Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2017 i Trail

1 To complete a classic horseshoe walk This is a mammoth walk: a high skyline challenge looping the entire Vale of Edale. Kinder Scout, Rushup Edge, Mam Tor and Lose Hill are linked together in a long high traverse. The route links the rough high plateau with grassy slopes and friendly paths but don’t underestimate it – this is an epic day. Afterwards you'll definitely want... 2 To replenish in a sterling pub Edale may be small but it’s well supplied. You’ve got two options: the 1577 Old Nags Head inn with stoked fire, whiskies, ales and a mix and match bangers and mash menu. Or the Rambler Inn, a slightly more updated affair with an extensive beer garden and properly hearty pub grub. The obvious third option here, of…

The Himalayas are iconic in a way that no other mountain range could be: they are the Alps with eastern mystique, the Andes with an extra kilometre up top – if you like – Snowdonia with high altitude. There is also the small matter of them being the highest mountain range in the world, lying at the very point of human ability – an accolade which has seen them mythologised, challenged, scrutinised and idolised more than any other mountains on the planet. Add in the word ‘forbidden‘ – much of the Everest region was closed to outsiders from both sides until the turn of the 20th century – and it's easy to see why these mountains attracted a particularly intrepid brand of explorer, which has led to this interesting and…

Striding Edge Lake District Lee Gornall and chums (l-r: Ash, Eddie, Dale, Alastair, Stefan, Liam and Greg) from Leigh, Greater Manchester, do their best Star Wars impression on Striding Edge, with Lee brandishing the 'lightsaber', well actually a walking pole. Says Lee, “This is a regular thing for us - loving the outdoors, keeping fit and setting ourselves new challenges and completing them. We always choose the most interesting, technical route up each mountain.” Summit Selfie Send your shots, marked ‘Summit Selfie’ to trail@bauermedia.co.uk Scafell Pike Lake District Kirstie Skinner took a day off from sea lion training (yes, you read it right!) to complete her first, solo attempt of Scafell Pike. “I did it in 3½ hours, fuelled with a large bag of M&M’s. It was a beaut of…

‘‘A feeling of brave, a feeling of strong. And a new way to love the hills.’’ These last few months I’ve been pushing myself out of my comfort zone, on steeper terrain and more scrambly hill routes. I’ve even bought a pair of rock shoes and wobbled around at the climbing wall trying to hold on to colourful plastic lumps arranged in baffling ‘problems’. My shoulders ache, my feet are sore, my knees are bruised. A couple of times I’ve had to sit in the car massaging my forearms before being able to grip the steering wheel to drive home. And, for the first time in the hills, I’ve felt rigid with fear, literally talking out loud to get my legs and arms to move. “Come on, you devil,” I…

A dash of deep red, a splash of gold and veins of vibrant pink were blended expertly together across the sky, as though from an artist’s brush. It was 5 o’clock in the morning and the air was still, everything unmoving apart from the rays of sun casting bright beams one by one onto the mountainous landscape in front of us. It was the morning after the impulsive decision of the day before. The weather forecast had read sun, sun and yet more sun. A rarity too good to miss, and so after my sister, Martha, and I scrabbled about to hurriedly pack bags, the car was soon pointed north toward this precious window of opportunity. When the weather was this good, there was nothing for it but to load…

Q In Trail's expert opinion, should I start Wainwright’s coast to coast walk from St Bees in the west or Robin Hood's Bay in the east? Bob Sallis, via email Trail says When Alfred Wainwright conceived his walk from the Irish Sea in Cumbria to the North Sea in North Yorkshire he reckoned people should neither conform to his route or schedule. Today the trail remains unofficial and mostly unsignposted, so the choice of direction is yours. Starting at St Bee’s is the most common option. It means that you are more likely to have the prevailing westerly winds at your back and gets the hardest terrain in the Lake District over and done with early on while legs are freshest. However, fans of the Lake District may like the…

Q Parking can get costly in the Lakes, so I wondered if I can park on verges as long as my car isn't getting in the way of anything? Tracey Jenkins, Solihull Jeremy says This is a bit of a grey area but it would seem that if the verge is part of the highway then parking is OK. You would still have to make sure that it is safe to do so and that you do not cause an obstruction. This would mean parking in the right direction, ensuring that you do not obstruct traffic of all sizes on the highway, not parking near junctions, not affecting lines of sight, and not obstructing field or property entrances (allowing large enough turning circles for all vehicle sizes). You would also…

