Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2018 i Trail

Jake Kendall-Ashton sets out on a Lakeland quest to follow the 19th century footsteps of Wordsworth on Scafell Pike p26 Twitter @KendallMintJake Sarah Ryan crosses from Shropshire to Powys and discovers a clutch of hills straddling the England-Wales border, each with a fascinating history p38 Ben Weeks has some good old-fashioned fun getting soaked on a Lakes ghyll scrambling adventure p46 Twitter @GingerheadBen Simon Ingram heads to Saddleworth Moor after its summer of devastation; the latest shadow on a place with an already dark past p70 Twitter @MrSimonIngram…

Best-selling author Robert Macfarlane (right) is to be a judge for the finale of Trail’s hugely successful writing competition, ‘The Day A Mountain Changed My Life’. Since the April 2018 issue, a single winner from hundreds of entries has been chosen every month for the best 400-word mountain anecdote. We have had life-changing tales of mountain liberation, stories of hill-inspired career changes, and stark accounts of mountain accidents, with each monthly winning entry claiming a year’s membership to the John Muir Trust and £100 to spend on Mountain Equipment kit. We are now two-thirds of the way through the year-long competition, and just four rounds remain before an overall winner is selected by a panel of esteemed judges, including Macfarlane. The grand prize for the author of the best story…

As served at… Old Ford Inn, Llanhamlach, S. Wales “After a day’s walking in the Black Mountains I was hankering after a calorific dessert. I scanned the menu for the word ‘chocolate’ and looked no further once I’d spied this. It arrived with two spoons so I could share, not so I could devour it double-quick, and it didn’t last for long! Drowned in chocolate (and caramel) sauce, the waffle was topped with a tennis ball-sized scoop of vanilla ice cream and chocolate powder. My only complaint? I didn’t order two…”…

Hemp and organic cotton are not new, and neither is their use in bags and packs. As the push to create products that minimise their demands on Earth’s precious resources continues, we are likely to see these materials used more often. But in addition to hemp and cotton, a new range of lifestyle bags from Vaude also features another eco development – bio zips and buckles. These components are constructed from plastic made using 62% castor oil for a more sustainable product. We hope to see this innovation in more technical packs soon. www.vaude.com…

Q Why are footpaths on OS Explorer maps sometimes different colours? I’ve seen green, orange and black dashed lines – please could you tell me what the difference is please? David Hickey, via email Paul says If in doubt, always refer to the legend key in your paper map for an explanation of the map features, especially as they can vary slightly from map to map. The table below outlines the main pathway features shown on OS Explorer and Landranger maps.…

Q What’s the best way to store my sleeping bag to keep it mint? Max Hunt, via email Trail says Quality sleeping bags don’t come cheap, and as one of the most important bits of gear you’ll take on any camping adventure it’s crucial to look after them. How you store your sleeping bag between uses has a major bearing on how long it will last. The vital insulation inside sleeping bags can become damaged if the bag remains tightly packed inside a compression stuff sack for months on end. The loft and insulation fibres need to breathe, so instead roll out your sleeping bag and lay it on the floor under your bed (or somewhere else out of harm’s way) at home. Alternatively, let the bag hang in a…

HOW TO ENTER... GO TO www.livefortheoutdoors.com/mountainphoto18 to upload and submit up to three of your best UK mountain images. Trail, in partnership with Fujifilm, has £3000 worth of camera equipment to give away for the top three images. And with entries welcomed from phone snaps to carefully composed DSLR images, no matter your method of capture all UK hill and mountain-scape photos have a chance! The competition closes on 21 October 2018, and full T&Cs are available on the website. WIN THESE PRIZES…

A catalyst for change Kevin Hogarth says: “I’d toyed with the idea of becoming a Mountain Leader on and off over the past decade or so, having spent much of my spare time in the great outdoors. This past year a combination of achieving one of my life goals (summiting Mont Blanc) and taking on the #Everest Anywhere challenge has prompted me to go for it. Next week I’m booked on an ML course at Glenmore Lodge!” Strength and discovery “Last year I struggled up one Everest. This year I set myself a target of two, but have just completed my third and am on my way to my fourth,” says Rebecca McCreadie. “Just in the last four weeks, my #EverestAnywhere challenge has seen me stand on 23 summits, walk…

