Messages

1

Maps / Re: Major changes to Explorer maps

« on: September 14, 2015, 03:25:44 PM »

Here is some more information about the publication of the new editions of Explorer and Landranger maps. http://dashwholesale.co.uk/os_changes?utm_source=enews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Sept15_MAD50

Hugh

For a preview of the 5th edition of my book The Walker’s Handbook; Everything you Need to Know about Walking in the British Isles click on http://walkwithwestacott.com/. Then click on ‘Reviews of The Walker’s Handbook' in the Navigation panel to the right of the illustration of the cover.

2

General Discussion / Re: cattle

« on: September 04, 2015, 07:28:06 PM »

I believe that the law in England and Wales is reasonably straightforward. Here are two extracts from The Walker's Handbook based on information derived from Rights of Way; a guide to law and practice by Riddall & Trevelyan which is the standard work on the law as it applies to England and Wales:

40   Beef- breed bulls, providing that are accompanied by cows or heifers, may be pastured in fields crossed by public paths. It is illegal to pasture bulls of recognized dairy breeds that are more than ten months old in fields crossed by public paths. (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 section 59.) Dairy breeds include
•   Ayrshire
•   British Friesian
•   British Holstein
•   Dairy Shorthorn
•   Guernsey
•   Jersey 
•   Kerry 

Note that all dairy breeds are prohibited with the most popular breeds listed. This should take care of other dairy breeds introduced into the UK.

41   It is illegal to have an animal known to be dangerous (including beef breed bulls) in fields crossed by public paths. (Animals Act 1971 section 59, Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 section 3.)

67   The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984 was amended so that occupiers of access land owe no duty of care to the public except by reckless behaviour. Thus walkers would not normally be able to claim against the occupier should they be injured.

Hugh
For a preview of the 5th edition of my book The Walker’s Handbook; Everything you Need to Know about Walking in the British Isles click on http://walkwithwestacott.com/. Then click on ‘Reviews of The Walker’s Handbook' in the Navigation panel to the right of the illustration of the cover.






 

3

General Discussion / Re: cattle

« on: September 04, 2015, 07:36:23 AM »

I believe that most of the walkers killed by cattle have been accompanied by a dog for which cattle have a strong aversion. My daughter lives in dairy country and has her own dogs and a dog-walking business but she never takes them into a field containing cattle. If you are with a dog, the advice given by the National Farmers' Union and the Ramblers when cattle show interest in your dog, is to let go of the leash and allow the dog take care of itself; most dogs can outrun cattle.

My observations suggest that:
Bulls pastured in fields crossed by public rights of way are usually harmless, especially when with cows, but should be given a wide berth.

Mature milking cows are usually lethargic and merely keep a watchful eye on humans (unless you are with a dog). BUT, you should never go near a cow with a small calf because she might attack you.

Heifers (female virgin cattle), which can be distinguished from bullocks because they lack a penis, are lively but are almost always harmless. They will often come running towards you because they lead boring lives and you may be the one point of interest in their day, but will come skidding to a stop before they reach you. Wave your arms and they will run away, or just follow you at a safe instance and will appear to be disappointed when you cross into the next field..

Bullocks, also known as steers, are castrated bulls so have a penis but lack the large scrotum of a bull. Bullocks rarely reach old age, because they are reared for their meat, and behave much like heifers.

All cattle are livelier in the spring when they are released onto fresh pasture after spending the winter in barns. I've seen elderly cows skipping with joy when first released. Herds of young cattle will sometimes run up and down or round and round a field giving the impression of a stampede. It looks alarming but they won't come close unless you are with a dog.

I never allow dogs on the walks that I lead.

Hugh

For a preview of the 5th edition of my book The Walker’s Handbook; Everything you Need to Know about Walking in the British Isles click on http://walkwithwestacott.com/. Then click on ‘Reviews of The Walker’s Handbook' in the Navigation panel to the right of the illustration of the cover.

4

Maps / Re: Ordnance Survey Story - BBC4

« on: September 02, 2015, 06:39:23 AM »

You beat me to it, Ian!

I have a small part in the programme supposedly demonstrating how walkers use Ordnance Survey maps. I can easily be identified as the the only geriatric dwarf in the clip.

Hugh
For a preview of the 5th edition of my book The Walker’s Handbook; Everything you Need to Know about Walking in the British Isles click on http://walkwithwestacott.com. Then click on ‘Reviews of The Walker’s Handbook in the Navigation panel to the right of the illustration of the cover.

5

Maps / Re: map symbols

« on: August 30, 2015, 05:37:33 AM »

I'm glad to know that your faith in maps has been restored, W W!

However, it should not be blind faith. A map can only be accurate at the time of the survey (which can be found on the map key). As time passes, roads are re-aligned, new buildings are erected, farmers grub hedges etc so there are occasions when a map no longer reflects the existing landscape accurately.