Whether it’s a quick snap on your phone, or a carefully-composed shot on your DSLR – if your photograph captures the magic of hillwalking in the UK, it could win Trail’s 2017 Mountain Photo of the Year competition. And with that, Fujifilm prizes worth over £3,000. HOW TO ENTER First, take a fantastic shot that captures the atmosphere, beauty or experience of being in the UK hills. We're as interested in powerful moments as we are in sublime landscapes. Then head over to www.livefortheoutdoors.com/ mountainphoto17 and upload your work. Each entrant can submit up to three images for consideration. The only rule is that in terms of subject matter they concern UK hills or mountains. Entries close on 9 October 2017. A shortlist will be chosen by our judges, and opened…

The holy grail of backpacking has always been to find the ultimate lightweight shelter, while maintaining the protection campers need from rain outside and condensation inside. Lightwave’s Sigma S10 features a new X-Tex fabric flysheet that’s been developed to do just that, and there’s no need for a separate inner and outer, which should result in a lighter, more spacious and easier-to-pitch tent. Lightwave’s X-Tex fabric is waterproof, breathable and features an activated carbon coating on the inside, which absorbs humidity as it condenses preventing moisture droplets forming on the inside of the tent. This process also creates a larger surface area for the water molecules, which allows them to pass more easily through the waterproof breathable fabric to the outside. The claim of the manufacturers is that X-Tex fabric…

Cadair Idris. Cader Idris. Penygadair (or indeed, Pen y Gadair)? An array of titles for this majestic peak, rising so stupendously from the lowlands of the Afon Mawddach (Mawddach Estuary) to its north west and the Dyfi Forest to its south east. From the quiet and more arboreal hamlet of Llynfihangel-y-pennant, the mountain’s smoother western flanks keep secret its impressive set of glacial cwms and northern scarp slopes. A longer day out could take in a linear walk from east to west along Penygadair’s spine, but this more modest loop allows for topping out on its highest point at 893m, via Mynydd Pencoed. After an impressive effort of the legs to rise out of the valley, you are rewarded with a high level and rocky parade above Llyn Cau to…

Everyone and their dog seems to ‘do’ Munros, making peace and quiet a rare commodity. But set your sights lower and there’s a lifetime’s supply of summits with no one on them. The pursuit of the smaller Corbetts soon takes you far from the 3,000ft rat race, and this pair of steep-sided, plateau-topped hills are a case in point. Tucked away in an obscure extremity of the Cairngorms, An Dun and A’ Chaoirnich exemplify the wild walking found away from the headline summits. You may not have heard of them, but this is part of their charm. Crowds are thin on the ground here, unless you count the deer. Rising like twin gateposts at the southern end of the Gaick Pass, a historic north-south through route across the far eastern…

1 NR389941 Start your walk by the hotel and take the track leading west with houses on the left. Reach a junction by farm buildings after about 250m and turn right to follow a track uphill. This used to be the main route between Scalasaig and Kiloran, and King Edward VII came this way when he visited in 1902. Pass through the gate after a hairpin bend, carry on to the top of the pass and turn left to the top of Beinn nan Gudairean, where a brass plaque is engraved with a viewfinder. 2 NR388949 Leave the top by walking downhill, south-west, past a telecoms mast to a wall. Turn left for a short distance to pass through a gate and continuesouthwest to the prominent Iron Age fort at…

1 NY456041 Go down the valley road across the River Kent, and turn up left towards Green Quarter. Take the second field path right, up into a wood then up a field to Green Quarter. Take the lane uphill directly ahead, keeping left past Maggs Howe. 2 NY462041 At the top of the lane a small track continues uphill, bending left through a gate, then left, keeping above a wall, and fading in the col behind a hump of field. Contour ahead to a small gate above a field gate. The grassy path now contours around the valley side north-east, to reach the track leading over to Longsleddale. 3 NY475049 Cross the cart track through the pass, onto a small path uphill to the left of a wall, through rocky…