The norms of mountaineering boot design were kicked off the cliff edge in 2017 when Scarpa released the Ribelle Mountain Tech OD. This stiff 4-season, B2-rated boot featured a striking design with an internal Sock-Fit integrated gaiter for fast and lightweight alpine use. Having shaken up the market, Scarpa has now released the Ribelle Lite, with a slightly more conventional ankle cuff and a softer sole flex but still sporting many of the benefits of its Ribelle stablemate. You cannot talk about this boot without first talking about the style, as this is no ordinary blue, grey or brown mountain boot. This is a stunning orange boot that will turn heads on the hill. The striking upper is made from synthetic materials with an impressively high tech sounding ‘Exoskeleton, TPU…

…LOW COST & A COMFORTABLE LINING? Regatta Chandler/Amelie £50 • Men’s S-XXL plus 3 leg lengths (Chandler) • Women’s S-XL plus 3 leg lengths (Amelie) • Weight 414g (men’s L) While not the the lightest option, these trousers do have a mesh and taffeta lining for more comfort, which will ensure they feel less clammy. They have calf-length zips, no ankle cuff adjustment and the fit is generally a little looser than others. 68% …LOW COST, STRETCHY & LIGHTWEIGHT? Alpkit Parallax £68 • Men’s S-XXL • Women’s 8-16 • Weight 195g (men’s L) Made from a 2.5-layer fabric with stretch, these trousers are also very lightweight and well-priced. The fit is slightly neater than others but the stretch allows reasonable freedom of movement. The side zips are shorter than others…

SEVYLOR ADVENTURE PLUS KAYAK £350 USED BY paddle-powered news and features writer Ben Weeks (with assistance from free-floating photographer Tom Bailey) USED FOR 3 years This isn’t my canoe. It’s the Trail team canoe, but it just happens that I’ve used it most. I like canoeing. I have my own – a solid thing that requires a roof rack, ratchet straps and clever knots to transport. That’s where the Sevylor comes in handy. It’s far more portable should I want to traverse the length of Wastwater in the Lake District, or paddle out to an isolated Torridonian island. Deflated, it packs into a bag which will fit in a car boot, along with the paddles and foot pump. Ah, how I’ve come to loathe that foot pump. The Sevylor takes…

pub grub, the evening meals flirt with fine dining. Book a special offer stay and you’ll also be treated to afternoon tea with a glass of prosecco. The service is also fantastic, more similar to a top-end hotel than a typical inn, and you can find great walking routes straight from the front door. If you want a special stay in the Lake District, you need look no further. Cost Standard double room bed and breakfast from £125 per night. Check the website for great dinner, bed and breakfast offers Where Barngates NY350012 Nearest town Ambleside Bedrooms 13 Dogs Only in the bar Wi-Fi Yes Mobile reception Yes Food Yes – afternoon and evening menus bursting with flavour, and hearty breakfasts to prepare you for a day on the hills…

Dan Bailey Author of Scotland’s Mountain Ridges and a huge fan of big routes. Chiz Dakin Award-winning writer, photographer and film-maker. Avid traveller. Roger Butler Roger likes to tick off remote Hebridean islands as well as mountains. James Forrest Former newspaper journalist turned adventure travel writer. Tom Hutton Our Wales guru – his knowledge of Cymru's peaks is unsurpassed. Ronald Turnbull Creator of a whopping 30 guidebooks and 18 unique coast-to-coasts. Jen & Sim Benson Writers of adventure guides, and passionate about our wild places. Martin Sweeny Professional mountain leader and outdoor writer. 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 use them and navigate in winter, and you…

Distance 16.5km (10¼ miles) Total ascent 1500m Time 8 hours Start/finish North face car park near Torlundy ( NN144763) Nearest town Fort William Terrain A clear path leads to a rough ascent with minimal traces of trail, leading up to Carn Beag Dearg. From here, route-finding along the ridge up to Carn Mor Dearg is straightforward. The CMD Arête itself is a rocky and very exposed ridge, just nudging a Grade 1 scramble at times. Steep final slog onto Ben Nevis. In poor visibility the descent from Ben Nevis needs pinpoint navigation Maps OS Explorer (1:25,000) 392, OS Landranger (1:50,000) 41, Harvey British Mountain Map (1:40,000) Ben Nevis and Glen Coe Accommodation Ben Nevis Inn bunkhouse, 01397 701227 Glen Nevis YHA, 0870 004 1120 Public transport Train to Fort William,…

21.5 km/ 13¼ miles 9 hours Skiddaw almost tumbles into the streets of Keswick, and so it’s not surprising that many head straight out of town to climb its graceful but muscular slopes. The classic ‘tourist path’ ascends over dumpy Latrigg before rising steeply to Little Man and then swinging north to the high, stony summit. This is a popular route, but a longer and more satisfying walk approaches the mountain from its back door. Damp woodland leads the way to the great gulch of Glenderaterra Beck, which cuts between Blencathra and Lonsdale Fell and leads north towards a huge bowl of moorland and the source of the River Caldew. This empty quarter is often referred to as the ‘Back o’Skiddaw’ and its remote hostel, half sheltered by a wind-blown…

