Deviation Free app for iPhone and iPad

So you dont want to rely on electronic devices for your navigation? Very sensible. But veering off your planned route is frustrating and costly. Walking a mile without realising and retracing your steps can add 40 minutes to your journey.

Load Deviation with your planned route and itll start buzzing when youre a preset distance off-course. Even better than that, its little pointer will point the direction back to your route.

It wont show a map - its not that kind of app (and there are plenty of those if thats what youre looking for). Having said that, in testing weve found the pointer a very quick and easy way to get back on track, particularly in areas without obvious paths, such as woods or moorland.

The pointer isnt a compass. Simply turn yourself until the pointer points back at your route and thats the direction you need to walk.

It opens your route in GPX format. Any mapping app or website that allows you to plan a route should export your data as a GPX file. Websites that provide routes often provide the route as a GPX file. Email the file to yourself, click a link on a website or type / copy & paste the url of the gpx file.

Deviation can run while it is in the background or when the phone is locked. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. For prolonged outings, use the button within Deviation to switch off the GPS when its not needed and/or carry some kind of portable charger.