Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2016 i Trail

Do you ever have one of those moments where you realise the world is going mad? One minute you’re proudly showing your friends shaky footage of what looks like an avalanche of lego bricks but is actually your cool ‘VIDEO from the mountains!’ Then you blink, it’s 2016 and suddenly bird’s-eye vistas of high places are sweeping onto the internet, shot by folks with flying machines in their backpacks. Surely we must be hitting some sort of golden age of mountain photography. And this month there are three bits of proof. Firstly, the premiere of Blencathra: Life of a Mountain, a film that showcases a Lakeland favourite in a way never before enjoyed by one peak. Turn to page 12 for details of a unique way to enjoy this. Secondly,…

Could there be a more satisfying feeling than at 6pm on the day after the clocks go forward, when you find yourself doing what you were doing this time the day before, but in daylight? It’s a turn of the tides, the moment when – suddenly – evening walks become much more rewarding, and everywhere takes on the blooming glow of a world warming up for the most glorious season of the year. Aside from the balmier evenings, the lighter packs and the general optimism, it’s what you can suddenly do that is most appealing. Fancy a quick scramble before dinner? Let’s go for it. Or how about a wild camp? Yes! On 25 May the sun will rise above Snowdonia at 5am, and set a whisker before half nine…

CRINKLE CRAGS LAKE DISTRICT All smiles in the sun are Freya, Jo, Mike, Lucy, Clare and Craig. Freya, who sent in the pic, said, “This was by far the hardest walk I've done. But it was such a beautiful day, and having jets fly over our heads as we had our lunch made it even better!” Each issue we’ll be giving away the new Summit 25/38 mattress from Multimat’s Expedition range. New materials make this self-inflating sleeping mat tougher and lighter for durability on unsupported expeditions. Tested to -35 deg C, its wedge profile maximises comfort and minimises weight, while a warm zone improves tog value under the torso. THIS COULD BE YOU! Send your shots, marked ‘Summit selfie’ to trail@bauermedia.co.uk…

From the outside it doesn’t look much. Just an old grey chapel set back from the main road through the sleepy village of Nant Peris, the whitewashed walls of the Vaynol Arms to its right and the ragged lower edge of Snowdon’s north ridge tapering out behind. You could drive past it 50 times and notice nothing more than the pale glow of a light bulb through one of its tall, slender windows, or a mud-spattered Land Rover parked outside. If you were expecting the HQ of Britain’s most overworked Mountain Rescue Team to resemble a timber-clad Alpine lodge complete with helipad and NASA-style operations centre you’ll be disappointed; but in many ways it perfectly reflects the team that calls it home: efficient, fit-for-purpose, humble and understated. And besides, looks…

1814 Walter Scott visits Loch Coruisk by boat. His evocations of ‘a scene so stern as that dread lake / with its dark ledge of barren stone’ pique interest among tourists. 1836 Sgurr nan Gillean is first climbed by Duncan MacIntyre and glaciologist James Forbes. 1872 Alexander Nicolson descends Sgurr nan Gillean by a ‘horrid cleft’ later to be known as Nicolson’s Chimney. 1873 First ascent of Sgurr Alasdair (above), the highest peak on Skye, by Alexander Nicolson. 1880 First ascent of the Innaccessible Pinnacle (below) by Lawrence and Charles Pilkington . 1886 John Norman Collie arrives on Skye. 1888 Collie and Mackenzie make the first ascent of the Bhasteir Tooth. 1890 Collie and Mackenzie traverse what they would name Collie’s Ledge. 1891 The TD Gap (right) is cracked by…

REGATTA LEESVILLE/CHASKA ZIP-OFF TROUSERS £40 These low-priced trousers are made from 100 per cent nylon to ensure they are durable, as well as being faster-drying and more water-resistant. The material also has a durable water repellent (DWR) treatment to further help them resist water ingress more effectively than plain cotton or polyester. The zip-off legs have colour-coded zips to simplify re-attachment, and an internal baffle of material behind the zips to prevent irritation against the skin. The ankle cuff has a drawcord to fine-tune the fit. Three zipped front pockets and a rear Velcro pocket are provided, while the waist is elasticated with belt loops to improve the fit. Material 100% nylon Weight 270g (size 34, regular leg length) Sizes 30-44 and three leg lengths (men’s Leesville); 8-20 and two…

