Tandem TrailsA walking app for two family members
Family ties. Shared trails.
Choose a brother, sister, mother or father and turn your everyday walks into one shared journey, even when you live apart.
Find your shared adventureFor two iPhones. iOS 17 or later. Apple Health.
Family miles. Shared memories.
A little family time between visits
Two family members.
One shared adventure.
Tandem Trails combines two family members' Apple Health walking distances along a famous virtual trail. Adult siblings or a parent and adult child can pick a route, send an invite link and let everyday walks move the journey forward.
Pick your relative
Choose one person to walk with. You each use your own iPhone with iOS 17 or later and your own iCloud account.
Choose a virtual trail
Connect Apple Health and choose a famous route, such as Hadrian's Wall or the West Highland Way.
Let your walks add up
Walk together or at different times. Open the app to see your shared distance and discover places along the trail.
A habit to share
Keep a little
family fire burning.
Walk 1,000 steps to light your side of the Campfire. When you both keep it lit, your shared streak grows. Your routines can be different while the fire gives you something to return to together.
Earn bothy nights to cover a missed day, or carry your relative's short night once a week. You can keep the journey going around ordinary busy days.
Different lives. A shared finish.
Let each walk contribute.
Your walking distances work together along the trail. For optional step-offs, choose race days and decide whether to use raw steps or Level it, which compares each person against their own usual day.
Mischief is optional. Walking earns cards to scratch, keep and play, including a Boost, a held Shield or a Rematch. Cards can change a race; your real steps and shared trail distance stay the same.
Something to find between catch-ups
A small message.
A stone to keep.
Paint a virtual stone with your finger, decorate it and add a few words for your relative. They can find it when they catch up in the day's step-off. Collect postcards, badges and passport stamps as your shared journey unfolds.
These are digital keepsakes inside the app. A short ordinary walk can contribute to a longer family story on your virtual trail.
Choose the pair that suits you.
Walk with a brother or sister, or share a trail with your mother or father as their adult child. This page focuses on two adults. The app does not offer a whole family group challenge, and your virtual progress is not a map of your real location.
Before choosing an app, try an idea for walking with your mum or walking with your dad. Explore ways to stay close to your brother or sister, or browse plans for different walking paces.
Before your first steps
Who can I share a trail with?
Choose one relative, such as an adult brother or sister, or a mother or father walking with their adult child. These guides focus on two adult family members sharing a journey.
Can the whole family join the same trail?
Tandem Trails is built for two walkers sharing one trail. It does not provide a multi-person family group challenge or a whole-family leaderboard.
Do we need to walk in the same place?
No. Your Apple Health walking distances add up on the same virtual route, even when you live apart and walk at different times.
What do we each need?
You each need an iPhone running iOS 17 or later, Apple Health walking data and your own iCloud account. An internet connection lets progress sync. Tandem Trails is not available for Android.
What if we walk different amounts?
Both walking distances contribute to the shared trail. If you choose step-offs, Level it compares each person against their own usual day. You can also choose which days to race.
How does the shared Campfire work?
Walk 1,000 steps to light your side of the fire. When you both keep it lit, your shared streak grows. Earned bothy nights can cover a missed day, and you can carry your relative's short night once a week.
Do we have to play Mischief?
No. Mischief is optional. Walking earns cards you can scratch, keep and play in your step-offs. Cards can change the race, but your real steps and shared trail distance stay the same.
Does the app track my relative's location?
No. Virtual trail progress comes from walking distance in Apple Health. Tandem Trails does not ask for your location or use GPS to follow the actual route you walk.
Is it free?
Tandem Trails is free to download. Contact us for current download availability, or check the App Store listing before you both get started.
Fancy another?
Keep exploring
Tea in TenbyFor familyWalking with your mum: make room for a small catch-up
Plan a relaxed walk with your mother, with a clear invitation, a comfortable route and something to talk about. Includes ideas for walking miles apart.
Dad's favourite fortFor familyWalking with your dad: a little time beyond the family updates
Arrange a walk with your father around a shared interest, an easy route or a place with a story. Includes ways to keep the plan flexible and walk apart.
Your pace, my paceFor familyFamily walks when you have different paces and routines
Plan a family walk around the people joining: choose a flexible route, agree the pace and allow different distances. Includes a two-person virtual walking option.