Recommendations for getting routes published

General information

• Make sure that you are the author of the information you are providing or that you have the author's explicit permission to publish it on Visorando and its network of partner sites. We pay close attention to copyright and therefore do not accept unauthorised copies
• If you write the description of the route yourself, you must have completed it. Relying solely on a map to write a description can lead to errors, as maps do not always accurately represent the terrain
• Check that the route you want to submit does not already exist on Visorando. To do this, search for routes in the area, or plot your route and see if the site indicates that a similar route has already been published (this will be visible at the top of your route's page)
• Do not suggest routes that require specific equipment (via ferrata and mountaineering): ropes, harnesses, lanyards, carabiners, helmets, crampons, ice axes, etc. If equipment is simply recommended for certain sections, please mention this in the Notes section of your route
• Do not suggest routes that pass through private property where access is not permitted
• Do not suggest routes that use trails where access is permanently prohibited by local authorities
• And above all, remember to proofread your text!

Track

• Align your route as closely as possible with the map
• When recording with a smartphone, GPS readings can sometimes be inaccurate, especially in forests. See our tips for recording a route correctly with the Visorando app
• If your route comes from a GPS file, please improve it by removing any deviations, picnic breaks, toilet breaks, etc. In most cases, 1 point every 50 metres is more than enough: adding more makes it harder to read and can overload our servers or users' devices
• Edit your route using the auto-plot features, which will align your track with paths on the map (OpenStreetMap)

Title

• The title of the route should be short, precise and make people want to read it. For example, you could highlight the purpose or appeal of the route
• Only use capital letters at the beginning of the title or for proper nouns
• Do not add a full stop at the end of the title
• Do not include ‘walk’, ‘hike’ or ’stroll’ in the title
• Do not begin your title with the name of the town or county
• In the case of a stage of a multi-day route, you can write a title in the form: “From point A to point B”, but do not indicate the stage number

Overview

• The overview consists of a few sentences designed to inspire others to explore the route. It may indicate landmarks, scenery, atmosphere, type of terrain, etc.
• Do not add links
• Do not indicate distance, elevation gain or duration, as this information will be added automatically

Description

Information to include

• The description must indicate the directions to follow so that others can reach the next waypoint without getting lost.
• It must be consistent with the route on the map: everything that is plotted or recorded must be described; everything that is described must be visible on the route and map. This means, in particular, that it is possible to indicate variations, but only in the practical information, so as not to confuse the reader
• Explain how to get to the starting point, whether parking is available and where
• If certain parts of the route do not follow a path (trail, track, road, etc.) visible on the map, please point this out. The map may not be up to date.
• The spelling of place names must correspond first and foremost to the indications (signs) on the ground and, by default, to what is indicated on the map. If the spelling on the ground differs from the spelling on the map, please point this out to avoid unnecessary corrections from a moderator based solely on the map
• Focus on the directions to follow and, if necessary, add counter-indications by describing what not to do

Style

• Write using full sentences, short if possible, and pay attention to grammar and spelling. Remember to use the spell checker included in your browser
• Do not use abbreviations
• Only use capital letters at the beginning of sentences or at the beginning of proper nouns
• Keep the symbols for units of measurement singular
• Capitalise Street, Avenue, etc.
• Capitalise the colour of the trail markings. E.g.: Yellow

Formatting

• Check the formatting and links that have been inserted
• For clarity, readability and consistency, place the waypoint numbers at the beginning of each paragraph. Then explain, using all necessary landmarks, how to reach and recognise the arrival at the next waypoint. Next, skip a line and start the next paragraph
• However, in some cases (particularly for waypoints linked to POIs), it may be more appropriate to place them in the middle of a paragraph to avoid skipping too many lines
• Use the same labels for the start and end points as on the map
• If your route returns to the starting point, use (S/E), otherwise use (S) and (E)
• Do not add smileys
• Do not use multiple exclamation marks

Waypoints

• A waypoint can indicate a change of direction, an intersection, a point of interest, or a landmark
• Space your waypoints evenly if possible. Do not concentrate waypoints on the same section of the route, as this may make it illegible
• Remember to label your waypoints
• Waypoint labels can be formatted as follows: Name - direction. E.g.: Bridge - right
• Waypoint labels should only include instructions, not counter-instructions
• Capitalise the first letter of the label

Notes

In this section, indicate the following:

• Resources available on the ground: drinking water, shelters, specific equipment, etc.
• Restrictions or dangers depending on the season (hunting, fire, snow in the mountains in winter)

We also recommend including specific warnings, such as:

• Exposed sections
• Difficult orientation
• Crossing or following roads
• ...

You can also mention shortcuts, detours or alternative routes

Worth a visit

The aim here is to highlight what you can do or see nearby, particularly by providing information that would have overloaded the description. However, please remain relatively concise.

You can add external links in this section to show other sources of information.