Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2017 i Trail

Ben Weeks and brother Tom go exploring above the Buttermere valley in search of Lakeland‘s lost pike – and find it a friend to boot p28 Twitter @GingerheadBen Jeremy Ashcroft gets out the maps, cranks up the satellite feed on the hunt for the last snowpatches in Scotland and asks, what can they tell us? p68 Sarah Ryan spends the night on a secluded northern arm of Snowdon in a wild campsite that‘s half bog, half lake – and all awesome p46 Twitter @Sarah_outside Simon Ingram enlists a botany expert on the banks of Ullswater to help enrich his less-than-formidable knowledge of mountain plants p60…

These days you can get jackets for climbing jackets for scrambling, jackets for alpinism, jackets for mountaineering, jackets for trail running and jackets for mountain biking. But as most of what we do comes under the broad umbrella of hillwalking, it’s good to know there are still jackets specifically for that, too. Featuring 2-layer Gore-Tex fabric that’s cut a little longer than some of the more fashionable bum-dodging variety, and available in both men’s and women’s fit, the Ridgemaster from Berghaus still promises to keep you dry in everything from drizzle to monsoon. It’s breathable, too, so you don’t need to worry about the clamminess that can all too often make you wetter from the inside than the precipitation does from the outside. The hood is fully adjustable to maximise…

Whether it’s a fast snap on your phone, or a composed shot on your DSLR – if your photo captures the magic of hillwalking in the UK, it could win Trail’s 2017 Mountain Photo of the Year competition – plus 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 just as interested in powerful moments as we are in sublime landscapes. Then visit www.livefortheoutdoors.com/mountainphoto17 and upload your work. You can submit up to three images for consideration. The only rule is that, in terms of subject matter, your images concern UK hills or mountains. Entries close on 9 October 2017. A shortlist will be chosen by our judges, and opened for voting…

Q It’s easy to spot rocks of different colours around the mountains, but what gives them their different shades? Ed Nichols, via Facebook Paul says The colour of a rock is dependent on the minerals it’s made up of. Rocks originating in the earth’s mantle (such as olivine) are often greenish in colour. However, when a rock is exposed to the atmosphere it is chemically ‘weathered’ and often changes colour. Reddish colouring, for example, is often due to oxidisation (rusting) of iron minerals on the rock’s surface. There is a general trend for rocks to become some shade of grey as they weather, but there are always exceptions and varieties of colour.…

Our expert: Phil Houghton Described by the Blencathra Field Studies Centre as ‘a great year-round field identifier’, Phil Houghton is a local of Ullswater and a botany enthusiast – as well as an acclaimed poet of the area. Trail took to the hills with him to see what he could teach us about montane flora. “WITH MOUNTAIN PLANTS , IT’S ABOUT TENACITY... THEIR ENDURING OF THE ELEMENTS.” Phil Houghton looks a little sheepish; that’s not to say he looks like a sheep (much better use of the word if you ask me) but that he looks like he needs to get something off his chest. As it turns out, when it comes it’s really not that big a deal. “You should probably know I’m not a professional botanist,” he says.…

Snow in summer isn’t reserved for high altitude peaks or back of the wardrobe countries. You can find it here in the UK. Some areas of our mountains are so high, and fall so perpetually into shadow, that the snow which lands there in winter crisps, shrivels, glistens and drips but never melts entirely away. All year it sits, clinging to high edges or caked into a dark corrie, surviving rainfall, blazing sunshine and high winds until the planet turns and the temperature drops enough for snow to fall again. It beds down under a covering of fresh snowfall until summer comes and its ancient veneer is revealed again. Some snowpatches are so resilient that they’ve been named on the map, near-permanent features of a mountain environment. We do, in…

