I think I’ve got far too many tents. Here’s my justification, mainly to myself, why I need each one of them and whether or not I can justify shelling out for another one any time soon! 1 -Bivvy bag –the lightest option, and usually one for the summer months for me, camping on summits in …
My Wild Camping Tents…. A Confession and a Justification Read More »
How can you get your kids out walking, and make sure they come back for more? With the impending bank holiday, you may have been talked into taking a newbie up into the hills or fancy trying to get the kids out there. Here are some tips that might just help…. Be Realistic Choose a walk …
How to get Beginners and Kids Hill Walking – and enjoying every moment! Read More »
Your mission, if you choose to undertake it, is to cover as much Snowdon as you can in 7 days. Many of these walks are seriously long and would make excellent 2 day backpacking routes in Snowdonia. By following these routes, you’ll only miss out a handful of summits across the entire park. just for …
With the looming bonanza of bank holidays, whether you’re lucky/unlucky enough to have them, you’ll no doubt be hoping to get out to the hills. If you want to share the experience with a crocodile of others then just get to Pen Y Pass by around 7 am and join them on the PYG. If …
Snowdonia Quiet Walks to avoid the crowds on the bank holiday weekend Read More »
We know it’s childish, full of double entendres and a bit crude so don’t say we didn’t warn you! These are all printed on the OS maps, and anything offensive you take from theses is from your own interpretation. You can’t blame us if you’ve got a dirty mind! Balloch Burn – A serious bit of chafage …
25 Names Found on Ordnance Survey Maps you won’t Believe Exist Read More »
We’ve all seen cairns of different shapes and sizes on the hills, but not until now has there been an official classification. Here’s the cut out and throw away Mud and Routes spotter’s guide to cairns. The tourist fed monstrosity (AKA The Great Pyramid of [mountain name])… This is where good footpaths go to die. …
You may well be ready for your first winter walk, but there are some things that you may or may not have expect on the hill in winter. It’s also an excuse for us to churn out another page full of lovely snowy pictures! 1 Sunburn – You may well have packed the summer kit …
Five Things You Might Find Surprising on Your First Winter Walk Read More »
It’s getting dark again in the evenings, but don’t let that stop you making the most if it! You can still pop onto the hills in the right conditions, and here are some ideas 1 – Stargaze – With a pair of binoculars, or just making the most of the darker skies you usually find …
We all need a good kick up the backside every now and then, and outdoor apathy can strike at any time and any one of us. So here’s some ideas to get you out there, doing something a little different perhaps, but out there none the less. Camp differently – Why not bivvy, tarp or …
Inspiration For Walking – Bigger, Better, Brighter Read More »
The conventional wisdom is that the best way to get fit for walking the hills, is by walking the hills. However, there are some positive steps we can take during the week without resorting to the gym (unless you insist!) as well as while we’re on the walk in order to make those hard earned …
Faster, Fitter, Further – Improving Hill Walking Fitness Read More »
With the wild camping season kicking off, unless you’re into winter wild camping, there’s always more options than just your common or garden gas canister or petrol pressure stoves, depending on the kind of camping you plan on doing, and where you plan on doing it. Here’s a run down of the fun alternatives, Although …
Often seen on the hill, much more often clacking down the street in Ambleside or Betws y Coed, how useful are they? Well they’ve certainly got more uses than just Nordic walking. 1 – As walking poles. They provide extra support and take the stress off the legs which can protect the knees. This is also …
If you’ve got a wood burning stove then here’s some ideas of how to get it lit. Tinder is basically anything that will catch fire – either with a match, lighter or ideally with a fire steel (though some definitions state that it has to be with a spark – if it needs a match …
If you’ve read our recent review of alternative stoves, here are some ideas of what you can actually burn in those stoves. It should go without saying that you should only collect materials that is already dead – even if gorse and heather are removed by landowners occasionally. Also, avoid any treated wood – this …
Five Things – Fuels for Wood Burning Camping Stoves Read More »
For what it’s worth, here’s a few simple tips that should help you get some night shots while out wild camping or on a night walk. 1 – Dark and Clear Skies. Try and choose a location with as little light pollution as possible. This following page has a dark sky map, as does this …
With the days getting shorter, night running becomes inevitable if you want to keep active and not turn into a couch potato over the winter months. While running at night is definitely an option, there are some safety issues to take into consideration before hitting the road. By following these five tips you should be …
Staying motivated in the winter months isn’t the only problem outdoor enthusiasts have to contend with. There is also the serious matter of staying safe when the days get shorter, the roads get icy and the weather gets colder. These tips should help you minimise the risk of falling foul of the colder months and …
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 »
When the days start getting shorter and there seems no end to the winter months in sight, keeping fit and motivated can be a real challenge. However, with some adjustments to your approach and the right gear, it’s still possible to stay on track when it’s less than inviting outside. 1. Goal Setting for Extra …
5 Things: Coping with the Winter Blues – How to Keep Running in the Winter 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 …
With the winter closing in, if you do any camping then unless you can sleep for 18 hours, you’ll probably be taking a gadget or two along on your trip. Here are a few ideas and tips on keeping them charged: Make sure that everything is fully charged before you leave! 1 – Brunton Hydrodgen …
If you’re fed up of doing the usual routes and fancy going off path, then you’ll find it very rewarding. Here are our top tips for going off path. 1 – Navigation – You’ll need to know where you’re going! Skill with map and compass are essential if you’re on the hills, even more so …
You’re probably wondering, looking out at the autumnal weather, why we’re posting this now. Well, so are we to be honest, but if you do go camping over the winter months, the tents are heavier and the nights are longer. So you’re carrying so much weight to start with, you’re hardly going lightweight you may …
Following on from the UK Alternatives to the American LDPs detailing the ultra long distance challenges in the UK, here are some real beasts from Europe. They’re all possible, with the first four being official routes. Though we thoroughly admit that the admit that the final one is rather a flight of fancy, yet still …
5 Things – European Alternatives to the American LDPs Read More »
