It’s MAGIC – free on-line OS mapping and route planning tool from DEFRA

[Eyelet]

The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) have a free on-line digital mapping tool called MAGIC Map: https://magic.defra.gov.uk/magicmap.aspx and it comes with an easy to use online help file. 

Amongst the various mapping layers, the familiar OS 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 colour mapping can be selected and areas up to A3 size printed at scale to PDF. There is also an aerial imaging layer and these two layers both have transparency sliders which greatly facilitates swapping between the map and imaging when route planning. Other selectable layers include CRoW access areas, registered common land, national trails, English coast path route and much more.

You can use the line drawing tool to plot a route on the map. It is easy to edit the line of the route and swap over to the aerial imaging layer to fine tune it if you wish.  When you have finished can then export it as ZIP file. As yet, the program does not currently support export to GPX and will not create a Google Earth KML or KMZ file either.

However, the ZIP file contains a number of files and amongst them you need to find the one called “magic_lines.shp” which is a standard ESRI shape file containing the georeferenced trackpoints and this file can be readily converted into a GPX or a KML file.
 
You can either do this online using one of the free converters (Google: SHP to GPX converter) or download a free app. Either use the DNRGPS app from https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mis/gis/DNRGPS/DNRGPS.html which will do this on your computer and works with Garmin devices or GPS Babel https://www.gpsbabel.org/can to do the conversion. You will need to check that the converted GPX is read by your navigation app or device before rushing out to the hills to follow it!

You can also import tracks and routes as GPX, CSV or as a ZIP file which contains a GPX or CSV and view them in MAGIC. You cannot at present upload KML or KMZ files. You can choose colours for the track, trackpoints and waypoints before you load the file and these will be displayed on the selected mapping or imaging, but there does not seem to be any editing functionality at present.

[cpcnw]

I'm assuming better features than this https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ [nofollow]

[Eyelet]

I'm assuming better features than this https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/

OSMaps is a paid for app (which I also use) and gives you other benefits including synching routes with the OS phone app and management (import/export/editing) of saved routes. Magic being free has a simpler feature set, but more mapping layers and access to DEFRA overlays.  Magic also supports some functionality e.g. drawing polygons for measuring area and a better interface with GIS software which probably won't be of much interest to walkers.


If you just want to plot a route and print a map, IMHO Magic is a pretty good web map viewer for free. If you want a satnav app with OS mapping on your phone then Magic isn't suitable.

[jimbob]

Thanks Eyelet.

[richardh1905]

Excellent, thank you. Used it to set up a local orienteering course for my family!

[Eyelet]

Excellent, thank you. Used it to set up a local orienteering course for my family!

Very professional Richard - I'm impressed!

[richardh1905]

Thank you 
I just used Paint to add the checkpoints and text.

[barewirewalker]

Useful site, thanks for bringing it to our attention, will be doing a bit of exploring the layers. I wonder if anyone will be comparing the countryside stewardship maps with the level of public access or lack of it, 

[barewirewalker]

I wrote something about Montford bridge and how it could be a pivotal location for walking.

The DEFRA map is a bit clearer than the Ramblers' Don't lose your way map, screen shots merging the two does make a more definite map. I am hopeful that I can collect enough facts to show the Shropshire CC's Great Outdoors Liason Group that the CLA speak unsubstantiated nonsense. Free software such as GIMP take a bit of grasping but perhaps the routes that show up between the blue and green may one day open up our countryside to greater purpose.
Only started playing around with the DEFRA site this morning.