#Everest Anywhere completer and Trail staffer, Ben Weeks (left) says: “You might think that, working for Trail, I’d have blitzed this challenge months ago. Not so – living in Norfolk I don’t get up the hills as often as I’d like (and I’ve only been counting metres of ascent on proper mountain outings – not stairs, ladders, or walks to the pub). So I was chuffed to discover that I’d reached the magic 8848m mark on a recent trip to Scotland, and even more thrilled when I worked out I’d hit it within a matter of metres of the summit of a genuine Scottish classic: Buachaille Etive Mor. Let’s see if Everest number two can be ticked off before the year is out…” Sue Meeks (left) and sister Jan Jacklyn,…

Steve Goodier Author of seven walking guidebooks, Steve loves the UK hills. Ange Harker Nidderdale born and bred, and an experienced walking guide. Jeremy Ashcroft Trail’s mountaineering editor and a veteran of every classic UK route. James Forrest Former newspaper journalist, now turned adventure travel writer. Peter Edwards Scottish Isles expert, and author of three Cicerone guides to the region. Ronald Turnbull Creator of a whopping 30 guidebooks and 18 unique coast-to-coasts. Roger Butler Roger likes to tick off remote Hebridean islands as well as mountains. 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.…

Distance 9.2km (5¾ miles) Total ascent 750m Time 5 hours Start/finish Cwm Bychan ( SH645314 ) Nearest town Llanbedr Terrain Steep-sided valley; woodland; rocky summit; packhorse track; narrow pass; hanging corrie; rough mountainside; llyn Maps OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL18; OS Landranger (1:50,000) 124; Harvey Superwalker (1:25,000) Snowdonia Rhinogs; Harvey British Mountain Maps (1:40,000) Snowdonia South Accommodation Dinas Farm Caravan and Camping near the start (01341) 241585 www.dinas-farm.co.uk; alternatively, there are lots of hotels and B&Bs on the coast near Harlech and Llanbedr – but no YHA nearby Public transport None to the start of the route; the nearest railway station is at Llanbedr www.traveline-cymru or www.thecambrianline.co.uk Guidebooks The Mountains of England and Wales by John and Anne Nuttall, pb Cicerone Tourist info Harlech TIC (01766) 780658 www.eryri-npa.go.uk GET THIS…

Distance 34km (21 miles) Total ascent 1600m Time 11½ hours Start/finish Old Bridge of Tilt, car park just west of the river ( NN874662 ) Nearest town Blair Atholl Terrain Good tracks up Glen Tilt; pathless grassy and stony ridge; hill paths (rough and peaty on the descent); road section to finish Maps OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL49 & OL51 (you need both); OS Landranger (1:50,000) 43 Accommodation Blair Castle Caravan Park, camping and pods (01796) 481263 blair-castle.co.uk blaircastle.co.uk; SYHA Pitlochry (01796) 472308 Public transport Blair Atholl has good rail and coach service 0871 200 22 33 www.traveline.info Guidebooks Highland Perthshire by Ronald Turnbull, pb Cicerone Tourist info Pitlochry TIC (01796) 472215 www.visitperthshire.com Best pub Bothy Bar – Atholl Arms Hotel, Blair Atholl (01796) 481205 www.athollarmshotel.co.uk Access notes A few…

1 NY636313 This walk begins in Blencarn, a pleasant village five miles north of Dufton, where a long village green (with parking) points the way towards the houses at Kirkland and the start of a glorious track which runs along the foot of the steep escarpment. Follow the narrow lane north then north-west from Blencarn, past a fishing lake on the right, and keep ahead on a track as the lane bends left by a prominent chapel. Walk past Glebe Farm on the left and Kirkland Hall on the right and continue as the track contours on a terrace above Kirkland Beck. Pass through a gate onto the edge of open moorland. 2 NY653326 Follow the track over a stream, go through the next gate and walk ahead for 500m…

