Mapping

Based in Glasgow, I taught myself how to make orienteering maps during the Covid lockdown of 2020 as a way to keep on orienteering and have made about a dozen maps since that time. The vast majority of these maps are now used for the Clydeside Orienteers (CLYDE) although I am currently working on a new map of the Emmerduinen for Hoc'93 and have updated ECKO's map of Creag Mhic Chailein while planning for the 2023 Scottish Individual Championship. My preference is for rough Scottish terrain (forests, marshes, muirs, hills) although I have made the odd urban/sprint map.

Maps are made with the latest version of OCAD, using LiDAR data combined with aerial photography. Where possible other data sources are used such as infrared photography & vector maps (for example, the Netherlands is well supplied) as well as old maps. A base map is typically produced in about a day but extensive surveying is required for the important details. Surveying is carried out using modern GNSS with a resolution/accuracy of ~0.1/2m in Scotland and 0.01/0.01m where RTK is available.

An example urban sprint map: M8dness an ISSprOM 2019-2 map of the area around/under the M8 motorway in Glasgow used for a June 2022 CLYDE event. Dundasvale Court provides multi-level orienteering.

An example classic forest map: map of Mugdock Country Park north of Milngavie used for a June 2023 CLYDE evening event. Detailed vegetation was mapped initially using LiDAR data and subsequently optimised by numrous recces using GNSS.

Latest

Orienteering maps and courses in and around Glasgow

Some areas are only accesible under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC).

Ongoing projects

  • Dams to Darnley: south of Glasgow, in progress (2023).
  • Doon Hill & Fairy Knowe: Major update of the lovely CLYDE Doone Hill & Fairy Knowe map, georeferenced, using 1m LiDAR-based DTM. See also this CLYDE page
  • Drumchapel: South of Bearsden and including the Roman fort, in progress (2023).
  • Emmenerdennen: The Emmerdennen near Emmen in the Netherlands is a sandy area covered in forest. Special challenge is the flatness compared to Scottish terrain requiring special care in editing contour lines. Map for Hoc'93, in progress, to be used for an event in 2025.
  • Kelvin: Glasgow's Dawsholm Park, Garscube Campus, Kelvindale, Wyndford, Botanic Gardens orienteering maps (2022/23).
  • Knapps Loch: New area in Ayrshire, basemap done, needs some reccying (2022).
  • Knockmountain: New area in Ayrshire, basemap done, needs some reccying (2022).
  • Rouken Glen: Map update and extension onto the neighbouring golf course for CLYDE. Used for an evening event by STAG (2023).
  • West End: Gilmorehill and Kelvingrove Park orienteering map

2022

Hill O

Updates

  • Auchengillan: early stages of an update for CLYDE (2023).
  • Croy Hill: Minor update of existing CLYDE map (2023) used for an evening event. May get a more major update soon. Bar Hill was included in this but is no longer so suitable for orienteering.
  • Gleniffer braes: map update in progress for CLYDE (2022, kind of stalled, sorry).

Older projects

Mapping