Digital Maps are the maps of the future. These are actual Ordinance Survey maps that have been reproduced on CD for you to view on your PC. The quality is superb and they can offer a lot more than the paper maps which only last a couple of outings in British weather anyway.

As well as high quality resolution on your screen you can create marks, waypoints and routes. These overlays that you have created can interact with your GPS or Pocket PC. Routes can be exported to your Garmin or Magellan GPS or you can import them back to your PC later.

You can print sections of the map - just as much or as little as you need. Great Britain is covered by Navigator South (Regions 1 - 6) and Navigator North (Regions 7 - 12). These are exactly the same as the 1:50,000 scale Landranger range.

Look at it like this - you could buy every paper map for the same area - that is 204 maps and at current prices that would be about £1,224. You can buy the digital versions for £129.95 for Navigator North and £129.95 for Navigator South. There is also now Navigator Central which covers regions 3-8 at £129.95. Digital versions that are more versatile and of greater use than their paper ancestors.

Please note that to view and use the maps you will need to use 'Navigator' software which comes free with Navigator North and South. A free trial version is available for download at www.memory-map.co.uk

A cheaper option is to buy one of the Discoverer range of digital maps. Each region pictured opposite is available at £59.95. Each CD comes with the fully functioning software to plan routes, program your GPS and print maps. The only other difference that Discoverer does not allow 'real time' GPS tracking whereas Navigator does.

Sample Map

What area each CD covers