Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2017 i Trail

Hallelujah, the sun is coming back! It’s not that we don’t love winter here at Trail but, strewth, doesn’t it feel good to have the warmth on your face and to see daylight past 6pm? As of 26 March, your daylight hours will stretch out to 7.30pm and beyond. What to do with all that extra time? For keen winter walkers probably just more of what you’ve been doing anyway: more hills, more height, more hours, more comfy nights out camping. For those who tend to hibernate over winter, the time has come to emerge. The rock is being warmed by the sun, the waterfalls are in spectacular spate as the snow and ice retreat, the light stretching on. The hills are ready for you, and we are all, surely,…

Trail’s Everest Anywhere 2017 has been challenging you to get out in the hills wherever you are and climb the height of Everest (8848m). For some this will take all year. For others, like Ben James (see opposite) – well, he’s managed to climb the height of Everest already! Find out what we’ve all been up to and, if you haven’t already done so, sign up to the challenge and make this year your best adventure yet! Learn all about it at www.lfto.com/everestanywhere Follow Marv's adventures with Trail on his Facebook page ‘Marv the Marmot’. # wheresyoureverest…

CMD ARÊTE BEN NEVIS Robert 'Millhouse' Midwinter stops for a breather and a snap on Carn Mor Dearg Arête, Ben Nevis. CIMAPISCIADU DOLOMITES Sian Owens agreeing to be Mrs Carter after Paul Carter popped the question at the top of Cima Pisciadu in the Italian Dolomites – with beautiful views of the Val Gardena valley as the backdrop. Moment captured by a friendly French lady. CALFHOWPIKE LAKE DISTRICT The gang's all here! Malcolm and Lisa Cook , Mark and Andrea Hardie, Frances and Keith Morrison, and Wendy and Mike Ferguson at their ninth annual get-together in the Lake District for a weekend of winter walking. Say cheese! LLECH DDUSPUR SNOWDONIA Andy Stephens from Llangollen on a cold climb up the Llech Ddu Spur to Carnedd Dafydd. After tackling it in…

PEN Y FAN Hordes of people make their way up the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons every weekend, so get there early for unobstructed views and some P&Q. Aside from the odd raven or fell-runner, you’ll likely have it to yourself if you’re up with the lark. Plus, it’s convenient; straightforward; demanding enough to present a challenge; but accessible enough for kids. And the views down to its gigantic glaciated cwms are absolutely fantastic. Nearest road A470 Nearest town Brecon From car to climb 1 minute BLENCATHRA Just off the A66, there are few Lake District hills better suited to a dawn raid. After a quick jaunt up the road from Threlkeld, you’ll be on the mountain. A simple scramble up Hallsfell Ridge deposits you right on the top,…

I stare at the toilet in amazement, reach forward and press down the handle. A torrent of water gushes forth and the loo is refilled, clear and clean. This is not something I expect here. I mean, that’s generally what I expect from a toilet, but this is in a bothy in one of the most sparsely populated region of Wales. An area that has so little going on (humanity-wise, anyway) that it’s been named ‘The Desert of Wales’. Bothies in remote wildernesses don’t have flushing toilets, they have spades and mud. We are in the Cambrian Mountains, known as the Elenydd in Welsh, and actually not very well-known at all. If you’d asked me, before we left, to draw a circle around The Cambrians on a map, I’d have…

If you fit reading Trail into fleeting moments of serenity – between walking the dog, getting the kids to school, going to work, showering and sleeping – we’re going to do you a favour. Book your flights to the Picos de Europa. Now. Seriously. Go. If, however, you’ve got a few minutes and we’ve piqued your interest, make yourself a cuppa, get comfortable in your favourite chair, and read on… You don’t need fluent Spanish to guess that Picos de Europa translates as the Peaks of Europe; it’s thought they were the first European land spotted by travellers crossing the Atlantic from the Americas. The Picos sprawl across three regions of northern Spain: Asturias, Cantabria, and Castile and León. The Asturias area became Spain’s first National Park in 1918 and…