Distance 20km (12½ miles) Total ascent 1450m Time 8 hours Start/finish car park, Glen Trool ( NX415803 ) Nearest town Newton Stewart Accommodation Minnigaff SYHA near Newton Stewart (01671) 402211 www.syha.org.uk; various B&Bs and hotels in Newton Stewart; campsite in Glen Trool (01671) 840280 www.glentroolcampingand caravansite.co.uk Tourist info Newton Stewart TIC (01671) 402431 www.newtonstewart.org Public transport Train to Dumfries then bus to Newton Stewart and Glen Trool. Traveline 0871 200 2233; National Rail Enquires 0345 748 4950 Maps OS Landranger (1:50,000) 77; OS Explorer (1:25,000) 318 Guidebooks The Southern Uplands by K M Andrew, pb SMC; The Corbetts & Other Scottish Hills by Rob Milne and Hamish Brown, pb SMC; Lowland Outcrops edited by Brian Davison and Tom Prentice, pb SMC; Classic Walks compiled by Ken Wilson and Richard…

Ahhh, September. September, September. They should write a song about September. They should call it Ahhh, September. Because it really is the finest month to be out in the hills. The ground is still warm from summer, the breeze hasn’t grown its autumn teeth yet, the days are just long enough to be epic and the nights just right for a stargazing wild camp. It’s my birthday in September. I’ve decided this year I’ll be 24. Because it’s September, and anything is possible, see? So we thought we would offer you all a summermoon – like a honeymoon, but better. A month of mountain adventures to wind down the warmer bit of the year in style and take advantage of this marvellous golden month. So, starting on page 38, we…

Mike Ramsay "Newton Stewart is a fine, wee base in the area with nice family-run hotels and businesses and we chanced upon the idyllically sleepy Ayrshire village of Barr on the way down... a charm of a place." Charlotte Akam "A brilliant area with some great walks around lochs Trool and Clatteringshaws. Merrick offers an amazing view if it’s not in thick cloud! Glentrool campsite is great and has a handy cosy cabin for when you are camping in the rain." Allan Young "The Grey Man of Merrick is a must – classed as a mimetolith [a naturally eroded rock which resembles some other form, like a face or an animal] it takes a bit of finding but it’s a remarkable piece of rock."…

Unlike in many nations around the world, mountain rescue services are free in Britain. This goes back partly to its early years, when casualties were recovered in an ad hoc manner. The rescue might involve members of the casualty’s party, nearby mountaineers, police or skilled locals. After the Second World War a number of incidents tested growing informal arrangements to the limit and civilian Mountain Rescue teams were formed. The organisation began with mountaineers looking out for mountaineers and reflects the ethos of the community: self-reliance and responsible engagement with risk. It’s not uncommon for criticism to be made of walkers who get into difficulty and for claims of irresponsibility to be made. But this isn’t always fair. Testing our limits is how we learn and how we progress. Risk…

PEREGRINE The fastest creature on the planet. This month sees family groups on the wing, with this year’s young constantly nagging their parents for food. More impressively, they will be taught by their parents to hunt. If you witness this, it’s an activity you will not forget. The adult catches a bird then releases it for one of its young to practise on; all in mid-air. A family unit can contain four, five or six birds and the pleading call of the young makes them easier to spot than they might otherwise be. BRACKEN This large, single-stemmed coarse fern is about to make its dramatic turn from green to brown. Laden with carcinogenic (if eaten) spores, visible on the underside of its leaves, this widespread plant is at the mercy…

WATCH THIS… CLIMBING MT ACONCAGUA Want to be inspired? Follow the Adaptive Grand Slam, a team of disabled adventurers, as they take on the highest peak outside the Himalayas. This impelling 10-minute film showcases their fifth completed expedition out of the nine required for them to become the first disabled team to conquer the seven summits and walk unsupported to the geographic North and South Pole. WATCH IT www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Z4LnuP-W42s BOOK THIS… BOARDMAN TASKER NIGHT, BUXTON Buxton Adventure Festival is set to host a celebration for the lives of Joe Tasker and Peter Boardman, the mountaineering authors who disappeared on the North Ridge of Mt Everest in 1982. Short readings from their award-winning literature will be delivered by Martin Wragg and Steve Dean, while former Boardman Tasker Award for…

