BareGPS
David Owens
BareGPS BareGPS is a hillwalking-focused outdoor GPS app for recording GPS tracks of your walks. The app allows import, creation and management of GPX tracks, routes, waypoints and waypoint sets. It allows export of GPX tracks and routes, and flyover playback of imported or created tracks. To maintain visibility in areas of limited cellular coverage, the app provides for prior caching of specific areas so that suitable maps are available in these offline periods. For reliable recording, set BareGPS to While Using the App and leave Precise Location on. How to Use Tap Record to start a new track. While recording, BareGPS shows distance, time, ascent, descent, elevation, pace, grid reference or latitude/longitude, and position accuracy. Use Pause to stop recording without discarding the current track. Resume continues the same unsaved track, Save stores it in the track library, and Discard clears the current unsaved or displayed track from the map. Use Tracks to import GPX files, load saved tracks, rename them, share them as GPX, delete them, or run a flyover. Imported GPX tracks and routes are added to the track library and remain available after relaunch. Use Waypoints to manage imported and user-created waypoints. Waypoints persist after relaunch, can be searched and sorted, and can be shown on the map either collectively or only by selected set. Tap a waypoint or any map point to inspect distance, course, and grid reference. Waypoints and tapped points can both be used as Go To targets. Flyover replays a loaded or saved track on the map, uses the satellite layer while running, and shows accumulating distance, time, ascent, descent, elevation, and pace in the main metrics grid. Offline Maps Use Options before heading into poor signal. Cache Visible Area stores the current map view for offline use, and Cache Visible Area Deep stores a wider zoom range for the same area. Cached areas are listed in Options, can be focused again on the map, and can be deleted individually or cleared completely. Offline coverage still depends on the selected map layer and the zoom range that was cached. A green flag will show on the Options button when the entire visible area is cached. Location And Recording BareGPS records while the app is active and can continue during an active recording while the app is minimised or the screen is locked when iPhone background location support is available and permission is sufficient. The Options screen shows the current location permission state. iOS does not reliably distinguish Allow Once from While Using the App in app-visible status, so both can appear as in-use access. For reliable recording, set BareGPS to While Using the App and leave Precise Location on. Background continuation is intended for active recordings rather than general non-recording position history. Minor Controls Use the map layer button to switch between OpenTopo and Satellite. The position button recentres on your location, and the north button returns the map to north-up. An old-school compass is also provided The Options screen also contains grid-reference selection and cached-area management. Credits AppsbyOnzy@gmail.com Map rendering is powered by MapLibre. OpenTopo mapping uses OpenTopoMap and OpenStreetMap contributors. Satellite imagery uses Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics, and the GIS User Community. Note GPS accuracy, elevation, permission state, and offline tile availability depend on device sensors, terrain, signal, and map provider availability. Always carry appropriate navigation backup in mountain areas.