For keen scramblers, getting ‘a bit vertical’ on some quality rock is the highlight of any day. But there comes a point when, in order to get more vertical or cope with less quality rock, you’ll need to start thinking about extra protection. This is where the DMM scrambling pack comes in. Developed in conjunction with the Association of Mountaineering Instructors, it includes a 30m rope, numerous carabiners, a belay device, a set of Wallnuts, slings, quickdraws and a Nutbuster gear removable tool. Of course, if you’ve no idea what these are, let alone how to use them, this kit isn’t for you; you’d be better off spending your money on a scrambling course (the Association of Mountaineering Instructors can help you there). But if you already own a helmet,…

“ITS RIVERS ARE FRINGED WITH NATIVE WOODLAND, ITS HIGHEST POINTS DROP AWAY IN DARK TERRACED CLIFFS ..” Between Skye and Torridon, bounded by gigantic mountains, sea lochs and the Inner Sound, is a wedge-shaped land known in Gaelic as A’ Chomraich: the sanctuary. The sky above this compact peninsula, 27km from north to south, is quartered by sea eagles, the water pierced by their talons and tracked by fishing boats. Its rivers are fringed with native woodland, its highest points drop away in dark terraced cliffs. The sanctuary, miles from any train station and only reachable by an alpine road with clamp-tight bends, has an English name, once taken from the river flowing out of its high central corries: Abhainn Crosan – River Applecross. Fragments of the ancient Caledonian forest…

Q If I’ve got a small corner spare in my rucksack, what must-take, light item should fill it? Jill Cave, Worcester We all like the idea of streamlining our packs and ensuring that we’re only carrying the essentials, since a light load on your back makes for more enjoyable experiences. However, there are certain items that are worth making space for, and a spare pair of socks is a fine example. Why? Well... • Avoid pain You’re half way into your walk when you step in an unseen bog hole. Wet feet can soon lead to blisters, so change your socks and carry on in comfort. • Stay fresh Slipping into a clean pair of socks at the end of the day provides that extra sense of luxury on a…

HALL’S FELL RIDGE, Lake District NY326270 A longer scramble to the top of Blencathra that just nudges Grade 1 and has some exposure, but a great journey and often little more than a steep walk. Plenty of easy ways down from the summit, too. Y GRIBIN RIDGE, Snowdonia SH650586 A relatively short, broad, and easily escapable Grade 1 scramble that starts in Cwm Bochlwyd and ends between the Glyders of Fach and Fawr. FIACAILL RIDGE, Cairngorms NH988036 An enjoyable Grade 1 scramble on straightforward terrain in classic Scottish scenery where major difficulties are avoidable.…

GRAND PRIZE FUJIFILM X-T2 with XF18-55mm lens worth £1649 A compact, lightweight and robust camera, the FUJIFILM X-T2 delivers everything you need in a camera. Things like a large, high definition electronic viewfinder, 24.3 megapixel sensor, vintage-style dials that can be used with gloves on, high-speed autofocus and compatibility with an extensive range of high-performance interchangeable lenses. Add to that film simulation modes that inherit the legacy of Fujifilm colours, unparalleled image quality and outstanding 4K movie recording. This is the ultimate outdoor photographer’s tool. SECOND PRIZE FUJIFILM X-T20 with XC16-50mm lens worth £899 Incorporating many of the features of its bigger brother in a slimmed-down form with a cool vintage look, the X-T20 features the same 24.3 megapixel sensor, but comes with an integral flash and a few features…

NORRØNA FALKETIND PRIMALOFT60 £179 The Falketind insulated jacket has been created with PrimaLoft Silver Insulation to be light, breathable and packable. It can be worn as an outer insulating layer, or as a mid layer, where its lack of bulk ensures freedom of movement. A great accompaniment for the hills. EUREKA! DUOTAIRE £100 The Duotaire is a 2-person tent that costs just £100. It weighs a touch over 2kg, but costs just £100. The tent’s porch area is spacious enough to store gear or for cooking, and yet it costs just £100. It can be used with the outer for weather-proof camping, or without it for a mostly mesh summer shelter, and it costs only £100. Buy it before they realise they’ve got the price wrong…! LUCI LUX £25 Whether…