WIN THESE SOCKS 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…

GRAND PRIZE > FUJIFILM X-T2 with XF18-55mm lens Features a 24MP X-Trans III sensor and Fujifilm unique film simulation modes for outstanding image quality and 4K movie recording. All in a compact, weather-sealed body, making it the ultimate outdoor photographer’s tool. SECOND PRIZE > FUJIFILM X-T20 with XC16-50mm lens Incorporating many of the features of its bigger brother (above) in a slimmed-down form with a cool vintage look. It’s geared more towards the keen enthusiast than jobbing pro. THIRD PRIZE > FUJIFILM X-A10 with XC16-50mm lens This stunning compact camera features an interchangeable Fujinon lens, along with a 16.3 megapixel sensor, a slide-and-tilt rear screen, WiFi and app control capability and intelligent flash. It also comes with HD video shooting and a host of manual controls.…

Q I’ve heard lots about the Three Peaks Challenge, but what is it? Irene Spall, Kenilworth Trail says The typical Three Peaks Challenge is an attempt to climb the highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon respectively – in the space of 24 hours. It’s often run as an organised charity event, and also regularly tackled by independent groups, at any time of year. The Challenge can raise large amounts of money for charity, and also gives many otherwise non-hillwalkers their first taste However, it’s not without its detractors. Due to the distance between each mountain, it’s regarded by some as a driving challenge as much as anything. Organised charity groups usually have transport provided, while independent groups will have to rope somebody…

CUMBRIAN COAST Much of upland Cumbria is a botanist’s dream – but it’s the oft-overlooked coastline that offers the most surprising diversity, thanks to its calcareous, limestone soils. Look out for heath dog violet, Isle of Man cabbage and coralroot orchid on the sand dunes at Sandscale; the limestone cliffs of the south Cumbrian coast harbour Lancastrian whitebeam, maidenhair fern and the extremely rare spotted cat’s ear. On the sandstone cliffs of St Bees Head you can find the fabulously nautical-sounding scurvygrass, sea campion and sea spleenwort. KEY LOCATIONS Sandscale dunes, St Bees Head, Humphrey Head SNOWDONIA Snowdonia was a magnet for 18th century botanists – the first ‘tourists’ to the area. Cwm Idwal (above) is a wonderland of geology (See July’s issue) and alpine botany. Purple, starry and alpine…

MAIN COMPARTMENT ENTRY The entry to the main compartment is often protected by a buckle lid which may be attached directly to the pack, or it may have webbing buckles that allow it to float and be raised when the main compartment is overstuffed with gear. There are pros and cons of both designs. An entry at the base or front of the main compartment is useful for overnight users to allow separation and easy access of equipment. POCKETS At least one external zipped pocket is useful for guidebooks, maps and GPS receivers, but some people like more and others can tolerate less. Stretch pockets without zips are commonly placed on the front of the rucksack and these are ideal for stowing waterproof jackets between showers. Pockets on the hipbelt…

NORDISK TELEMARK 1 ULW CARBON 770g £550 USED BY wild camping enthusiast and Trail photographer Tom Bailey USED FOR one year This is a one-person tent, the likes of which I’ve never used before. It pitches fast and solidly; when other people have still been tinkering with theirs, this thing is up, tight and ready for whatever the weather can throw at it. The secret? A short carbon pole at each corner! This gives pitching performance like no other. The pegs, on the other hand, are awful! Very light, made of titanium, all very Gucci but, as a consequence, all very bendy. I’ve replaced them with ones I trust and that are actually capable of doing the job. The light, sleek tent bag soon ripped, so now I keep it…

If Trail were going to have a field office, it would probably be in Rosthwaite. The reason? Access to just about every major mountain group in the central and western Lakes. And at the centre of it all, this rather splendid establishment. Right in the throat of Borrowdale, you have everything from the Scafells to Cat Bells accessible from the doorstep – via a scintillating hillwalk, obviously – this is, perhaps, the ultimate base camp. Comprising a swish hotel, a separate block of rooms, an AA award-winning à la carte restauraunt and a proper little pub that serves decent beer and hearty food, the hotel is situated seven miles from Keswick, two miles from the south shore of Derwent Water and a mere mile from what most consider the end…

