Although the Gough Map may be the earliest map to survive that shows roads, it is not, in fact, a road map. It shows some roads, but there is no evidence to suggest its primary focus is on the road system. The Gough Map is thought to have been created by Matthew Paris, a Benedictine monk at the Abbey of St Albans, in around 1250. It is also known as the Map of Great Britain.

The map shows the entire British Isles and is considered one of the most accurate and detailed maps of its time. It was created on a single piece of parchment and measures approximately 106 x 84 cm. The map is oriented with east at the top and shows a variety of features, including cities, towns, rivers, mountains, and forests.

The Gough Map is an important historical document and provides a valuable glimpse into medieval Britain. It was produced at a time when England was becoming a major power in Europe, but the British Isles remained a relatively unknown and unexplored region. This map played an important role in shaping people's understanding of the British Isles and how it fitted into the wider European world.

The map is named after Richard Gough, a British antiquary and topographer who acquired the map in 1774. Gough donated the map to the Bodleian Library at Oxford University, where it is now housed.