Some mountains dominate the skyline. They loom and leer and demand to be climbed. As a result, they tend to attract hundreds of walkers determined to test their mettle on their imposing ramparts. Other mountains are a little less showy. They are reached via hanging valleys or long, boggy treks over windswept hinterlands; or by taking a sneaky right through a farm alley. Base Brown lurks the other side of this unpromising farmyard starting point. But it is not to be overlooked. Many will only have reached its summit as a detour on the way to its larger neighbours. The real fun is found by approaching it head on. It is a tapering wedge of ridgeline crammed with cliffs, precarious hanging boulders and elusive terrace pathways that appear from nowhere…

A big Munro standing all alone, with only one car park, one well-trodden way up, and – even worse – just the same well-trodden way back down again. It must be time for a new way of thinking. This route comes in the other way around. It’s radical – but at the same time strangely old-fashioned. And it owes a lot to a long-ago guy called J Rooke Corbett, lister of all Scottish peaks between 2500 and 3000ft high. It will take you to the top of big Beinn Challuim by its little visited back valley with a Corbett-listed bonus peak, 883m Cam Chreag, added in. The policy statement? A high-level trackway along the valley side to warm up your walking, or you can bike it if you like. An…

1 NY588584 Exit the far end of the car park and walk up the continuation track past Tortie House to the small row of cottages at Howgill. Turn left through a gate then almost immediately go right. Signs lead to the Bruthwaite viewpoint (marked by a small wooden sign) atop the steep grassy slopes ahead, on a rough and often wet track. 2 NY599567 Cross a stile by a small ruined building. Roughly 150m after this, a slightly green mossy patch as the gradient eases may be all that’s visible of a curious watercourse, which – according to OS maps – goes over a summit! (This is almost certainly a drain from the days of grouse shooting). A faint set of quad tracks fork off left here; follow these left…

1 NN821264 From the car park follow the track north past the dam and briefly along the east shore of Loch Turret. The usual route up Ben Chonzie stays with the track to the head of Glen Turret, but for Auchnafree Hill turn off right just before the track meets the first burn. A sketchy path leads up steeply on the east side of the burn, then crosses the water, where it becomes more obvious. Climb along the rising edge of the steep slopes above Loch Turret to a prominent cairn on a broad shoulder of Choinneachain Hill. 2 NN815285 A direct line from here to the summit runs into bogs, so instead briefly follow a vehicle track on a dogleg towards a large cairn several hundred metres to the…

1 NN772220 From the car park the route is signed ‘Glen Lednock Circular’. Turn right onto the A85 and follow it north-west through the village past The Deil’s Cauldron restaurant. Where the main road turns hard left go straight on along a minor road, and as you reach the edge of the village turn right (signed again) onto a footpath running along the field-side edge of some fine broadleaved woodland. The path turns north, leaving the field boundary behind to enter the woods. Having crossed a couple of small footbridges the trail soon joins the course of the River Lednock, which runs in a tree-shaded ravine below the path. 2 NN770228 At a split take the right fork, descending slightly. As it runs beside the drop into the river the…

Welcome to Trail magazine’s 2016 UK Mountain Photo of the Year competition – your chance to transport readers from their armchairs into the highest, wildest and most atmospheric locations our nation has to offer. We created this competition two years ago as a way to celebrate the beauty of the British mountains – and the response has been overwhelming, with thousands of stunning entries showcasing every peak imaginable. Our previous two winning shots were taken in Scotland – one during a solo wild camp beneath Ben Lui, the other high on the frozen slopes of Ben Nevis – and both photographers have gone on to receive national and international recognition. This year, it could be you. Once again we’ve teamed up with official sponsor Nikon to give away a camera…

You might have heard recently that our biggest mountain, Ben Nevis, just got officially taller. Of course it didn’t actually grow; our methods of measurement have just become sufficiently advanced to make it more precise. So Ben Nevis is no longer 1344m, it’s 1344.527m – a matter of centimetres different – which, rounded up, makes it now 1345m. What’s incredible is how accurate the surveyors in 1949 were, without the use of satellite technology. Here’s how they did it… A team of seven men hauled 90kg of equipment up eight different hills, including Ben Nevis. Theodolites were attached to trig points or tripods and powerful beacons of light beamed from the tops. Multiple readings were taken from Ben Nevis to make the averaged data as accurate as possible. It took…

Stretch one leg out the door, then the other. Stand up. Right now, you’re on the Ring of Steall, emerging from the stuffiness of the car into a high-walled gorge, shaded by natural woodland, the river thundering below. About seven paces away is the start of the footpath, but you’re already in one of Scotland’s most glorious glens. Which will turn seamlessly into what could be Britain’s Greatest Horseshoe. The Ring of Steall, as the buzzard flies, is less than 5km from Britain’s Greatest Mountain, Ben Nevis. Find yourself in the vicinity of Fort William and you could go up there for the day. But I’m putting forward this challenge instead: a natural horseshoe linking seven summits and two arêtes with several hundred fewer people and – I’ll be bold…

