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I could have an 18 mile (each way) road commute to work but I really don't like cycling on the road (particularly during rush hour). Â Is there a clever app to stitch tracks and bridleways together instead (like Google maps directions but off-road)?. Â OS maps are not suggesting anything obvious but they don't include cycle paths which could be the key.
Open Street Maps via Viewranger is good for spotting the cycle trails.
I would pair with a Strava heatmap nosey.
open street maps +1. It also includes sustrans routes and the like. V handy imo.
I used Bing maps. Yes! Bing! 😆
It has Ordnance Survey mapping (down to Explorer scale) and you can draw lines on the screen, what more do you need eh?
Google includes cycle paths if you select cycling. Doesn't include BW's though.
PITA really that there isn't one resource that will stitch together a decent 'cycling' route. One that uses cycle paths out of preference, includes BW's that are passable to an average person on a commuting bike, and ignores the busiest/fastest roads. I'm sure Sustrans could do something with their army of volunteers and local knowledge, but they seem to only care about routes with blue signs (which we all know are often useless).
I have found that discussing routes with other commuter cyclists at home /work or even on the commute has given me more off road commute options than any of the mapping services.
For about 4 years I have been riding once /twice a week from Surrey to London and only in the last year or so have I discovered the gentle off road options via canals, rivers, Commons , bridleways, parks and fields .
Where are your rough start / end points. Someone here might be able to offer some tips.
bikehike allows you to plot a route with a dual window view, Ord survey on one and another which can toggle between OSM, google earth and google maps. http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php
I usually have bing maps open as well, as it gives you 1:25K, bikehike only 1:50K
I'll occasionally check a stretch of connecting footpath on streetmaps to see if it's established cheeky or generally avoided - there's usually a reason!
http://cycle.travel/map does a reasonable job of pulling together sustrans routes, BWs and cycle paths for commuting. It'll also suggest circular routes if you're after inspiration on a weekend ride.
I've found Komoot useful - need to switch on the "Mountain Biking (Alpine)" option in the route planner. I wouldn't trust it entirely to plan a route but it's good for highlighting alternatives.
.... having said that just looking at that  link @cleetonator - looks good!
Seems to do everything that Komoot does but easier to use ...
Www.walkthelakes.co.uk/maps
If you create a login (free) you get full screen OS mapping to 1:25000
You can create or upload gpx files.
Simple and great, no frills.
You can pay them if you want to support them.
could try RouteYou (and select required options).
BikeHike and WheresThePath might be similar..
ridewithgps.com is the best I've found.
it's worth checking any route out on the strava heat map to see how well used they are
Wow, loads to play with this evening. Â Thank you.
What peekay said, ask a local. Where are you?
I haven't checked out more modern online services, so still continue to use Viking GPS. It can show OSM, Satellite, DEM (elevation depending on your taste for hills) for areas. You can overlay different maps over each other with transparency (ie OSM over satellite or DEM). I usually use Strava to locate an offroad segment then download a few GPX of rides include that segment (via Strava to GPX bookmarklet) load the GPX into Viking, split them apart and stitch a new route together combined with some hand drawn plotting. It can take some time but hasn't let me down. Filter segments on Strava by this-month or this-year to reduce likelihood of unrideable trails.
https://www.cyclestreets.net/ does a good job with OSM data
You can then open that in https://www.gpsies.com/ and tweak away