It’s easy to plan a route on cycle.travel then get it onto your phone.

Using a phone app

You’ll need an app on your phone that can read GPX files. Such apps include BikeGPX, MapOut (iPhone only), Viewranger, and OsmAnd.

First, click GPS/phone, then Open in phone app, to download the GPX file from our route-planner.

If it doesn’t open instantly in your app, look in your download folder, or the Files area of your phone. You can then click the file and choose the app to open it in. Your planned route will appear in your app as a line to follow.

Using a GPS unit

If you have a GPS unit mounted on your handlebars, you can transfer the file to it. You can either do this via a USB lead connected to your computer, or via a phone app. Your device manufacturer will provide instructions.

There are lots of different formats of GPS file. You can access these by clicking GPS/phone then Download GPS files. GPX tracks are simplest, but you can also choose a ‘TCX course’ which includes turn-by-turn prompts. We offer these formats:

• GPX track: This is just the line of your route – no instructions. Practically everything will understand this.
• GPX route: This is an icon for each turn on your route (but no line). It’s good for GPS devices without much memory.
• TCX course: This has both the line and the turns. It’s best for Garmin Edge and Wahoo units.
• KML: This is the line of your route in a format that Google Earth and Maps.me can read.

If you have a Garmin GPS unit, you can transfer your route wirelessly if you register free accounts with both cycle.travel (which provides our route-planning) and Garmin Connect. Click cycle.travel to open your route in cycle.travel, then register an account and click the GPS button. there