Most keen walkers hold on to their maps for decades. Now they can trade them in to receive discounted prices on new maps with Ordnance Survey.
Until March 20, 2106, OS is offering the chance to return old maps and receive money off new map purchases in return. Depending on the number of maps returned, participants can receive a voucher up to the value of £15 to spend in the online map shop.
The initiative follows the success of a similar scheme in 2014, when OS had 10,601 outdated paper maps returned to them and offered thousands of pounds in savings on new maps.
This year, those who return maps will be able to update to the new OS Explorer and OS Landranger maps, which include a mobile download of the map.
New OS maps
First launched to the Outdoor Leisure maps in summer 2015, the maps include an iOS and Android compatible download of the map area. The downloaded map allows users to plot and store routes electronically. All the map data is stored locally and is available regardless of whether the smart device has a signal or not.
The OS Landranger version of these new maps will be available from February 24, joining the OS Explorer range.
Nick Giles, MD of Ordnance Survey Leisure, said: “Our OS Explorer Maps and OS Landranger Maps are updated with new versions every two to five years depending on the area and a lot can change.
“We’ve been delighted to see people recognising the importance of paper maps for navigation in the last 12 months, with 1% growth in the number of maps sold in 2015.
“From the number of maps returned in the last trade-in scheme, we hope that people are getting the message that it’s important to use an up-to-date map.
“Last time, our team had fun creating a giant map of Britain from just a fraction of the returned maps, so who knows what we will create this time.”
The 10,601 maps returned in 2014 covered the length and breadth of the country, with the earliest being from 1919 and a large number from the 1950s and 1960s. The old maps were recycled and reused wherever possible to help in the teaching of navigation skills to young people.
OS is open to creative ideas for the use of old maps. Email: [email protected].
Find out how to return maps.