As well as simple point-to-point routes, you can use the app to create routes with multiple ‘via points’ to follow the course you want.

When to use it (and when not)

cycle.travel is a planner, not a plotter. It aims to find the best route between points. If you already know the exact roads you want to follow, and you want to draw a route by clicking point after point, then it’s probably not the app for you. (There are lots of other cycling apps that can do that!)

Compared to the app, the cycle.travel website has more powerful editing tools and, of course, it can be used on a computer with a big screen. If you’re planning an upcoming holiday or a long ride, you’ll probably find the website more suitable than the app.

Planning routes with the app

Using the place search

Type any placename into the search box at the top left. Tap the place you want from the list that appears. You can then choose whether to start or end your route there. (If you click the > symbol, that’ll automatically select the place as your end location.)

On iPhone, the placename lookup is done by Apple Maps as a default, but you can choose to use OpenStreetMap’s place search in the Settings menu. On Android, it’s always done by OpenStreetMap.

Using the map

To set your start or end point by tapping on the map, just long-press (hold your finger down). You can then choose Start here or Navigate to here in the popup bubble.

Once you’ve set a start point and an end point, your route will be calculated.

Choosing a route type

As standard, cycle.travel chooses a balanced route that might include both paved and good-quality unpaved surfaces.

You can also choose paved-only routes, or routes with more gravel/off-road sections. Use the Settings menu to make your choice. (Gravel is currently only available in Europe/the UK.)

Dragging the route

To change the route so it follows a particular road or path, long-press on the route, then drag it to the road you want. A red line will appear showing your change. When you let go, the route will be recalculated. A blue ‘via point’ will appear at this point, which anchors the route to that spot.

You can always remove a via point by tapping it and selecting Remove via point.

Extending the route

You can extend the route to a new destination by quickly double-tapping on the map. The previous destination will become a via point. (This is currently iPhone only.)

Sketch mode (for supporters only)

Sketch mode allows you to quickly draw a route by tracing it with your finger. Click the finger icon, then draw your route as one continuous line. cycle.travel will calculate a route that broadly follows the path you drew. (This is currently iPhone only.)

Saving and loading

You can save a route using the Save button. You’ll need to be logged in to do so.

You can retrieve your saved routes using the Routes button. They’re also accessible from the cycle.travel website.

When saving a route, you can choose whether it’s public (anyone can see it via the cycle.travel website) or private (only you can see it).

Useful info

The cycle.travel app doesn’t yet support all the features of routes planned on the website. In particular, it doesn’t support via points with text notes; overnight stops; or via points which use a different routing choice to the rest of the route. You can still load these routes, but please don’t edit them in the app and save them again, or you may lose this extra information.