What can you get for £15 these days? In my local, you can just about get a round of beer for four with enough change for a bag of crisps. As far as outdoor kit is in the question, £15 doesn’t get you much. The best quality bit of kit you can get is either […]
Campri Snowdon Boots Review Read More »
This route featured in our article on My Favourite Guidebook Walks and is taken from Irvine Butterfield’s classic tome – The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland Vol 1. Enigmatically named volume 1 thirty years ago, this is still a standalone volume. The cover of the original had a shot of the Forcan Ridge, with even more
Best Guidebook Walks 6 – The Saddle and the Forcan Ridge Read More »
Here are a selection of the best routes in no particular order that I’ve taken from guidebooks that are largely out of print. The criteria for the routes are the ability to inspire and describe the route in question, to make me want to explore. So the routes chosen had to have some element of
5 things – My Favourite Guidebook Walks Read More »
Following on from the other Paramo reviews, you may have noticed a trend in colour. Even my summer smock is a fetching black. Not so my winter coat. My Aspira Jacket – circa 2007 and a honeymoon present, so I better hope that I don’t get THAT year wrong. This is red and proud to be
Paramo Aspira Jacket Review Read More »
I’ve struggled in the past with a cheap and nasty pair of goggles that had to be padded around the nose as they made it bleed and were just foul all around. They were only half effective, and even then only if you didn’t breathe. Following on from the last two decent winters we’ve had,
Nevica Glacier Goggles Read More »
One boot in the stinky stuff and one in the aqueous new stuff and a couple of 100km later how did they compare? Nikwax have decided that the only real wax they sell is to be discontinued! We’ve never been overly impressed by their aqueous wax. Ideal for the organised walker who loves nothing more
Nikwax Boot Wax Head to Head Read More »
This is a slight variation on the walk up Garn and Tryfan from last year, but includes an alternative ascent route via the tranquil Cwm Clyd and a quicker descent via Cwm Tryfan if it’s getting too late to climb Tryfan at the end of a long day. The Route starts at Ogwen Cottage and you need
Garn and Glyderau via Cwm Clyd Ogwen Winter Walking Route Read More »
Most photos you see of Cnicht tend to be taken from the south. The classic pyramidal profile it displays to some angles is unmistakeable. However, this side is less well known. It has no proper path and you will need to use navigational skills to find your way to the main Cnicht path. Distance, Ascent
Cnicht and Allt Fawr from Gelli Iago. Read More »
Sometimes when you plan a wild camp, it all comes together. This weekend it did. The first day was mostly fine, with some cloud that only added interest, before the tent got snowed in during the evening. Waking to a frozen landscape and plenty of sunshine was unexpected, and it was even better than the
Moel Ysgyfarnogod and Craig Drwg from Trawsfynydd. Read More »
If there’s one item that I own that’s elicited any curiosity in people over the last few years then it has to be these Kahtoola MICROspikes. From work colleagues, to neigbours, they’ve seen these in use over the recent harsh winters and politely enquired about them before quickly ordering their own pair. Even if you
Kahtoola MICROspikes Review Read More »
Another of those little things that can easily cause a bit of head scratching. Ideally, if you’ve never done this then you probably should ask someone to show you how to do this. If you’ve done it and need a reminder (my first winter trip every year sees me fixing my crampons incorrectly! I’m hoping
Winter Skills Putting On Crampons Read More »
To some of you, this may well be stating the obvious but if you’re ready for your first trip out in the snow with a group and you’ve packed your flask and sandwiches. Then you’ve a pack in one hand and an axe in the other and you realise you haven’t a clue how to
Winter Skills – Attaching your Axe to your Pack Read More »
Taking an ice axe on your winter trip is all well and good but you need to know how to use it for stability and, if you do slip, for self arrest techniques. Walking poles just don’t cut it. This is just a useful reminder video and it’s recommended that you get shown the ropes
Winter Skills Ice Axe Arrest Read More »
It’s not officially winter, but it’s definately start of the winter season as far as the mountains are concerned, so we’ve put together a small series of articles in order for you to make the most of any snow we may be lucky enough to fall. We’ll have a few articles on winter skills, videos
Get Ready For Winter Read More »
With the winter soon upon us and snow a distinct possibility from this weekend onward (though probably only in the Highlands), we take a quick look at the forecasting sites out there. MWIS – Provide a daily forecast for all the major hill areas. The printable version is ideal for downloading onto a mobile, or
5 Things – Mountain Weather Forecasts Read More »
Walk the Carneddau in one go – if you’re up to the challenge! There’s nothing more satisfying than a decent traverse of an entire mountain range. This walk takes you loosely from Conwy over the Carneddau and down to Capel Curig and can be an ideal wild camping trip. Why not extend your trip by
Carneddau Traverse – Conwy to Capel Curig Read More »
It’s getting that time of year when you need to give those long abused leather boots a make over. 1 – Clean ’em – Water works, though you can get some proprietary boot cleaners that work out a little expensive in the long term. Use a brush to clean out all the dirt from the seams. You
How To – Waterproof Leather Boots Read More »
If you want to take a walking holiday and really go lightweight, why not get someone else to carry your heavy bags for you? The Edge of Wales Walk offers just that along the spectacular Llyn coast… Many people choose to start the walk at Caernarfon, famous for its magnificent 13th century castle. The route
The Edge of Wales Walk Read More »
On the recent revamp of sister site Walk Eryri, like scouting around in the attic, we were covered in cobwebs, screaming in a girly manner at the spiders*, the dust allergy was flaring up and we found stuff we didn’t realise we had. So here’s a heads up to a series of articles that I
What does it take to become a Mountain Leader? Read More »
Much maligned by the healthy salad brigade, the humble pork pie is the king of the mountain packup. What else, bar solid lard, can pack so many calories into such a tidy savoury parcel? Available in many different varieties, the Melton Mowbray is certainly one of the kings of the pork pies, as are the many local
Super Hill Foods 3 – The Humble Pork Pie Read More »
Funnily enough, we went up Mynydd Mawr by this route the day it was published! Here are some further images of the walk.
More Mynydd Mawr Images – Wednesday Evening Read More »
Here’s a guest post by Matt from www.peakseekers.co.uk. If you want loads more routes from the Lakes to further afield (including Iceland!) then it’s well worth a visit. Last year we battled through dodgy stomachs, headaches and breathlessness to achieve our dreams of reaching Everest Base Camp. Along the way new friendships were made and
Himalayan Guide visits the Lake District Read More »
If you like to bag peaks then this epic trek up Cadair Idris, climbing all the main summits is definitely the way to do it. Llanfihangel-y-pennant is a tiny hamlet of a church, a house and a block of public toilets to service the small car park. It’s also the birthplace of Mari Jones who walked 26 barefoot miles, for
Cadair Idris and Mynydd Moel from Llanfihangel-y-pennant Read More »
Aran Fawddwy is the highest mountain south of Snowdon and the highest summit in South Snowdonia, yet this is a largely ignored hill. It is barely 10m below the magic mark of 914m and often overlooked in favour of its less lofty, but more spectacular neighbour Cader Idris. Fortunately, this means that a walk up
Walk up Aran Fawddwy and Glasgwm from Cwm Cywarch Read More »
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