When exploring the Dales, it can be easy to get lost – street addresses can be inconsistent and confusing, postcodes can take you to the middle of nowhere, grid references aren’t for everyone, and many of the best places to visit simply don’t have an address at all. That’s why we’re now using what3words to make our points of interest easier to find.
What is what3words?
what3words is a simple way to talk about precise locations. It has divided the world into 3m squares and given each a unique 3 word address – so you can refer to any location with just 3 words. This makes the precise entrance to a cafe or the best viewpoint for an amazing waterfall, incredibly easy to find. For example, the 3 word address for the cairn on the summit of Ingleborough can be found at ///tracking.forgotten.buzz.
How to use what3words
For each of our points of interest you’ll see 3 word addresses in the form ///word.word.word. To find this place easily, you can download the free what3words app and enter the 3 words into the search bar. To navigate press the directions arrow in the app and using your preferred app (e.g. Google Maps, Waze) to travel to that precise point.
The what3words app works offline so you can still enter 3 words and find the exact location even without a connection.
The following short video sums it all up nicely.
[vimeo 268807839]Using what3words
What3Words is used by North Yorkshire Police, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue as one of the applications to aid with emergency responses.
We would always recommend being fully prepared with a map and clear route information when you explore the Yorkshire Dales. In the event of becoming lost in an unfamiliar area the what3words system can be an additional aid to help the emergency services locate you.
Once you have the app on your phone prior to your trip, if needed it will generate a totally unique three word pinpont location that can be passed on to the emergency services (this must be done by you).
For more information about how to use the what3words app – to tell your friends exactly where to meet you, to mark out the precise start of your next walk, or to save the locations of your favourite spots throughout the Dales, simply visit: what3words.com/how-to-use-the-what3words-app