Some years ago I got into a hopeless mess trying to follow a route on the map. I came to a railway line, which, according to the map, the path ran parallel to. But no other feature seemed to match. Whilst I was trying to solve the puzzle, a Eurostar train flashed past and light dawned. The map I was using was based on a survey made before the new line to the Channel Tunnel had been built. I had not walked far enough to reach the railway line shown on the map.

Hugh
For a preview of the 5th edition of my book The Walker’s Handbook; Everything you Need to Know about Walking in the British Isles click on http://walkwithwestacott.com. Then click on ‘Reviews of The Walker’s Handbook in the Navigation panel to the right of the illustration of the cover.

6

Maps / Re: map symbols

« on: August 29, 2015, 12:36:16 PM »

Sorry, WW, I misread your grid reference when I copied it and I've now found the location.

I agree that a chimney would be a useful feature from which to to take a bearing but I believe that the Ordnance Survey would argue that it's not necessary to depict every feature in an urban area. I suspect that the presence of a chimney would be indicated in a wild and remote spot, not by a symbol but by the legend 'Chimney' beside a dot.

Hugh

7

Maps / Re: map symbols

« on: August 29, 2015, 08:34:25 AM »

Welcome to this friendly forum, Which Way!

Are you sure that you have the correct grid reference? I’ve checked it on the latest edition of the Explorer map and it appears to be close to a small pond and a large square glass house 500 metres due west of the river Goyt.

I’ve checked the key of all the OS 1:25,000 series and can confirm that:
First series: has no symbol for chimneys.
Second series: chimneys indicated by small circle. The first map appeared in were issued in 1965 but it was not until 1990 that the whole country was covered.
Pathfinder series: has no symbol for chimneys.
Current Explorer series: has no symbol for chimneys.

It is interesting to speculate why the OS decided to omit the depiction of chimneys but it may be because so many were demolished during the latter half of the twentieth century that there was little point in continuing to depict this feature.

I'm afraid that it is an unrealistic to expect a 1:25,000 map to be absolutely accurate. Omissions and simplifications have to be made in the interest of clarity. Unfortunately, the OS does not publish the conventions it employs on its maps, and most walkers are blissfully unaware of them even though some of them are quite important. Most of them are listed and discussed in my book (see below). I don't have access to the 1:10,000 and 1:2500 maps but I'm pretty confident that your chimney would be marked on them.

Hugh
For a preview of the 5th edition of my book The Walker’s Handbook; Everything you Need to Know about Walking in the British Islesclick on http://walkwithwestacott.com. Then click on ‘Reviews of The Walker’s Handbook' in the Navigation panel to the right of the illustration of the cover.

8

Satnav (GPS GLONASS COMPASS Galileo) / Re: Handheld satnavs and GNSS

« on: August 26, 2015, 05:57:40 AM »

Thanks, LS!

I hope that this provides the correct link to the reviews.

 For a preview of the 5th edition of my book The Walker’s Handbook; Everything you Need to Know about Walking in the British Isles click on http://walkwithwestacott.com. Then click on ‘Reviews of The Walker’s Handbook' in the Navigation panel to the right of the illustration of the cover.

Hugh

9

Satnav (GPS GLONASS COMPASS Galileo) / Re: Handheld satnavs and GNSS

« on: August 24, 2015, 02:26:18 PM »

Thanks to whoever was responsible for resurrecting this thread!

Hugh

10

Satnav (GPS GLONASS COMPASS Galileo) / Deleted topic

« on: August 24, 2015, 11:40:46 AM »

Sorry, chaps! In my cackhanded way I've accidentally deleted this topic. Can anyone restore it, please? This is the message I was trying to post:

Thanks, LS!

I have to admit that I have struggled with this chapter because it is one of the aspects of walking about which I know very little.

Also, it is the one subject that is dynamic and constantly developing and thus does not readily lend itself to book format. So all I can do is to discuss the subject in general terms. I’m glad that Ian pointed out that I was being too prescriptive and I’m pleased that it now seems about right.

I’ve contacted CP but I guess he’s on holiday in some exotic location.

Best wishes

Hugh

11

New Techniques & Learning / Re: The Walker's Handbook - a review

« on: August 24, 2015, 11:34:28 AM »

Sorry, chaps! In my cackhanded way I've managed to delete some of the replies. Can anyone restore them?

Here is my response to Lost soul

Thanks, LS!

I have to admit that I have struggled with this chapter because it is an aspect of walking about which I know very little.

Also, it is the one subject that is dynamic and constantly developing and thus does not readily lend itself to book format. So all I can do is to discuss the subject in general terms. I’m glad that Ian pointed out that I was being too prescriptive and I’m pleased that it now seems about right.

I’ve contacted CP but I guess he’s on holiday in some exotic location.

