Do you love maps? I just LOVE them. Old, new, made-up, real, treasure maps, map books, posters, globes, star maps, all of ’em!
I love encouraging kids to love maps, one of the suggestions in my article how to motivate children on family walks.
I love finding quirky places to visit with the family and unusual events to try, but sometimes it’s hard to know the best map to buy for a particular adventure or exploration.
I love maps almost as much as I love my camper van.
Cartography Challenge
As does my (map enthusiast) sister, who came up with the idea of somehow using a map as a table top for the camper van. Ingenious but challenging. I commenced extensive cartographic research.
The Great British Adventure Map sounded perfect for the job if I could come up with a way of water- and heat-proofing it, so when it plopped through the letterbox I was highly excited.
And then a tiny bit disappointed đ€ It seemed more words than map. But read on… these are not just any old words.
What is The Great British Adventure Map?
Made by S T & G (the exquisitely named Strumpshaw, Tingleton & Giggleswick) it’s the ultimate adventure map of Britain.
At 100 cm x 89 cm it’s a folded, full colour map and guide to Britain’s wild places, from mountains to mole hills.
‘Joyously busy’
And lots of writing, all quite small and difficult to decipher. Too much to take in at one viewing and a little hard to find something specific one might be looking for. Although it was described as ‘joyously busy’… Hmm.
With an upcoming week-long international Cub camp involving a road trip from Northumberland to Newbury it seemed an ideal map to show the Cubs the immensity of our journey down there.
Wife Carrying or Toe Wrestling anyone?
That’s when the trouble started. I spotted a place on the map where a wife carrying contest occurs, amongst other things.
My interest was piqued!
I quickly discovered the location of the UK’s National Nettle Eating Competition, a snorkel trail (in the UK?!), even shipwreck locations. And that was that. In fact I ended up extremely behind in my Cub camp packing!!
How To Use Your Great British Adventure Map
- Keep it close at hand!
- Use it in conjunction with an OS map
- Do online research on anything on the map that looks intriguing
After my initial disappointment, I can now confirm that the best way to use the map is to get it out every time you plan a visit, day trip or holiday. To anywhere. Whether on your own, with friends, the family and kids, even the Cubs.
We spent a fortnight in Cornwall after Cub camp and the map was an excellent addition to our planning, showing beaches, places of interest and even the Padstow Obby Oss (a North Cornwall May Day festival).
On the reverse of the map is more info and facts about top British adventure locations, space for writing your own planning notes and much more.
Mad Maps and British-men
Blimey I love Britain. We’re really a complete bunch of nutters and eccentrics. Adventurous eccentrics but eccentrics all the same.
And I love maps even more than I did before!
And I love the eccentric nutter who dreamt up the contents of this map and researched it all – that must have been one fun project. I wonder if they tried wife carrying..?
Table-top Map Project
It turns out the Great British Adventure Map is too large to adapt as a table-top for my specific camper van (which I’m glad about since I now love it so much!) and even if it was the right size there’s too much info on the back that would be lost.
Dennis Maps have sent me some other OS map samples to try for the project so look out for a future post when we’ve worked out a heat-proofing solution.
In the meantime, if you’re even half an adventuring map buff, get your hands on a Great British Adventure Map today!!
Wild wishes to you for happy map-reading and wild British adventures galore!!
Get The Gear
Buy your copy of the Great British Adventure Map now – click the image to find the best price on Amazon.
For a chance to get your own Great British Adventure Map along with a Lifestraw Play kids filtering water bottle look out for my upcoming giveaway.
For more outdoor gear and book reviews browse Kids of the Wildâs reviews section
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NB Kids of the Wild received a Great British Adventure Map for the purposes of this review. All views and observations are my own.
World Toe Wrestling?! Brilliant! Made me giggle. I had not come across this map and looks a fantastic accompaniment for a day out hiking with little ones. #adventurecalling
Made me giggle too!! It adds another dimension of fun to family days out that’s for sure
Looks great! Think I will order one for next time I am home. Thanks for the share. #adventurecalling
You’ll enjoy it if you get one, even to reaad at home for some armchair adventures.
National Neetle Eating Competition??? We have one of these and I just love it #adventurecalling
Amazing, you’ve been? I’d love to know what it was like. Is that in Wales?
Looks like the perfect addition to our library of maps and travel books! #adventurecalling
Sounds absolutely perfect. It’s a fun way to explore the country from the library or out and about! Thanks for reading
I will be buying this as a Christmas present for everyone, what a brilliant idea! Thanks for writing about it. #adventurecalling
They’re so much fun for outdoor people, and map loving armchair travellers too!
That sounds like a cool map. Sometimes I find myself exploring google maps online just to look for places and landmarks I’ve never seen before where I live. #Adventurecalling
This would be a great map to find unusual things locally in that case, though you might want to move to be nearer some of the crazy stuff!!
I LOVE MAPS TOO!!!
And thank you so much for this post. I bought this map a few months ago, opened it up and was overwhelmed by the amount of information. I had a quick look through it, thought I needed the magnifying glass on my compass to read but decided it was awesome then put it away to be looked at again after the wedding. Then forgot about it! So guess what I’m doing tonight.
And a map table is a brilliant idea. A pub in Ambleside (The Golden Rule I think) has a map table that I like to bagsy when I go in. They have a piece of glass (i think) over it. Don’t know if that is practical for a camper though.
#adventurecalling
Yeay, glad it’s inspired you to take another look. Interesting you thought it was a bit wordy/small too. I’ll have to check out that pub next time we’re in the Lakes. Actually I hadn’t considered a piece of glass but possibly not hugely practical. Food for thought though, thanks! I’ll be sorting my comments this week, very behind after our holiday.
This is a fantastic way to learn about the country. It also reminds me of the days I dated my hubby. #adventurecalling
I’m intrigued which bits remind you? Maps, adventures, wife throwing, toe wrestling, nettle eating or something else??!!
I can see how your initial disappointment changed to intrigue. I seriously need to get one of these just to check out the many madcap things going on in the places that we visit. Thanks for joining us on #adventurecalling.
I’m surprised you haven’t got one already!
I LOVE maps too, always have, just like you. A couple of years ago, a book was published in Ireland called Irelandopedia, which lists county by county interesting facts and downright bonkers traditions and events on this little island. I have used it many times for inspiration on where to go and what to do! To have such information in map format would be a treat indeed!
#Adventurecalling
We should get in touch with the mapmakers to produce one for Ireland. I’ll send a tweet!
I’ve got one of these although I haven’t seen it post house move…hmm. I love maps and love the idea of using them to decorate. Thanks for reminding me about it! #AdventureCalling
Ace, glad to have been a memory jolt!
I’m a real map fan as well and this looks fantastic. Did you know we live about 6 miles from where the World Nettle Eating Champions are held in West Dorset, my friend often supplies the nettles!
Just found this in spam, sorry for the delay. That’s amazing about the nettle eating championships. It’s on my list of events to attend; I’ll let you know when we make it, maybe meet up!