GPS waypoints and routes and Grid References for Round Rotherham

Take me back to the RRR Page or Navigation Page or SatNav Page

These data sets have been updated for 2023.

If you know the format you want, see table at bottom of page, with various .GPX files (including for individual stages) further down

For the change before Catcliffe on Stage 2, the route in the GPS files corresponds to the new route now that the building work at B18 is finished.
The files incorporate the change to taking the main track at the edge of the Waverley Estate alongside the river from B22.

Please check the creation (or modification) date of the file you download to ensure you don't inadvertently use an obsolete version. 

When I update the files for the new year, I update them as a batch.  However, you would be wise to check the properties of any file you download to check that it was created in the current year 2023 (September or October) as I may overlook one version.  I am uncertain about the Anquet version;

The GPS waypoints make 9 routes to successive checkpoints.  There are 8 stages, but Stage 1 forms routes 1A and 1B to avoid limitations on the number of waypoints on a route with some GPS systems

Also, there may be some changes. If your system allows, subscribe to the GPS data file for notification if there is a change.

The GPS files were re-created for 2023, using the track and waypoints adjusted appropriately.  Changes for 2023 have been edited in. This means there could be small errors, arising from uncertainty for the GPS unit, a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx.   The files have been created with the core file name of rrr_gps_map.  For clarity, the file type is duplicated in the file name, e.g. rrr_gps_map_rte.rte as some computer systems are set to hide the file type and so this file would appear as rrr_gps_map_rte to assist identification.  Several users have reported that their computer takes it upon itself to decide that the file type/tag is .xml, and hence useless for Mapsource, BaseCamp, GPSU, etc.  If you unhide the file type, you should be able to change it to the correct form.  

On each stage, decision points (essentially corresponding to GPS waypoints) are numbered sequentially in the written description.  Letters A to H identify the 8 stages.  Thus route markers would be labelled A1, A2, A3, ...A10, A11, ... on Stage 1; B1, B2, B3... on Stage 2, etc .  For the GPS waypoints, leading zeros are used to aid sorting.  The corresponding GPS waypoints for Stage 1 are A01,A04, A05, ... A10, A11, ...  (A2 and A3 were removed with the change of Event Centre  A suffix A, B, C may be added for subsidiary points , always after the unsuffixed waypoint, e.g.  A03A comes after A03 where there is a GPS waypoint but not an entry in the written description.  Note: there are not always route markers corresponding to each GPS waypoint - there may not have been anything to fix it to, or it may have been vandalised. 

Note: following relocation of CP7, waypoints for Stage 8 have been renumbered.

Again to assist removal from your GPS after the event, all waypoints have the same symbol, a flag (blue)  (use 'delete by symbol' if your GPS unit allows).

10 figure grid references are given for the GPS system.

The sequential list provides the 'conventional' 6-figure grid references for use in conjunction with OS Landranger Map 111 or Explorer Maps 278 (Sheffield and Barnsley) and 279 (Doncaster).

See table at end for summary of available GPS formats.  For some formats, I have generated versions of the files without the route (straight lines between waypoints) which can be confusing. The waypoints (where you make turns) and track (where I went) are, of course, retained. The file types are described in the next section.

Google Earth file - this is a large (1Mbyte) file

GPS waypoint file in Garmin format using the GPSU format, generally compatible with PCX5 software (see below). (the PCX5 format is obsolete, not reliably revised for 2018 as GPSU does not now offer the PCX5 format for saving files) and Garmin waypoint file is not now offered, so dropped as a format. Contact me if you want this format.

The format of the Route file was adjusted for my old Garmin GPS12 with PCX5 software. My new GPSMAP 60SCx is does not require the precise format of PCX5 so I now use GPS Utility.  Other more conventional formats for the title - with spaces or underscores, or a leading hyphen - are ineffective. Load the route file first, then the waypoint file, as the route file loads the waypoints but without the symbol specification.    (Alternative PCX5 format file with waypoint, routes and track is obsolete)

These files are loadable to newer Garmins (that can't use PCX5), Magellan and other GPS brands using inter alia GPS Utility, a shareware product written by Alan Murphy.  (Following Alan's retirement, GPS Utility (GPSU) no longer requires users to register the software. GPS Utility is now provided as fully functional Freeware which does not require registration). 
IF you have certain Garmin devices, you can load the track/waypoint files directly to your device using Garmin Connect.  Alternatively, there is the free (to Garmin users) BaseCamp software. Follow this link (under development).  There is likely to be similar free software appropriate to other brands.

GPSU files: If you have GPSU (even if you don't have a GPS unit) you can download a map and display the route.  Download one of the following set files into the same folder, open GPSU and select the first (.txt) file.