With the clocks going forward in March you’ll get an extra hour of daylight in the evenings. But the exact length of the day changes throughout the year and differs depending where in the country you are. At the moment the length of the day is similar across the UK. But come June you’ll get an extra hour and a half of daylight in Ullapool compared to London, whereas in December the night arrives more quickly in the north, meaning you’ll get nearly 50 minutes more day in Capel Curig than you will in Fort William.…

DEUTER GUIDE 35+ £120 Hot because: Deuter’s Guide packs are trusted by mountain professionals and this latest update improves them even further. They’ve been created for alpine use (those straps on the side are to hold skis), but their tough build and considered design – including features such as a lightweight removable X-frame, height-adjustable lid, anatomic pivoting and removable hipbelt – will be appreciated by anyone who likes to buy a good pack once and build a relationship with it throughout years of adventures. We say: A solid backpack for serious mountain use and abuse. www.deutergb.co.uk KOMPERDELL EXPLORER CONTOUR POWERLOCK £80 Hot because: We don’t ask much from trekking poles, but if we’re being fussy these are the things we want: a strong and reliable locking mechanism; a grip that…

HI GEAR WALKING SOCKS (2-PAIR PACK) £7 Crafted from 85% spun polyester for both durability and softness, 13% standard polyester and 2% spandex (elastane), the result is a close-fitting and lightweight sock. On the downside, it’s thinner than some others and not as soft and comfortable as the merino wool designs. It’s also a bit sweatier than higher-priced socks, but the bonuses are that the sole is padded, the toe seams are smooth and well-placed, and they dry faster than cotton – so are better in this department than most standard socks. Thicker socks may be beneficial if you want more padding or more insulation on high-mountain terrain. But, these guys are just fine for occasional use with walking boots or shoes if your budget is tight. Socks don’t come…

The legend carved on the trig point atop High Pike reads, ’Caldbeck Fells are worth all England else’. This probably doesn't refer to the views, which are quite extensive to the north and east, but rather to wealth generated by the abundance of minerals that have been mined in the area. This circular walk starts from the Caldew Valley and utilises the highly recommended Rake Trod as a means of ascent. It’s a simple climb to reach the top of Carrock Fell, which has much interest to those who like history as it's encircled with a ring of stones, which are the remains of an Iron Age fort. Continuing along the ridge is as easy as it gets, but beware that more often than not the ground will be wet…

Standing high above the small Welsh border town of Hay-on-Wye, the Black Mountains are the place to go to walk hereabouts. Make sure to venture past the popular Hay Bluff and drive further up the road to Twmpa, otherwise – somewhat amusingly – known as Lord Hereford’s Knob. You'll find a small car park right at the bottom of the path but be warned, it gets busy later in the day with walkers for Hay Bluff. Look elsewhere if you’re after a serious climb, but if you're after superb scenery and tranquil valleys to explore then you have come to the right place. You’ll first be treated to an open road across the foot of the mountain to reach your start point, which looks out towards Pen y Fan and…

Capel Curig is one of the first main snag points along the A5 from the east. A village strung out along the road, home to Plas y Brenin – the National Mountain Centre – and plenty of pubs. On the junction between the Ogwen Valley and Llanberis Pass, all three big ranges – the Carneddau, Glyderau and Snowdon – lie in easy reach, but narrow your gaze to the village's hills and you’ll find a delightful scramble, unexpected views, woodland, lakes and some great little peaks, too. It’s possible to drive through without ever seeing the landmark mountain, Moel Siabod, shrouded in cloud. But on a clear day it juts into the sky, signposting your entry to the high places of north Wales. TRANSPORT The S2 Sherpa bus travels between…

1 SH720582 From the car park behind Pinnacle Stores, walk down the track to the A5 and cross over the road to the church. Just to the left of it, a track leads obviously into rough ground, uphill to a gap in a wall. Turn right through here to follow a path roughly east into some wonderful broadleaf woodland. To your right is Y Pincin, the pinnacles that the store is named after. 2 SH726581 After you leave the first copse, you’ll notice a thinner trail heading off to your left, directly north and uphill. Take this and follow it along to a wall and a stile. Cut around to the right of an obvious knoll and thread north-east between two more rocky outcrops, to join an emerging wall. Route…

