Edale is hotspot as more people plan walking and cycling routes during lockdown

Derbyshire residents have been using digital mapping tools more during the lockdown, figures show – with Edale proving a popular hotspot.
People are also discovering cycling routes near where they live.People are also discovering cycling routes near where they live.
People are also discovering cycling routes near where they live.

Ordnance Survey (OS), which provides digital mapping through its app OS Maps, has been supporting the nation to get outside safely during lockdown, inspiring thousands of people to discover new adventures on their doorsteps.

Figures show that use of the app has increased by 78 per cent, despite the nation entering lockdown.

OS’s app, which has more than three million users a year, has seen its use in April 2020 up by 41 per cent compared to April 2019.

Figures show an increase in the number of routes being planned around the Edale area.Figures show an increase in the number of routes being planned around the Edale area.
Figures show an increase in the number of routes being planned around the Edale area.

Views of the app’s recently-added National Cycle Layer Network has increased since February by 98 per cent as people are also discovering cycling routes near where they live.

Since lockdown was introduced on March 23, there has been just short of 300,000 new routes created across Great Britain in the app.

Hotspots for routes created in Derbyshire include Edale and Mam Nick.

In a survey of new users while lockdown has been in place, OS has discovered 46 per cent wanted the app for local leisure mapping for walks from the front door, and 46 per cent wanted it to have access to leisure mapping for the rest of the Great Britain to plan for when travel restrictions are lifted.

Ordnance Survey leisure managing director Nick Giles said: “As we gradually transition out of lockdown, we encourage people to be responsible and to keep themselves and others safe.”