and point-to-point return plans
Work out what a route's shape means for distance, endpoints and getting back after the walk.
Read article →Understanding the map
Download a GPX route and check it before leaving
Take a route into your navigation app, check the imported line and understand what a GPX download does and does not contain.
Read article →Sources and confidence
What open route data can tell you—and what to verify locally
Distinguish source records, calculated estimates and missing details before relying on a route page.
Read article →These are general explainers and descriptions of our methods, not reports of field visits. Each article identifies its sources and update date. See our editorial and correction policy for how we distinguish recorded facts, calculations and information that needs local verification.