Distance 11.5km (7 miles) Total ascent 700m Time 5 hours Start/finish Seathwaite Village Hall ( SD228961 ) Nearest town Broughton-in-Furness Terrain Some steep climbs and a very steep, loose descent, but no scrambling; felled forestry and rocky/ boggy areas slow down the river section; wet sections throughout Maps OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL6; OS Landranger (1:50,000) 96; Harvey Superwalker (1:25,000) Lake District West; Harvey British Mountain Map (1:40,000) Lake District Accommodation Seathwaite Lodge holiday cottage or B&B (01229) 716840 www.seathwaitelodge.co.uk; Turner Hall campsite (01229) 716420; High Wallabarrow bunkhouse, camping barn & holiday cottage (01229) 715011 www.wallabarrow.co.uk Public transport Buses to Broughtonin-Furness www.stagecoachbus.com Guidebooks A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells: The Southern Fells by Alfred Wainwright, pb Frances Lincoln Tourist info Broughton TIC (01229) 716115 www.lakedistrict information.com Best pub The…

Distance 15.5km (9½ miles) Total ascent 904m Time 6 hours Start/finish Durisdeer church ( NS894037 ) Nearest town Thornhill Terrain Steep-sided grass and heather-carpeted hills; some occasional boggy bits; a few rough paths and ATV tracks Maps OS Explorer (1:25,000) 329; OS Landranger (1:50,000) 78 Accommodation Thornhill Inn, Thornhill (01848) 330326 www.thornhillinn.co.uk; April to October camping (and statics for hire) at Penpont Caravan Park, Thornhill (01848) 330470 Public transport Bus 102 Edinburgh-Dumfries via Thornhill stops at Durisdeermill on the A702 Guidebooks Walking in the Southern Uplands, by Ronald Turnbull, pb Cicerone Tourist info Thornhill offers all the essential amenities. Visit www.visitthornhill.co.uk Best pub Thornhill Inn, as above GET THIS ROUTE ON YOUR PHONE! LFTO.COM/ TRAILROUTES In association with…

The pretty village of Dufton, tucked below the North Pennines on the eastern side of the Eden Valley, makes a fine base from which to explore high hills, empty moors and spectacular geology. Steep escarpments rise above the distinctive red sandstone farmhouses, and paths and tracks lead up into the wild country which is often called ‘England’s last wilderness’. Cross Fell – the highest point in the Pennines – can be climbed from here and you can easily stride out from Dufton’s tree-lined village green to explore some of the lesser-known summits. Highlights of your stay will include the great gulch of High Cup, the perfect pyramid of Dufton Pike and some fine sections of the Pennine Way. There are memorable views to the Lake District fells but, for once,…

1 BUY A GOOD BIVVY BAG... A bivvy bag is small, light, easy to pack and provides you with a night entirely al fresco. Shopping for one is quite straightforward, just make sure it’s breathable and waterproof. British Army Gore-Tex bivvy bags are reasonably priced and widely available online. Alpkit also do some brilliant bags at an extremely reasonable price, with two sizes available. You’ll also need to consider whether you want one with a hoop (which keeps the material off your face, is less claustrophobic but often heavier) or without (lighter, but can feel a little too like a body bag for comfort). 2 …AND USE IT Now you have your bivvy there’s one word that applies – DEPLOY! This nifty piece of outdoor gear is great for bike-packing…

BOOK YOUR PLACE AT... ...the Ogwen Mountaineering Festival, a new event celebrating life on rock in North Wales. There’ll be free climbing workshops and talks from speakers including Alan Hinkes OBE (above) and Nigel Shepherd, an international Mountain Guide. Weekend tickets are £30 from www.ogwenmountaineeringfestival.co.uk PREPARE FOR A MARATHON Kendal Mountain Festival takes place on 16-19 November this year, showing over 70 awesome outdoor films over three days. Passes are on sale already at www.mountainfest.co.uk SORT YOUR STRIDE George Fisher outdoor shop in Keswick is offering podiatry clinics for foot-weary outdoor folk on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 September. Andrew Stanley from Rebound Clinic will be giving hour-long treatments (payable) until Saturday afternoon, when you’ll be able to nab a free 15-minute consultation. More info at www.georgefisher.co.uk GO SHOPPING! Alpkit,…