First question: why do you go to the mountains? I’m not sure about you, but they put me in my place. They’re pure escapism from daily life. Be it silence or howling wind and driving rain, they are raw, wild and pure, which allows me to experience being thankful and alive in a way almost nothing else can. Now, I want you to think about this: how much do you know about home? Do you ever wander local paths and wonder whose feet trod them before yours? What were their stories? Understanding where you come from, the area that you live in, its history: knowing the pathways, the roads, the trees and the hills can help you connect to your environment on a whole other level. Combine this knowledge with…

“I don't have the most expensive kit; it's the landscape that does all the work. Anybody could do it.” “For me, the Cuillin Ridge is one of the finest locations in Scotland,” muses Murray Wilkie. “I wanted a spot where I could wake to a view – and I think I got that. The walk in alone has outstanding views.” Check out the frozen, dawn-lit mountains pictured above and we think you’ll agree. The moment captured here, on a wild camp atop Sgurr na Stri this winter, is not unique in its beauty. Murray regularly films the kind of scenes that make you vow that next weekend you’ll pack your rucksack and get to the hills, the kind you’ll cheerfully get up at 4am for. You’ve probably seen his images…

A MID LAYER Essential on chilly days when a waterproof jacket won’t keep you warm, this thick fleece is perfect as part of a layering system. PICTURED: Quechua Forclaz 600 £28 B GAITERS You won’t wear gaiters on every walk, but they protect your boots and trousers (and keep your feet dry) on wet, boggy terrain. PICTURED: Highlander Breathable £18 C TENT If you’re looking for a reliable, lightweight, one-person backpacking tent at a good price, then this is the best option out there. PICTURED: Wild Country Coshee 1 £100 D TREKKING POLES You can spend a lot on poles; but if you don’t use them regularly, this anti-shock, extendable design is a good option. PICTURED: Hi Gear Walker Antishock £10 E BOOTS If you do…

Malham Tarn is the highest limestone lake in Britain, held like a gleaming gemstone in the great, grassy palm of the surrounding fells. Reaching its shores after the long climb up the Pennine Way through a series of dry valleys is a magical experience. This is a special place: a Nature Reserve and SSSI that’s teeming with wildlife including – if you’re lucky – a pair of otters. Fountains Fell lies higher still, with its own tarn plus series of cairns and an inviting ridgeline that’s calling out to be walked. On a clear day there are glorious views from the summit, out over the Yorkshire Three Peaks to Ribblesdale. When the clouds roll in it’s a wonderfully atmospheric place to be, with just enough features so you (usually) know…

Southernmost of the Rhinogs, Diffwys looks like a long, grassy hump if viewed from its neighbour, Y Llethr, and is usually tackled from that direction. But seen from the other side, its character is quite different: from the southern shore of the Mawddach estuary a long, undulating ridge ends in a shapely point, edging the view to the north and revealing steep crags – this is the south-east face of Diffwys. Together with the Cadair Idris range to the south, it forms a kind of horseshoe-shaped boundary around the estuary – and that’s the aspect that is explored in this route. Starting from the seaward end, just above Barmouth, the route quickly climbs to the crest of the ridge, from where there’s a view of Diffwys far ahead. Three passes…

Many walkers overlook the north Pennines in their rush to get to the Lakes or Scotland. But they’re missing out! The shorter stature of the fells is deceptive: England’s spine offers a fine day out on rugged, tussocky moorland with wonderful panoramic views. To the north, the Solway Firth can glow a wonderful orange colour in evening light, and there are great views across the Eden Valley to the north/east Lakes and towards Cross Fell in the south. Keep an eye out for wildlife too. Once rare, black grouse are returning to Renwick Fell; and hungry owls sometimes hunt in winter daylight near Cold Fell. Oh, and please dance on entry to Castle Carrock – the residents request it! TRANSPORT Bus Service 685 to Brampton (from Carlisle or Newcastle), then…

1 NY597435 Head up a dead-end lane. After roughly 250m fork left onto a stony vehicle track. After roughly 1km from the village, on a sharp zigzag, continue straight ahead where the main track bears sharp right. 2 NY606447 A couple of gates about 200m apart mark a gradual change from walled-in green lane to rough open moorland. Enjoy views behind across the Solway Firth, NE Lakes and more southerly Pennines, then head just about arrow-straight to the summit. A few metres detour left gains the trig point at the top. (In 2013, the OS declared Thack Moor to be England’s newest ‘mountain’ on remeasurement against its definition of a summit greater than 609.6m). 3 NY611462 Head south-east to a drystone wall corner near a small sheepfold with unusual rounded…