Best wishes

Hugh

12

Satnav (GPS GLONASS COMPASS Galileo) / Re: Handheld satnavs and GNSS

« on: August 24, 2015, 11:25:36 AM »

Thanks, LS!

I have to admit that I have struggled with this chapter because it is an aspect of walking about which I know very little.

Also, it is the one subject that is dynamic and constantly developing and thus does not readily lend itself to book format. So all I can do is to discuss the subject in general terms. I’m glad that Ian pointed out that I was being too prescriptive and I’m pleased that it now seems about right.

I’ve contacted CP but I guess he’s on holiday in some exotic location.

Best wishes

Hugh
For a preview of the 5th edition of my book The Walker’s Handbook; Everything you Need to Know about Walking in the British Isles click here. Then click on ‘Reviews of The Walker’s Handbook' in the Navigation panel to the right of the illustration of the cover. 
 

13

Satnav (GPS GLONASS COMPASS Galileo) / Re: Handheld satnavs and GNSS

« on: August 24, 2015, 06:50:34 AM »

Thanks for that, Ian.

I'm coming round to the view that the easiest way to deal with the problem you have raised is to alter the passage in red to read

Note that signals from all four systems are compatible and can, depending on their age and level of sophistication, be received by satnavs, smartphones etc. Other countries are also developing navigation satellite systems.


Hugh

14

Satnav (GPS GLONASS COMPASS Galileo) / Handheld satnavs and GNSS

« on: August 22, 2015, 05:52:45 AM »

The first printing of my book The Walker's Handbook; Everything you Need to Know about Walking in the British Isles has almost sold out. for the 2nd impression, I'm taking the opportunity to correct one major factual and elementary error, and a couple of typos.

In his helpful and perceptive review on this forum, Ianj37 queried whether it was possible for handheld satnavs to receive signals from GLONASS. Here is the relevant passage which I should be most grateful if some of the experts on this forum would comment and correct (some of the formatting has been lost in cutting and pasting). I've highlighted in red what I believe may be incorrect but I'd welcome additional corrections.

Definition of terms
2 The terms used in connection with satellite navigation systems have not yet been standardized and are sometimes confusing and self-contradictory. Those used in this book are defined here:
   .   a)  The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) refers to the system of circulating satellites and the signals that they transmit. They are transmitted from the satellites of

• the Global Positioning System (GPS) operated by the United States
• GALILEO operated by the European Space Agency

• the Global Navigation System (GLONASS) operated by the Russian 
authorities

• BDS (formerly known as Compass and Beidou-2) operated by the 
Chinese authorities

Note that signals from all four systems are compatible and can be received by most satnavs, smartphones etc. Other countries are also developing navi- gation satellite systems.
   .   
Description of the Global Navigation Satellite System
3 The satellites of the four organizations, the Global Positioning System (GPS), GALILEO, GLONASS and BDS that make up the Global Navigation Satellite System transmit signals that can be picked up by a handheld satnav that converts the information into geographical coordinates. These will, depending on the sophistication of your handheld satnav, enable you to:
   .   a)  Establish your position anywhere on the earth’s surface to within 5 metres.
   .   b)  Establish a series of coordinates from a map,and in put them into a hand- held satnav and then navigate to each one in turn.
   .   c)  Record a route you are walking, and then to save it and use it again later.
   .   d)  Plot the route on a computer mapping system to see where you have been.
   .   e)  Share routes with others via computers.
   .   f)  Download maps from a computer into your handheld satnav and follow a route in real time.
   .   
4  The accuracy of the signals picked up by handheld satnavs used by walkers is generally 5 metres or better for 95 per cent of the time.

5  There are two supplementary systems that receive satellite signals and improve their accuracy for use in civilian handheld satnavs. These Satellite-Based Aug- mentation Systems (SBAS) use a network of ground-based stations in fixed locations to calculate the locally-received errors. Corrections are transmitted to the satellites which then broadcast the corrected signals to handheld satnavs
   •   WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) which covers the United States and Canada
   •   EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) which covers Europe and the British Isles and extends for hundreds of miles into the Atlantic and as far north as Greenland
   
6  WAAS, EGNOS, GLONASS and BDS are compatible systems. Providing that your handheld satnav is either WAAS or EGNOS-enabled then accuracy is likely to be as good as 1·5 metres for 99 per cent of the time. Note that most handheld satnavs are manufactured by American companies which means that when setting one up for the first time you can normally only specify WAAS in the menu option. However, when specifying WAAS in European countries you will automatically be tuned to EGNOS.

15

Maps / Fascinating Soviet maps

« on: July 20, 2015, 08:34:10 AM »

Here is a fascination and alarming article about the scope of maps made by the soviet Union

http://www.wired.com/2015/07/secret-cold-war-maps/

Hugh