Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2022 i Trail

Look for this logo throughout Trail for ideas on how to explore the outdoors more sustainably. For the first time in two years, I just about feel confident enough to say this is going to be an awesome spring and summer. I’m not talking about the weather, because I don’t trust that one little bit, but as we creep out of a long winter all of a sudden it feels like there’s a hell of a lot to look forward to. As I write this, the Trail team have just started planning our trip to May’s Keswick Mountain Festival (above), where we’ll be running our big Charity Gear Sale for the first time since spring 2019. That’s just one of many great events planned over the next few months for…

VIEW WITH A ROOM MOSEDALE COTTAGE LAKE DISTRICT What’s the point of bothying in summer when the weather is nice outside? Winter bothying is where it’s really at. Pick the right one with a simple walk-in, and take plenty of fuel to get a fire going, a hot meal and a pack of cards, and you’re in for a new mountain experience like no other. You’ll still need to be prepared with 4-season kit, but the shelter a bothy provides will really come into its own in winter, and with your wet kit drying above the fire, you’ll be ready to squeeze as much adventure as possible into one trip. You’ll probably be the only one canny (aka mad) enough to be sleeping out in the depths of winter too,…

Journey to the top of the world! This October, 18 members of our Mountains for the Mind community will travel to Nepal to walk to the foot of the world’s highest mountain. The expedition was originally supposed to take place last year but was delayed by the global pandemic, so the group have been using that extra time to train for the tough demands of trekking to Everest Base Camp, at over 5000m above sea-level. The trip also includes a flight on a light aircraft into legendary Lukla airport, the starting point for many Everest expeditions and itself at an altitude of almost 3000m. The most recent training walk for our team of intrepid trekkers took place in the Peak District in January, and was organised by LMG Treks &…

ZIP LENGTH Fleeces come in full-zip jackets and shorter mid-zip or zip-neck pullovers. We’ve focused on jackets here as they tend to be more versatile in a winter environment. FIT A fleece needs to fit over base layers without feeling restrictive, but should also fit comfortably as part of a layering system under a shell or insulation layer. HOOD A fleecy hood provides excellent warmth, but depending how many layers you’re wearing it can be easy to end up with too many hoods! If you opt for a jacket without one you’ll need a warm hat instead. HEM & CUFFS Drawcord hems are common, but adjustable cuffs are rare. The sleeve should have a close fit around the wrist to prevent heat loss. If the hem isn’t adjustable, a similarly…

DIFFICULTY EASY DISTANCE 14KM TIME 5 HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 512M Tal y Fan doesn’t receive much love, and were it a couple of feet shorter in stature it would receive a little less. It is an easy mountain to climb, especially from the south where most able-bodied folk could reach the top and return to their car in a couple of hours. To really enjoy this lowly peak, however, it should be tackled from the north where a portal whisks you back to a time when these lonely foothills were teeming with human inhabitants. 6000 years ago neolithic man populated this area and it is littered with their artefacts, of which Y Meini Hirion (The Druid’s Circle) is the most impressive and atmospheric. Later, the Romans arrived, driving their road…

DIFFICULTY MEDIUM DISTANCE 18.5KM TIME 6 HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 585M Dufton is the perfect village for starting a walk from. Good facilities, including a great pub in the pretty village centre, make for a relaxing start across the pastures in the valley. Most walkers will take the high route to the tip of High Cup Nick, missing out on a dramatic entrance from below. The path along High Cup Gill gradually leads you into the glacial hillside, the crags towering above you. Then follows a scramble across the boulder field and up to the lip of the Nick and a surprise, for those above, exit onto the High Cup Plain. But more is on offer. Carry on north and you reach the amazing Maize Beck Scar with its tumbling waters…

Nithsdale – so where the heck’s that then? If you’re one of the few who knows the answer to this question, please take a moment to feel smug then skip the next two sentences. Several north-south valleys cut through the Southern Uplands. One of them carries the M74 motorway between England and Glasgow. The next one west is Nithsdale. It’s a wide, green space of pretty woodlands, a big river (yep, the River Nith) and hills rising to 600m on either side. The tops are grassy – or, if we’re lucky, snowy. The sides are steep, carved by little streams into curves and hollows. On a clear, chilly spring day there’ll be views across the sea into England. And I’d be embarrassed not to offer at least one ruined castle.…

WALK IT Sandwiched between two Hardknotts and flanked by a third, Border End is surrounded on almost all sides by things more likely to attract your attention. The Roman Fort of Hardknott sits directly beneath its western slopes, the higher and more sprawling fell of Hard Knott is adjoined to the east, and the Hardknott Pass slithers to its summit directly below the southern spurs of Border End. But it’s what lies to the north that makes this little hill worth climbing. If you stand within the walls of the Hardknott Fort, the summit that rises above you is not that of Hard Knott itself but Border End, and it is this summit that the Roman soldiers stationed at Mediobogdum would have gazed upon a little under two thousand years…

