 Figure 1 1:25 000 Second Series cover (Dec 1965 - c.1971) |
 Figure 2 1:25 000 Second Series cover (c.1971 - c.1974) |
The wrangling over 1:25 000 sheet sizes (see 1:25 000 First Series) was resolved in February 1962, when a sheet size of 20km × 10km was formally decided upon for the Second Series. Work was put in hand immediately on producing a pilot sheet for the Second Series. This was completed by March 1963, and the first 14 sheets of the full series were published in December 1965, in a green variation of the ‘mangifying-glass’ cover. (Figure 1)
Very few sheets of the Second Series were published in time to receive this cover, however - in 1971 the somewhat uninspired ‘house style’ design was introduced to the series. This incorporated a diagram of the surrounding road network and sheet coverage area, with the titles of all surrounding sheets. (Figure 2)
The 1:25 000 Second Series maps were produced to a much improved specification, most importantly including quickly-recognisable symbols for public rights of way. The standard sheet size of 20km × 10km (varied slightly around the coasts) was widely welcomed, particularly by ramblers’ groups. The full national series was planned to cover Great Britain in around 1,400 sheets.
Despite the sheet-size wrangling supposedly being resolved, the 1:25 000 Second Series didn’t get an easy ride: a proposal for a change to 20km × 20km sheets was considered in 1969, and in 1973 the possibilty of abandoning the series was also considered, but rejected later the same year after public complaints. Another problem was the fact that the rate of publication of new sheets in the series was painfully slow. A gap of 15 years or more between the latest revised reprint of a First Series sheet and its first Second Series replacement was not uncommon.
 Figure 3 1:25 000 Second Series cover (c.1974 - c.1979) |
 Figure 4 1:25 000 Pathfinder cover (c.1979 - c.1980) |
Around 1974 the cover style changed subtly: the diagram of the surrounding road network was removed in favour of small labelled black circles locating the surrounding cities, towns and villages. Sheet titles were no longer shown on the diagram - the map-buying public were forced to go on the sheet number alone. (Figure 3)
In 1979, the series was given the ‘Pathfinder’ tag, to go along with the ‘Landranger’ tag of the 1:50 000 series. This recognised the 1:25 000’s popularity with walkers. The new tag took the place of ‘Second Series’ on the map covers. (Figure 4)
 Figure 5 1:25 000 Pathfinder cover (c.1980 - c.1984) |
 Figure 6 1:25 000 Pathfinder cover (c.1984 - c.1987) |
Around 1980, the cover was re-designed to include a detailed map of the surrounding sheets’ coverage based on 1:625 000 Routeplanner mapping. This design was printed on the map sheet itself in such a way that, when folded, the ‘cover’ appeared on the outside. (Figure 5). (Those sheets last revised before 1980 continued to be issued in hinged covers (Figure 4) until they were reprinted.)
The sheet numbering of the 1:25 000 Second Series originally followed a similar method to the First Series sheets, relating to the National Grid. This gave rise to such unwieldy sheet numbers as “NR 94/ parts 84, 95/ NS 04”. However, from the mid-1980s, the series was given consecutive numbers from North to South. Thus “NR 94/ parts 84, 95/ NS 04” became the much friendlier “Pathfinder 441”. The new numbers were printed on the covers as a secondary means of identification. (Figure 6)
At the same time, it was decided to discontinue or abandon any ‘Pathfinder’ sheets wholly underlying Outdoor Leisure maps.
 Figure 7 1:25 000 Pathfinder cover (c.1987 - c.1988) |
 Figure 8 1:25 000 Pathfinder cover (c.1988 - c.1993) |
The next cover design, introduced around 1987, did away with the detailed area map and reverted to a diagram of the surrounding sheets, using the new consecutive numbers for the series as the primary sheet indentification. This cover, again, was printed on the map sheet itself. (Figure 7). At first, these covers lacked the Great Britain shape from the previous design, but it was re-instated as a black outline later in 1988. (Figure 8)
The series was finally completed in December 1989 with the publication of sheet SX 54/63/64 Newton Ferrers and Thurlestone.
 Figure 9 1:25 000 Gower Special Pathfinder (1992) |
Partially in response to a demand for larger 1:25 000 sheet sizes, and partially to test the water, two ‘Pathfinder’ sheets were joined together in 1992 to cover the Gower Peninsula in a single sheet. (Figure 9). The experiment was largely successful and gave Ordnance Survey the encouragement to create a new series of selective-coverage 1:25 000 sheets - the Explorer series.
 Figure 10 1:25 000 Pathfinder cover (c.1993 - 1996) |
 Figure 11 1:25 000 Pathfinder cover (1997) |
A slight modification to the cover was made c.1993, with the Ordnance Survey logo inside a black-outlined box. (Figure 10)
By 1996, Pathfinder revision had slowed to a crawl, as much effort was being put into the Explorer series. Just five Pathfinder sheets were revised in 1997, and each was given a cover with the new Ordnance Survey logo and revised style. (Figure 11). Details of the sheets found in this cover design can be found on the themed collection page.
For the sheets with direct-printed covers, each new style of cover would only be printed on a sheet when the whole sheet was reprinted, therefore not all sheets will exist in all cover varieties.
As the publication of the national Explorer series gathered pace from mid-1997, the Pathfinder maps were gradually withdrawn, being completely replaced by the Explorer series in March 2003.
Page last updated: 30 October 2009