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Headwater Navigation App
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The Headwater Navigation App provides expert-designed GPS routes for self guided walking & self-guided cycling holidays in Europe.
Easy enough for first-time self-guided travellers yet loved and trusted by our most experienced customers, the app really sets Headwater apart as a specialist in expert led self guided holidays. Every route is meticulously planned and written by Headwater walking and cycling specialists, with every turn cue created by hand plus detailed information on what's around – never auto-mapped or crowdsourced.
Headwater’s Navigation App was created specifically for self-guided holidays. Once downloaded, it works fully offline, guiding you accurately from hotel door to hotel door throughout your entire holiday. It is like having your own personal guide who knows where you are going, which turn to take and shares interesting insights.
You don’t need to stare at a screen or notes all day or battle with a map in the wind! The app is designed to be audio-based while you’re out, with handwritten voice cues detailed enough to keep you fully immersed in your surroundings. The app also contains maps if you need a quick look.
Unlike auto mapped or user generated navigation tools, every Headwater route is created and individually written by an experienced navigation specialist. Alongside precise turn by turn guidance, the app includes accommodation details, daily notes, places to eat and points of interest — helping you get more from every day on your journey.
Because it works offline, you can switch off data roaming and focus fully on the walking or cycling, confident you’re following the best and safest routes available.
“The Headwater Navigation App was brilliant. I've never used an app before; I normally follow a map or the leader of a group. Once we got to grips with it on the first day, we never looked back! It was brilliant. It saved us so much time - if I went off track, the app alerted me so I could get straight back on course. It made life considerably simpler”
Mr Hall, Headwater cycling customer
“The GPS has worked well and has avoided me taking the wrong turn here and there, including on the misty mountainside. If I would have tried to organise this all on my own it would have taken ages, so I feel it is worthwhile using Headwater's service.”
Mr Becker, Headwater walking customer
“The Headwater App was so good that it was impossible to get even a foot off the proper route! So, no chance of getting lost! Our first experience of using a walking GPS app and we found it very reassuring and made the whole experience very comfortable.”
Mr Daffarn, Headwater walking customer
Every route in the Headwater Navigation App is created by our navigation specialists who work closely with the team who create our walking and cycling holidays. Their combined first hand knowledge ensures routes are accurate, safe and rewarding — not just navigationally correct.
“Our role is to make navigation simple and dependable, giving you the quiet confidence to explore at your own pace and focus on the journey, not the route.”
Paul Britchford, Head of Operations | Headwater
Routes are created, tested and regularly updated by Headwater’s walking and cycling specialists, based on on the ground research and the latest route information.
The app tracks your live GPS position and alerts you if you stray from the route, offering re routing where connectivity allows.
Unlike general navigation apps and auto-maps like Google Maps, our routes are designed by experts specifically for walkers and cyclists, avoiding unsuitable terrain and prioritising safety and scenery. We have been creating self-guided walking and cycling holidays since 1985 and we apply this long standing experience to every route in our navigation app.
Yes. Routes and holiday information are downloaded in advance over wifi and work offline using GPS.
The app is free to download and included with eligible Headwater holidays.
Yes. The app is designed for travellers with no prior navigation experience, using clear instructions and live GPS guidance.
Unlike generic self guided tour apps, the Headwater Navigation App is built exclusively for Headwater holidays, with routes and content created by Headwater experts with extensive experience designing walking and cycling routes. Unlike a line on a screen, our audio cues are immersive and detailed - designed to make you feel part of the journey and the landscape.
Many, but not all, holidays include the app; availability is clearly shown on each trip page.
On self guided cycling holidays, the Headwater Navigation App provides clear audio cues as you approach each turn. This allows you to keep your eyes on the road, without needing to read instructions or constantly check the screen.
On self guided walking holidays, you can choose how you receive directions. Use audio cues for hands free guidance, or follow the detailed on screen maps and hand written instructions — whichever suits your walking style.
Around six weeks before departure, we’ll send you simple instructions to download the app and your holiday routes. If you’d like extra support, our Customer Support team is always happy to talk you through everything before you travel.
You can’t use the app without downloading your specific routes first, so we’ll provide everything you need well before you set off on your holiday. When you are ready to go, the app can be downloaded for free from Google Play or the App Store for both Android and Apple phones.
Many customers who once preferred paper maps are now surprised by how intuitive and enjoyable the Headwater Navigation App is to use. However, you do have the option to download all the same information from the app in PDF format or print a hard copy if you prefer. We encourage you to take the plunge, and don’t just take our word for it, here is a quote from Claire who went on our Discovering the Maltese Islands self-guided walking holiday, W07GM: “The navigation app is outstanding. We're both a bit technophobic and normally prefer paper maps but it's extremely easy to use and very detailed.” And Julie who recently enjoyed Cycling in the Real Algarve, C06AV: “We love the app. Having done a few trips on the old, map-based system - we much prefer the new technology.”
“Turn left on the B54445.” But what if there’s no sign telling you it’s the B54445? Satnavs fall short here, because their cues aren’t written by hand by experts. Our app goes well beyond traditional satnav. Not only will the app track your position along the Headwater curated routes, you will receive audio and/or visual route instructions along the way. It will also tell you very quickly if you have taken a wrong turn.
As a guide, a typical 7-day Headwater holiday might occupy, on average, around 4MB of storage, so you should have plenty of storage capacity available.
We strongly recommend that you download the Headwater Navigation App before travelling as it's more likely that you will have a reliable and fast WiFi connection. It also gives you the opportunity to check you've got the required storage capacity on your phone.
No, once the routes are downloaded to your smartphone you don't need a telephone or data connection to follow the 'turn-by-turn' direction cues. Your phone just needs to be able to receive a GPS signal, which it will be able to do with mobile data disabled.
We thoroughly test our routes and are confident in their GPS reliability. As a precaution, you’ll also receive a PDF copy of the route directions as a back up in case of any technical difficulties en route.
We recommend that you disable all unwanted wireless connections, for example, Bluetooth, WiFi and mobile data, or switch your phone to 'Flight Mode' whilst you are navigating. We also suggest that you allow your screen to go to screensave mode (the audio instructions for cyclists will still continue). These actions will preserve battery life and ensure that you have plenty of power to run on throughout the day. We've found that the app is very battery-efficient - but you should start the day with a fully charged battery (and if you have an older phone you may want to take a portable power bank with you).
Yes, when you're on a cycling trip we provide a 'Universal' Weatherproof Phone Mount that attaches securely to your handlebars. The holder is suitable for all standard size phones up to the dimensions of the latest standard size android or iPhones. If you have a 'plus' size phone, you will need to bring your own holder with you.
We have marked places/sights of significant historical or cultural interest along the route and these are embedded in the route map as 'POIs' or 'Points of Interest'. You just need to click on the little brown information icon on the map. We have given additional direction 'cues' to tell you about POIs if they are off-route, should you choose to take a detour and visit them. Where possible, we have also embedded a link to the relevant website so that you can find out more and can pre-plan things like visits to museums, which might have limited opening hours or need to be booked in advance.
We identify in the route description for each day where there are particularly nice places to stop for a lunch or refreshments.
For cyclists this is important as the directional cues are audible. With your phone mounted on your handlebars we have found that most of our customers have had no difficulty hearing the audio cues and if you should miss one, it is very simple to review the cues to clarify what the instruction was. If you want absolute certainty that you won't miss a cue however, or, if you have hearing difficulties, you might want to consider bringing a Bluetooth earpiece or lapel sized Bluetooth speaker with you.