1 NN632232 Cross a bridge and turn right up the drive towards Ardvorlich House. Go right before some farm buildings, cross another bridge and then at the edge of the garden of Ardvorlich House turn left onto the hillwalkers’ route for Ben Vorlich (signed). Follow the farm track steeply uphill into Glen Vorlich, a pretty wooded glen where grazing ponies can be seen, passing through several gates. Viewed from the glen, the summit of Meall na Fearna is hidden behind other tops: the rounded peak straight ahead is Beinn Domhnuill, a top you’ll visit later. 2 NN630218 At a fork the popular route for Ben Vorlich goes right: instead stay left on a grassy, often muddy track that follows the lightly wooded west bank of the Ardvorlich Burn upstream. Cross…

Mellbreak is the spacious hill above Crummock Water with a ratty little scramble up its nose. There are a lot of great things about this peak: not least the fact that you have to get yourself into a truly wonderful part of the Lake District to climb it. This aside, Mellbreak would be a wonderful prospect wherever it was. Twin-topped, it’s formed like a slouched saddle on top and the nose has a fine, steep route that edges the crags and has the feel of a scramble, if not ever really becoming one. Mellbreak is often ignored due to its diminutive size (512m) and the grander objectives hereabouts. But don’t wait until you’ve climbed everything else to climb Mellbreak. The views alone slacken the jaw.…

Got a free weekend? Then throw some kit in your rucksack and head to north Wales – but check Plas y Brenin’s ’Packed and Ready’ late deals first. The National Mountain Sports Centre knocks sizeable chunks off the price of some of its courses (everything from hillwalking and climbing to mountain biking and sea kayaking) when booked at the last minute, but you need to be on the ball – there’s usually only a few days’ notice. pyb.co.uk/packed-and-ready.php…

CAIRNTOULCAIRNGORMS Here are Matt White, Maximilien Czech and Camille Plaisant at 6.30am on 28 February, after a night at 1200m in -5 deg C temperatures and before a walk-out via the Lairig Ghru. Photographer Max, who’s from Market Weighton, said the guys had walked 22 miles in two days and were taking away “some unforgetable memories”. OLD MAN OFSTORR ISLE OF SKYE Brazilian-born Leila Mingarelli, now living in Leamington Spa, is clearly thrilled to be on her first holiday with her partner Lee Vallance, who took the photo. Leila told Trail: “It was really cold and icy. It was hard to get to this high point, but worth it.” CAIRN GORM CAIRNGORMS Here are Roan (11) and Lochan (10) Simmons from Swanwick in Derbyshire on their first ever winter Munro,…

Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky little hill. That’s Mellbreak. After cornering through the squid of roads in the north-west Lake District that sling you through places like Low Lorton and Yewdale, you enter the deep-cut Buttermere valley and there it is, showing you its teeth across the water. That shapely prow, the hint of steep, angular crags scooping up from the flood plain between Loweswater and Crummock Water. It seduces you, gets your feet itching. But actually? Hang on. Unavoidably – as with most small-time hills in the Lakes – if Mellbreak’s on your radar you might be tempted to reach for a Wainwright guide, specifically that for the Western Fells. And when you arrive on the appropriate page you’re greeted with a gawp-triggering sketch of Mellbreak’s remarkable northern buttress. My reaction…

We will never know who first climbed a British peak. Whoever that person was, they were almost certainly there for reasons other than fun. Long after tribesmen, druids and shepherds wandered over our summits – in terms of what is written and accepted – Ben Nevis was ‘officially’ first climbed in 1771 by a botanist names James Robertson, who like many of the time was there to collect samples for scientific study. Robertson was classic of the ‘curiosity men’, as they were nicknamed by locals who were often employed to show visitors the scenery. Those who earned money from this became the first working guides. Snowdon was climbed by the ‘father of British botany’ Thomas Johnson more than a century earlier, in 1639. Samuel Taylor Coleridge is credited with ‘inventing’…