Distance 16.6km (10¼ miles) Total ascent 1751m Time 8½ hours Start/finish Seathwaite ( NY235121) Nearest town Keswick Terrain Generally good fell paths for most of the walk, but sections of very steep and rough scrambling over loose scree on the Lord’s Rake and Foxes Tarn sections Maps OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL4 and OL6, 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 Guidebooks A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells: Book Four, The Southern Fells by Alfred Wainwright, pb Frances Lincoln Tourist info Keswick Information Centre, 0845 901 0845 Best pub The Langstrath Country Inn, Stonethwaite, 017687…

21.8 km/ 13½ miles 8 hours We all of us lose our tempers sometimes. But what exactly is it that makes the 882m high point of the Pennines into the pissed-off peak? It could be the huge areas of flatness, so very different from Catstye Cam or Cat Bells, that’s made this into the somewhat grumpy – ‘cross’ – summit. It could be the gently nodding bog cotton. It could be the big beige boulderfields of its lime and gritstone rocks. It could be the scabby patches left by the old lead mines. It could even be the pale pustule of the radar dome despoiling Great Dun Fell. Or maybe what makes this into the ‘miffed mountain’ is the annoying twitter of the skylarks, or the plovers beeping like the…

Pen y Fan draws the crowds in the Brecon Beacons, but it’s certainly not the only mountain worth a visit. An extended horseshoe route from Blaen y Glyn to the south also takes in the best of the surrounding tops, with glorious views all around. A lesser-trodden trail winds through Talybont Forest to Waun Rydd, the easternmost top of the Brecon Beacons proper. A well-tended cairn marks the 1942 crash site of a Wellington bomber. The five Canadian crewmen lost their lives, and some wreckage remains to this day. The final route also heads out from Blaen y Glyn, but southwards across empty moorland to the disused Hendre and Blaen Dyffryn limestone quarries and onwards to the Chartist Cave. The quarries recall the area’s industrial past, while the cave was…

Distance 16.5km (10¼ miles) Total ascent 760m Time 6 hours Start/finish Talybonton-Usk, SO114227 Terrain Well-laid forest tracks followed by fairly distinct tracks over open moorland. Some steep climbs. Maps Most of the route is on OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL12 or Harvey Superwalker (1:25,000) Brecon Beacons West, but the beginning and end of the route creep on to the next map sheets: OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL13 or Harvey Superwalker (1:25,000) Brecon Beacons East GET THIS ROUTE ON YOUR PHONE! LFTO.COM/TRAILROUTES In association with…

Distance 17.5km (10¾ miles) Total ascent 1570m Time 7½ hours Start Wasdale Head ( NY187085) Nearest town Gosforth Terrain Valley tracks, rough packhorse track, steep side valley, rocky zigzags, high col, narrow traverse path, scree, exposed path, steep mountain path, stony summit plateau, rounded ridges, exposed col, narrow crests, steep ridge, and lakeside road Maps OS Landranger (1:50,000) 89, OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL4 & OL6, Harvey British Mountain Map (1:40,000) Lake District, Harvey Superwalker (1:25,000) Lake District West Accommodation Wasdale Hall Youth Hostel, 0345 371 9350, www.yha.org.ukNational Trust Campsite Wasdale Head, 01946 726220, www.nationaltrust.org.uk Wadsale Head Inn rooms and campsite, 019467 26229, www.wasdale.com Tourist info www.golakes.co.uk Transport Train to Seascale or to Dalegarth (Eskdale) via the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, 08457 484950. No buses to Wasdale Head. Guidebooks…

While I am aware that telling you guys this is like trying to tell an astronaut that space is a pretty funky place, looking at the stories from our #EverestAnywhere challengers on page 68 doesn’t half make you realise that the outdoors is an incredible healer. These are stories of people whose lives have been changed – and I don’t mean, ‘oh my god, this new phone/box set streaming service/coffee blend has changed my life’, I mean properly ‘I wouldn’t be here doing this now with a smile on my face’ changed my life. These guys took our #EverestAnywhere challenge and I think it’s safe to say everyone on our pages this month has smashed our expectations for what we hoped this challenge would do – as well as nailing…