As served at … Dog & Gun, Keswick Once a favourite among the herdsmen of Hungary, now simply a favourite among the hungry, this thick and hearty dish has been tweaked for weary and ravenous Lake District hillwalkers. Served over dumplings, new potatoes and sided with a crispy, garlic ciabatta, this is a proper plateful which reflects the inner warmth of this ‘outdoorsy’ pub. Go for the Cumbrian beef or the vegetable option, you’ll be satisfied either way.…

Nobody enjoys wearing a midge net. Aside from the obvious fashion issues, they reduce your vision to such an extent that performing dexterous tasks like operating a camping stove become difficult, and enjoying any kind of view almost impossible. This midge-net-cum-goggle arrangement from Netspex may look daft, and certainly won’t improve your sartorial elegance, but it does allow you to stay bite-free and see what you’re doing. Frankly, we think it’s a work of genius. Priced at £22.50, case £5. Expect to see one on the head of Trail’s photographer Tom Bailey every midge season from now on... www.netspex.co.uk…

I’m getting the hang of traditional navigation, but how can I make my maps easier to handle? I always seem to get in such a kerfuffle! Amelia Bertram, Hastings Trail says Being able to navigate with a map and compass is an essential skill for any would-be wilderness explorer. But those big old map sheets can be hard to get to grips with, and in a strong wind and hefty rain it can become a full-on wrestling match. However, there are steps you can take to make your maps more manageable: Fold and flatten You may need to refold the map to get the area you’re navigating in one easy-to-view frame. This might mean introducing some extra creases into your map, but don’t be afraid to do so – it’ll…

Q Lots of mountains in Britain look like they could be volcanic, but how many of them actually are? Do we have volcanoes in the UK? Did we ever? Erin Tovall, via Facebook Jeremy says Sixty million years ago, chunks of the UK straddled the edges of tectonic plates. These junctions of continental-sized sections of the Earth’s crust are tumultuous places, with sections trying to ride over one another or force each other sideways. Where one plate overrides another (subduction), rock of the lower plate melts to form magma. This rises to the surface where it erupts to form volcanoes. Although Britain is in a relatively stable geological period, some of our best mountains owe their existence to volcanoes. The Lake District and Snowdonia show evidence of gigantic eruptions and…

USE A SUPPORT A solid camera support will help eliminate blurry images caused by camera shake. A lightweight tripod is a useful companion, saving you from having to balance your camera on your pack or a rock. FILTERS Cameras aren‘t as good as eyes at balancing light levels. To faithfully recreate what you see, or just inject drama into a sky, a set of graduated filters can work wonders in improving colour and detail. RAW Most high-end cameras have the option to shoot in ‘RAW’ format. This allows the camera to record maximum detail in each shot, but does rely on digital software (see right) to get the best from it. PHOTOSHOP The equivalent of a darkroom in the computer age, most photos can be improved still further with some…

Q I always use a filter to treat wild water, but where does all the stuff that’s filtered out go? Does it sit there mutating into some sort of super bacteria-virus? Toby O’Keefe, Wigan Trail says Yes and no. Yes, the stuff stays in the filter. That’s how the filtration works – the minging stuff is trapped by, and in, the filter. But, no – there’s no mutating. What does happen is that the filter will gradually become bunged up. At this point, what you do depends on the filter device you have. If it’s disposable, throw it way and purchase a new one. If just the filter component needs to be replaced, then do that. Some filters are designed to be washed and reused. This requires water being forced…

