Guide – how to download GPX files to your phone

One of our most asked questions through Instagram is suggestions for dog walking routes. I’m always happy to help but often have to try and highlight a route on a map so it can be difficult for people to try and follow. We’ve put together this quick guide to help you download GPX files to your phone so you can get out exploring new routes!

What is a GPX file?

In short, it’s a type of file that contains lots of GPS locations to make up a route, and is the most popular way of saving and exchanging hiking/biking routes.

How to get started

You’ll need a program on your phone to be able to read a GPX file.

I HIGHLY recommend using OS Maps and signing up to a premium subscription. I’ve been using it for years and honestly it’s the best value subscription I have (and let’s be honest we all have a lot of subscriptions these days!). It costs £34.99 a year and covers the whole of the UK, tracks your GPS location as you follow a route and is just brilliant. Without the premium subscription you can’t see the public footpaths on maps, just a more basic map which isn’t a great deal of use for hiking. Find out more about the premium OS maps subscription and sign up here.

Another alternative is Alltrails. I also have a premium subscription to this app and you can find out more about the subscription here. I also have a code which will give you 30% off a premium subscription: alwaystakethedogs30.

Once you’ve signed up to OS maps or Alltrails, you can download the app then you’re ready to download your GPX file. We have lots of walking routes on this blog including The Cotswolds,and The Lake District. Find the walk you’d like to download, hit ‘download to GPS’, then view downloads at the top right of your browser. You should then be able to click on the GPX file you have downloaded.