Rebekah Smith “For camping the Glen Nevis site is great – excellent facilities, loads of space and good views.” Malcolm Marrs “Grog and Gruel is the best pub in Fort Bill for food and drink. A pint of Cairngorm Lager is the way forward!” Tom Clague “Corran Bunkhouse is an amazing place to stay on the banks of the Loch, with great facilities.” James Anstee “The Ben Nevis Inn & Bunkhouse has good basic accommodation, a great restaurant and is a great place to start walking from!” Fiona Thornley “Crannog seafood restaurant is wonderful, while Steall Falls is a superb walk in Glen Nevis.” Andy Rushworth “Go to eat at the Glen Nevis restaurant – I loved the…

The Ultimate soft shell has been around a while, and during that time has become a firm favourite of several members of the Trail gear review team. This year sees an update and relaunch of the jacket, and from what we’ve seen, the new Ultimate deserves to be even more popular than its predecessor. Using Gore Windstopper fabric, the Ultimate is tough, windproof and, thanks to the addition of a durable water-repellent coating, not phased by a bit of the wet stuff. Importantly, though, it’s also incredibly comfortable, being more breathable and less restrictive than a typical hard shell jacket. Because of this, it can be paired with insulated layers for more warmth in winter, worn under a hard shell in really wet spring or autumn weather, or just pulled…

BOOK UP… KENDAL MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL For almost 40 years the Lake District town of Kendal has drawn thousands of outdoor adrenaline addicts for its annual mountain festival, and it’s back this year from 15-18 November. With as many as 100 adventure film screenings, many of them premieres, inspirational speakers and literature events, it’s an awesome social event not to be missed! Tickets went on sale in August and you can sign up to a newsletter to stay informed and updated. SIGN UP AT www.mountainfest.co.uk DISCOVER… NEW WORDSWORTH EXHIBITION As you will read on page 26, this month marks 200 years since Dorothy Wordsworth, sister of writer William, made a famed ascent of Scafell Pike. And the Wordsworth Trust has now opened an exhibition about Dorothy’s daring venture at the…

One of my favourite unattributed quotes is ‘Life is not made up of the number of breaths we take but the number of moments that take our breath away’. For me this is never truer, literally and emotionally, than in a mountainous landscape. From the breathless, sweaty pull up a mountainside, to that moment when you stop, turn around and take in the view. Breathless and breath-taking. It still surprises me that there are people who imagine that walking up a steep hill is pointless. My memorable day in the mountains didn’t have an auspicious start because of this. I spent two hours persuading, cajoling, and at certain points risking ruining a friendship, coaxing a friend who I had persuaded to join me on a walk during a holiday on…

Aside from the natural beauty of flowing water cascading over rocks in a fury of foam and spray, believe it or not there’s a scientific reason why waterfalls and rivers make us feel good: negative ions. Nature creates these odourless, tasteless, and invisible mood-lifters when air molecules break apart due to sunlight, radiation, and moving air and water. The air circulating around a mountain waterfall is believed (the science is a little fuzzy) to contain tens of thousands of negative ions. We inhale these and when they reach our bloodstream they are said (like I said, slightly fuzzy) to produce biochemical reactions that can help to alleviate depression, relieve stress and boost energy.…

Q What is the safest technique for walking on scree? Stuart Dixon, Aberdeen Jeremy says Scree generally accumulates at a 32° angle, with the upper slopes tending to be the freshest and thus the most unstable. It can be frustrating and time-consuming moving over scree, but often you’ll find established paths on a scree slope, so stick to these rather than trying to forge an alternate line. Stonefall, either dislodged naturally or by other parties, is the main problem when ascending or descending scree. The key to avoiding being caught up in it is to be aware of your surroundings and weigh up any potential risks. Understanding the potential trajectory that stones might take, and limiting the amount of time you spend in fall zones, like confined gullies or below…

James Forrest James has smashed out 43,951 metres of ascent so far this year which is nearing five Everests! “I’ve absolutely loved my #EverestAnywhere challenge so far this year,” says James. “Seeing my total creep up to almost five Everests has been a big motivator. The incredible weather we’ve been having has helped too. I’ve been out exploring the Lakeland fells on my doorstep every weekend, and at least a few evenings every week. Spending time outdoors in the mountains has always helped me to relax and unwind, forget about the stresses of everyday life, and put a big smile on my face. I can’t wait to see how far I get in the rest of 2018.” Mary-Ann Ochota Mary-Ann pledged to climb the height of Everest during her nine-months…

