Our Memory-Map review

We’ve been using Memory-Map as our preferred mapping application since we commenced our training courses in 2003 and are proud to be their recommended training partner.

In our opinion Memory-Map is the most user friendly mapping software package on the market. They were one of the first companies in the UK to offer the consumer the opportunity to have a real OS map on their PC, and have kept ahead of the game by being in the lead when offering new features and improvements to their software package.

The software delivers all the features you would expect and more, at the click of a button you can create, modify, and manage the properties of any waypoint, route or track. Route planning is made easy when you can easily modify your plan to suit the terrain, view the profile and even fly through your proposed route in the comfort of your armchair. Once satisfied with your planned route you can print off a paper copy for use on the hill, transfer the data & coordinates to a GPS or in the case of a mobile device both maps & data.

One of the great features of Memory-Map is the 3D view, which allows you to see the area you are visiting in three dimensions, pan around it and follow the route. This is superb for checking out the climbs and descents and for identifying good escape routes.

As with OS paper maps you can buy Memory-Map OS titles at both 1:50k Landranger & 1:25k Explorer scale in both cases you will receive free a copy of 1:250k GB Road Atlas.

Explorer maps are the premium products and are sold in several ways; the most popular titles are based on our National Parks like the Lake District. Included in the package will be 1:25 scale OS mapping within the boundaries of the national park (if you’re one meter outside the border you’re not in) Aerial View for the same area and a copy of the 1:250k GB Road Atlas.

In addition to the National Parks1:25k scale maps are available based on the most popular long distance footpaths & trails, if you need mapping based on an area outside a national park then you can choose either 2500, 5000, or 10,000 sq m of mapping and have it burnt to a special disc. The 2500 sq m “Selections” title is similar in area to a National Park title, comes with Aerial View and costs the same (£99.99) it can be ordered without aerial view and cost £20 less.

Memory-Map regions

Landranger titles deliver the best value for money as you can get large areas of mapping for a relatively small amount in money terms when compared to the prices charged for Explorer maps. The country is divided into six regions and sold individually for a little as £50 or in half counties (any three regions) or as a whole GB which includes all six regions, as with the Explorer titles all titles come with a copy of the 1:250k GB Road Atlas.

Just to make things more complicated all Landranger titles are sold as either Standard (no aerial view) or Premium (with aerial view) as a comparison a single premium region is £70 just twenty pounds extra for the aerial mapping.

If you’re new to all this and would like one inexpensive title to get you started we recommend that you look at Britain’s National Parks – it includes OS Landranger 1:50k maps of all of Britain's National Parks and other key outdoor leisure areas plus 150 routes from Trail and Country Walking Magazines on a single CD for just £30

Any pricing quoted in this review are the manufacturers RRP – GPS Training offer a 10% discount on all Memory-Map OS titles visit our Shop to see the full range of titles on offer and save pounds. In addition to OS mapping Memory-Map offer digital maps for France, Canada, USA, New Zealand, this is an obvious area of growth for them expect to see titles for other countries soon. 

Many of our customers find a little help is required to help them get the most from your Memory-Map software. GPS Training offer you several ways to improve your general route planning and mapping software skills,  at home learning is available by way of our booklet “Memory-Map made Easy” which at £9.99 is packed with general ‘how to’ information, hints & tips, and exercises all based on our customers experiences whilst on our courses.

If like most of our customers you would like hands on help then either our Going Further with GPS & Digital Maps or Memory-Map made Easy courses both days include time on our training computers using practical exercises to learn how to get the maximum from the software.