Have you heard of Google Earth? It is a way of viewing quality maps on a website. This is external to Cumbria County Council - but we can use it to show you where the locations of open access entry points, exit points and information boards are. All of these were 75% grant-funded by Natural England's "Access Management Grant Scheme".
If you haven't heard of Google Earth before, try the link at the bottom of this page. Google Earth can be downloaded for free using the green button on the right hand side.
If you email me, I will send you Google Earth files that are for our open access information - we have edited it slightly so it is of most use to walkers.
I will also send instructions on how to get it to work. But in a nutshell,
- you will have to first install Google Earth onto your computer
- then also save the attachment I will send you to your computer
- then, get Google Earth running and click on file and open at the left-hand side
- ask it to open the attachment I send
The open access points then automatically open in the map viewer - which can be a base map or aerial photos. You can zoom in and out. If you click on each dot you can see its precise grid reference as well as the local contact ranger. You will be able to compare this with your Explorer maps.
By clicking on each dot you will also see the "CCC reference number". This is useful if you actually want to download the information board itself - from the detailed OS Explorer pages on the left-hand side.
If you really want to have fun, try pressing "Control" and "A" together!
When you have had a chance to have a play, tell us what you think. In due course, we will add to this information, with the locations of other stiles and gates that we know of.