Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2022 i Trail

The tricky thing about working for a monthly magazine is that a lot can happen when you’re writing it. Take the past four weeks for example, which has seen the UK with an unprecedented two monarchs and two Prime Ministers. At the time of writing we’re in a period of national mourning for Queen Elizabeth II, and although she may not have been a renowned hillwalker, it doesn’t feel right to open this issue without paying our own tribute to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. What we do know about our Queen is that she loved the natural world and took great pleasure from spending time in the wild landscape that surrounded her Scottish residence at Balmoral. Tucked away on the eastern edge of the Cairngorms National Park and within easy walking…

THE JOY OF TAKING THE DOG Phew – we’re not the only ones to admit to sometimes preferring a dog’s company to a human’s! New research from dog food makers Forthglade has confirmed that dogs are great adventure buddies. Half of UK dog owners have a bucket list of experiences they want to share with their dog, with top activities including hiking a mountain, camping and wild swimming together. 45% feel less lonely when out with their dog 32% said their dog was their key adventure buddy 33% said having adventures with their dog ensures they do more activity 20% favoured going on a UK staycation with their pet over another human KESWICK MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL – SEE YOU IN 2024 Keswick Mountain Festival 2023 has sadly been cancelled due to…

Trail recently spent a day on Snowdon with Tom Sigler (aka The Weekend Hiker), who shared with us the fascinating story of how hillwalking has not only improved his mental health, but provided a life-changing transformation to his physical health too. “My physical and mental health have dramatically improved over the last 4 years. In 2018 I was in my late 30s, had lived in London most of my life and was working long hours in a stressful desk job. I was inactive, and exercise for me would be running after the number 22 bus to get to the office on time. “I had been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease almost a decade earlier, and continued to suffer from discomfort and pain as it progressed. I accepted that repeat surgery was…

SKILLS, TIPS & TRICKS TO GET YOU HIKING LIKE A PRO 1 Keep an eye on the weather forecast. One of the easiest ways to do this, if you’re lucky enough to live within driving distance of a hill, is to save the forecast for both that hill and a nearby spot at sea-level. If the former says sunny and the latter cloudy: game on. 2 Learn to read synoptic charts for advance warning of periods of high pressure, low temperature and wind speed – all of which are prime inversion indicators. 3 Look for periods of high pressure, especially if they linger for a few days. During these periods, warm air sinks towards the ground, trapping cold air and clouds underneath it. It’s one of the best indicators of…

WHAT TO TAKE ■ Menstrual supplies such as tampons, towels or a menstrual cup. Tampons and towels are useful even if you don’t use them – someone else might desperately need one, and they’re a great, highly absorbent addition to a first aid kit for injuries too. ■ Tissues. Take more than you think you’ll need. ■ Dog poo bag – one to put the kit in and another for waste products such as tampons, tissues and the like. Because it’s opaque it will keep the contents discreet. ■ Biodegradable hand sanitiser. Especially if you’re using a menstrual cup. ■ Trowel for hole digging if you use a menstrual cup. ■ Extra water for rinsing the menstrual cup and washing your hands afterwards. ■ Spare undies. Just in case. WHAT…

WATERPROOFING Not all waterproof trousers are created equally. Some will keep you dry in a light shower, some in a torrential downpour, and others will keep the water out even if kneeling in a puddle or the snow. The hydrostatic head (HH) figures tell you how waterproof a fabric is, but not all brands quote them which can make comparisons difficult. PACKABILITY The hope is that a pair of waterproof trousers will spend most of their time in your pack – particularly in summer. The lighter and more packable they are, the better for carrying. ZIPS Leg zips make it easier to pull on overtrousers over chunky hiking boots and also offer a means of venting heat. Fulllength zips from ankle to hip are the most convenient, while shorter zips…