1 NN594416 Parking spaces are limited at the start point so make sure you park carefully. From the road, head south-east across rough moorland and gain the shallow col beside the Allt Gleann Da-Eig. 2 NN601415 Turn south and follow a parallel course to the burn, up the rounded ridge. The ridge ends at a shoulder with views down into Coire Odhar. From the shoulder swing north-east and make the steepening ascent to the summit of Meall Corranaich. There are superb views east towards Ben Lawers, and north into the depths of Glen Lyon. 3 NN615410 Take the pleasant ridge -top walk north over a secondary summit and onwards towards a narrow col overlooking the rocky head walls of Coire Liath. Head north-west across the col, then make the climb…

How would you feel about a weekend away with your mates, ticking off one of the most imposing and dramatic hills in Scotland and staying over at the Queen’s gaff afterwards? What if it was all for charity, too? Walking With The Wounded organises challenges around the country in aid of physically and mentally injured veterans, and this new event takes in one of the most spectacular areas of the Cairngorms. The Balmoral Challenge, on 24 June 2017, will be based at the royal family’s Scottish home, in usually private areas of the castle grounds. The main event will be a test of hill strength, route choice and navigation. Starting from a secret location, you’ll find your way through forest to the 1155m summit of Lochnagar, then – after ticking…

So, tell us, why did you sign up for Everest Anywhere? I always love a challenge, and if I can combine a few of them, then even better! Having already planned a couple of trips to Scotland, as well as a trip to Iceland, I then saw Everest Anywhere and realised I’d never clocked up my ascent on trips. So to make it even more challenging, I decided to see how quickly I could reach the combined altitude, and I’m going to keep counting! You live in Cornwall and you’re the first to complete it – how did you manage that given the distances involved? A lot of driving. Mostly it's obsession and a crazed enthusiasm to get back into the Scottish mountains. I could make it a lot easier…

Rock-climbing Table Mountain, Cape Town – in our wedding gear. Why…? Well, two years ago, Andy and I were on the same climb. On the last pitch, Andy’s retina detached in her left eye. She already had no eyesight in her right eye, so she climbed effectively blind. Terrified, we were both in bits by the time we reached the top. We got the next flight home and she was operated on the next day. Andy became registered fully blind afterwards, and we both had a tough time adjusting to our new reality. Andy was going through her white-stick training and was adapting brilliantly; I went into a mild depression, blaming myself. Andy was diagnosed with a rare disease which caused her retinas to be much thinner than usual but,…

When it comes to mountains, familiarity should never breed contempt. No-one, however seasoned, has the full measure of the hills. Even your best-trodden stomping ground springs the occasional surprise – a novel route up a peak you thought you knew like the folds on your face, for instance, or a favourite valley from a disorientating angle. These little holes in your mental picture are forgivable. In fact, filling in the jigsaw piece by piece is one of the joys of hillwalking. But sometimes the gaps are so yawning it’s embarrassing. Take me and the Cairngorms. After dozens of visits over a couple of decades, I felt I had the range pretty much sussed. There couldn’t be a major glen I hadn’t walked, a craggy corrie left unvisited or a significant…

PROMETHEUS (2012) Old Man of Storr and Quiraing, Isle of Skye Anyone who has seen the beautifully sinister rock formations of The Storr and Quiraing on the Isle of Skye knows that it wouldn’t take much to summon up an epic rain-clogged, dystopian future from their unique atmosphere. Both locations feature in the opening scenes of Prometheus , Ridley Scott’s prequel to his classic sci-fi film Alien . But they have also appeared in a slew of other big-hit movies, including Macbeth , The BFG , The Wicker Man and the upcoming Transformers sequel. Skyfall (2012) Glen Etive, Highlands Skyfall spectacularly rebooted the Bond franchise in 2012. Front and centre of that defining moment was the dramatic use of the incredible Scottish scenery as Bond escaped London to flee to…

If you’re unsure of your exact position and you don’t have the luxury of a GPS or satnav-enabled phone, it’s possible to work out roughly where you are the old-fashioned way with just a map and compass. Of course, you can also use these tools to check your navigation as you go, and one of the easiest (yet oft-overlooked) techniques for this is using back bearings. These can be employed quite simply to check that you have walked on the correct bearing (called ‘leg confirmation’). Plus, with a bit of practice, they can also be utilised to pinpoint your location more precisely using just your map and compass (‘resection’). The easiest way to think about back bearings is this: whatever bearing the red north needle of your compass is pointing…

