Fantasy Maps

When I was younger I used to enjoy drawing maps of imaginary countries, and places within those countries. This is obviously not a recreation you tend to put on your CV, but I've found a surprising number of people have done similar things, including, for example, the very elaborate maps drawn by Adrian Leskiw at The Map Realm.

This page includes a selection of fantasy maps that I have drawn. The maps were mainly drawn at a time when I was a keen railway enthusiast and the railway systems are probably the most developed aspect, although they do include road numbering and modern motorways and bypasses. If this page generates some interest I may scan and upload more maps in the future. All the maps will open in a single additional window. The scans are quite large (typically around 250-300 Kb).

In general the mapping conventions should be fairly obvious. Railways are shown in green on the country maps, and on the town plans shopping streets have orange edging. The railways on the country maps are shown at maximum extent, and in some cases may have been closed since.

Arransia

I was recently invited by a friend to take over a corner of a fantasy country he was creating, and the result was Arransia, which is still a work in progress. I have produced a wealth of background information on the country's history, geography, armed forces and transport networks, and have also drawn a couple of maps:

Arransia - North

Arransia - South

Arransia is a country of 13 million people that geographically is roughly equivalent to a combination of Yorkshire, Northumbria and the Lowlands of Scotland. The place names are mostly Scottish and Northern English, although the south-western corner has a flavour of Cheshire and Shropshire. It lies to the north-east of the larger country of Brunswick with which it has a somewhat love-hate relationship.

Arthland

This is a mountainous, mainly rural country with a population of about 6 million. The place names have a distinct Scottish and Irish flavour. It notionally lies about 500 miles to the north-east of a country somewhat similar to the UK.

Arthland - North-West

Arthland - North-East

Arthland - South-West

Arthland - South-East

Borroland

This is a larger country of about the population of the UK, but with a smaller proportion of wild country. It is a peninsula on the north-eastern edge of a continental landmass, but is mostly separated from the other countries by a large mountain range. This country does not have any motorways, instead the approach has been taken of upgrading existing roads with extensive bypasses.

Borroland - North-West

Borroland - North-East

Borroland - South-West

Borroland - South-East

Railway Map of Belworth and Cardington

Town Plan of Athenry
A market town lying on the A1, the main road south from the capital city. From the plan it appears to have been bypassed twice - once in coaching days, and once in the modern era.

Town Plan of Bouth
A small cathedral city on the steep southern bank of a tidal estuary in a remote northern area. A much-needed relief road is under construction to bypass the swing bridge and the steep streets in the city centre.

Town Plan of Cardington
A large town with some historical elements in an industrial area in the south-west of the country, near to the major city of Belworth.

Town Plan of Litchfield
A cathedral city in an industrial part of the west of the country, at a junction of railways and canals. Has most of a ring road.

Town Plan of Marstoke
A large cathedral city in the north-east of the country, with industry and a port as well. Note how the relief road has been squeezed in between the cathedral and the river.

If you have any questions or comments about these maps, please send me an e-mail.

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Peter Edwardson - last updated 19 February 2006