While you should always carry a map and compass (and know how to use them!) a GPS device is still a useful bit of kit in the mountains. Our smartphones and tablets have come on leaps and bounds in the last few years and can be as useful as a proper GPS (close, but not […]
Navigational Skills 14 – What’s the Best OS Mapping for your Smartphone? Read More »
Not quite stuffed – but if you’re anything like the Mud and Routes crew then when it comes to getting up in the morning we’re like a bunch of teenagers. Breakfast is usually sacrificed, and then you’re at the mercy of your stomach and those tempting sausage rolls in the shop on the way. Not
Super Hill Food – Get stuffed before your walk Read More »
This is the classic map reading skill, where you can determine your location accurately by pinpointing two or three other features. Transit Lines – This is when a number of features will line up directly from one location. This will provide you with a perfect line – and you’ll be located somewhere along that line.
Navigation Skills 13 Resectioning Read More »
Often, just a map and a bit of observation can help you locate yourself. A few clues, built up can take you from having a vague idea of where you are to pin point accuracy. Of course, almost any feature on the map can help you locate yourself, but some of these won’t be immediately
Navigation Skills 12 Useful Features to Locate Yourself Read More »
There are even more techniques that help you follow your route accurately. These can be used when following a route in full visibility as well as when you’re following a bearing. They can used in conjunction with a bearing, or as a much more straightforward alternative. To follow a route well you’ll need to know: How far is
Navigation Skills 11 Keeping on Track Read More »
We’ve already mentioned the basics of taking a bearing, but you’ll need to master a few more skills in order to be able to follow it accurately. Take your bearing accurately. Practice, practice and practice. You’ll be very unlikely to take both the perfect bearing and follow it perfectly, so consider that for just a 1° error,
Navigation Skills 10 – Better Bearings Read More »
This short route starts off at Porth Colmon, a few kilometres south of Tudweiliog on the Wales Coastal Path, also the Llyn Coastal Path locally. There’s limited parking at Porth Colmon, so you will need to arrive early, minimise cars or park nearby and walk to the starting point. 1 Start off at Porth Colmon,
Porth Colmon to Porth Widlin Wales Coastal Path Circular Walk Read More »
This is a good half days’ walk along the Wales Coastal Path, either starting off from Porth Colmon, or Porth Towyn near Tudwieliog. As it involves a good distance on country lanes, you might be better off with two cars and whether you want to start off or finish off on the lanes will determine
Porth Colmon to Tudweiliog Wales Coastal Path Circular Walk Read More »
The Wales Coastal Path takes the walker along the entire Welsh coast. Here’s the section between Porthaethwy / Menai Bridge and Caernarfon. We’ve done it in that way as you’d be using the bridge in order to connect with the Anglesey Coastal Path, before continuing, turning the 20km or so between Bangor and Caernarfon into
Walk the Wales Coast Path from Menai Bridge to Caernarfon Read More »
The wonderful guys and gals at True Mountain have sent us some of their kit to try out. So here’s a first look at the kit, before we really put them through their paces in the Welsh winter hills over the coming month! True Mountain are a new company that produce all their kit here
True Mountain – First Look Read More »
Extremities have just launched some funky new kit for 2015. Thier Performance Baselayers are made from extra fine Australian Merino wool and are available in both men’s and women’s styles as well as zip necks, long or short sleeves and even long johns. We don’t think they’d look so fetching on us, so here are
New Extremeties Kit for 2015 Read More »
Here’s an epic walking challenge that’s difficult, but with proper preparation, within the ability of a fit walker. The Across Wales Challenge Walk is a serious 73km challenge walk from the Welsh border to the sea, all undertook in 18 hours!. It starts off around 500m from Anchor, Shropshire, slap bang on the Wales-England border, with little
The Across Wales Challenge Walk Read More »
If the Paddy Buckley Round isn’t sufficient Snowdonia for your challenge, then there is one other that’s tougher in terms of statistics but by virtue of geography poses as much of a problem of route finding as it does physically. The Meirionnydd Round was devised by Yiannis Tridimas in 1993, and covers most of the
The Meirionnydd Round Read More »
After countless walks up the touristy routes into the Glyderau – these sort of walks are the ones left if I’m looking for a change. However, there’s no better way to get to know familiar hills from these unfamiliar angles with the ridge of Braich y Ddeugwm providing an unparalleled view of Tryfan’s impressive East
In the Shadow of Tryfan – Eastern Ridges of the Glyderau Read More »
Why Take a Bearing? Navigation, in its simplest form is the art of getting from where you are to where you want to be, or from A to B. The most straightforward way to get from A to B is a straight line, or as the crow flies. This may not always be practical in
Navigation Skills 9 Taking a Bearing And Following it Read More »
Yr Elen is usually the one people miss off when they’re doing the Carneddau, often only getting a look in by those doing the 14/15 Peaks. Today we made it the sole aim of the route – and were pleasantly surprised. Yr Elen North East Ridge Full Route Guide The walk starts in Gerlan in
Yr Elen North East Ridge Scrambling Route Read More »
While we all know not to leave our litter on the hill (hopefully!) what else do we need to be aware of? Here are a few points to consider if you want to leave no trace when you’re in the wilds. It’s by no means comprehensive and we recommend the links at the end of
The clocks are going back on Saturday night, and the evenings are going to be longer. Yet it’s not all doom and gloom as we at Mud and Routes believe you can embrace the dark winter nights and make them your own! You can keep on night running, walking those night walks or even mountain biking in
Embrace the Winter Evenings Read More »
So you can now read your map, you’ve got your route all planned out and you can identify a compass from 50 metres. You’ll be glad to know, you’re ready to try some skills out in the field. How to handle and hold the map Is it in a case? Don’t go with it hanging
Navigation Skills 8 Orienting, Setting or Thumbing the Map Read More »
What Compass? You’ll now need to buy a compass. We recommend that you get yourself kitted out this week ready for the next sections.You’ll also need 5 toggles, a map case and if you can’t store it in the map case then get a compass case. The compass does remain in place better on a
Navigation Skills 7 The Anatomy of the Compass Read More »
What counts as a decent brand of compass? We’ve used Silva, Suunto and Recta which tend to be quality compasses. I’ve a Suunto that’s now over 25 years old, it’s getting a bit dodgy, with something growing in the fluid, but still serves as an emergency compass. We’ll compare a standard Silva Explorer compass, which
Navigational Skills Cheap vs Expensive Compasses Read More »
Naismith’s rule, named after William W. Naismith, was devised in 1892 to estimate the time taken to cover distances in the mountains. He estimated that you: allow 1 hour per 5km walked and 1 hour for every 600m ascended. If you ever do a Mountain Leader or Navigation course, then you’ll have this drummed into
Navigational Skills 5 All you wanted to know about Naismith’s Rule and Route Timing Read More »
Even when you know an area really well, and a mountain even better, it’s satisfying to know that you’ve not quite wrung them completely dry of any novelty. The route up Mynydd Mawr from Y Fron, diverting to take in the pinnacles of Craig y Bera,feels contrived on paper, but works on the ground as
Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera Read More »
As walkers, especially hill walkers, our heads are easily turned when we hear any large and dramatic mountains being mentioned. The Aonach Eagachs and Tryfans, the Scafells and the Snowdons, Ben Nevises and the Buchaille Etive Mors– all the glamorous big names of the hills. We rarely think of those shorter hills, those foothills of
Walk Along The Far End of the Carneddau Read More »
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