Cicerone

Guidebooks turned into a trail app

Cicerone Press, the UK's pre-eminent publisher of outdoor guidebooks, partnered with CodeLeap to transform their catalogue of 450+ titles into an interactive, map-driven digital experience on iOS and Android — offline GPS routes, a guidebook reader built for on-trail use, and in-app purchases across their full library.

What we did CodeLeap built the iOS and Android app with interactive topographic mapping, offline map downloads and in-app guidebook purchases, plus a content pipeline that renders hundreds of titles with differing data structures consistently, so adding a new title needs no developer involvement.

Cicerone Press is a family-owned publishing company with decades of heritage as the UK's pre-eminent publisher of outdoor guidebooks. With a catalogue of over 450 titles covering walking, trekking, climbing and cycling routes worldwide, Cicerone is a trusted name among outdoor enthusiasts globally. CodeLeap partnered with Cicerone to build a native mobile application that transforms their extensive guidebook library into an interactive, map-driven digital experience — bringing their renowned content to life on iOS and Android.

Product features

Interactive Route Mapping

Detailed topographic maps with route lines, stage markers and points of interest overlaid, supporting both online and offline use. Users can follow routes in real time with their device's GPS, even in remote areas with no mobile signal.
Guidebook Reader

Route descriptions, stage breakdowns, difficulty ratings and practical information are presented in a format optimised for on-trail use — clean, readable and designed for quick reference when conditions demand it.
Offline Map Downloads

Users can cache entire route areas for offline use, essential for the remote hiking and trekking locations that Cicerone's guidebooks cover. Maps and route data are available without any connectivity.
In-App Purchases

Users can browse and purchase individual guidebooks directly within the app, with purchases synced to their account and available across devices. The catalogue supports Cicerone's full library of 450+ titles.
Content Management Pipeline

A backend system that ingests Cicerone's guidebook data and renders it consistently across the app, accommodating the varying data structures of their extensive catalogue without requiring developer intervention for each new title.
User Accounts & Cross-Device Sync

Users can manage purchases, preferences and reading progress across devices, ensuring a seamless experience whether they switch between phone and tablet or replace a device.

Challenge

Cicerone's guidebooks have been the definitive resource for outdoor enthusiasts for decades, but the company recognised that modern users increasingly expect digital, on-trail access to route information rather than carrying physical books. The challenge was significant: converting a vast library of detailed guidebook content — including complex route data, points of interest, stage information and mapping — into a mobile-first experience that maintained the quality and depth Cicerone's readers expect. The app needed to support offline use, handle in-app purchases for individual guidebooks, integrate sophisticated mapping with route lines and POI markers, and provide a seamless reading experience across hundreds of books with varying data structures.

Solution

CodeLeap developed a full-featured mobile application for iOS and Android that serves as a digital companion to Cicerone's guidebook catalogue. The app was delivered through an iterative development process with extensive QA covering route rendering, map behaviour, offline functionality and content accuracy across Cicerone's diverse catalogue. The interactive mapping system supports both online and offline use, the guidebook reader is optimised for on-trail conditions, and the in-app purchase system enables users to build their digital library directly within the app.

Tech stack

The tech chosen was our speciality, enabling fast development of performant user interfaces and a reliable infrastructure. The app is now available for both iOS and Android.

Frontend: React Native (iOS & Android)
Backend: Python, Django, PostgreSQL
Services: AWS, Firebase, Sentry
Mapping: Custom GIS integration