Rue-leaved saxifrage ( Saxifraga tridactylites ): “This is a valley/dale level plant, so accessible at the start of a walk. This one was on a drystone wall.”  Wild cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos): “I found this on the Skiddaw and Blencathra ranges, on wet ground, fell flushes and moorland. The red leaves and threading stems are the plant’s structures.”  Lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica): “About 25mm high, it’s a wet, acid-ground plant found on moors and lower fells. This one was in the Carrock Fell area, Northern Fells.”  Reindeer lichen (Cladonia portentosa): “This branching, coral-like structured specimen was found at altitude, on Blencathra.”  Robin’s pin cushion (Diplolepis rosae.) “This is a growth on a dog rose stem called a gall. It’s caused by a reaction to a tiny gall wasp larvae. This…

FOUND Kinder Scout, Peak District. Chris Delinikatis was the first to find a Marmot – he named him Eric! FOUND Derwent Water, Lake District. Not content with her fiancé having a marmot, Hannah Butler joined Chris in becoming a Marmot owner, calling him: Hank Marvin! Rumours are circulating on the Facebook Trail Everest Anywhere group that their baby on the way could be named after Marv…! Watch this space! FOUND Llyn y Fan Fach, Brecon Beacons. Well done to Harry Hughes who found his own marmot, now known as Dave! FOUND Alport Castles, Peak District. Marsha Halewood of Sheffield is now the proud owner of Alport Al. • Find your own Marmot Marv by signing up to #EverestAnywhere to access the clues – www.livefortheoutdoors.com/ everestanywhere…

All Trail tests are completely unbiased and independent. As Trail‘s Technical Editor, GT has been testing our outdoor equipment for over 25 years, and is proud to be a bit of a geek when it comes to kit. GT's reviews have earned him recognition as one of the most influential people in the outdoor industry. He has collaborated with the Leeds University Performance Clothing Research Group; worked as an outdoor instructor and in outdoor retail; and has authored books on scrambles and a backpacking guide to the Lake District. GT’s love of hillwalking and backpacking has taken him all over the world, but the Lake District is his passion.…

HOODS The hood should fit your head snugly so it does not blow off, but it should also move with your head so you can see where you are going. The hood peak may become bent when the jacket is stashed in a rucksack, so look for a wired peak that can be easily reshaped to allow good vision. Many models featured here are also available in non-hooded versions with a small price reduction. MATERIAL Soft shell jackets are typically designed to be more water-and wind-resistant than fleece, while being more comfortable and breathable than waterproof ‘hard’ shells jackets. Some materials have a wind- and water-resistant membrane sandwiched between the inner and outer layers of the fabric, to improve wind and water resistance, but this will be less breathable than…

SALOMON XA PRO 3D ULTRA 2 GTX TRAIL RUNNING/HIKING SHOE £115 I used to only wear slipper-thin fell running shoes before I had a near-fatal rock-climbing fall a few years back. Now, with a fused left ankle, I need more cushioning and support in my trainers, and off-road I have found nothing to compare to Salomon. They have an array of different styles, and change their colours by the month. If I think conditions will be soggy, I go for the XA Pro 3D with Gore-Tex. I hacked the soles off this particular pair so I could fit them into my kayak when I was doing the Devizes to Westminster canoe race. Check out Steve's tweets @SteveBackshall…

Coed y Brenin Forest Park. If you love mountains, like bikes and seek excitement, you can’t come to this part of Wales and not have a blast around some of its best mountain bike trails. Home to the UK’s first mountain bike trail centre, Coed y Brenin is laced with flowing tree-lined runs for all abilities – from wide, family-friendly trails to demandingly technical, black-graded single track. If you want to practise your bike-handling or get an idea of the various levels of difficulty before getting properly stuck in, you can test your ability in the skills area. Or, if you prefer to stick to two feet, there’s plenty of forest walking, and even dedicated running trails. Facilities include an ace little café, bike hire, showers and toilets.…