Rising to 974m above sea level, Ben Lomond is Scotland’s southernmost Munro. Due to its accessibility from major conurbations such as Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling it's one of the most popular mountains to climb. Consequently it's a little maligned among the hillwalking fraternity, but it actually offers a fantastic hill walk – especially if the descent is via the wonderful Ptarmigan ridge, an undulating landscape that offers the spectacular views of Loch Lomond that are hidden when ascending along the main ‘tourist’ path. Ben Lomond is cared for by the National Trust for Scotland and much work has been done to improve the path in recent years, as well as clearing the conifer woodland that used to cloak the lower slopes. Now native species, such as birch and oak, allow…

Sat in a broad U-shaped side- valley behind the Hope Valley, Edale’s five 'booths' (hamlets) are surrounded by a fine ring of Peak District peaks. To the south, Mam Tor commands the view along the Rushup Edge to Lose Hill; to the west there’s the high Brown Knoll plateau while the Kinder plateau forms the northern skyline. This route seeks out a little-walked ridge above Edale for the ascent – and discovers that near solitude is possible above the village, even on a sunny Sunday! An old plantation has bilberries aplenty and great views back over the main Edale valley, with no trees. But the rocks are harbouring several animal shapes further ahead: can you find the seal and gorilla’s heads, and is the more human-carved tortoise still there? There…

1 NR372910 The B8085 comes to an end by the edge of The Strand, which marks the start of the crossing to the tidal island of Oronsay. When the tide is in there’s just crystal-clear water; when the tide is out a dazzling mile of sand stretches south. You will need to consult tide tables – available at the Post Office and hotel – to plan your walk and there is normally a window of around five hours at spring tides (two days after a full moon or a new moon). Land Rovers and tractors make regular journeys over the sands and you can start walking as soon as the sea starts to recede – you’ll be surprised how quickly this happens. Conversely, the water starts to quickly sweep back…

1 NY456041 Head down the valley road to cross the River Kent then fork left on the uphill lane. As it bends back to the right, turn left on a side lane. This contours up valley. After 300m look out for a walled track forking down left with a bridleway signpost hidden away behind a hawthorn tree. 2 NY461043 The bridleway runs up the right-hand side of the valley, just above the valley floor. After 600m it crosses a stream; here fork off left, following a low-voltage power line. In 400m you join a new track. Where this bends uphill towards a settlement (Hallow Bank), turn off left on a stone-chipped path. After 500m it reaches Overend. 3 NY463057 Just past the house watch out for a faint path forking…

1 NY456041 Continue up the lane behind the church. After 400m bear left; the lane immediately ends at a handsome house. Turn up right on a stony track. This bends left and after 200m passes above Badger Rock. The track is closed to motor traffic, but is still torn about a bit by bikes, and runs up to the wide saddle of Garburn Pass. 2 NY436043 Just before the high point, a gate crosses the track. Immediately before the gate, take a step stile over the wall on the left. A small path runs directly uphill to the small spine hump that’s Sallows summit. 3 NY436039 Take a wide but faint grass path north-west past some small rocky outcrops, then down to a wall, to cross a stile in a…

Leaping up on the east shore of its namesake loch, Ben Lomond is either the first or last Munro in Scotland, depending which way you’re going. From the distance of the road, it appears to be a tidily triangular peak – but it’s not quite as straightforward as that. A well-made, and especially well-worn for Scotland, path leads right to its summit, up gentle slopes without much to get in your way or hold you back. And once you get there, you find mountains. They run out for miles. Hills after hills after hills, spilling all the way to the horizon – and far beyond that. On a fine day, you can see the cap of Ben Nevis, whale-backed Stob Binnein and its burly companion Ben More, remote Ben Alder,…

On a baking hot day, look for the blue lines on your map. There’s little better than diving into a shady gorge and clambering up the deep-carved route of a mountain stream. As well as being blissfully refreshing, it also gives you a different view of the hill. More verdant than the open hillside, rich with mosses, liverwort and lichen, and protected by over-reaching branches. There’s not much more fun than scrambling over waterfalls, jumping into deep pools and splashing upstream. Those with climbing experience will probably be able to tackle some relatively straightforward routes without help but if you’ve never done it before, consider hiring a guide.…

These are very, very orange . Glovax gloves are also grippy and tough, and although it’s not immediately obvious what the appeal might be, they’re resistant to cuts, abrasions, oil, and punctures – and they’re waterproof. They’re also lig ht, although not particularly warm. The problem is, and let’s not beat around the bush, they look like Marigold washing-up gloves or handwear for gardening. But if they prove to be as tough as they promise, and their performance matches up to the imagery of adventurous glove-wearers clinging to rock that adorns the Glovax webpage, their stran ge looks might just be worth living with, particularly given that they’ll retail for the not unreasonable price of $49 (a little under £40).…

