Click Edit Route to enter edit mode, then click anywhere on the map to add waypoints. Each click adds a new point and the route is automatically snapped to roads and paths. Click Stop Editing when done. On mobile, tap Menu to access the sidebar.
Waypoints can be dragged after placing them — grab any marker and drop it to a new position and the affected route segments will recalculate automatically. Use Reverse Route to flip the direction of the entire route.
Select your activity before adding waypoints — it controls which paths and roads the routing engine prefers:
Changing profile only affects new segments — existing parts of your route are not re-routed.
Toggle Free Draw to connect waypoints with a straight line instead of following roads or paths. Useful when routing fails or a path isn't mapped. Elevation data is still calculated along the line.
Undo removes the last waypoint and its segment. Clear removes the entire route.
The elevation chart below the map updates as you build your route. Hover over the chart to see a red marker appear on the map at that position, along with a tooltip showing the distance from the start, elevation, and gradient at that point. You can also hover directly over the route line on the map to highlight the corresponding point on the chart.
The Route Stats panel shows total distance and cumulative elevation gain. Use the Metric / Imperial button to switch between km/m and miles/ft. The Markers button toggles distance markers along the route.
Routes are rated Easy, Moderate, or Hard based on both total distance and gradient, independently assessed for each activity type. The harder of the two scores is shown.
Use the style buttons in the top-left of the map to switch between four base maps:
The Overlays panel adds extra layers on top of the base map:
Overlays can be toggled on and off at any time and work with all base map styles.
When you place your first waypoint or load a route, a weather forecast for the start point appears in the sidebar. It shows current conditions — temperature, feels-like, and wind — plus a three-day forecast with daily highs, lows, and precipitation probability. Values respect the Metric / Imperial setting. Weather data is provided by Open-Meteo under CC BY 4.0.
In the Overlays panel, enable Community Reports to show crowdsourced reports from other users — things like cattle in a field, flooded paths, fallen trees, or closed footpaths. Reports are shown as emoji markers on the map and expire automatically based on type (livestock reports last 24 hours; path closures up to 30 days).
The button shows a count of active reports in the current map view even when the overlay is off — for example Community Reports (3) — so you can see at a glance whether there is anything relevant before turning it on.
When the overlay is on, click + Report on the map to add your own report. Click the map to place it, choose a condition type, add an optional note, and submit. Signed-in users can tap Still there on any marker to extend its lifespan, or Gone to remove it immediately.
When you click Navigate, Navstride automatically checks for active reports near your route. If any are found, a summary is shown before tracking starts so you can decide whether to proceed.
Sign in or create a free account to save routes and record activities. Enter a route name and click Save. Tick Make this route public to share it on the Route Explorer page. Your saved routes appear in the sidebar — click one to load it, or use the × button to delete it.
Export GPX downloads the route as a GPX file compatible with Garmin devices and apps such as Strava and Komoot.
Import GPX loads a GPX file from your device, displaying the track on the map with full elevation profile and stats. If the file contains a route name it will be pre-filled. Importing replaces any current route.
Google Maps opens your route in Google Maps in a new tab using your waypoints as stops. Best for cycling on roads — off-road and footpath results may differ from what you planned.
Your in-progress route is automatically saved in your browser. If you refresh or close the tab, your draft will be restored when you return — even without an account.
Click Navigate to start following your route using your device's GPS. A bar at the bottom of the map shows six live stats: elapsed time, distance covered, distance remaining, current speed or pace, average speed or pace, and estimated time of arrival.
The map centres on your position automatically. Pan away to browse freely, then tap Recenter to snap back. A pulsing blue dot marks your position with an accuracy circle. If you stray more than 50 metres from the route, an Off route warning appears. Navigation detects when you reach the end of the route and pauses automatically.
Use Pause to suspend tracking and review your stats snapshot, then Resume to continue or Finish to end the session. If you refresh the page mid-navigation, your session is restored in a paused state — tap Resume to continue from where you left off.
Click Record to start a free-form GPS recording without a pre-planned route — useful for exploring new areas or simply tracking a run or walk as you go. Requires a signed-in account.
A blue line draws your actual GPS path on the map in real time. The nav bar shows elapsed time, distance covered, and current speed or pace. Distance remaining and ETA are not shown since there is no target route.
Tap Pause then Finish to end the session. The activity is saved to your account automatically. On the finish screen, tap Save track as route to convert your recorded GPS path into a saved route — it will appear in your Saved Routes in the sidebar and can be loaded, edited, or made public.
When you tap Finish at the end of any navigation or recording session, the activity is automatically saved to your account (distance, time, pace or speed, and the linked route if applicable). Click Activities in the header to view your history. Each entry links back to the original route so you can open it in the planner again.
Click Route Explorer in the header to browse public routes. Filter by name, activity, distance, or use Nearby to find routes close to a location. Toggle between List and Map view — the map view shows route start points as coloured dots, with a popup on click. Routes show a difficulty badge and, for curated routes, an Official badge. Use the 🐾 Dog friendly filter to show only dog-friendly routes.
Each route has a shareable link — click Share on any card to copy the URL or use your device's native share sheet. The route preview page shows a live map, stats, any active condition reports near the route, photos added by the community, and comments. Signed-in users can add photos (up to 5 per route, 5 MB each) and leave comments.
Use the search box in the header to jump to any place — town, city, landmark, or postcode. Type at least 3 characters and select a result to pan and zoom the map. Hidden on mobile; use pinch-to-zoom or Find My Location instead.
Click Find My Location in the header to centre the map on your current position. Your browser will ask for location permission the first time.
Found a bug or have a question? Email [email protected] and we'll get back to you.
Active community reports near your route:
Plan, navigate, and share outdoor routes — free, no app required.
Click the map to build a route. Snaps to roads, paths, and trails automatically.
Follow a planned route with live GPS, or hit Record to track a free-form activity as you go.
Browse public routes by activity, distance, and location. Filter for dog-friendly routes.
Crowdsourced reports of livestock, flooded paths, closures, and more — checked automatically before you navigate.
No account needed to plan and explore routes.