Distance 10.5km (6½ miles) Total ascent 300m Time 4 hours Start/finish Car park at Dennis Knoll ( SK227843 ) Nearest town Sheffield Terrain Mostly good paths and tracks that can be wet and muddy in places; some steep and rough ascents and descents and one or two confusing areas where careful navigation is required; best avoided in mist or bad weather; there is a stretch of road walking with some steep ups and downs; dogs are not allowed on Bamford Moor Maps OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL1; Harvey Superwalker (1:25,000) Peak District Central. Accommodation The Plough Inn, Hathersage (01433) 650319 www.theploughinnhathersage.co.uk; Laneside Caravan Park (01433) 620215 www.lanesidecaravanpark.co.uk Public transport Nothing near the start Tourist info Castleton National Park Visitor Centre (01629) 816572 Best pub The Yorkshire Bridge Inn, Bamford (01433) 651361…

Distance 10.7km (6¾ miles) Total ascent 1200m Time 6 hours Start/finish Seathwaite ( NY235121 ) Nearest town Keswick Terrain Good paths from Seathwaite to Great Gable; narrow, faint tracks over rocky ground on the Gable Girdle; tricky scrambling (exposed in parts) around the Great Napes; route finding would be very difficult in poor visibility Maps OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL4; OS Landranger (1:50,000) 90; Harvey Superwalker (1:25,000) Lake District West Accommodation Camping, yurts and camping barns at Seathwaite Farm (01768) 777394; ample accommodation also available in Borrowdale valley and Keswick Public transport From Keswick, take bus 78 (March-October only) to Seatoller and walk to Seathwaite – key ‘bus service’ in the search box at www.keswick.org Guidebooks A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells: The Western Fells by Alfred Wainwright, pb…

Rannoch Moor. Right in the middle of the Highlands, it’s 15 miles of nothing much at all. Peat bog, heather and a scatter of granite boulders. The Glencoe Macdonalds came through this way – once they were in among the peat pools, there was no point chasing after them and the cows they stole off you. Seven railway surveyors with umbrellas tried to cross in January 1889 and almost lost their lives. Today, though, there’s a way across that misses all that. No sinking waist deep in the peat; no wandering bewildered among swampy pools. You can enjoy the cold whispering of the wind, the cries of geese on moorland lochans and the bleak, ochre bones of the peat-preserved pines from a series of firm-footed trackways (with a short soggier…

1 NN294474 From Meall Beag summit descend rather steeply west then, as the slope eases, bend left (south-west). The going gets rough as the moorland levels. Pass along the north edge of a plantation, then on soggy ground between the plantation and the south end of Lochan Mhic Pheadair Ruaidh (the lochan of the son of redheaded Peter). Rejoin the West Highland Way just beyond the loch. 2 NN281471 Turn north along the wide gravel path. After 1.3km it crosses Ba Bridge, with birch trees marking the stream course. In another 1km a side path leads to the ruin of Ba Cottage, and the main path ahead climbs gently, giving fine views back along its course. At the high point of the path, a shapely cairn can be seen 50m…

“Enjoy the cold whispering of the wind, the cries of geese on the moorland lochans...” “ he real facts are hidden within the interior; it is a wilderness as wild as it comes in Britain.” The Southern Uplands is a rather dismissive name for the mountain range that straddles Scotland’s border with England. The title sort of suggests mere moors and hillocks, and this view is reinforced if all you ever do is scoot past on the A74. The wide-open nature and sheer amount of landmass the peaks cover skews perspective and makes the range look tame because they are so spread out. This gentler visual profile leads you to believe that walking among them would be easy, but nothing could be further from the truth! The real…

Chris Hunter takes the gold prize of £300 of LOWE ALPINE vouchers with his glorious sunset shot. Four silver runners-up each win an Ascent Superlight 30 rucksack worth £100, and five bronze winners each pick up a Klettersack 30 worth £80. LOWE ALPINE has been making outdoor gear to inspire people to seek out more adventure in the mountains since 1967. From cool vintage daypacks based around the brand’s heritage to the latest technical mountain rucksacks, LOWE ALPINE rucksacks are designed to be the perfect companion for your memorable moments.…