With its combination of new standards of construction, design and performance, the Scarpa Ribelle Lite OD marks a step-change in mountain footwear that will be welcomed by anyone in search of snowy walks or rock scrambles to the tops. • Upper Tech Fabric and Microtech (synthetic), Outdry waterproof lining • Sole Vibram Pentax Precision III • Men’s 41-48 • Women’s 37-42 • Crampon compatibility C2 • Weight 1548g (size 46 pair) Features ★★★★ Fit ★★★★★ Comfort ★★★★★ In use ★★★★★ Value for money ★★★ OVERALL SCORE 88%…

WAISTBAND This area is commonly elasticated for extra comfort. A drawcord allows extra control of fit, while Velcro tabs, press studs or belt loops allow further enhancement of fit. The ability to attach braces is ideal for scrambling or mountaineering. LEG ZIPS The longer the zip, the easier it is to put on overtrousers while still wearing boots, or even crampons. This is also an area that can easily leak, particularly at the knees when the zip flexes. Water-resistant zips may keep some water out, but as they may still leak they are often fitted with an internal flap that is designed to channel away any water that enters this area. External storm flaps are ideal, but they are heavy and bulky. SCUFF PATCH The area on the inside of…

You want good heat retention at a low price... Vango Vacuum Flask 750ml £10 Apart from the great price, this well-proven flask also gets an easy-pouring screw stopper and the cup has a plastic coating over the lip so you don’t burn your mouth. At 477g others are lighter and some allow you to drink directly from the bottle more easily, but it’s hard to justify paying more. Also in 350ml, 500ml and 1000ml versions. Temperature test: 0hr 90°C, 3hrs 78.8°C, 6hrs 70.3°C, 9hrs 63.6°C www.vango.co.uk You want a lightweight, durable, insulated drinks bottle... Hydro Flask Standard Mouth 21oz £30 This insulated bottle (rather than the common insulated flask with a cup) is super easy to use as it has no cup to fumble with, and comes in a huge…

Having climbed up Ben Nevis, you may well be in need of some less demanding activities to make a weekend of your Ben Nevis adventure. Cut out some of the climbing with Britain’s only mountain gondola up nearby Aonach Mor. You can access new areas in a 15-20 minute ride, plus dine at 650m at the top station’s restaurant and bar, the Snowgoose, or the Pinemarten café at the base station. One advantage of also being at the UK’s biggest mountain tourist attraction is that the Nevis Mountain Resort also offers loads of other activities including paragliding, tree-top adventures, mountain biking and snow sports in winter. www.nevisrange.co.uk…

Trail has partnered with Ordnance Survey's OS Maps to bring you the ultimate interactive routes experience. Subscribers to Trail get free access to OS Maps, where you can view and print 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 OS maps at no extra cost, plan your own walks and view this month's routes online. In addition, the free OS Maps navigation app for smartphones and tablets turns this online tool into a powerful navigation aid. Subscribers can upload their own routes, download the routes from the magazine and browse more than 1000 more from previous issues. See page 44 for details of how to subscribe, or visit www.LFTO.com/routes (*Sorry, Walks of a Lifetime is not available.)…

14.5 km/ 9 miles 4½ hours Were it not for the overshadowing presence of Helvellyn, connected to Catstye Cam by the narrow scrambly ridge of Swirral Edge, Catstye Cam would be ‘one of the finest peaks in Lakeland’ (Wainwright). Its almost perfectly pyramidal shape, with an almost impregnable and little-visited north face, towers above Keppel Cove and offers a fantastic vista when approaching from Glenridding. And despite the ridgeline connection to Helvellyn, Catstye Cam still has a prominence. The approach from Glenridding up the Red Tarn path offers little difficulty, other than a short section of open pathless moorland to the start of the path to the summit of Catstye Cam from the main tarn path. Swirral Edge, however, requires a head for heights and is a known winter accident…

Distance 21.5km (13¼ miles) Total ascent 1310m Time 9 hours Start/finish bridge over the River Greta ( NY268234) Nearest town Keswick Terrain Mountain paths, plus tracks and quiet lanes Maps OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL4, OS Landranger (1:50,000) 90, Accommodation Keswick YHA is near the start of the walk, 0345 3719746 Skiddaw House Hostel could also be used as a base to explore the area, 07747 174293 Public transport Nearest railway station Penrith, from where buses X4 and X5 provide good connections to Keswick, www.stagecoachbus.com Guidebook The Northern Fells by A Wainwright, pb Frances Lincoln Information Keswick Information Centre, 0845 901 0845 Best pub The Pheasant Inn, near the end of the walk, 017687 72219 GET THIS ROUTE ON YOUR PHONE! LFTO.COM/TRAILROUTES In association with…

