The Best Hiking Apps in the UK for 2026

Smartphones have transformed hiking navigation, route planning, and safety. The right app can replace a stack of paper maps, track your route, share your location with loved ones, and even call for help in an emergency. Here are the best hiking apps for UK walkers in 2026 and how to use them safely.

Navigation Apps

1. OS Maps (Ordnance Survey) — ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The gold standard for UK hiking navigation. OS Maps gives you access to the full range of 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey maps, the most detailed and accurate maps available for the UK. Download maps for offline use before you head out. This is essential, as you should never rely on mobile signal in the hills. The app tracks your position on the map in real time, records your route, and allows you to plan routes in advance.

Cost: Free basic version; £29.99/year for full access. Best for: All UK hiking. Verdict: Essential for any serious UK hiker.

2. Komoot — ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Komoot is excellent for route planning and discovery. Its community-generated route recommendations are genuinely useful, and the turn-by-turn navigation works well on well-marked trails. The surface type analysis, which shows what percentage of a route is on tarmac, gravel, singletrack and so on, is particularly helpful for planning. Offline maps are available for download.

Cost: Free for one region; £29.99 for all regions. Best for: Route discovery and planning. Verdict: An excellent complement to OS Maps.

3. ViewRanger / Outdooractive — ⭐⭐⭐⭐

ViewRanger was absorbed into Outdooractive, which now offers a comprehensive mapping and route planning platform. It provides good map coverage including OS maps, excellent route recording, and a useful BuddyBeacon feature that shares your live location with friends and family. A solid alternative to OS Maps.

Cost: Free basic; premium subscription for full features. Best for: Route sharing and live location tracking.

Safety Apps

4. What3Words — ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What3Words divides the entire world into 3m x 3m squares, each with a unique three-word address. In an emergency, you can give mountain rescue your exact location as three simple words, which is far more accurate than a grid reference and much easier to communicate under stress. Mountain Rescue England and Wales, Police Scotland, and the ambulance service all use What3Words. Download it and learn how to use it before you need it.

Cost: Free. Best for: Emergency location sharing. Verdict: Every hiker should have this installed.

5. Emergency SOS (UK: 999)

In the UK, calling 999 and asking for Mountain Rescue is the primary emergency response. Your phone's built-in emergency SOS feature (hold the side button on iPhone) can call emergency services and share your location automatically. Familiarise yourself with this feature before heading into the hills.

Weather Apps

6. MWIS (Mountain Weather Information Service) — ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The MWIS website (mwis.org.uk) provides the most accurate mountain-specific weather forecasts for the UK. Unlike general weather apps, MWIS forecasts are written by meteorologists specifically for mountain users, covering wind speed at summit level, temperature, visibility, and precipitation type. Check it before every mountain walk.

Cost: Free. Best for: Mountain weather forecasting. Verdict: Essential for any hill walking.

7. Met Office Weather — ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Met Office app provides reliable hourly forecasts and is excellent for planning day walks. The Mountain Forecast feature provides summit-level forecasts for major UK peaks. It is more accessible than MWIS for casual walkers.

Cost: Free. Best for: General weather planning.

Wildlife and Nature Apps

8. iNaturalist — ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Point your camera at any plant, bird, or insect and iNaturalist will identify it using AI, then log your sighting to a global biodiversity database. It transforms any walk into a nature discovery experience and is particularly good for wildflower and butterfly identification.

Cost: Free. Best for: Nature identification and recording.

9. Merlin Bird ID — ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cornell Lab's Merlin app can identify birds by sound in real time. Simply hold your phone up and it identifies every bird singing around you. It is a game-changer for birdwatching hikers. The UK bird pack is free to download.

Cost: Free. Best for: Birdwatching on the trail.

A Critical Safety Note

Apps are excellent tools but should never replace traditional navigation skills. Batteries die, screens crack, and signal fails. Always carry a paper OS map and compass as backup, and know how to use them. The best hikers use apps to enhance their experience, not replace their skills.

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