Google Maps SOTA Parking spot project

M1EYP · 30 July 2026 14:56

This sort of thing may already exist of course, or there may be neat ways to integrate existing information from the SMP or Sotlas - but I’m not sure.

Anyway, my beloved Dacia Duster has been retired and passed over to those nice people at Webuyanycardotcom. New motor on the road - but my satnav in the Duster was so out of date that there was no feasible way of grabbing all the hundreds of SOTA parking spots from it. So I’m starting that from scratch - but this time, to guard against the future, I’m using live online resources. Google Maps will be my satnav of choice, rather than the car’s in-built one (I think - feel free to talk me out of it if you think that’s a bad idea).

So I’m thinking to gradually add SOTA parking spots to this:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/eM2XQMWWk7efXDCW8

Process:

Drop a pin
Click on the coordinates below
Add a label (the full SOTA reference - eg G/SP-015) then press enter
Save - in “SOTA Parking Spots”

(The reason I’ve detailed all that seemingly obvious stuff is because it took me a while to hit upon the process that did what I wanted!)

If lots of us do this collaboratively, we could create an excellent and comprehensive resource for the way many of us navigate these days.

But if I’m barking up the wrong tree here, please put me right!

GM4LLD · 30 July 2026 15:12

Is Google Maps built in to your car?
Or are you using something like AppleCarPlay or AndroidAuto with your phone?
What happens when you are somewhere there is no phone data signal?
What happens when Google or A.N. Other changes the terms of access and Google Maps is no longer offered to you?

MM0EFI · 30 July 2026 15:14

Give @GM5ALX Alex a day or two and he’ll add most of the World for you and crash googles servers.

G4TGJ · 30 July 2026 15:25

I use Google Maps to navigate so I think this is a great idea. I’ll find the exact parking spot on my desktop, use Streetview to check it out and then download it to my phone. Not having a signal hasn’t been a problem as it will download the route in advance. If you want to find your next destination on a map then this can be a problem.

This could happen with any service.

OE5JFE · 30 July 2026 16:14

I would think that it is a long missing feature on Sotamaps to mark POI points of interest.
With that one could also (selectivly) export them into whatever format needed.
Kml für Google Maps or anything else…

Parking
Bus/Train stop
Drinking water source
Shelter
Hut/Restaurant/Food/Drinks
…

Next year is 25 year of SOTA so I put it on the wishlist hi

G8TMV · 30 July 2026 16:25

I have a large-ish number of UK SOTA parking spots as .vcf files which I load into my car SatNav from my Desktop PC via a USB Stick. I use a method similar to G4TGJ to generate them.

I’m not sure how universal .vcf files are but they are plain text (in a slightly weird format) and so can easily be created or edited with a simple editor.

G0MHF · 30 July 2026 16:34

Not having Satnav, this all a mystery to me!

M1EYP · 30 July 2026 17:54

Looks like as well as adding a label, we need to add a note - again, with the standard SOTA reference - as what is displayed seems to vary by device.

So if we could all enter the SOTA reference twice - in the label, and in the notes, that would be great.

G7ADF · 30 July 2026 18:02

I was about to say the same thing. The note seems to be more visible in the sidebar list other wise its just a list of coordinates.

M1EYP · 30 July 2026 21:07

The ones added in the Grampian area don’t have labels or notes added. Thanks for contributing them Fraser - would you be able to add the SOTA refs in the Label and Notes fields too?

PE1EEC · 30 July 2026 22:12

You can draw a little red circle on the maps instead

73, Martin - PE1EEC

G1ZAR · 31 July 2026 06:19

What about if there is more than one parking spot?

The current one for G/SP-001 is not the one I use.

G4VFL · 31 July 2026 07:47

For what it is worth here is the csv file I used to load the Garmin with carparks in the Southern Uplands.

I have one for England and an unverified version for the rest of GM/SS

73 de

Andrew (G4VFL)