17 km/ 10½ miles 7½ hours Carnedd Llewelyn and Carnedd Dafydd both rise well above the 1000m contour line and boast the highest ground in the Carneddau massif. Llewelyn is often described as the second highest mountain in Wales, but this only really stacks up if Carnedd Ugain (Snowdon’s nearest neighbour) is discounted due to the modest reascent from Bwlch Glas and the highest peak. They are both impressive, bulky mountains, very different in character to the nearby Glyderau and Snowdon ranges, hiding their drama in deeply cloven cwms and craggy cirques rather than pinnacled ridges and shapely summits. This walk takes in both summits – it would be a shame to separate them for the modest descent and reascent required – and loops around their two impressive western valleys:…

Distance 21.8km (13½ miles) Total ascent 900m Time 8 hours Start/finish Milburn village ( NY656294) Nearest town Appleby-in-Westmorland Terrain Tracks, hill paths, some pathless fields and moor at start, pathless grass slope descent Maps OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL31, OS Landranger (1:50,000) 91 Accommodation YHA Dufton (March-October), 0345 371 9734 Public transport Fellrunner bus 138 from Penrith on Tuesdays (timetables at www.cumbria.gov.uk), 0871 200 2233, www.traveline.info Tourist info Appleby TIC, 017683 51177, www.visiteden.co.uk GET THIS ROUTE ON YOUR PHONE! LFTO.COM/TRAILROUTES In association with…

The high plateau and towering cliffs of Ben Alder are of a truly awesome magnitude. It and its neighbours would not look out of place among the vastness of north Norway or the great mountains of British Columbia. This scale is not confined to the summits either, as the attendant glens are huge and for the most part devoid of humans or habitation. Often regarded as one of Scotland’s most remote Munros, just getting to the base of Ben Alder is a day’s work in itself – so those who come this way mostly do it with an overnight stay. Fittingly, Ben Alder is also furnished with two grand arêtes (the Short and Long Leachas), both of which make perfect ways to get to the summit. Both Grade 1 scrambles,…

Do you know a friend who could benefit from some quality time spent outdoors but who always has an excuse to wriggle out of it? Well, make sure Sunday 30 September is inked into their diary and get them signed up for Ordnance Survey’s first National GetOutside Day! The initiative by OS aims to get one million people from across the UK venturing outdoors on the last Sunday of the month, by getting involved with a range of fun activities. Firstly, you can sign up to one of six national guided walks, in partnership with HF Holidays. Led by celebrities including Ben Fogle, Kenton Cool, Mel Nicholls and Sean Conway, three of these are in the Peak District, with three more routes in Shropshire. Wherever you’re based in the UK,…

CLUBMOSS A year or two ago, up by Stickle Tarn, I bumped into two guys searching off-path for something. Being the nosey sod I am, I went over to chat to them. They were looking for clubmoss. Two to four inches in height, these tufted plants look like tiny conifers on the ground. The pair went on to tell me how rare it is in the rest of the world – we have lots of it in the UK. I said “Yes, but we have no trees like you do!”. They had come from Belgium to see this moss, however, and were insistent that clubmoss was more impressive and important than any tree! ASPEN Shimmering when fully leaved, due to a ‘hinge’ between the stem and the leaf, aspen has…

Send us your 400 words on ‘The Day A Mountain Changed My Life’ and every month we will publish the best. Your story could be one of inspiration, revelation, an epic adventure, or a near-miss! Every published entry will receive a year’s membership to the John Muir Trust (the charity that manages mountains including Helvellyn and Ben Nevis), plus £100 credit to redeem on Mountain Equipment clothing. The author of the best story of the year will win the grand prize of a day of tailored adventure on a John Muir Trust-managed mountain with a Mountain Equipment expert guide, some Mountain Equipment kit and the opportunity to write a full-length feature article for Trail.…

Born on 7 April 1770 in Cockermouth in the Lake District, William Wordsworth was a pre-eminent British poet who helped found the Romantic movement in English literature. Alongside Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey, Wordsworth was a major figure in the group known as the Lakes Poets. The trio refused to conform to the typical convention of poetry and were considered responsible for inspiring a movement of tourism and rich interest in the Lake District. Having spent much of his life living in the Lakes, being inspired by the beauty of the landscape, William authored the hugely influential A Guide through the District of the Lakes in 1810. In his later years, Wordsworth was made England’s poet laureate. William and his sister, Dorothy, lived together for much of their adult…

