Paper Maps

[Lindsay53]

Are there any paper maps of the Frances? I found these referred to on the Australian Friends of the Camino site but have had no luck sourcing them. As time is running out before I go I was wondering if there is anything similar available in SJPDP? I have searched the forum and can't seem to find an answer.

 

[C clearly]

Have a look at this website. (I googled "hiking store st jean pied de port"). There is even an email address for you to reserve things.

 

[Ecuador12]

They hand out 1 page maps with altitude, all towns on the camino, and distance between towns at the Pilgrim office. They also hand out a list of Albergues.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Are there any paper maps of the Frances? I found these referred to on the Australian Friends of the Camino site but have had no luck sourcing them.View attachment 54249 As time is running out before I go I was wondering if there is anything similar available in SJPDP? I have searched the forum and can't seem to find an answer.

Hi, Lindsay.

The Camino is so well marked that you really don't need paper maps to find your way. In larger cities, as a tourist, they could be helpful, but I just do an offline Google Maps download on my smartphone and can use that to efficiently find my way.

If you are just continuing through the city walking Camino and not staying over, like Pamplona or Sahagun, even then it is fairly easy to follow the markings and sidewalk/street inlays showing the way.

I carried Brierley's maps only book. It is compact, light, and has all of the maps he has in his much heavier guidebook. I didn't really need it, but I used it to make little observations and notes on the map matching my location.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Is there a reason you want a map?

 

[Saint Mike II]

Are there any paper maps of the Frances? I found these referred to on the Australian Friends of the Camino site but have had no luck sourcing them.View attachment 54249 As time is running out before I go I was wondering if there is anything similar available in SJPDP? I have searched the forum and can't seem to find an answer.

Hola - I think I have an old one. I think it came from Australian Friends of the Camino or their associate who runs one day Camino famil days. Cheers

 

[Lindsay53]

Have a look at this website. (I googled "hiking store st jean pied de port"). There is even an email address for you to reserve things.

Thanks, this looks like a good place to start.

 

[Lindsay53]

Is there a reason you want a map?

Good question Anniesantiago. On a walk like the camino a map is not strictly necessary, however I always like to know where I am in relation to my immediate surroundings and in the larger landscape. I have the Wise Pilgrim app on my phone which is great for information about places en route, but the maps are not adequate for my purposes and in any case its a pain in the arse mucking around with a phone when looking at a physical map is so much easier.

 

[Lindsay53]

Hi, Lindsay.

The Camino is so well marked that you really don't need paper maps to find your way. In larger cities, as a tourist, they could be helpful, but I just do an offline Google Maps download on my smartphone and can use that to efficiently find my way.

If you are just continuing through the city walking Camino and not staying over, like Pamplona or Sahagun, even then it is fairly easy to follow the markings and sidewalk/street inlays showing the way.

I carried Brierley's maps only book. It is compact, light, and has all of the maps he has in his much heavier guidebook. I didn't really need it, but I used it to make little observations and notes on the map matching my location.

Hi Dave, I find a physical map is easier to use on the go than mucking around with a phone, and as I have both the app and the Wise Pilgrim guidebook I may end up cutting the map pages out of the book and using the app for general information. This will also save me about 200g in weight.

 

[Margaret Butterworth]

One problem with Google Maps is that it doesn't actually show the Camino.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

How about the Michelin guide:

 

[Deleted member 67185]

One problem with Google Maps is that it doesn't actually show the Camino.

I never used a map for locating the Camino, it is too well marked to need one. Google Maps was just to find locations in the cities to visit.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

One problem with Google Maps is that it doesn't actually show the Camino.

It will if you ask it nicely enough - CAMINO VASCO

 

[Glenshiro]

The Spanish national mapping institute, Instituto Geográfico Nacional, publishes a 1:50,000 series of maps covering the entire CF from Roncesvalles to SdC. The CF is broken down to 32 stages, (not the same as Brierley's) and each map covers 4 stages. They can be bought individually or as a set.

They are available online from Stanfords in the UK and, probably, from stationers/booksellers in larger towns on the CF.

 

[Glenshiro]

It will if you ask it nicely enough - CAMINO VASCO

Jeff, I can't get this to work.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Jeff, I can't get this to work.

Oops! I was doing some clean up on the laptop and erased the map! Off to the naughty step. I'll try again!

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Jeff, I can't get this to work.

See if THIS works - I'd left it set to private!

 

[Glenshiro]

Got it - thanks.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Got it - thanks.

If you want to have a go yourself the attached is how to do it. In the past I've found that sometimes .gpx is better than .kml/kmx - it varies on the quality of the data. You can also jazz around with the colour of the track, the icons you can use (look carefully and you'll see you can choose old or new icon - I like the old ones better but there are more in the new collection).
You can have multiple layers and add points, cafes, lookout points etc.
Finally you can share them so long as you remember to NOT to delete the map and also not keep it private!

 

[islandwalker]

If you want to have a go yourself the attached is how to do it.

I'd like to try this, Jeff, so thanks for the instructions! I vaguely remember reading once that Google only keeps personal maps for 30 days. Do you know if there is indeed a time limit?

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I'd like to try this, Jeff, so thanks for the instructions! I vaguely remember reading once that Google only keeps personal maps for 30 days. Do you know if there is indeed a time limit?

Glad to be of service! Google do two type of personal maps. These ones are stored on your Google Drive (don't forget you get a basic 15Gb of storage for each Google account!) and stay there forever - I've one for the sailing directions in the song "Spanish Ladies" that's been hanging around for years!
The other version is for offline maps where you choose an area and download it to your phone or tablet. That does have a time limit.
I've never tried putting tracks on the offline version - I use maps.me and Viewranger - but as it's cold and miserable today (England in the Spring!) I might have a dabble.
Those instructions are very basic - there's so much more to do if you explore: add notes and photos for example. With this and Google Earth the world is your (virtual) oyster!

 

[islandwalker]

Google do two type of personal maps.

This is very helpful, Jeff! I had no idea there were two different types. I'll try it next week when I get home from a short trip.