OS Promotes Winter Outdoor Activity as Routes Drop 23% in Colder Months
Ordnance Survey (OS) is using National GetOutside Day, taking place on Sunday, September 28, to promote year-round outdoor activity, especially in autumn and winter. This comes as new data shows a 23% decrease in routes over the winter months compared to summer.
OS offers five tips for safe outdoor activities in the colder months. These include checking the weather forecast, wearing appropriate gear, using OS Maps for route planning, carrying a paper map and compass, and setting off early. Between April and September 2025, 1,633,258 routes were created in the OS Maps app for hiking, cycling, and jogging.
Forestry England also joins the initiative, offering Wallace & Gromit trails for dog owners and families. However, data regarding the population size of users registered in the OS Maps app during this period is unavailable.
National GetOutside Day encourages people to explore the outdoors, even in winter. OS highlights the benefits of outdoor activity for physical and mental health. Despite a decrease in routes during winter, OS Maps saw 1,310,885 routes created from October 2024 to March 2025, showing continued interest in outdoor activities.
