I'm not one for technical gadgets, but do you have any suggestions to keep us from getting hopelessly lost on long country rambles?

You can't beat good old paper. The new Explorer series is Ordnance Survey's most detailed leisure map, with a scale of 1:25,000. Every centimetre on the map represents 250 metres on the ground, giving you an uncluttered look at the landscape. They show footpaths, riding and cycling routes, and public access information for the National Trust and Forestry Commission land.

Anything else? Contours on the map also help you plan walks where the going never gets too steep. If you enjoy a tipple when you are in the country, one useful symbol picks out rural pubs. And should you imbibe too much, the nearest camp site or youth hostel are also pinpointed.

How much? Explorer maps cost £6.99 each from Ordnance Survey (08456 050505, Ordnance Survey), bookshops and outdoor specialists.