Get Set for Summer with our Pick of the Apps

As the weather (finally!) improves, many of us will be spending more time outdoors over the summer months.

To help get the best out of the holiday season, we’ve put together a useful guide to outdoor and travel apps, covering everything from weather, walking routes and gardening, through to packing and travel reviews.

AccuWeather

Avoid getting caught out by the unpredictable British weather with one of the best weather apps available. AccuWeather gives long-term forecasts as well as useful information about other weather factors, such as humidity and UV index.

AllTrails

For those who like to combine the outdoors with nature, AllTrails is a comprehensive database of biking and hiking trails that gives a wealth of information about each route – from details of the terrain, interesting flora and fauna and wildlife, through to practical advice, such as available facilities and dog friendly walks.

Planter

Novice gardeners can improve their knowledge and skills with this handy app that helps you plan your garden. Simply choose the size of your plot and then add your plants. When you select a plant to add, Planter will give you information such as the depth it needs to be planted, how long it takes to flower or harvest and how much water it will need.

PackPoint

A must for those who dread packing for a holiday or trip, PackPoint tells you exactly what to take. Just enter where you’re going, when and for how long, as well as whether it’s business or leisure and the types of activities you’ll be doing. The app then provides you with a list of what you’ll need to take, plus the anticipated weather. PackPoint also allows you to check items off as you pack or remove ones you don’t need.

iTranslate

Take a step up from Google Translate with this handy translation app that covers more than 100 languages and has a phrasebook of over 250 predefined phrases. Simply type or speak your sentence into the app and iTranslate does the rest. It also has an Offline Mode which allows you to use it without having to pay expensive roaming charges (NB you have to subscribe to the app’s Pro version to use this feature).

Step: Your World

A kind of Instagram meets TripAdvisor, Step allows travellers to gather tips and share authentic travel recommendations. Any physical location in a city or country – restaurants, galleries, monuments – can be ‘stepped’ or marked and reviewed by users. The plus side is you only see reviews and recommendations from people you choose to follow, meaning information is more likely to be authentic and reliable compared to some of the reviews written by keyboard warriors on TripAdvisor! Step is only currently available on Apple/iOS, although there are plans to roll it out to Google/Android.

Formulify

Motor racing enthusiasts wanting to keep up-to-date with the Formula 1 season as it hots up over the summer months need look no further than Formulify. This innovative app brings widgets (in non-tech speak widgets are displays of information from apps that appear on your screen) to your home screen and lock screen, so you can countdown to the next race start. The app also tracks current standings and drivers and has a novel ‘Team Radio Message of the Day’ widget.

NB: These apps are not endorsed by Lifeline IT