ISLE OF MULL BEN MORE With a name that literally translates as ‘big hill’, it’s far too easy to assume there isn’t much that’s spectacular about the 966m peak that pokes its nose a little higher than the rest in a chain of fine mountains rising above Loch na Keal. But not only does Ben More hold the ‘not-to-be-sniffed-at’ title of Scotland’s only island Munro outside Skye, it’s also the proud owner of a rich bounty of approaches taking in everything from ragged rocky ridges to empty glens and endless coastal views. As the highest point on the Isle of Mull, Ben More receives more visitors than its near neighbours, but this isn’t a hard place to find solitude. Even the main tourist track has a deliciously wild and lonely…

Angle Tarn Lake District “After an excellent walk from Martindale via Hallin Fell and Beda Fell we arrived at Angle Tarn. The sun was bright and we noticed the vivid reflections of the crags and mountains in the tarn. After taking a good few photos we chilled out by the tarn with a brew. For me, Angle Tarn is the prettiest tarn in the Lake District by far – just love it.” Alan Statton, Tyne and Wear Blencathra Lake District “This photo was taken at the top of Blencathra during our family holiday to the Lake District last summer. Tilly (11), Holly (9) and Sebastian (5) love exploring and have previously scaled Snowdon.” Mark Ryan, Maidstone Stob Dearg Glen Coe “Here’s me in front of Stob Dearg – just woke…

North Wales, famously, has no motorways. This can make getting to Snowdonia a bit tricky, as well as frustrating – especially in peak tourist season, when the caravans and motorhomes crawl their way along the winding A-roads. On the other hand, navigating those same roads adds an undeniable air of anticipation to any adventure, as dual carriageways become single carriageways, twisting and turning through increasingly rugged hill country, cresting mountain passes, plunging down roller coaster descents and edging alongside dizzying drops. If you’re a regular visitor to Snowdonia and live anywhere south of Birmingham, you’re likely familiar with one such road: the A470. Stretching for a total of 186 miles, it’s actually the longest road in Wales. But the best bit is the stretch that begins at the Snowdonia National…

THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN OUTDOOR KIT SERIOUS STUFF ASTRO 300/300-R PRICE £20/£35 MAX LUMENS 300 BATTERIES SUPPLIED 3x AAA/integrated 1500mAh lithium-ion COSMO 350/350-R PRICE £30/£45 MAX LUMENS 350 BATTERIES SUPPLIED 3x AAA/integrated 1500mAh lithium-ion SPOT 400/400-R PRICE £40/£55 MAX LUMENS 400 BATTERIES SUPPLIED 3x AAA/integrated 1500mAh lithium-ion STORM 450/500-R PRICE £50/£65 MAX LUMENS 450/500 BATTERIES SUPPLIED 3x AAA/integrated 2400mAh lithium-ion Astro, Cosmo, Spot and Storm. No, not the names of reindeer or X-Men (although one of them might be…), but the headtorches in Black Diamond’s core range aimed at walkers in the mountain environment. These names aren’t new – they’ve been around for a while, with the Storm model being a big favourite of ours – but for Spring 2022 Black Diamond is upgrading these compact, durable and bright lights…

DIFFICULTY MEDIUM DISTANCE 16KM TIME 5 HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 300M The lonely moors of Mynydd Llangatwg and Mynydd Llangynidr form part of the southern boundary of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Not as frequently trodden as the central Beacons, these undulating bogs conceal a world of hidden treasures and history. This route visits the spectacular cliffs of the Llangatwg Escarpment, where cave entrances give only a hint of the countless miles of passageways interlaced beneath the mountain. A taste of this can be found at the small Eglwys Faen (rock church) cave. Eglwys Faen has long been visited by humans, evidenced by the 18th century graffiti found within the western passageways of the cave. The countless shake holes and undulations on the plateau offer further evidence of the caverns to…

DIFFICULTY EASY DISTANCE 7KM TIME 3 HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 388M If you’ve ticked off all 214 Wainwrights and are wondering what on earth to focus on next, look no further than Alfred’s lesser-known list of 116 Lake District ‘infants’. Published after his best-selling series, The Outlying Fells Of Lakeland was Wainwright’s round-up of “the foothills of Lakeland, the minor eminences around the perimeter, the little bumps we never bothered about before”. Yet far from being boring and uninspiring, he found them delectable, pronouncing confidently “a summit cairn at 1000ft can be just as exciting as one at 3000ft”. Some are pretty well-known, such as Orrest Head and Gummer’s How, while others are obscure little hills you’ve probably never heard of. This route is a perfect start to ticking off the…

The Lake District National Park is one of England’s most popular mountain regions, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site and welcoming millions of visitors every year. Whether you’re an experienced fell walker or considering your first visit, the Tour of the Lake District will reveal many rewarding views and experiences – the best of the Lakes in a circular tour. The Lake District is a region that has been settled by man from ancient times. Neolithic stone circles, the distinctive local Celtic and Norse names, ancient packhorse bridges, castles and medieval farmsteads, quarries and the open fells themselves can all be explored on this multi-day route. In just one day you can experience a cross section of history and landscape. It’s perhaps astonishing that the idea of a circular…

