Planning a route

Table of contents

• Videotutorials
• The Route Planner
  • Map view
    • Map background
    • Map Layers
    • Map functionalities
  • The planning
    • Route type
    • Routing
    • Length and direction of a round trip
    • Destinations
• Different ways of planning:
  • With different routing options
  • On places where there is no path
  • Along specific points of interest (POIs)
  • Based on a reference layer
• Change an existing route
  • add a detour to your route
  • a detour via a specific address
• Using the planned route

Videotutorials

• Creating a thematic rout in 1 minute
• How to plan a simple route.
• Plan your first hiking route.
• Planning a round trip.
• Plan a route and mix several types of routing
• Planning a route where there is no path or road.
• Plan a route along specific POI's.
• Plan a route using reference maps
•  Inspect your route with Google StreetView.

The Route Planner

To the Route Planner. 

1. On the left, a large map you can use to plan. The background of the map is customizable. You can also add a few interesting map layers to simplify your trip planning. 
2. In the right column you wil find a lot of functionalities that help you to tailor your trip to your needs and wishes.

Map view

Depending on your settings, the map will be zoomed in on your location or show a specific overview.

By default, the background of the map is set on the RouteYou map. Via the dropdown at the top right of the map, you can change the background, but also add specific map layers. 

Map background

You can choose from:

1. The RouteYou map was developed with a focus on outdoor route planning and outdoor navigation. The available information is tuned to this so that you are not distracted by unnecessary information. The map is based on the OpenStreetMap but looks different. To the legend. 
2. OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a world map created by the community for open license use. In that regard, the level of detail may differ from place to place. 
3. The Topo map Netherlands is a rather static map where we have also affixed a Belgian topo map. To the legend.
4. The Topo map Belgium is a detailed topo map for the territory of Belgium. A topographic map is a general-purpose map that describes the Earth's surface as faithfully as possible. 
5. The Topo map France. 
6.  The well-known Google map. Since Google's map prices suddenly became up to 40 times more expensive, it is only available from a Plus account.
7.  The Satellite images are also offered by Google. For the same reason, these are also only available from a Plus account.
8. OpenCycleMap is a derivative of OSM but with a focus on information relevant to cyclists, such as the main cycling networks and long-distance cycling routes. To the legend. 
9. OpenWalkMap is also a derivative of OSM, but with a focus on relevant walking information.

Attention(!) Do certain map surfaces in your list not appear? Then zoom out a bit, because only the maps that are relevant for the territory shown in the map viewer will appear.

TIP: You can also activate Google StreetView  with both the Google map and satellite images. This is a virtual representation of the environment, made up of panoramic images. This makes it look like you can look around on the spot.

Map Layers

A map layer is a layer with extra information that you put on top of your map background. The range of map layers can change depending on the background you choose. 

The possibilities:

• The Hiking Nodes: where applicable, the hiking networks and associated node numbers will appear.

• The GR network: this is an international network of long-distance hiking routes signposted with white-red stripes.

• The Cycling Nodes: where applicable, the cycling networks and corresponding node numbers will appear.

• The RouteYou Cycling Network: this is an exclusively selected and marked network that is very suitable for recreational cycling. For more information, click [help = 110] here [/ help].

• The RouteYou Motorcycle Network: this is an exclusively selected and marked network that is very suitable for recreational touring with the motorcycle. For more information, click [help = 595] here [/ help].

• The Mountain bike network is based on the qualitative routes of Sport Flanders.

• Road properties: This map layer is based on our pavement rating and only available from a certain zoom level. We make a distinction between 'good unpaved' in yellow and 'bad unpaved' in red. Good unpaved surfaces can still be used after a week of rain, bad unpaved surfaces not. The latter can be particularly attractive to mountain bikers or horseback riders. You will also find a slope indication in this layer. [help = 641] To legend. [/ help]

•  Terrain: this map layer is only available with the Google map and gives an indication of the height differences.

•  Labels: with the Google satellite images you can choose to display the road network and associated height differences.

•  45°: if you are sufficiently zoomed in with the Google satellite images, you can switch from a bird's eye view to a 45 ° perspective that has a 3D effect.

• The final map layer are the place of interest. You have access to the complete RouteYou database, but you can also filter according to your preferences. If you click on the filter symbol, the filter options will appear in the right column:
  

Map functionalities

In addition to the dropdown at the top right, you will find all kinds of buttons on the map with specific functionalities:

•  use this search bar to jump to a specific location on the map.
•   with these buttons you can switch full screen on or off.
•  you can use this button to zoom to your location on the map.
•   rotate the map image 90 ° to the left or right to change the north direction. To turn your map back with north at the top, use this button. .
•   zoom in or out on the map or select a specific area  

The planning

If you plan a route, you will be offered other options depending on the choices you make.

A first choice you have to make is whether you want a trip from A to B or a round trip.
TIP: If you choose a trip from A to B, you still have the option to return to A and thus make a loop. As soon as you start planning, a specific button will even appear:  .

The big difference is in the creation of your route. If you plan from A to B, you plan your route step by step. If you plan a loop, it is automatically generated based on your choices. In both cases you can adjust the result.

Use this button   to turn the elevation profile on or off. You can find the total length of your route at the end of the elevation profile and in the corner at the bottom left of your map.

Route type

With both an A to B route and a round trip you can choose a specific mode for which you want to map out a route.

The quick selection buttons let you choose between hiking, recreational cycling, mountain biking, race cycling or motorcycling. With the arrow at the end you can view the full range and make even more detailed choices.
Depending on what you choose here, the routing options will also be adjusted.

Routing

The routing determines which types of road will be followed during the planning. The only exception is the "Manual" option. In this case, no calculations are made and the substrate is deliberately not taken into account. So this is the option you use to draw in paths that are not drawn on the map, but that you know exist.

An overview of the possibilities:

For more information about the different routing options, click [help = 25 # more-background-with-the-type routing options] here [/ help].

When planning an A to B route, you can change the routing at any time. You will then be asked whether you want to apply the change to the entire route or only to the part that you still have to plan. If you change the routing for a round trip, the entire loop is recalculated according to the new routing option.

Attention (!) Choosing a certain routing option can also have the effect that the planner deliberately does not want to send you over a certain road or path. In such a case it is best to opt for a "shortest" routing.

Length and direction of a round trip

If you plan a round trip, two additional items will appear in the right column:

1. with the length slider you determine how long your route may be..
   
   
2. with the directional compass you determine in which direction (relative to your starting point) your loop may be planned.
   
   

Destinations

At the bottom of the right column you have the From bar. You can use this to enter your starting location, or you can immediately click the desired location on the map.
With an A to B route there is also a To bar. This is used to enter your destination, your end point.
As you plan, Via address bars will also appear, naming the locations of your waypoints. With the button  you can add Via address bars.

The  button can be useful if you want to start over.

Different ways of planning:

With different routing options

Watch the video:

On places where there is no path

Watch the video:

Along specific points of interest (POIs)

Watch the video:

Based on a reference layer

Watch the video:

Change an existing route

add a detour to your route

Watch the video:

a detour via a specific address

Watch the video:

Using the planned route

If you are satisfied with your planned route and want to test it, you must first save it.
Use the  button in the right column, or us the one on the map .

As a standard we add some information to your route, but we recommend that you fill in or update the information screen as much as possible. The information you provice here will help determine how your route will be assessed by us. As well as how easily you or others wil find it in our gigantic database.

Once your route has been saved you can go through the printing options  and choose what you will use to navigate the terrain.
On paper, via the app or with a GPS? We support all possibilities. More information can be found here [help = 47] here [/ help].