When you’re out on a trail, knowing exactly where you are is essential. But did you know there are different ways to express your location on a map? HiiKER lets you choose the coordinate system that works best for where you hike.

World Geodetic System (Lat/Long)

This is the global standard — the one most people are familiar with. It uses latitude and longitude to pinpoint any location on Earth. If you’ve ever shared a GPS pin or typed coordinates into Google Maps, you’ve used this system. It works everywhere in the world, making it the default choice for most hikers.

Great Britain Grid Reference

If you hike in England, Scotland, or Wales, you’ll likely encounter Ordnance Survey (OS) grid references on trail signs, guidebooks, and printed maps. These use a letter-and-number format like SH 654 542 instead of decimal degrees. Selecting this option means HiiKER will display coordinates in the same format used on OS maps, so you can cross-reference your position easily.

Irish Grid Reference

Similar to the British system but designed for Ireland (both the Republic and Northern Ireland). Irish grid references use a single letter followed by numbers, such as O 159 339. If you’re walking the Wild Atlantic Way, the Wicklow Mountains, or any trail on the island of Ireland, this setting keeps your coordinates consistent with local maps.

New Zealand Grid Reference

New Zealand has its own national grid system, sometimes seen on LINZ (Land Information New Zealand) topographic maps. If you’re tackling the Milford Track, Tongariro Crossing, or any of NZ’s Great Walks, switching to this system lets you match coordinates with locally published maps and guides.

Which should I choose?

• Hiking internationally or unsure? Stick with World Geodetic System (Lat/Long) — it works everywhere.
• Hiking in Great Britain with OS maps? Choose Great Britain Grid Reference.
• Hiking in Ireland? Choose Irish Grid Reference.
• Hiking in New Zealand? Choose New Zealand Grid Reference.

You can change this setting at any time in the app under Settings > Customise > Map Coordinate System.