MAM TOR Location Peak District Height 517m (1,696ft) Summit grid ref SK127836 The distance the landslide continues to move every year is 25cm MAM TOR IS A DEWEY – A HILL OVER 500M (1,640FT) AND UNDER 609.6M (2,000FT) In the 19th century, Mam Tor Road was built along the base of the hill Following landslides, Mam Tor Road was closed for good in 1979 THIS MOVEMENT OF SHALES GIVES THE PEAK ITS ALTERNATIVE NAME OF THE SHIVERING MOUNTAIN . THE LANDSLIP BEGAN 4,000 YEARS AGO. IT SITS AT THE WESTERN END OF THE GREAT RIDGE Its name means Mother Hill. So-called because its multiple landslips have created ‘baby’ hills. Bronze Age and Iron Age hill-forts were built on the summit The remains of Bronze Age burial mounds can also be…

A - F WHAT TO WEAR If you're going to do the challenge, you might as well do it in style! Pictured: A Marmot 22L Ultra Kompressor backpack £70 B Marmot Variant Insulated Jacket £120 C Marmot Rangeley Fleece Jacket £95 D Marmot Summit Hat £20 E Marmot Fleece Gloves £22 F Marmot Highland Pant £100 G COMPASS Without one you could be climbing a fair bit more if you get lost along the way. Pictured: Suunto M-3 NH £30 H GPS WATCH The best and easiest way to track your total ascent! Also useful for tracking your speed, distance, altitude and grid reference position. You can upload routes, check your bearing, and even predict the weather with this watch. Pictured: Suunto Traverse £325 I VIEWRANGER Alternatively, ViewRanger…

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: LFTO.com/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…

Rosthwaite Fell tends to get tacked onto longer outings, where walkers’ real objectives are focused on the Scafell massif. However this loop, which hurtles up from the valley floor over Rosthwaite Cam, and then back down the steep flanks of its conjoined twin, Thornythwaite Fell, is worth exploring. Few take the time to absorb what this end of the valley has to offer as the Wasdale megaliths have a magnetic attraction, drawing thousands up the boot-flattened tracks to their tops. But the hills here are well worth taking on in their own right. Rosthwaite Fell is a classically proportioned mountain, formed around a craggy combe. The lower climbs offer views over most of Borrowdale's greenery, then – on the way up the ravines, as the blood begins to pump –…

Actually called Ben Arthur, and likely named after the legendary King Arthur, The Cobbler was a name given to the high peak which was thought to look like a cobbler bent over his work. While far from the tallest of the Arrochar Alps, The Cobbler is easily the most famous. In fact you could go as far as saying it’s one of the most important and famous hills in Scotland, since it's the starting place for so many walkers and climbers. Scotland’s first organised climbing group, The Cobbler Club, was founded in 1866, albeit with only three members. By the 1890s, pioneers of the soon-to-be much larger Scottish Mountaineering Club made good use of The Cobbler’s gullies and rock faces. But it was in the 1930s that The Cobbler really…

1 SH727577 From Moel Siabod Café car park turn left down the road and follow the path, for about 1km, until you reach a narrow road bridge crossing the river. Cross and follow the road past a few houses, continuing uphill. When you leave tree cover, you’ll notice a footpath to the left. Get on this and follow it around until it rejoins the main track at some holiday cottages. 2 SH731567 The track passes through a gate and eventually becomes muddier, wetter and stonier, but is still good. Moel Siabod is directly ahead, a great angular chunk of mountain. The track clearly continues onward, passing through some gates and over stiles until you reach the first of three small lakes. A good path cuts around to the right, but,…

Loch Tay and Killin are prime tourist spots and, travelling beside the loch and along Glen Dochart, it’s not hard to see why. Every vista boasts a slice of the classic Highland landscape – water, woods and mountains. And it’s not just the coach-trippers this corner of the southern Highlands caters for. Among these pleasant views are some serious mountains. Towering rock crests, wind-blasted Munros and one spectacular giant – within a handful of feet under the magic 4,000ft mark – await. Exposed ridge-top traverses at Tarmachan Ridge, altitude via Ben Lawers and tranquillity courtesy of the twin Munros of Meall Corranaich and Meall a’ Choire Leith are hard to beat. TRANSPORT Buses run to Killin and along the A827 0871 200 2233 www.travelscotland.com ACCOMMODATION There are plenty of B&Bs…