-4.484012,55.092961,GM/SS-028 Merrick CP,Merrick Car Parking
-3.412869,55.520105,GM/SS-029 Broad Law CP,Broad Law Car Parking
-3.286234,55.418107,GM/SS-030 White Coomb CP,White Coomb Car Parking
-4.272921,55.149182,GM/SS-033 Corserine CP,Corserine Car Parking
-3.461549,55.379139,GM/SS-037 Hart Fell CP,Hart Fell Car Parking
-4.270229,55.223153,GM/SS-038 Cairnsmore of Carsphairn CP,Cairnsmore of Carsphairn Car Parking
-4.587748,55.182563,GM/SS-042 Shalloch on Minnoch CP,Shalloch on Minnoch Car Parking
-3.538696,55.564006,GM/SS-049 Culter Fell CP,Culter Fell Car Parking
-3.078374,55.591227,GM/SS-052 Dun Rig CP,Dun Rig Car Parking
-3.772368,55.399125,GM/SS-056 Green Lowther CP,Green Lowther Car Parking
-4.484012,55.092961,GM/SS-061 Lamachan Hill CP,Lamachan Hill Car Parking
-3.656907,55.572002,GM/SS-064 Tinto CP,Tinto Car Parking
-4.40147,54.940942,GM/SS-065 Cairnsmore of Fleet CP,Cairnsmore of Fleet Car Parking
-4.160082,55.347106,GM/SS-070 Blackcraig Hill CP,Blackcraig Hill Car Parking
-4.164144,55.323915,GM/SS-071 Windy Standard CP,Windy Standard Car Parking
-3.63011,55.247465,GM/SS-072 Queensberry CP,Queensberry Car Parking
-4.484012,55.092961,GM/SS-073 Mullwharchar CP,Mullwharchar Car Parking
-3.280441,55.371751,GM/SS-074 Ettrick Pen CP,Ettrick Pen Car Parking
-3.696321,55.354216,GM/SS-075 Ballencleuch Law CP,Ballencleuch Law Car Parking
-3.538696,55.564006,GM/SS-077 Gathersnow Hill CP,Gathersnow Hill Car Parking
-3.363442,55.357689,GM/SS-082 Capel Fell CP,Capel Fell Car Parking
-3.219637,55.40347,GM/SS-083 Andrewhinney Hill CP,Andrewhinney Hill Car Parking
-3.0454,55.684559,GM/SS-087 Windlestraw Law CP,Windlestraw Law Car Parking
-4.345084,55.068745,GM/SS-092 Millfore CP,Millfore Car Parking
-3.122702,55.759443,GM/SS-094 Blackhope Scar CP,Blackhope Scar Car Parking
-4.484012,55.092961,GM/SS-096 Craignaw CP,Craignaw Car Parking
-3.408833,55.324298,GM/SS-100 Croft Head CP,Croft Head Car Parking
-2.824769,55.261689,GM/SS-106 Cauldcleuch Head CP,Cauldcleuch Head Car Parking
-3.69664,55.358739,GM/SS-112 Well Hill CP,Well Hill Car Parking
-2.824769,55.261689,GM/SS-114 Greatmoor Hill CP,Greatmoor Hill Car Parking
-4.070398,55.297181,GM/SS-116 Colt Hill CP,Colt Hill Car Parking
-2.963933,55.265999,GM/SS-118 Wisp Hill CP,Wisp Hill Car Parking
-3.149385,55.417155,GM/SS-119 Ward Law CP,Ward Law Car Parking
-4.066337,55.515367,GM/SS-120 Cairn Table CP,Cairn Table Car Parking
-3.138656,55.476967,GM/SS-122 The Wiss CP,The Wiss Car Parking
-3.780753,55.396365,GM/SS-123 Green Hill CP,Green Hill Car Parking
-3.261727,55.834195,GM/SS-125 Scald Law CP,Scald Law Car Parking
-3.399223,55.622535,GM/SS-128 Broughton Heights CP,Broughton Heights Car Parking
-3.609296,54.955297,GM/SS-130 Criffel CP,Criffel Car Parking
-3.623778,55.369859,GM/SS-131 Hods Hill CP,Hods Hill Car Parking
-2.865524,55.262379,GM/SS-132 Roan Fell CP,Roan Fell Car Parking
-3.063745,55.600429,GM/SS-133 Minch Moor CP,Minch Moor Car Parking
-4.594655,55.197504,GM/SS-135 Craigenreoch CP,Craigenreoch Car Parking
-2.963933,55.265999,GM/SS-136 Pikethaw Hill CP,Pikethaw Hill Car Parking
-3.911381,55.283596,GM/SS-139 Cairnkinna Hill CP,Cairnkinna Hill Car Parking
-3.138255,55.477198,GM/SS-140 Turner Cleuch Law CP,Turner Cleuch Law Car Parking
-3.408833,55.324298,GM/SS-142 Scaw’d Fell CP,Scaw’d Fell Car Parking
-3.399223,55.622535,GM/SS-143 Trahenna Hill CP,Trahenna Hill Car Parking
-3.078374,55.591227,GM/SS-144 Deuchar Law CP,Deuchar Law Car Parking
-3.297408,55.624872,GM/SS-145 Penvalla CP,Penvalla Car Parking
-2.943505,55.287902,GM/SS-146 Ellson Fell CP,Ellson Fell Car Parking
-4.003537,55.22008,GM/SS-147 Wether Hill CP,Wether Hill Car Parking
-2.620435,55.864756,GM/SS-148 Meikle Says Law CP,Meikle Says Law Car Parking
-4.484012,55.092961,GM/SS-150 Craiglee CP,Craiglee Car Parking
-4.385135,55.225678,GM/SS-152 Craiglee CP,Craiglee Car Parking
-4.697768,55.832733,GM/SS-155 Hill of Stake CP,Hill of Stake Car Parking
-3.939653,55.590041,GM/SS-156 Nutberry Hill CP,Nutberry Hill Car Parking
-3.474913,55.707885,GM/SS-158 Black Mount CP,Black Mount Car Parking
-2.741684,55.221597,GM/SS-161 Larriston Fell CP,Larriston Fell Car Parking
-3.984568,55.425722,GM/SS-164 Kirkland Hill CP,Kirkland Hill Car Parking
-3.701388,55.564454,GM/SS-165 Dungavel Hill CP,Dungavel Hill Car Parking