1:50000 scale: GPSU waypoint file  map  calibration 
1:25000 scale: track, waypoints and route GPSU waypoint file (.txt), OS Explorer map file and calibration file 
The main file is the same in each case; in GPSU, 'View' Tab, Calibrations and select RRR_OS.png for 1:50k, RRR_ac1.jpg for 1:25k

 Note, the map files are 0.13 and 8 Mbytes (1:50 and 1:25 respectively).  Click on the 'map' icon and you should have the route displayed in front of you.  The Start STA is the waypoint to the SE of the northmost waypoint A05.  Alternatively, the resulting map is (planned to be) available as an acrobat file.  You can then transfer the information to your own copy of the map; these versions are probably inadequate for navigation.  The map is reproduced from Landranger Map 111 Sheffield and Doncaster, 1:50000 scale ©Crown copyright 1974-2002. or Explorer® Maps 278 and 279, 1:25000 scale, by permission of Ordnance Survey® on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. ©Crown copyright 2000. All rights reserved. Licence number WL10217.   

Waypoints only in .csv format for you to process (with Excel, for example) as you will!   Shows 6 and 10 figure grid ref data.
Garmin POI: POI (Point Of Interest) is a .csv format, in sequence (co-ordinates are lat/long).   To load Point of Information (aka waypoints to a Garmin device) you can use the Garmin POI file
If you have not installed POI Loader, go to the Garmin download page which has installation instructions. Basically you connect your device to the USB port, open the loader, connect the device to it and then select the POI file. It should load direct to your device - waypoints only, not the track (use BaseCamp or GPSU to transfer both).
Others may find these useful to create Memory Map and Anquet map route files

Memory Map route files .  The 2019 route with waypoint names is NOT CURRENTLY available from RoundRotherham_mmo.mmo, in a form that can be used directly (use it to replace file userdata-Memory-Map-OS-5.mmo or import to the PC version).  Waypoint, Track and Route versions are available in MapTech Terrain format, which can be imported into Memory Map.  See separate section on using a Sat Nav with Memory Map.

GPS waypoints in .arf format for Anquet maps. GPSU refused to save in .aef format. The file, created by GPSU, is said to contains the waypoints and routes as Anquet paths. Or (not updated, contact me if you want this format) as a single Anquet route  (created by GPSU - hope it works. Or as a series of paths derived from each stage (only stage 1 - 2007 - at present for test purposes). Unfortunately, I have not been able to check whether Anquet reads the files properly. 

Courses for Garmin Forerunner. Right click on link and Save As Target...   Make sure (a) you remember where you saved it and (b) you have the latest version of Training Center – there was a major upgrade recently (2011).  Then import the Course file into Training Center select File /'Import to Current user account' / Courses, and from the drop down menu at the bottom of the dialogue box select Garmin Courses .crs  Browse to find the file you downloaded, and import it. You should get a page showing Courses on the left, and on clicking the + see Stages 1 to 8 (or Tracks 1a to 8). Click on each in turn to see the course on the display. In Training Center, File / Click on Send To Device (obviously with the device plugged in!) for each stage.  You want to Sent Courses to the device, preferably selecting just the Round Rotherham sections. Select the 8 sections (The Send to Device icon is next to the Download History icon, the first 2 on the task bar), assuming you downloaded the .crs file. This file has the course, not the waypoints (you will have a breadcrumb to follow on your forerunner - I trust). I believe that's what's meant to happen, and it has been reported to have worked.  Alternative version as a single track rather than split into stages (by request) - not updated for 2019, contact me if you require this format. 

Alternative formats for Forerunner  .tcx  .hst  Warning - if you use either of these formats, back up the history on Training Center first.  They could overwrite your existing data on Training Center.  These have not worked for me, though and are big files (500 kbytes).

Having loaded the .crs (forerunner) RRR route into Garmin Training Center, I am perplexed to see the trace displaced 100 m ESE – a datum problem I guess; WGS84 v. OS nat grid and others. This difference may also apply for other formats. I will be investigating this (not for the first time).

GPX file: The standard format .gpx file or without the route .gpx-rte (should be compatible with any good GPS software)

The next section is a bit experimental, not fully tested.  If shared file is not for the current year, download the 'GPX with one continuous track' file (see table below) and Import Activity

A problem has been reported that a Garmin device (a Fenix) would only import the track for the first stage, not all stages. For such devices, the procedure is as follows:
Download GPX with continuous track and at the top right (uparrow into cloud icon) select Import Activity to incorporate this file.  ALternatively, download shared file from Garmin Connect  (2023 version). Note: if you select a 'Nearby Course' for Round Rotherham (etc) it could be someone's route for an earlier year, with their errors (if they went wrong anywhere) - not ideal - and not up-dated with this years changes. This link is to the route for the current year (well, 2023 at present) using the 1st Sept update.

