The deal means that residents and visitors to the Lake District with a smartphone will be able to use the ViewRanger mobile app to access these tourist board endorsed routes as downloadable, interactive guides, with maps, GPS navigation and detailed, reliable local information. The aim is that it will drive an increase in accessibility to the countryside and landmarks, while encouraging more people overall to visit Cumbria in 2011 and beyond.
Available from 7 February 2011, the initial 30-plus walking and biking routes to be released by Cumbria Tourism and ViewRanger includes favourite routes in the region.
The partnership re-interprets existing materials published on the Cumbria Tourism website. Publishing on mobile with ViewRanger, goes one step further than the existing web based access to visitor information about the Lake District and enhances visitors’ experience by providing the peace of mind of GPS mapped location and location specific information.
The popular ViewRanger GPS app is available for Apple, Android and Symbian smartphones and can run 1:50K or 1:25K OS mapping. ViewRanger is already popular with Outdoor enthusiasts around the world. The fact that it is used by a growing number of UK Search and Rescue teams is a testament to its accuracy & reliability.
Each route with full navigation and local information can be purchased (£1.50 per route) and downloaded to the visitor’s smartphone using the ViewRanger app. Visitors can purchase ViewRanger from their app store or even via Cumbria Tourism own web e-shop together with OS mapping for the whole of the Lake District. Importantly, it is the first time that a regional tourist board has implemented this approach.
Ellis Butcher, a spokesman for Cumbria Tourism, said: "The Lake District and Cumbria is the best walking and cycling destination in Britain. With increasing numbers of our visitors packing smartphones it makes perfect consumer sense to give them the chance to download some of this area's best routes direct to their handsets. When visitors are in the area they often need additional information which is not necessarily always found on traditional maps. This is where the new project comes into its own by utilising the information we have on our tourism website and putting it into the hands of visitors when they need it.