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Cookie Policy
A short list, honestly described. We run no advertising, no retargeting pixels and no cross-site tracking — so there is not much here.
On this page
1. What cookies and local storage are
A cookie is a small text file placed on your device by a website. Local storage is a similar browser mechanism that holds a value until it is deleted, and is not transmitted with every request. Both are covered by the same UK and EU consent rules (PECR and the GDPR), so we treat them identically in this policy.
This site is deliberately light. We use local storage rather than cookies wherever possible, and the only thing we store by default is the record of your own consent choice.
2. The categories we use
Strictly necessary
Required to deliver the site and to honour your consent decision. These are set without consent because the site cannot function correctly without them, and because recording a consent choice is itself a legal obligation.
Analytics (optional)
Activated only if you choose "Accept All" or tick Analytics in the preferences panel. These measure aggregate page views, approximate country, device category and how far down a guide readers scroll. The data is anonymised, never sold, and used for one purpose: deciding which guides to expand and which to cut.
Functional (optional)
Activated only if you tick Functional. These remember display preferences such as your chosen distance units, saved route shortlist and text size, so you do not have to set them again on your next visit.
Advertising
None. We do not run advertising, do not embed social media tracking pixels, and do not participate in any behavioural advertising framework.
3. Full inventory
| Name | Type | Category | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cookieConsent | Local storage | Strictly necessary | Records that a consent decision has been made, so the banner is not shown again | 12 months |
| cookieConsentLevel | Local storage | Strictly necessary | Stores which option you chose: all, essential or custom | 12 months |
| cookieConsentDate | Local storage | Strictly necessary | Timestamp of the decision, used to re-ask after expiry | 12 months |
| cookieConsentDetail | Local storage | Strictly necessary | Your per-category choices for analytics and functional storage | 12 months |
| cl_session | Cookie | Strictly necessary | Server-side session and basic abuse protection on the contact form | Session |
| cl_units | Local storage | Functional | Remembers whether you prefer metric or imperial distances | 6 months |
| cl_shortlist | Local storage | Functional | Stores guides you have shortlisted while planning | 6 months |
| cl_textsize | Local storage | Functional | Remembers an increased reading text size | 6 months |
| _cl_stats_id | Cookie | Analytics | Distinguishes returning from new visits in aggregate only; no cross-site value | 13 months |
| _cl_stats_ses | Cookie | Analytics | Groups page views into a single reading session | 30 minutes |
If you reject non-essential storage, only the four consent records and the session cookie are used.
4. Third-party resources
Three external resources are requested when a page loads. None of them set cookies on our behalf, but requesting a file from any server discloses your IP address and browser details to that server:
- Google Fonts — serves the Fraunces and Inter typefaces used across the site.
- Unsplash — serves the licensed photography in articles and banners.
- OpenStreetMap — an embedded map appears on the Contact page only, and only when that page is opened.
Each provider operates under its own privacy notice. If you would prefer not to contact them at all, use a browser extension that blocks third-party requests, or read the site with images and web fonts disabled — the layout degrades gracefully.
5. Managing your choice
You can change or withdraw consent at any time. Use the button below to clear your stored decision and bring the consent panel back, then choose again.
Withdrawing consent stops any further optional storage immediately. It does not retroactively delete analytics events already recorded in aggregate, because those contain no identifier that could be traced back to you.
6. Browser-level controls
Every major browser lets you block or delete cookies and site data independently of this banner. The relevant settings are usually found under Privacy:
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Third-party cookies / Site data.
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data.
- Safari: Settings → Privacy → Manage Website Data.
- Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions.
Blocking all storage will make the consent banner reappear on every visit, because the record of your choice is itself stored locally. That is an unavoidable consequence, not a fault.
7. Changes to this policy
If we add or remove a storage item, this inventory is updated and the effective date changed. Material changes — for example introducing a new analytics provider — will re-trigger the consent banner so that you can make a fresh decision. This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Prefer to ask a person?
Our data protection contact answers within two working days.