“In clear conditions you can spot all the main summits and glens of the southern and central Highlands.” 1 NN608378 From the car park/road take the boardwalk and then path (signed for Ben Lawers) up through the fenced woodland. As you exit the top of the fenced woodland continue for about 150m on the main path to a junction. 2 NN616392 At the junction take the right fork and make the steep ascent north-east then north up the rounded ridge to Beinn Ghlas. It is a slog, but you're rewarded with magnificent views out across Loch Tay. It also gets a big portion of the ascent out of the way and bags you an impressive Munro summit as well. 3 NN625404 From Beinn Ghlas, take the narrow ridge northeast which…

It looks unreal this, doesn’t it? Like it’s not quite of this earth. Something from a galaxy far away... Well, it sort of is. Or it’s a stand-in at least. This issue, we’ve been location scouting, searching out the hills that have made it big on the screen – and these two little islands, off the south-west coast of Ireland, have become quite the A-listers. The larger of the two, Skellig Michael, crops only 218m out of the Atlantic Ocean but is made from the same Devonian sandstone that forms the giant Macgillycuddy’s Reeks on the mainland. Its eroded pinnacles are home to one medieval monastery and several internationally important seabird populations, so access is restricted – and you can’t land on Little Skellig at all. But you can climb…

Here are some photos from a spur-of-the-moment bivvy on one of the few flat places in Castell y Gwynt, Glyder Fach. My son Sean and I scrambled up the Gribin Ridge in damp and misty conditions, only to be greeted with a marvellous sunset over Glyder Fawr and the Snowdon horseshoe. As the skies cleared, the temperature dropped and we spent a chilly night watching shooting stars and the Milky Way. It wasn’t over yet though as the sunrise didn’t disappoint either. Definitely a night to remember! I've been reading Trail since the first issue and you guys have inspired many adventures over the years. Thank you. Mark Derby, Flintshire Get in touch with Trail! You know you want to... trail@bauermedia.co.uk @trailmagazine facebook.com/trailmagazine # trailmagazine…

SEND IN A PHOTO – AND WIN! The owner of the best face wins three pairs of socks from 1000 Mile , creator of the original double layer sock with its famous Blister Free Guarantee. 1000 Mile’s range now includes single layer padded socks, plus the Fusion range, which mixes double layer and padding, and offers socks for every type of outdoor activity. Try them with free p&p, using the code TLFP. Send a picture of your haggard hill fizzog to trail@bauermedia.co.uk • TURN THE PAGE FOR PICS OF SOME SLIGHTLY LESS LACK-LUSTRE READERS!…

“If we were going to get up that mindbogglingly early, we wanted the walk to be worth it.” When the alarm blares at an early hour it’s often hard to picture yourself anywhere but in the cosy embrace of your bed. The thought of leaving that safe cocoon of blankets seems like the worst idea possible, but staying tucked up in the warm while adventure waits outside the door is not what life is about. Getting out there, exploring and creating memories is what makes the active bods among us tick. The clocks swing forward on 26 March, giving us more daylight time into evening to stay out. Then, as summer beds in, the mornings gradually become lighter, so take that opportunity to get outside and start the day in…

It’s that time of year that gives every outdoor lover that tingle of excitement We’ve survived winter and those cold, dark months have only made us even more appreciative of the changing seasons. And there are so many reasons to LOVE spring… The warmth of the sun on your face Clocks go forward (26 March) and we have our lighter evenings back. Phew! You can pack fewer layers April is an average of 4-5 deg C warmer than January Nature bursts back into life, with new leaves on the trees and spring blossom The hours of sunlight have increased from around seven hours in December to over 15 hours by the end of April = more play time! See page 72 to discover how the length of the day changes…

