How I plot the routes

I use memory map, the latest version, for plotting the route I go through a few stages....

1, a very rough route picking up any points of interest I fancy visiting.

2, I decide how many miles I want to walk each day (16 this time with a lot of wild camping)

3, I make the rough route more accurate so it can be followed on the app while I create the final route

4, finally I follow the second route plotting each twist and turn and working out wild camps/campsites even the odd hotel as I progress the final route.

4, the last bit of mapping is going through Google and Google Street view to locate shops and eateries on the route, handy for knowing how much food to carry on each stage!

Note

When it comes to printing the maps it's a bit of a pain that the latest version of memory map hasn't got printing available yet!

But you can easily transfer the route onto the old version that's free to download then print from your purchased maps,

Make sure when printing to choose landscape or portrait and to print both sides of each sheet to keep map weight down.... I generally print 1-50000 scale maps at 1-60000 to reduce size a bit more!

Routing

The route is now sorted and the maps printed, next job is plotting every resupply point/ cafe/pub/restaurant onto the maps..... Eyestrain here we come! 😵‍💫

This is an essential part of the planning, it enables me to have the best idea of how much food I need to be carrying day to day, keeping the pack weight down and hopefully not starving! 

I won't be in the Welsh borders at all this time thankfully, the scarcity of villages with existing pubs/shops should be a lot more accurate! 

accommodation

I'm going ultra light weight for this expedition!

1.1kg with an Alpkit Tarpstar 1 tent!