YOUR EXPERTS Bryn Williams International mountain leader and executive officer at Mountain Training. Rob Johnson MIC Rob is an international expedition leader and mountain instructor. Lyle Brotherton Navigation expert Lyle is one of the world’s leading authorities on search and rescue. Jeremy Ashcroft Trail’s mountaineering editor Jeremy has a lifetime of outdoors experience. Apricot & almond truffles Prep time 15 minutes ‘Cook’ time 60 minutes (in the fridge) Ingredients • 100g medjool dates• 100g dried apricots• 100g almonds• 50g 90% cacao chocolate Method Place the almonds, dates and apricots into a food processor and blitz until they come together to form one large ball. This will take around 90-120 seconds. Remove the mixture from the food processor and divide into equal portions, before rolling into balls between the palms of your hands. Melt the…

Over the last 20 years Terra Nova has established some iconic tent designs, such as the Quasar for winter camping and the more recent Laser for lightweight summer use. With this track record it’s worth paying close attention to any new Terra Nova tent, but will the Southern Cross be its next trend-setting design? The Southern Cross range takes its inspiration from the award-winning Laser, but is free-standing and has an additional external frame. The result is a tent that is far more spacious, far more stable, extremely easy to pitch and still superbly light in weight. There are two models in the range: the Southern Cross 2 featured here, which is designed for two campers; and the Southern Cross 1 (£390 / 1590g), which is designed for solo use.…

Hill-bagging stats Walking the Wainwrights, the Munros, the Corbetts or the Welsh 3000ers? These routes have got you covered. Gradient profile We map every route for its unique gradient profile, giving you a pinpoint impression of its progressive steepness and the heights you’ll hit. What are the Trail 100? They’re your tick-list of the 100 UK mountains you MUST climb! Download the full list from: bit.ly/trail100 Always take a map on the hill We aim to provide the most accurate information, but you must ALWAYS use an Ordnance Survey or Harvey map on the hill and double-check any directions against it. BEFORE YOU GO... If you’re likely to encounter snow or ice on your walk you need to take precautions. You MUST have ice axe, crampons and the skills to…

Many people know Whinlatter for two reasons, those being the pass and the forest. There is, however, a hidden fell high above the road and visitor centre, concealed by trees and an unforgivingly steep slope. On the northern side of Whinlatter Fell is the hidden Aiken Valley, which is a lovely and peaceful place; but even from this side Whinlatter looks impenetrable. The trees here were felled relatively recently but they are now growing back apace and Aiken Plantation will soon hide the fellside once more. The way to the top will still be there, though – but only if you know where to find the secret path! Once the key to Whinlatter is unlocked, you'll be led on a delightful round of the fells surrounding Aiken. The going is…

Last year we saw you vote Tryfan and the Glyders as ‘Britain’s greatest hillwalk’, and unsurprisingly so. Packed full of exciting scrambles and beautiful views, these mountains offer a thrilling time. Tryfan itself has an impressive profile, demanding attention as you drive towards it down the A5. Looming out of the ground, it stands alone covered in broken rock. The undefined path of the north face throws adventure in your face and coaxes you further up its slope, an exciting scramble both for those wanting to gain more experience and those who have been scrambling for years. Skirting Bristly Ridge, this route becomes much more accessible for those less inclined toward exposure while still wanting to push themselves a little. Soft, grassy patches to the southern edge of Glyder Fach…

1 NY542553 Take a dead-end lane for roughly 1.1km towards Jockey Shield. An open grassy vehicle track opposite Garth Head Farm leads gently uphill to a wall-side path in grassy pasture. At the far left corner, head left and uphill; the vehicle tracks quickly fade. Enjoy fleeting glimpses of the reservoir below, then enter access land by a gate. 2 NY550546 Follow the drystone wall uphill then right over increasingly rough ground. Take a gateway left, then immediately head right and uphill on a narrower sheep track (not the tempting wide green track ahead!). This leads to the only easy crossing over a fence and drystone wall - via two stiles very close together. Continue uphill, aiming first for a couple of small cairns on the skyline, then a transmitter…

Tucked into a valley where the fields of Strathearn run into wooded foothills, the small town of Comrie serves as a gateway to Highland Perthshire. The three days described here give a flavour of the area. Start with local biggie Ben Chonzie. While the standard route up Comrie’s 3,000-footer is a breeze, adding neighbouring Corbett Auchnafree Hill creates a wilder and more challenging circuit. Day two maintains the little-trodden theme on Meall na Fearna, a short drive west. A pleasingly obscure Corbett hidden in the shadow of Ben Vorlich, it’s a good workout far from the crowds. Then for a gentle third day, the woods and waterfalls of lower Glen Lednock make an idyllic finale. TRANSPORT Mainline train to Perth, then local bus via Crieff to Comrie.www.travelinescotland.com 0871 200 2233…