Summer is upon us and hopefully warmer climes, and with that a lot of us will be looking to our flip- flops. But have you ever been outdoors on a slightly more active jaunt than the usual sunbathing and found the flip-flop slightly lacking? A Grand Canyon rafting guide added an ankle strap to his flip- […]
Teva Terra Fi 4 Sport Sandal Initial Review Read More »
The Vango 400 Storm Shelter is an essential bit of kit of you’re walking in a group in foul weather, especially if you’ve got any kids or even newbies in the group. These group shelters pack to nothing, well about the size of a honeydew melon (it’s always got to be comparable to a fruit for
Vango Storm Shelter 400 Review Read More »
Here’s part 4 of our A-Z of hill walking, with a distinctly Snowdonian feel. S is for Scotch Egg – the food of kings. Any food that rolls has to be fine in my book. The appeal is one third greasy meat, one third egg and one third adrenaline rush that at any moment, your food
Hill Walking A – Z Part 4 Read More »
Here’s part 3 of our A-Z of hill walking, with a distinctly Snowdonian, and ranty, feel. M is for Mount. What should only precede Snowdon if you’re an estate agent or a tourist. The ‘don’ part of Snowdon also means ‘mountain’, so adding ‘mount’ to the name is rather redundant. Those familiar with the Lake
Hill Walking A – Z Part 3 Read More »
Karrimor is a well known brand and this microfleece stands up to their well-established standard. A no nonsense garment, with only simple features including a ¼ length zip collar, flatlock stitching, and an embroidered chest logo. Made from 100% polyester it provides a lightweight breathable layer for a brisk low level walk, or you could
Karrimor Fleece Review Read More »
It’s not the usual on Mud and Routes that the two most recent routes are, on the surface, the same. But even though I walked a circuit around Yr Aran today, it was as different a walk as you could get and not just because it was done in reverse. The Route I set off
Yr Aran Circuit – The Wild Version Read More »
Some brands out there are almost synonymous with the item they create. Hoover, Google, iPod to name just a few. As close as you’ll get in the outdoors world is probably Teva, who produced the first and best known sport sandals. So we were intrigued when we were given the opportunity to review a pair
Teva Riva Peak Mid eVent Walking Boot Review. Read More »
You often read that you’ll need this, that or the other on a winter walk in Snowdonia. We even put a list together – Essential Winter Hillwalking Checklist– saying just that. What we forgot to mention is that it’s never that straightforward. You usually set off from the bus stop / car park / village
A Typical Snowdonia Winter Hill Walk Read More »
Sometimes, you just need a long mid level walk without actually climbing any summits. Maybe you’re not equipped for snow or it’s forecasting thunder. Or just to get some distance in on the legs. Here’s a 23km route around Yr Aran near Yr Wyddfa that does just that. Of course, you can easily tag the
Continuing from Part One where we looked at the survival rations, we look at the survival shelters you can take with you. As we state in part one, we don’t test kit in a field near an industrial estate car park. We took them to the top of a Snowdonian Mountain, at night, in November.
Benightment and Survival on the Mountain Part 2 – The Shelters Read More »
The Blizzard Survival Blanket’s a modern version of the orange bivvy bag that keeps you warm as well as protects you from the elements. It’s supplied vacuum packed, but while it’s reusable and tough, it’s huge once it’s been unpacked! This is a versatile blanket, you can use it under your sleeping mat or even
Blizzard Survival Blanket Review Read More »
Here’s part 2 of our A-Z of hill walking, with a distinctly Snowdonian feel. G is for Gaiters. For many years only available in Red, now seen in a multitude of hues. However, the red versions have been scientifically proven to be indestructible, with probably 70 out of every 93 produced in the 70s still
The Hill Walking A – Z Part 2 Read More »
Here’s part 1 of our A-Z of hill walking, with a distinctly Snowdonian feel. A – is for Aglet. Whether you’ve heard of them before, you’ve probably got one, or probably as many as four at once, but probably lost a few on your travels. I’ve lost mine and now my ends dangle on the
Hill Walking A – Z Part 1 Read More »
At this time of year, you’ll need some idea of how cold it’ll really feel on the hill. Here’s a metric Wind chill Chart, as all those we could find were US units. If you want those then the Wikipedia Windchill page is quite useful. The temperature of -27ºC has been highlighted as the coldest
Cut Out And Keep – Windchill Chart Read More »
Whilst browsing eBay recently for something on which to waste my hard earned pennies, I came across ‘tent like’ survival shelters. Being of a curious nature, I would have to see what these were like and perhaps how they compared to other emergency options. So we decided to see just how useful some of these bits of
Benightment and Survival on the Mountain Part 1 – The Emergency Rations Read More »
Along with the ubiquitous orange survival bag, this is probably one of the first purchases or gifts that many hill walkers receive. It’s cheap, cheerful and widely regarded as a lifesaver on the mountain. Unfortunately, it’s also one of those things you’ll either love or hate. If you like mint then you’ll be fine, however
Super Hill Foods – Kendal Mint Cake Review Read More »
You will need: One Mars Bar, duct or parcel tape and at least a modicum of self respect and control. If you take emergency rations on the mountain then you may well end up eating it. One solution it to take something you dislike, so as not to be tempted, but that’s not going to
The Beast’s Tip of The Week – Bombproof Emergency Rations Read More »
With winter upon us, if you’re lucky, you may have to set out in the snow. Here’s a run-down of the kit you’ll need in addition to the basic summer kit. This is typical kit for a typical winter in Snowdonia, and you will need to be more prepared for avalanche risk if you venture into
The Essential Winter Hillwalking Kit Checklist Read More »
If walking through nature, enjoying the sights, smells and sounds of the great outdoors isn’t quite enough for you, then orienteering could be just what you need in order to make your outdoor pursuits more interesting. What is Orienteering? Orienteering is an outdoor sport that requires a good selection of skills in order to complete
Getting Started With Orienteering Read More »
Abergwyngregyn, or just Aber, is best known for the falls of the same name. Yet it provides a variety of walks into the Carneddau that may not be as rugged as those from Ogwen, are certainly tough as they all start from sea level! Placed on the A55, it’s easy to get to by bus
Snowdonia Walks from Abergwyngregyn Read More »
If you do end up stranded on the mountain after dark (though these tips on avoiding benightment should help in the first place), then there are a few items that will make your unplanned night out a bit more bearable. Remember, if you are stuck on the mountain and someone knows your whereabouts then Mountain Rescue will probably be
5 Things That Might Make an Emergency Night on the Mountain Comfortable Read More »
With the evenings drawing in, here are a few hints and tips that could prevent you spending an unplanned night on the mountain. 1- Know the sunset times. This is essential! If you go out on a mountain in the winter without this vital piece of information, it’s asking for trouble. Most forecasts note this
5 Things – How to Avoid Benightment Read More »
What do you need for a safe trip up the mountains? Here’s our quick run-down of the kit you shouldn’t leave home without and few optional extras that are just good to have. Depending on conditions, you may want to take spares of many of these. If you expect your gloves to get a soaking,
The Essential Hill Walking Kit Checklist Read More »
While waterproofing your fleece might sound like an exercise in insanity, how many times have you gone out wearing just a fleece with no waterproof jacket only to get caught in the rain and end up shivering because your trusty fleece has become heavy, wet and cold against your skin? Well, in preparation for the wet
Five Things – Waterproof your fleece Read More »
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