“Get out and tread the obscure little paths round where you live” Running is one of my favourite ways to simultaneously get fit, think about stuff, forget about stuff and enjoy the outdoors. I think all of us reading this probably feel the same, even if you prefer to substitute the word hike, walk, climb or scramble for ‘run’! Being exiled in the flatlands of south-east England means I seek out woodland as my daily replacement for hills and mountains. There is a small wood only half a mile from where I live. I have run through it hundreds of times. I use it as my barometer to the year as it shows me the seasons that are only too easy to forget living in an air-conditioned, urban world. In…

“THE BEACONS WAY NOW TAKES IN THE SEVEN-MILE SECTION OF RIDGELINE THAT REWARDS YOU WITH A HIGH-LEVEL LINEAR ESCAPADE ALONG THE EDGE.” Exploring the possibilities of the Brecon Beacons, I just couldn’t quite escape the feeling that the Welsh were having a laugh. There it was in black and white and OS-official – hills called Lord Herefords Knob and Fan-y-Big? In fact, the more I explored, the more I found that if we weren’t talking about private parts, without the florid, expert delivery of a local there was simply no hope of me being able to pronounce the majority of Brecon Beacon places – Ystradfellte, Llanfrynach, Cwmcynwyn… But at least there’s the Black Mountain – nothing confusing about that. But, wait – are we talking the Black Mountain or the…

#EverestAnywhere is not just about seasoned hillwalkers getting out and climbing high, it’s about spreading the word of the benefits of wild and lofty places. This month we‘re sharing some real stories of walking making a real difference to lives... For one #EverestAnywhere challenger, David Brice, reaching the height of Everest has been part of a much bigger challenge in his life as he explains: “You see, nine years ago I was given an ultimatum – change your life or you’re going to die within a year. I’d been an addict for the best part of 20 years. First drugs, then alcohol became my main poison. It was the alcohol that took the biggest toll and I was extremely ill; it had a massive impact on my mental health through…

Q When you've got to the top of that hard day’s climb, surely it’s OK to celebrate with a bevvy or two? Or are there any reasons/codes/laws that say you shouldn’t? Danny Custon, Leeds Trail says While there’s nothing wrong with a post-walk pint or a summit sip, alcohol and mountains aren’t necessarily the best of bedfellows. If you are going to partake – either on or off the hill – there are some things you should probably be aware of. YOUR NERVE CENTRE Just about anything that you do, from walking to talking, is controlled from the brain via a network of nerve cells. These essential communication links with the body are slowed by alcohol, reducing the speed with which you can respond to external stimuli. In an environment…

Q We’re always hearing about the damage being done to public rights of way and open spaces popular with walkers, so I'm never sure whether to walk on paths or to the side of them to minimise wear and tear. Which is best? Karen Baldwin, Sunderland Jeremy says There are a wide range of factors that contribute towards footpath erosion in mountainous areas. Clearly, repeated compaction by walkers’ boots plays a key part but so does overgrazing, acid rain and exploitative land use. The level of erosion differs from location to location depending on the variance of factors such as drainage, altitude, soil type, vegetation type and underlying geology. Some hill paths and tracks are ancient and existed long before walking became a popular activity. Animal movements also play a…

Ned Bailey is 11. Like many 11-year old boys, Ned is afraid of very little, except perhaps maths, early mornings, and 11-year old girls. This inherent lack of fear is a double-edged sword. On one hand it enables kids to embrace new experiences without the reservations of adulthood-induced cynicism. On the other, it can set them on course for a full-speed collision with catastrophe, and where a more experienced hand might apply the brakes, the exuberance of youth is honking the horn and high-fiving disaster in the face. It’s something all too clear in the mind of the mountain-Dad. He has dreams of introducing his offspring to ridges, rakes and summits. He has nightmares of lost teeth, broken bones, and explanations to Mum. Tom Bailey is 45. Like many mountain-Dads,…

