Legal
Cookie Policy
Last updated 1 January 2026. This page lists every cookie and browser-storage item this site can set, what each one does, how long it lasts, and how to refuse or remove them.
1. What cookies are
A cookie is a small text file that a website asks your browser to store, so that it can recognise your device on a later request. Related technologies — localStorage, sessionStorage and pixel tags — do a similar job and are covered by this policy too. Cookies set by this domain are "first-party"; cookies set by another domain loaded inside our pages would be "third-party". We use no third-party advertising or social media cookies at all.
2. How we ask for consent
On your first visit a banner appears at the bottom of the screen with three options: Accept All, Reject Non-Essential and Preferences. Nothing optional is set until you choose. Rejecting non-essential cookies leaves the site fully functional — you simply lose the preference memory and we lose the usage statistics. Your decision is recorded in local storage so you are not asked again on every page. Clearing your browser storage resets the banner.
3. Cookies and storage we use
Essential — always active
| Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| vc_cookie_consent | localStorage (first party) | Stores which of the three consent options you chose, so the banner does not reappear | 12 months |
| vc_session | Session cookie (first party) | Maintains page state and protects form submissions against cross-site request forgery | Until browser closes |
| __host_security | Cookie (hosting provider) | Load balancing, bot filtering and abuse protection at the edge | Up to 30 minutes |
Analytics — optional, off until you accept
| Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| vc_analytics_id | Cookie (first party) | Distinguishes one device from another so page views are not double-counted | 13 months |
| vc_route_view | localStorage (first party) | Records which route guides were opened in a visit, to show us which chapters are useful | 6 months |
| _measure_ref | Cookie (analytics processor) | Stores the referring source of a visit in aggregate form; no cross-site profiling | 90 days |
Functional — optional, off until you accept
| Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| vc_units | localStorage (first party) | Remembers whether you prefer kilometres or miles in journey descriptions | 12 months |
| vc_saved_guides | localStorage (first party) | Keeps your shortlist of route guides on this device | 12 months |
| vc_banner_dismissed | Cookie (first party) | Hides in-page notices you have already closed | 3 months |
4. Changing your mind
To change a choice you have already made, clear this site's cookies and storage in your browser and reload the page; the banner will reappear and you can choose again. You can also open the Preferences panel from the banner while it is displayed and toggle the analytics and functional categories individually.
5. Browser-level controls
Every modern browser lets you block or delete cookies for a single site or for all sites. The exact path changes between versions, but the settings are here:
- Google Chrome — Settings › Privacy and security › Third-party cookies, and Settings › Privacy and security › Delete browsing data.
- Mozilla Firefox — Settings › Privacy & Security › Cookies and Site Data, with Enhanced Tracking Protection set to Standard or Strict.
- Apple Safari (macOS) — Safari › Settings › Privacy; on iOS, Settings › Safari › Block All Cookies and Clear History and Website Data.
- Microsoft Edge — Settings › Cookies and site permissions › Manage and delete cookies and site data.
- Private or incognito windows discard all cookies when the window closes, which is the simplest one-off option.
Blocking all cookies everywhere will break logins and checkouts on many other websites. Blocking them only for this domain is safe: our pages are static and will still work.
6. Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control
We honour the Global Privacy Control signal where your browser or extension sends one: if GPC is present, optional analytics and functional categories stay off regardless of the banner. Legacy Do Not Track headers are also treated as a rejection of non-essential storage.
7. Retention and questions
Durations in the tables above are maximums; items are often replaced or expire sooner. Aggregated analytics reports derived from these cookies contain no identifying data. For anything else about cookies, or to ask us to delete data associated with an identifier, email [email protected]. Related reading: our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.