-3.261727,55.834195,GM/SS-167 Black Hill CP,Black Hill Car Parking
-3.138797,55.406298,GM/SS-168 Law Kneis CP,Law Kneis Car Parking
-4.269612,55.059913,GM/SS-170 Cairnsmore (Black Craig of Dee) CP,Cairnsmore (Black Craig of Dee) Car Parking
-3.216473,55.893698,GM/SS-171 Allermuir Hill CP,Allermuir Hill Car Parking
-3.620934,55.56073,GM/SS-172 Lamington Hill CP,Lamington Hill Car Parking
-3.870461,55.558203,GM/SS-174 Common Hill CP,Common Hill Car Parking
-3.314269,55.731246,GM/SS-177 Wether Law CP,Wether Law Car Parking
-4.349736,55.029069,GM/SS-178 Craignell CP,Craignell Car Parking
-3.087079,55.439749,GM/SS-179 Cacra Hill CP,Cacra Hill Car Parking
-4.27374,55.048702,GM/SS-181 Fell of Fleet CP,Fell of Fleet Car Parking
-2.559161,55.868678,GM/SS-182 Spartleton CP,Spartleton Car Parking
-4.083957,55.543309,GM/SS-184 Middlefield Law CP,Middlefield Law Car Parking
-4.367948,55.333137,GM/SS-186 Benbeoch CP,Benbeoch Car Parking
-4.29801,54.865298,GM/SS-191 Cairnharrow CP,Cairnharrow Car Parking
-3.801936,55.328744,GM/SS-194 Cairn Hill CP,Cairn Hill Car Parking
-3.422757,55.717686,GM/SS-195 Mendick Hill CP,Mendick Hill Car Parking
-3.072415,55.18939,GM/SS-196 Calkin Rig CP,Calkin Rig Car Parking
-2.295587,55.490862,GM/SS-197 Hownam Law CP,Hownam Law Car Parking
-2.764652,55.231086,GM/SS-199 Blackwood Hill CP,Blackwood Hill Car Parking
-4.914933,55.043674,GM/SS-201 Beneraird CP,Beneraird Car Parking
-3.473511,55.594335,GM/SS-203 Goseland Hill CP,Goseland Hill Car Parking
-3.910097,55.141216,GM/SS-205 Bogrie Hill CP,Bogrie Hill Car Parking
-3.247592,55.681583,GM/SS-208 White Meldon CP,White Meldon Car Parking
-3.465656,55.672435,GM/SS-209 Broomy Law CP,Broomy Law Car Parking
-2.63998,55.434997,GM/SS-210 Rubers Law CP,Rubers Law Car Parking
-2.826726,55.700913,GM/SS-211 Sell Moor Hill CP,Sell Moor Hill Car Parking
-2.832019,55.620585,GM/SS-212 Meigle Hill CP,Meigle Hill Car Parking
-2.719887,55.596073,GM/SS-214 Eildon Mid Hill CP,Eildon Mid Hill Car Parking
-3.962011,55.137781,GM/SS-217 Fell Hill CP,Fell Hill Car Parking
-3.195873,55.632633,GM/SS-219 Cademuir Hill CP,Cademuir Hill Car Parking
-4.808291,55.77924,GM/SS-220 Blaeloch Hill CP,Blaeloch Hill Car Parking
-3.834424,55.067027,GM/SS-224 Bennan CP,Bennan Car Parking
-2.461642,55.789432,GM/SS-225 Dirrington Great Law CP,Dirrington Great Law Car Parking
-3.821855,55.10069,GM/SS-228 Bishop Forest Hill CP,Bishop Forest Hill Car Parking
-3.885452,54.851118,GM/SS-229 Bengairn CP,Bengairn Car Parking
-4.300245,54.898485,GM/SS-232 Pibble Hill CP,Pibble Hill Car Parking
-4.266203,55.706043,GM/SS-236 Corse Hill CP,Corse Hill Car Parking
-4.171819,54.9201,GM/SS-238 Bengray CP,Bengray Car Parking
-3.848909,55.200307,GM/SS-241 Wauk Hill CP,Wauk Hill Car Parking
-2.563946,55.395334,GM/SS-244 Belling Hill CP,Belling Hill Car Parking
-4.169531,54.935493,GM/SS-245 White Top of Culreoch CP,White Top of Culreoch Car Parking
-3.187161,55.132796,GM/SS-249 Grange Fell CP,Grange Fell Car Parking
-3.983826,55.047951,GM/SS-250 Mochrum Fell CP,Mochrum Fell Car Parking
-2.669612,55.627017,GM/SS-253 Black Hill CP,Black Hill Car Parking
-3.617579,55.922023,GM/SS-254 Cairnpapple Hill CP,Cairnpapple Hill Car Parking
-4.926214,55.183157,GM/SS-256 Grey Hill CP,Grey Hill Car Parking
-4.691386,55.413313,GM/SS-260 Brown Carrick Hill CP,Brown Carrick Hill Car Parking
-3.731115,54.880214,GM/SS-261 Bainloch Hill CP,Bainloch Hill Car Parking
-2.3623,55.534352,GM/SS-263 Linton Hill CP,Linton Hill Car Parking
-4.950719,55.121586,GM/SS-267 Knockdolian CP,Knockdolian Car Parking
-3.644541,55.02372,GM/SS-269 Woodhead Hill CP,Woodhead Hill Car Parking
-3.153023,55.944721,GM/SS-272 Arthur’s Seat CP,Arthur’s Seat Car Parking
-3.699606,55.081688,GM/SS-274 See Morris Hill CP,See Morris Hill Car Parking
-2.719679,56.050901,GM/SS-280 North Berwick Law CP,North Berwick Law Car Parking
-5.046633,54.854602,GM/SS-281 Cairn Pat CP,Cairn Pat Car Parking
-3.436945,55.850804,GM/SS-282 East Cairn Hill CP,East Cairn Hill Car Parking
-3.756694,55.104823,GM/SS-285 Killyleoch Hill CP,Killyleoch Hill Car Parking
-2.082563,55.82259,GM/SS-286 Lamberton Hill CP,Lamberton Hill Car Parking
-4.530805,55.160538,GM/SS-287 Kirriereoch Hill CP,Kirriereoch Hill Car Parking
-3.522752,55.13732,GM/SS-289 White Hill CP,White Hill Car Parking

