iWalk Cornwall - What does each walk contain

Each walk in the app includes

  • Detailed, triple-tested and continually-maintained directions. We periodically re-walk every route ourselves and update the directions. A group of volunteers also continually feed back changes to the routes.
  • A GPS-accurate map of the route showing exactly where you are and which way you are facing at all times.
  • Local information on the history, landscape and wildlife along the route. We've researched over 3,000 topics. Each walk includes a minimum of 25 points of interest and most walks have significantly more. A typical walk contains the information equivalent to a 40-50 page guidebook tailored to just what's relevant to that specific route.
  • When you do a walk, the app automatically adapts its natural history information to be seasonally-relevant. It knows when many common flowers start and stop flowering and adjusts the content accordingly based on local knowledge from fieldwork at each of the locations within the directions. Doing a walk in the spring you may get info about bluebells on a woodland section. Doing the same walk in autumn, you may get info about fungi.
  • Information about the route that allows the app to accurately track distance travelled, estimate time left based on your walking speed and count down distance to the next direction point as you walk along. If you are walking in the evening it also calculates the time of dusk and warns you if it looks likely that you'll run out of light.
  • Smart off-route warnings, tailored from local knowledge to give you enough freedom to explore points of interest without "computer says no".
  • Information about the dog-friendliness of stiles so you know in advance if you're likely to need to lift a large dog.
  • Info about which beaches on the route have dog restrictions. There's also a nearest vet button for emergencies.
  • Recommendations for footwear and seasonally-activated mud warnings for routes that get particularly muddy.
  • Info on temporary footpath issues such as closures, diversions, fallen trees etc.
  • Tide times at the nearest observation point to that walk for maximum accuracy.
  • The pubs on the route with links to the pub website for opening times, menus etc.
  • Integration with Google and Apple maps for information about nearest toilets, refreshments and shops whilst you are walking, and also using the general walk location before the walk so you can explore and make plans before you are there.
  • A walk overview including length and steepness grade to assist with walk planning. Descriptive information about the gradients on the route is also included - how far around the route the climbs are and if there are any particularly steep descents.
  • Integration with driving satnav to direct you to the car park at the start of the walk. A range of satnav apps are supported including Waze as well as the built-in Google and Apple maps. What3words format is also available for input into in-car satnavs.
  • Seasonal metadata to allow walks to be selected for the time of year - seasonal lists of walks (e.g. walks with cool shade) automatically appear in "Walks by type" at the relevant time of year.
  • Countryside tips such as walking with livestock. There's also info about how to contribute wildlife sightings to help with scientific research.
  • Information within each walk direction to help the Cornwall Council Countryside Access Team (who maintain the rights of way network) pinpoint issues and an easy mechanism to report these that even works without a phone signal so everyone can participate in making the paths better for each other.
  • Free updates. As well as the walk directions being continually updated for changes to the paths, more local information about points of interest is also being continually added.