Q On my Swiss Army knife I use in the hills, there is a small, thin blade with a hole in it. Does it have a specific use? Tom Gould, via email Trail says This is the punch or reamer, and it is designed for piercing holes in soft materials such as leather, canvas or nylon, or carving holes into harder materials like wood. Formally known as an awl, typically one side of the reamer will have a sharpened edge that can be used to enlarge a hole by twisting the tool at the edges of an opening. Some reamers possess a tiny hole, which enables the blade to be used as a needle to thread through penetrable materials, to repair boots or clothing, for instance.…

Q I sometimes get frustrated that my camera doesn’t capture the amazing mountain scenery I’m seeing with my eyes. How can I improve my results? James Hitchcroft, Braintree Mark says When leading photography workshops, I always pose the following question to participants: ‘What would you like to achieve?’. The most common responses are, ‘a better understanding of my camera’ and ‘to accurately capture what’s in front of me, as I’m often disappointed with my results’. The key thing to remember is that the camera you’ve shelled out on may have an excellent spec, and might appear to be an all-singing, all-dancing piece of kit, but in many circumstances – and especially for landscape photography – the device will need some help from its user. So, if you’re looking to capture…

Like the loch, it is named after Saint Maelrubha, an Irish monk who founded the abbey at Applecross and, it is believed, lived in a hermitage on the island in the 8th century. Isle Maree contains stands of ancient oak, holly and other trees not found on Loch Maree’s other islands. It has a stone-walled graveyard within its wooded interior. The last burial there was in 1925 when the island became the final resting place of Alexander Robertson, the owner of the Loch Maree Hotel on the loch’s southern shore who killed himself after eight of his guests died as a result of eating contaminated duck pâté from the hotel’s kitchen. Two graves are said to be those of the Viking Prince Olaf and his princess. Legend has it that…

ALPKIT LEDGE £60 If you’re not familiar with Alpkit by now, you should be, as it makes great stuff for exploring the outdoors and sells it directly to users at a great price. Its new range of rucksacks, and specifically the Ledge, is a prime example. All the features and performance you want from a general mountain daypack are here – a drawcord closure, an extendable top lid with zipped pockets on the inside and outside, stowable loops for your ice axes or trekking poles, a DWR coating for weather protection, pockets on the hip fins, external webbing ladders, buckled compression straps, a hydration sleeve, an internal stiffener in the back support, venting channels for airflow, load lifting adjustors on the shoulder straps, a re-positionable sternum strap, Alpkit’s three-year Alpine…

Sprayway Santiago / Atlanta Rainpant £40 • Material 2-layer Hydrodry with taffeta lining • Men’s XS-XXXL (Santiago) • Women’s 8-20 (Atlanta) • Weight 367g (men’s L) IT'S GOOD This is a great price for a pair of overtrousers. They are made from a 2-layer fabric with a loose lining for comfort, so even though this is not the most breathable of fabrics, you don’t get clammy as the lining keeps any condensation away from your underclothes. You also get a huge size range, so these should fit lots of people. To ease fitting you get knee-length zips which are long enough to just about get these over boots. A Velcro tab at the calf allows some control of the leg shape, so they are less baggy than some. The waist…

To test how well each flask retained heat, we firstly primed each flask for 5 minutes with boiling water. We then filled each flask with freshly boiled water. We allowed some initial cooling to take place for a minute or two until each flask contained water at 90°C. We then fitted the screw tops and cups, if provided, and re-opened the flasks after three-, six- and nine-hour intervals. During the test the ambient air temperature was 18°C and there was no wind. The flasks were rested on a table and not insulated by clothing in a rucksack, as this could create a wide variation in performance.…

Occupying a crossroad in Barnsgate, just three miles south-west of Ambleside, The Drunken Duck is encircled by forests and fells, thus affording sumptuous Lakeland views from every guest room. Formerly a farmhouse, the Duck has been a public house for more than three centuries and its character shines through in the quirky décor – a splendid blend of country and contemporary. The rooms are luxurious and beautifully finished with spacious en-suites. The heart and soul of the Duck, though, is undoubtedly the bar. Styled with oak flooring, leather bar stools, a slate-topped counter and an open fireplace, there is a cosy and easy-going atmosphere to be soaked up. Even better, though, is the incredible selection of ales, all brewed in the on-site Barnsgate Brewery. The food is first-rate, with delicious…

If you’re in need of some seriously good refreshments in a relaxed atmosphere, head to Dockray Hall, sister pub of the walker-acclaimed Kirkstile Inn in Loweswater. Fast building a superb reputation and winning Cumbria Tourism’s Pub of the Year award this year, this 15th century pub sits in the centre of Penrith. A wide range of ales are served, including Loweswater Gold and others from their own brewery, Cumbrian Legendary Ales. www.dockrayhall.com…