MARCH 19 FOREST OF BOWLAND, LANCASHIRE PENTLAND HILLS, EDINBURGH “When I went on my first group walk I was really nervous, but as the day went on I grew in confidence. I’ve been on loads more walks since, met so many amazing people and made so many friends.” Next month’s Mountains for the Mind group walks both take place on Saturday 19 March, in Lancashire’s Forest of Bowland and the Pentland Hills near Edinburgh. These free events are organised by Mountain Leaders and Mental Health First Aiders from Blackdog Outdoors and are great places to meet likeminded people at friendly group events. Places are very limited, so get your name down quick! Full details at mountainsforthemind.co.uk Find out how you can join our 16,000-strong community and support the cause at…

Last summer I went through an ultralight reinvention, minimising my multi-day backpack weight with military precision. Toothbrush chopped in half? Check. No spare pants? Check. Labels cut out of clothing? Check. I became a gram-counting obsessive and even decided to go ‘stoveless’ for my adventures along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path and Wainwright’s Coast to Coast. This somewhat unhinged approach involved ‘coldsoaking’ – slowly rehydrating in cold water – instant noodles and camping meals. Cold chilli con carne or tepid tikka masala, anyone? Personally, I didn’t mind the approach and I was always grateful for the weight-saving. But the taste of my meals was sub-optimal, to put it mildly. Everything could have been so different if I’d packed a simple, lightweight camping stove. I’d have been eating like a king, dining…

DIFFICULTY EASY DISTANCE 14.5KM TIME 4½ HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 500M Set foot high above the Hope Valley and you’ll enjoy fabulous views from summits and all along the ridgeline across to the Kinder Plateau, Edale and Hope Valleys and either Winnats Pass or Derwent Edge. There’s plenty more to discover too, including an 11th century castle (Peveril), a ‘shivering mountain’ (Mam Tor), one of the earliest forms of access land (Ward’s Piece), and a ‘pinfold’ (in Hope) where stray sheep were once gathered up. This route’s highlight though is The Great Ridge – a continuous ridgeline between Lose Hill and Mam Tor. Separating the Edale (Noe) and Hope valleys, it also runs along the boundary between the Dark Peak millstone/gritstone moorland to the north, and the White Peak limestone dales…

DIFFICULTY MEDIUM DISTANCE 29.5KM TIME 8 HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 980M PEAK BAGGER STATS TRAIL 100s 1 The College Valley is one of those hidden secrets that you cannot quite believe once you begin to walk into it. Initially the valley opens wide but as you progress the hills begin to tower above you until you find yourself at the foot of Hen Hole and the start of a wonderful adventure. Scrambling over the rocks and waterfalls, the sound of rushing water flooding your mind is a truly wild experience, and one enjoyed in generally total isolation. Once onto the moors above, the wide expanse seems to consume you as you make your way over to Bellyside Crag and the views if lucky down the valley. Then over to the trig…

Balmoral Castle and its expansive estate, within which the high massif of Lochnagar stands, has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family since it was purchased by Queen Victoria in 1853. As with many estates in Scotland, you certainly notice the impact of continued land management: engineered forest and hill tracks for estate vehicles, deer fencing to keep animals in or out of particular areas, upkeep of bridges and river crossings, and presence of grand estate buildings, seemingly in the ‘middle of nowhere’ – which give opportunity for wonderful bothy locations. This journey feels like ‘beautiful, wild Scotland’ neatly wrapped, to some extent. But it is a joy to see an eagle swooping above old, native pine trees, mountain hares darting across the landscape and stags roaming their estate…

If you enjoy a good scramble or a thrilling traverse along a narrow arête with nervejingling exposure, the chances are that you’re not overly fussed about Snowdon’s South Ridge. For although it’s certainly a pleasingly airy route to the summit, in the summer it’s little more than a stroll and adrenaline junkies are unlikely to find their fix of fear here. However, things can change dramatically in winter. With snow tapering into narrow fins along the crest, cornices forming over high crags, and ice clinging to the exposed rock, it becomes much more of a mountaineering outing. But you don’t need to be Nims Purja to enjoy this one. In fact, for walkers who’ve only just begun to dabble in winter mountaineering, the south ridge of Snowdon is one of…

There’s one very obvious barrier to climbing this 966m mountain (unless you happen to live on Mull, of course), which is that you need to travel by boat just to reach it. But if ever there was a reason to fork out a few quid for a ferry ride, then a mission to the top of this island is probably it. Mull is dripping in history and wildlife, with soaring white-tailed eagles – Britain’s largest bird of prey – a common sight in its glens, woodlands, mountains and 300 miles of coastline. Ben More is quite often left until last by people climbing all 282 of Scotland’s Munros. And what a way to finish! VIEW FROM THE NORTH * Suggested walk times and distances are one-way to the summit 1…