1 Location Take a look around and envisage what you want to achieve then look through the viewfinder. 2 The pull Look for ‘lead in’ lines. These ‘pull’ the viewer into your image. They could be naturally occurring features like rocks or streams or man-made such as footpaths or fences. 3 Lens choice Experiment. You would be amazed how much the perspective can change from a standard zoom to a wide angle. 4 People Human subjects can enhance an image by giving it scale. 5 Rule of thirds A pleasing way to compose an image. Most cameras have a three-line grid in the menu to guide you.…

ON YOU ❑A WATERPROOF JACKET ARC’TERYX Beta SL Hybrid £300 ❑B WALKING POLES LEKI Abula Lite V £105 (pair) ❑C RUCKSACK OSPREY Talon 22/Tempest 20 £90 ❑D 2-3 SEASON BOOTS SCARPA Peak GTX £160 ❑E BLADDER SOURCE Widepac 2 litre reservoir £29 ❑F ZIP-OFF TROUSERS BERGHAUS Explorer Eco Zip Off Pant £70 ❑G BASE LAYERS ICEBREAKER Oasis Crewe £49 IN YOUR PACK ❑H SHELTER TREKMATES Mountain Pod Group Shelter £30 ❑I HEADBAND MONTANE Rock Band £15 ❑J BUFF BUFF Camino De Santiago High UV Buff £17 ❑K WATERPROOF TROUSERS MARMOT PreCip Full Zip Pants £75 ❑L GLOVES ICEBREAKER RealFleece Sierra Gloves £30 ❑M EXTRA WARM LAYERS BERGHAUS Pravitale Light Hooded Fleece £70 ALWAYS PACK... ❑ MAPS ❑ COMP ASS ❑ HEAD TORCH ❑ FIRST AID KIT ❑ WHIST LE ❑…

WALK HERE THIS WEEKEND Try this stunning circular route on Ben Lomond p95 TRAIL ROUTES use OS mapping and gradient profiles, and are available to download at www.lfto.com/routes 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.…

If you’re going to do one walk in the Brecon Beacons, then I insist that you do this one. It’s the best route if you want to take in the finest walking all in one go, making it the perfect walk to choose if you only have a day there. It’s not easy to get to the starting point, up above Tal Y Bont, but it’s certainly worth the extra effort. You’ll park in Neuadd car park and start by strolling up the road before taking a track up towards Cribyn. Don’t let this gentle start fool you as the climbs up and down Cribyn, and Pen y Fan itself, are nice and sharp. Although it’s easy to miss out, I’d definitely recommend climbing Cribyn, if you can, as this…

The minor landscape god naming Lakeland had her work cut out around the bottom end of Wasdale: far too many fells. Buckbarrow, and Yewbarrow, and Seatallan – and then her inspiration drained. Try this one, says her colleague on the next cloud north, “Beinn Mheadhoin – I've used it four times and nobody's noticed. In English that means ‘Middle Fell’. Just stick it on, they're not going to be going up that little thing.” We get distracted by the big Scafells and Gable at the head of Wasdale, but Middle Fell is steep-sided, and knobbly on top, and some of us might enjoy the fact it’s only 90 minutes up it from the lake. And when it comes to the Scafells and Gable, there’s no better place to get distracted…

1 NR399973 Take a track leading north-east through gateposts, just after the lane to Kiloran Bay takes a sharp left bend. Walk through dunes and open machair for 1km and keep ahead as the track descends into a valley. Go through a gate and follow the track uphill with crags on the right. As the track swings left look for a broad grassy gully, with a narrow path, on the right and follow this north-east to the top of Carnan Eoin – the highest point on the island. This is a fine viewpoint with the great sweep of Kiloran Bay below, the mountains of Mull to the north and the Paps of Jura to the east. 2 NR409984 Head north-west from the cairn and trig point, over wide rocky slabs…

Build a path 1 Erosion scars the landscape and can damage delicate mountain flora. On the other hand, a human connection with the mountain environment is critical. Path-building helps protect the hills we love, while giving good access – and a day spent shifting rock can be gratifying for the muscles and the soul! Check out the John Muir Trust, the National Trust and Fix the Fells for conservation work dates. Or, if you can’t get out, make a donation. Plan your own Three Peaks 2 Back in distant Trail history, we suggested that you come up with your own variation on the National Three Peaks challenge. We’d like to give that idea another nudge: pick one mountain in each country, get out and climb them. And maybe spread the…