16.5 km/ 10¼ miles 8 hours If you’ve only ever climbed Ben Nevis via the plodding zigzags on its lumpen west flank, you could be forgiven for being a little underwhelmed. Yet there’s far more to attract people to ‘The Ben’ than the simple gravity of its height. This is a mountain of strikingly split personality, a nondescript southern side standing in stark contrast to a truly fierce north face. Here the shapeless slopes that loom out of Glen Nevis terminate in a line of jagged cliffs, a glacial bite out of the landscape that presents a mountain vista of alpine scale and grandeur. There’s no better viewing gallery to take it all in from than the Carn Mor Dearg (CMD) Arête. A graceful arcing crest looped between two four-thousand-footers…

Distance 14.5km (9 miles) Total ascent 1000m Time 4½ hours Start/finish A592 bridge ( NY386169) Nearest town Penrith Terrain Swirral Edge is (just) scrambling territory, and needs a good head for heights. In winter this is a known accident black spot. No path on initial ascent from Red Tarn path to Catstye Cam but soon becomes much clearer. Steep crags at Helvellyn plateau rim and along ridge edge from Lower Man towards Raise Maps OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL5 and OL7, OS Landranger (1:50,000) 90 and 97, Harvey Superwalker (1:25,000) Lake District East Accommodation Beech House B&B, Glenridding, 017684 82037 YHA Helvellyn, 0345 371 9742 Gillside Camping and Caravan Park, Gillside Farm, Glenridding, 017684 82346 Public transport Bus 508 Penrith - Glenridding, www.traveline.info Guidebooks Lake District – High Level and…

16.6 km/ 10¼ miles 8½ hours There is no easy way to walk between Scafell and Scafell Pike, or vice versa. At Mickledore, the hazardous buttress of Broad Stand unapologetically blocks progress for hillwalkers. To take it on you need technical climbing skills and ropes – or to be a mad 19th century poet. Samuel Taylor Coleridge climbed it in 1802, a near-death experience that put his ‘whole limbs in a tremble’. Alfred Wainwright called Broad Stand an ‘infuriating place’ and ‘the greatest single obstacle confronting ridge walkers on the hills of Lakeland’. But the good news? Two hidden routes of easy scrambling enable you to combine Scafell and Scafell Pike into an exciting, adventurous day of hiking in the high fells. This walk, starting at Seathwaite in Borrowdale, takes…

Distance 17km (10½ miles) Total ascent 1100m Time 7.5 hours Start/finish Gerlan, east of Bethesda ( SH633663) Nearest town Bethesda Terrain Mainly clear paths across high mountains but one or two difficult, less tracked sections. Navigation awkward in poor visibility Maps OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL17, OS Landranger (1:50,000) 115, Harvey Superwalker (1:25,000) Snowdonia North Accommodation YHA Idwal Cottage, Ogwen Valley, 0345 371 9744. B&B in the Bryn Tyrch, Capel Curig, 01690 720223. Camping in the Ogwen Valley and Capel Curig Public transport Buses to Bethesda from Capel Curig, www.travelinecymru.info Guidebooks Day Walks in Snowdonia by Tom Hutton, pb Vertebrate Publishing Tourist info Betws-y-Coed, 01690 710426 GET THIS ROUTE ON YOUR PHONE! LFTO.COM/TRAILROUTES In association with…

Shapely Schiehallion makes a great first Munro, hence its place in our weekend itinerary. Another first occurred here in 1774 when scientists calculated the mean density of the Earth, inadvertently inventing contour lines. The main route to the summit has changed in recent years – the John Muir Trust acquired east Schiehallion in 1999 and rerouted the path to reduce erosion – but its remote situation, historical significance, intriguing wildlife and excellent views remain. Ben Lawers, overlooking Loch Tay, is Scotland’s tenth-highest mountain. Part of a National Nature Reserve, it’s home to rare mountain flora and fauna and, despite being very popular, its size means it never feels crowded. The views from the summit, from Glen Coe to the Cairngorms and neighbouring Ben More – day three’s challenge – are…

“Given mountain bikes and legs of steel this route can be completed in a mega-day, although most people will prefer the added ambience of an overnight stay.” Dan Bailey, Scotland’s Mountain Ridges “Although little more than walks, they (Long and Short Leachas) do give very pleasant ways to the summit.” Noel Williams, Scrambles in Lochaber “The Short Leachas is the most convenient and involves some easy scrambling, while the Long Leachas is easier but longer.’ Peter Hodgkiss, The Munros…