Ordnance Survey maps on your iPhone
For Great Britain, Ordnance Survey's Explorer (1:25,000) and Landranger (1:50,000) series are the gold standard — every stile, bridleway and access-land boundary. OS licenses its premium digital maps through its own products, but the paper sheets you already own have a second life: photographed and georeferenced in NomadTracks, they become live offline maps.
The paper-sheet workflow
Photograph your OS sheet flat and evenly lit (or scan sections of it), import the image into NomadTracks, and set three or four control points on grid intersections or obvious features. The app shows the alignment accuracy in meters — OS grid intersections make superbly precise control points.
What's freely available
OS publishes OS OpenData products (like OS Open Map and overview rasters) free under the Open Government Licence — useful context layers. The Explorer/Landranger detail remains licensed: use your own purchased sheets for personal navigation rather than redistributing scans.
Why bother when OS has its own app
Different philosophy: OS Maps is a subscription with an account; NomadTracks is bring-your-own-maps with no account, and your recordings stay in your own iCloud. If you already own the paper for your area, you may not need another subscription.
NomadTracks is not affiliated with or endorsed by any mapping agency. Always check the agency's current licence terms for your intended use; the notes here are a good-faith summary as of June 2026.
FAQ
Can I legally use my own OS paper maps this way?
Photographing a sheet you own for your own private navigation is generally regarded as personal use — don't share or redistribute the scans. For anything beyond personal use, check OS licensing.
How accurate is a photographed OS sheet?
With control points placed on grid-line intersections, alignment within a few meters is typical — NomadTracks displays the RMS error so you always know.
Is there free OS data I can use?
Yes — OS OpenData rasters under the Open Government Licence give free overview mapping; the detailed Explorer/Landranger content is licensed separately.