The Path & Surface view helps you understand what a route may be like underfoot. It divides the route into colour-coded sections and shows the distance and percentage assigned to each category.

Go Guide app

Open the Path & Surface view

  1. Open the route you want to explore.
  2. Open Path & Surface.
  3. Wait while Go Guide analyses the route.

Path and surface analysis is a Go Guide Premium feature.

Path type and surface

The two tabs describe different parts of the route:

  • Path type describes the mapped type of way, such as a footway, path, track, street, road, cycleway or steps.
  • Surface describes the mapped material underfoot, such as asphalt, paving stones, gravel, dirt, mud, grass or sand.

For example, a section could be classified as a footway under Path type and gravel under Surface. Path type describes what the way is, while Surface describes what it is made from.

Read the coloured route

Each colour represents a different category. The colour beside a category matches the corresponding sections shown on the map.

The summary bar shows the approximate proportion of the complete route assigned to each category. The list below it provides two measurements:

  • Percentage — the proportion of the complete route in that category.
  • Distance — the approximate length of those sections in kilometres.

A category showing 35% · 2.8 km, for example, means that approximately 2.8 kilometres—or 35% of the route—has been assigned that path or surface type.

Inspect one category

  1. Select either Path type or Surface.
  2. Tap a category in the list.
  3. The map will isolate the sections assigned to that category.
  4. Tap Show all route sections to restore the complete colour-coded route.

Path type categories

  • Path: a mapped general-purpose path.
  • Track: typically a wider or more defined track, which may be used by agricultural or other vehicles.
  • Footway: a way primarily mapped for pedestrians.
  • Steps: a section containing mapped steps.
  • Cycleway: a way primarily mapped for cycling, although pedestrian access can vary.
  • Street or road: part of the route follows the mapped road network.
  • Ferry: the route includes a mapped ferry connection.
  • Construction: the way is currently mapped as being under construction.
  • Unknown: no recognised path type is available for that section.

Surface categories

  • Paved, asphalt, concrete or paving stones: generally firm, constructed surfaces.
  • Compacted gravel or fine gravel: smaller, more tightly packed material that may provide a firmer surface.
  • Gravel: a loose stone surface whose condition can vary.
  • Unpaved: the surface is mapped as unsealed, but a more precise material is unavailable.
  • Dirt or ground/mud: natural ground that may become soft, muddy or slippery in wet weather.
  • Grass: a grassy section that may be less obvious or become wet underfoot.
  • Cobblestone, wood, woodchips, metal or sand: the specific material recorded for that section.
  • Ice or snow: the way is mapped with an ice or snow surface classification; this is not a live report of current weather conditions.
  • Unknown: no recognised surface information is available for that section.

Use the information when planning

Path and surface information can help you:

  • Estimate how much of a route may be paved or unpaved.
  • Identify sections containing steps, roads, tracks or potentially softer ground.
  • Choose suitable footwear and equipment.
  • Compare routes when accessibility or ground conditions are important.
  • Locate particular sections on the map before starting the walk.