MM0EFI · 31 July 2026 08:09

They have one but not the other. I’m working on it…

M1EYP · 31 July 2026 09:13

Good shout.

Just add a word(s) on … “G/SP-001 Barber Booth” (etc). If/when you do, I’ll edit mine to “G/SP-001 Rushup Edge”.

M1EYP · 31 July 2026 09:15

Great! Even better if you save those to

https://maps.app.goo.gl/eM2XQMWWk7efXDCW8

(Some of those already on there, but most not).

M1EYP · 31 July 2026 09:16

You might not need to because I populated several of yours with the other label/tag last night.

M1EYP · 31 July 2026 09:18

Anyway - it seems to be working. I set off to work this morning (playing at Tyne Opera House,Newcastle tonight). Searched for “G/LD-037” as a waypoint, and it came straight up on my car console.

MM0EFI · 31 July 2026 09:24

Cheers. I saw that this morning, although it says Jimmy did it.

M0HGY · 31 July 2026 09:37

To save a SOTA parking spot, pin the parking spot and then click save.

Then select SOTA Parking Spots, type in the SOTA reference and click done.

You then need to click on the pin you have click saved and then follow find the add label tab. If you cannot see the add label tab, click on the more tab and then add label.

Type in the SOTA reference once again and then click done.

Please do NOT add any tags as these go onto every single SOTA parking spots.

Jimmy M0HGY