Ordnance SurveyLandranger (203) Lands End & Isles of Scilly, St Ives & Lizard Point (OS Landranger Map)

Great detail, easy to read,and not to bulky!

As ordered complete to expectation.

Excellent

Perfect!

Has any one found better maps of any country than these Landranger Maps? They are general purpose maps and offer superb quality and detail at 1:50,000. When buying the Landranger maps as a used item, one can make a visual check of the front cover in order to identify the Series and roughly when it was published. Here is a brief guide to the history and various series of Landranger Maps produced over the years. Hope it helpsIn 1965, it was announced that the government wanted to change UK mapping from imperial to decimal. So OS produced the Landranger First Series maps as a decimalised version of the popular 1 inch 7th Series OS County maps.The 1:50 000 First Series of 204 sheets was published in two blocks, the southern half of the country in 1974 and the northern half in 1976.The conversion of First Series sheets to Second Series began in 1974 and was completed in 1987. Additions included metric contours as well as tourist and Forestry Commission information. From 1980, tree symbols, depiction of foreshore categories and grid numbers on the body of the map were included in the specification. At the same time the name Landranger was adopted for the series.My guide to the front cover appearance of OS Landranger Maps:The 1st Series (1974-1976) cover is magenta coloured with black text. There is a white box enclosing the mapping area and a white OS symbol in the top right corner. It is important to note that this OS magenta 'house style' started appearing in 1968/9 on the old 1 inch imperial County Series maps well before the Landranger 1st Series came out. Older OS County Series maps also came in green, blue, red/white etc.The Landranger 2nd Series (1976 - 1987) cover is magenta with black and white text. There is a white box enclosing the mapping area, above that is white text 'Landranger Series of Great Britain' inside a white roundel. There is a white OS symbol in the top right corner and below that a solid white Great Britain shape. Between 1980 - 1986 a trial run of 11 Landranger sheets came out with an integral map graphic on the front.Photographic covers began to appear in 1985. The base colour is still magenta but with the addition of a colour photo in the bottom half of the cover. The mapping area graphic s now moved to the back cover. With the advent of the cover photo, the OS logo changes from white to black. Earlier photographic covers (still 2nd Series) have six travel related symbols on the right above the photo.The 3rd Series will all have photographic covers and were published from about 1987 - 2002. In the late 1980's and early 1990's photographic covers have a new magenta OS logo in a solid white rectangle (still top right of front cover). At the same time the six travel symbols have been replaced by yellow camper and blue car graphic. In 1996, an updated cover began to appear. It is easily distinguished by a pink horizontal bar (containing the sheet number) near the top but below the new, larger OS dual colour (purple/magenta) logo. From 1994/5, OS began the process of converting the Landranger Series into a 'data format'.From 2002, the 4th Series is identified by a 5 rectangle design on the front cover. There is now a silver upright rectangle in the top right corner and silver bar below the photo. It looks fresh and modern. For the more up to date mapping then look out for these silver coloured portions on the front cover to ensure that your map is relatively recent. This Series were published from 2002 - 2014/15The 5th Series from 2015 looks similar to the 4th, but will have a different photo on the front cover and a smaller silver square in the top right corner below which is the new 'swirly' OS logo on a white background and then below that, a mobile download graphic in blue.There is also something called 'Landranger Weatherproof/Active' maps which are identical but are covered in weatherproof laminate. These are particularly useful for outdoor activities in all weathers.OS also make Explorer maps which are 1:25000 scale. Explorer maps dont contain much extra detail over the Landranger maps but given its scale are easier to read They are designed for walkers and cyclists. The buyer should be aware that some Landranger numbers may be the same as Explorer map numbers but will be for completely different areas.