With the prospect of dangerous winds and zero visibility, I contemplated the wisdom of a long-weekender in the Lake District. I wasnÕt, though, about to let a bit of weather stop me getting out in my favourite place in the world. So with the summits threatening a full-on assault, no views and tricky navigation, what could we do that would satisfy our craving for some hill action? Now mountain passes may not sound like very much of an adventure. Wrynose Pass. Honister Pass. The Struggle. Hardnott Pass. They offer an interesting way to get somewhere in a car, but I had no idea of the delights and history that Lakeland passes had to offer as walks in their own right. So often these valleys and paths are just a way…

One-person backpacking tents traditionally have a tiny porch that is just big enough to store a pair of boots and a rucksack but little else. But on extended trips in poor weather, a bit more elbow room is often welcome to make it easier to strip off waterproofs, as well as stretch out and relax. The answer could be the MSR Hubba Tour 1, which has a small one-person inner tent plus a huge extended porch. So you get additional storage space without the weight of an extended – and unnecessary – inner tent. The Hubba Tour 1 is actually designed to house a bicycle under its extended porch, which is 1.47m long, and is being marketed as a bicycle touring tent, hence the name. However, I think it also…

There are not many fells in the Lake District that guidebook writer Alfred Wainwright missed out of his seven Pictorial Guides , so it makes for a really special and satisfying Lakeland day when you set off to climb one. It feels like you're heading out to tread uncharted ground where few have trodden before! Iron Crag (640m) falls into this category, and its isolated whaleback outline makes up a long section of the elevated skyline rising above the southern shores of Ennerdale Water. Most routes out of this beautiful western valley are tough and long, and the one described here is no exception, with some rough, steep ground to be conquered and remote terrain to be dealt with before your goal is achieved. However, the rewards for setting off…

Bynack More is a big, bulky Munro that rises to 1090m above Abernethy National Nature Reserve. Its broad summit is studded with huge granite tors, bestowing one of the best panoramas in the Cairngorms National Park. A section of the ascent follows the Lairig an Laoigh, which translates from Gaelic as ‘Pass of the Calves’. Historically it was used as a drove route, where cattle were manoeuvred through the Cairngorms to markets in the south. It climbs to 800m but as it was lower than the Lairig Ghru (833m), and not as rough underfoot, it was easier for younger cattle to contend with, hence its translation. At its peak, during the 17th and 18th centuries, thousands of cattle were driven this way every year. The return journey of this walk…

1 SH720582 From the car park behind Pinnacle Stores, walk down the track to the A5 and turn left in front of the stores. Follow the A5 north for a short while, crossing and recrossing the road to stay on the side with the safest path. This doesn’t go on for long and is the only section of road walk. In about 900m look out for a fingerpost on the right-hand side of the road, over a stile, pointing to open hillside. 2 SH718589 Hop over the stile and join a bridleway over rough ground, possibly in the company of placid cows. It’s generally clear enough, but in very poor conditions could be tricky to follow. You’re aiming north, then north-west to white-washed Tal-ywaun. Here, the track wends upwards and…

1 NN605383 From the roadside take the access track south-west until it crosses the first burn ( NN602379 ). A path then strikes off right. Follow it west as it steadily climbs open mountainside to reach a shoulder on the rounded south ridge of Meall nan Tarmachan. The path turns sharply right and climbs north up the rounded ridge to a knoll at spot height 923m. From the knoll swing west, still on the path, and cross a double col to reach the foot of Meall nan Tarmachan’s steep summit slope. Take the path that swings right and traverses north to outflank this steep slope. 2 NN585390 The onward route from the summit heads south then south-west down the broad and grassy main crest. The going is fairly easy, but…

Whenever there is a forecast for snow there is always one mountain in the northern Pennines that catches the first white icons on the weather map, and that mountain is Cross Fell. It may seem a tad odd calling Cross Fell a mountain as, generally, peaks in the Pennines get the less grand tag of ‘hill’. This hill, however, is well and truly a mountain because it easily breaches any mountain status statistics. Its ability to hold snow is a bit of a clue; its height is only a hair’s breadth away from the magic 915m/3,000ft mark, putting it in the same status as many of the greatest peaks in the UK. Cross Fell assumes a shy, almost reticent, profile. The best time to view it is in the evening…