Alternatively, upload GPX file to Garmin Connect (Training - Courses - Import (at bottom right of pop-up box), and follow prompts - edit title, etc)
You may be able to download this course Round Rotherham 2023

To get it onto your device, connect your device to the computer, open Garmin Connect and click Send to Device, follow prompts -  a pop-up box should appear, select device you want to send course to, click Send Now. Then Select Application - Garmin Express - Open Link  Garmin Express should then do the upload (Sync)
On your Fenix, press top right button and select the Activity, e.g. Trail Running. Press Menu (middle on left), scroll down to Navigation and select it (top right). Scroll down to Courses, select. You will get your list of courses - maybe only RR2023. If so, select it (or scroll through list of courses to RR2023 and select). Select Do Course.
If you get a warning message of too many points when loading to your device, there are alternative files in which the track is split into 2 parts, Start to CP4 (Woodsetts) and from CP4 to the finish  At Woodsetts, you have to Menu - Navigation - Stop Course and then select the second part.

Other:
Garmin Mapsource format .gdb, or without the route .gdb-rte or transfer to and from Garmin units with computer connectivity (except Forerunner, I believe)

Download 3 files (right click on link, Save Target As...) to the same folder the GPSU file (.txt), an OS Explorer map file and a calibration file.
Open GPS Utility, File Open the rrr_gps_map_txt.txt  file.  

The .jpg file is reproduced from Explorer® Maps 278 and 279, 1:25 000 scale,
by permission of Ordnance Survey® on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. 
©Crown copyright 2000. 
All rights reserved. Licence number WL10217/100047659

View - Calibrations - select the map file rrr25_ac1.jpg
It should automatically calibrate using the rrr25_ac1.gux file

Set your GPS for OSGB grid and Ord Survey datum - if the route file works with your GPS, you should only need that - it will give the 170 waypoints in 9 packets of up to 30 waypoints (2 packets for Stage 1), starting and finishing at a checkpoint. All sections are within the 30 waypoint limit of the GPS12.

Sequential list of 10-figure Grid References for the 170+ critical points (generally changes of direction)
The file lists the waypoints round the route, with 10 figure grid references (usually only use the first 3 in each set of 5). The route goes from Start (STA) through locations of Stage 1 (A01-A30) to Checkpoint 1 (CP1). Then Stage 2 (B01-B24) to CP2, etc, etc to the Finish (FIN). The description indicates the direction to take when following the route.

6-figure Grid References for the Checkpoints 

To clear your GPS of Round Rotherham waypoints, use the Clear data set. Each year there are changes, so it is best to get a clean start. Also, you may want to load other waypoints, e.g. the Munros, before your next run. Delete waypoints with the selected symbols of Flag (routine waypoints), Circle-X (checkpoints) and First Aid (tricky locations).  For 2011, symbol is Flag (aka Golf Course), or delete waypoints starting R-

If you require a different GPS data format, contact me, rrrhenry-at-hmarston.co.uk  (include a Subject and Body text - unexplained attachments may be treated as spam), and I will try to generate it for you (using GPSU).

GPS data files available

Most of the files listed above give the waypoints (around 160 locations where there is a change in direction, plus the checkpoints), the route (straight lines linking the waypoints, indicating general direction to go) and the track (the route I actually followed, points at around 18 s intervals, following twists and turns).  These files are listed in column 2, after the description.  Column 3 excludes the routes, i.e. waypoints and track.  Column 4 is for waypoints only, Column 5 track only

Most GPS files have been updated for 2023 to show route/CP change, with the exception of formats no longer supported by GPSU. Because of the number of alternative versions, check (a) that the creation date of the file is 2023, (b) the file is as you require (some file types correspond to different formats).  Contact me, rrrhenry-at-hmarston.co.uk , if the file is not as expected.

Contact me if you have problems with tracks of over 500 points on Stage 1.

To accommodate restrictions in name length and numbers of points on a route or track, the sections of the route and track are broken into stages, named either Stage 1, Stage 2, ... or Leg 1, Leg 2, ... etc For the Route files, the long first stage is split into Stage 1A arestnd Stage 1B

GPS files for 2023

Basic GPSU .txt file, which can be used to create alternative formats (NOT for loading directly to devices) using the GPSU software

All other files are GPX files, the de facto standard

GPX file with Waypoints, Route and Track

GPX file with Waypoints and Track (full route)

Stage 1 GPX file with Waypoints and Track
Stage 2 GPX file with Waypoints and Track
Stage 3 GPX file with Waypoints and Track
Stage 4 GPX file with Waypoints and Track
Stage 5 GPX file with Waypoints and Track
Stage 6 GPX file with Waypoints and Track
Stage 7 GPX file with Waypoints and Track
Stage 8 GPX file with Waypoints and Track