Navigation

Kerry Ridgeway Drovers’ Route

A map of the Kerry Ridgeway Drovers Route showing landmarks along the way which could be used for navigation.

Data

This is a map I’ve been thinking about making for a long time and it’s good to get on and do it.

Based on information in

Smith, W. 2013. The drovers’ roads of the Middle Marches. Little Logaston, Woonton Almeley, Herefordshire: Logaston Press.

and The Kerry Ridgeway on the Local Drove Roads website.

• Kerry Ridgeway.gpx downloaded from http://www.gps-routes.co.uk/routes/home.nsf/RoutesLinksCycle/kerry-ridgeway-walking-and-cycle-route

Tools

• QGIS
• Inkscape

Process

• Added data.
• Used Smith, W. to digitise points for landmarks such as Cider House and Two Tumps.
• Created layout and rotated map frame to allow route to fill height of portrait page.
• Added basic layout elements, e.g. scale, and key, but didn’t add labels - easier to place in Inkscape?
• Exported map layout to pdf and then opened that in Inkscape.
• Added labels, text about the landmarks, title etc in Inkscape.

What have I learnt from this?

• How long it can take to put a layout together! But also, how some things are easier or more controllable in Inkscape then QGIS. Useful, as I’ll be teaching my students a session on this soon.
• Started with coloured symbols etc, but quickly realised that in this case greyscale was going to be much more effective.

What would I like to change?

• Probably just spending more time on the layout. Exploring fonts etc.
• Are there any more landmarks I could add? Any more information I could put in the description? Though there is probably more than enough text already!