I don’t even know how to ask this!

[AnnieSaxophone]

I’m totally hopeless at directions and I need to do a walk through a forest and then find my way back. Is there a way to get google maps to hold on to my start point somehow so I can use it to find my way back??

Yes, drop a pin at the start. Tap and hold the location to do so.

You have to leave a trail of breadcrumbs

Actually, go with what @WordsandSentences said.

Outdooractive app is good for having a oving gps marker of where you are, and showing off road tracks, like bridleways, footpaths etc to follow. The free version will do what you need.

Big ball of wool or string, tie it to a tree at the start and unwind it as you go along surely?

Or a bag full of confetti that you throw a handful on the path every few feet.

Or a brightly coloured length of Xmas tinsel tied on a branch at eye level every 30 feet - you will be able to see them from quite a long way.

You can download the area you need with google maps for offline usage (incase of signal failure) then activate gps then combined with the dot from the GPS in relation to where your walking you can navigate the woods successfully.

@AnnieSaxophone

I think you made your point.

Have a nice walk, OP! @Hawkins0001 has given good advice.

What3words app

Thank you so much everyone. VERY much appreciated!

There's a great free app called Footpath. I find it very very useful for navigating on walks. It just uses GPS to show you where you are on a map that clearly marks all footpaths. It's got me out of bother numerous times.

In addition to this, as already suggested, drop a pin showing where you set off.

Breadcrumbs. Never fails.

To hell with that, probably more fun just to look out for the giant gingerbread house

Breadcrumbs. Never fails
NO! Don't use breadcrumbs, the birds will eat them!

Why are you having to do this walk?

Breadcrumbs are useless by the way, either the turn to mush in the rain and you can't see them, or they are eaten enthusiastically by the local wildlife. I know this because we tried it when I was in the Brownies. Fortunately it was a rather small wood. 😂

What 3 Words App is great

Love the posters taking the breadcrumbs suggestion as if it were a serious one 😂

Remember Theseus and the Minotaur in the Labyrinth Annie? Take some string with you to keep safe!

Take pictures of interesting things as you go along too.

I'm sure I can't be the only person who wonders what posters mean when they take about forests

There are loads of wooded areas near me but nothing I'd call a forest, always sounds so Hansel and Gretal to me

When does a wood become a forest?

Breadcrumbs. I've definitely read about breadcrumbs being used.

Strava.

What if your particular woodland doesn’t have signal though?

Woods are surprisingly easy to navigate in. Perhaps you’re just not familiar with doing on? Look backward at each turn so your route decision on the way back is memorable. Note the trees, path texture etc. How long is your walk?

That's a good question, I always think native trees = woodland and coniferous which are usual a managed plantation = forest.

Get yourself an Ordnance Survey map op.

Oooh Strava is a good one! Thank you everyone. It’s the New Forest so I’m assuming it’s a forest, and I need to do the walk to get to and from a pub to find my airbnb again 😁