DIFFICULTY MEDIUM DISTANCE 16.5KM TIME 6½ HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 860M PEAK BAGGER STATS TRAIL 100s 1 By nature of their positioning and geological structure, some mountains boast familiar and well-loved skylines. Moel Siabod is very well known as a shapely, fin-like prominence, when viewed from an extended distance on the north Wales coast, as well as when captured up close from Capel Curig. From this village, nestled to the north of the mountain, Moel Siabod’s striking ‘north-eastern’ rocky ridge tumbles down from its summit heights. Accessed from the mountain’s southern side, though, is a quieter, more exploratory route. This strikes out from Dolwyddelan village, through lowland fields and forest, past numerous little waterfalls and onto high upland terrain, and then abruptly culminates in a final ascent of the delightful and…

DIFFICULTY MEDIUM DISTANCE 12KM TIME 5-6 HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 710M Once seen, the shy valley of Crafnant can never be forgotten. Nestled in the foothills of the eastern Carneddau, the beguiling ‘valley of wild garlic’ is a tranquil, tree-fringed haven which soothes jangled nerves. The still waters of its lake are in stark contrast to neighbouring Llyn Geirionydd which, during the summer months, is blighted by brash powerboats and the scattered litter of uncaring visitors. Back in Crafnant, all is calm. At the head of the valley, the National Nature Reserve enjoys a profound hush, but it is the enclosure of steep, craggy hills that will command your attention. This walk is a special one and inexplicably quiet once above the treeline. The mountains are rough and unkempt, wild and…

ULTIMATE WEEKEND ▲ 3-DAY ROUTE ROUTE 8 Okehampton to Chagford Common ROUTE 9 Chagford Common to Pupers Hill ROUTE 10 Pupers Hill to Ivybridge With a station at either end, this walk offers the perfect opportunity for a car-free escape. And don’t all the best adventures start by packing a rucksack and hopping on a train? The route itself is a grand adventure from start to finish. Day one wends through the wooded valleys of the north moor on the Tarka Trail to Chagford. Days two and three follow the Two Moors Way across Dartmoor’s inviting patchwork, camping out amidst the tors with a pony for company and a cream tea for sustenance. There’s even a selection of secluded wild swimming spots dotted along the way, perfect for bathing weary…

You’ve all heard of the National Three Peaks Challenge. Many of you have probably done it, or at least climbed one or more of the peaks involved. What we’re pretty sure of, though, is that none of you have done it quite like Paul Ellis. At 6.30am on 27 August 2022, double amputee Paul set off on the final stage of his quest to climb the highest mountains in Wales, Scotland and England, aiming for the 978m summit of Scafell Pike. By 2.30pm, with cut hands and knees and a sore back, his challenge was complete. He’d crawled the Three Peaks Challenge in less than a year. Paul, from Widnes in Cheshire, began his challenge last summer by climbing Snowdon in an epic 16-hour adventure to raise money for the…

When’s the right time to get into climbing? Well that depends on who you are but the hills are open to those of all ages, as this lot prove… ■ Greta Plowman, at 99 years old, hit the news when, after going to a climbing wall to watch her daughter, got on the wall herself and, with the help of her grandson, made it to the top of the 6m (19.7ft) route. ■ Nicky Spinks (above), an elite ultra runner, reclaimed the women’s Lake District 24-hour record last year, aged 54, by running over 65 peaks higher than 2000ft in 23hrs 45min. ■ Graham Keene, a 68-year-old grandfather-of-five, reached the summit of Everest this May, the oldest Brit to have reached the top. He nabbed the record from Ranulph Fiennes,…

■ ASK AN ANIMAL: RED DEER STAG The rut looks knackering – is it? “For the dominant stag, yes, completely. As he’s the only stag with any chance to mate, he’ll defend the hinds day and night. Often he’s so busy remaining alert for and engaging in battles with rivals that he won’t even have a chance to feed. It’s not unusual for him to lose 14% of his body weight.” ■ PUB QUIZ TRIVIA A The six most remote Munros in Scotland are tackled on which epic round? B Which pub on the Pennine Way is also the highest pub in Britain? C There’s a new mountain round in town: The Martin Moran. Where is it? A The Fisherfield Six B The Tan Hill Inn C Torridon and Achnashellach…

THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN OUTDOOR KIT Alot can happen in 6 years. Since 2016 we’ve had one global pandemic, two Olympic Games, three national lockdowns, and (at the time of writing – it may be more by the time you read this) four Prime Ministers. It’s also been 6 years since Berghaus last relaunched its top-end Extrem range (although, with everything else that’s been going on, we can forgive you if you hadn’t noticed that). When it was originally launched back in 1986, the Extrem range helped cement Berghaus’s reputation as a brand for serious mountaineering; for a long time you couldn’t consider yourself a serious adventurer unless you were sporting a Berghaus logo somewhere on your apparel. Subsequent refreshes of Extrem have followed in the same vein, but despite…

MTN Seeker GTX Jacket Although not the toughest Extrem jacket on offer (that’d be the MTN Guide GTX Pro), this felt capable of shrugging off all weather with ease. The Gore-Tex Performance 3L fabric is combined with a protective and adjustable wired hood and a cut that’s unrestrictive yet athletic in shape. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where this jacket wouldn’t be all we need. MTN Seeker GTX Pant These are tough, weather-beating overtrousers which, like the jacket, use GoreTex Performance 3L fabric. The side zips are ¾ length for pulling over chunky footwear and venting, and a studded ankle closure reduces volume around the boot cuff. There’s an elastic backed waist and belt loops and braces attachment points for extra security. MTN Guide 45+ Rucksack This versatile pack…

DIFFICULTY MEDIUM DISTANCE 12KM TIME 5 HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 570M Sugar Loaf is a small yet prominent hill, perched above Abergavenny on the edge of the Brecon Beacons national park and visible for miles around. Most walkers drive the narrow lane to the Llanwenarth car park, halfway up the hill, and follow the obvious track straight to the top. But walking out from the town brings a much greater sense of connection to the landscape here and its relationship to the town. This walk through St Mary’s Vale is a wonderful way to experience the contrasting nature of an otherwise well-known hill. Following the stream up through St Mary’s Vale it’s easy to lose yourself in the calm of this primeval wood. Emerging into the daylight from within the wood,…

DIFFICULTY EASY DISTANCE 10KM TIME 4-5 HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 750M PEAK BAGGER STATS WAINWRIGHTS 1 TRAIL 100s 1 Sometimes, the weather isn’t that great. But that doesn’t mean you can’t go for a walk – it’s just about picking the right one. I’ve done variations of this route so many times, because it’s been too windy or too wet or too foggy to do the higher peaks. This route starts with a little bit of ascent, climbing Grisedale Pike. In high wind, it’s possible to skip the very top and still complete the route. But if there are far-reaching views to be had that day, then this is where you’ll see the best of them. Then a quick descent (occasionally: retreat) into the forest, to spend the rest of the…

ULTIMATE WEEKEND ▲ 3-DAY ROUTE ROUTE 11 Sgor Gaoith ROUTE 12 Mullach Clach a’Bhair ROUTE 13 Braeriach One of the Cairngorms’ most attractive Munros is far from the rest of the massive plateau and rarely visited; cleft from its nearest neighbour, Braeriach, by a deep ravine. That peak is Sgor Gaoith. A prow of rock jutting over the dark and sparkling waters of Loch Einich. That loch too, is little celebrated, only usually visited by those on bike or en-route to Braeriach. The two can be done together on an epic walk from Loch an Eilein, but taking more time allows for the inclusion of the iconi Ruigh Aiteachain bothy, a stroll down the beautifully restored Glen Feshie and the bagging of two more Munros. A boggy, beautiful and adventurous…

“Another cracking Welsh classic – Cadair Idris. Fantastic day with equally fantastic views.” Chris Barrett “Here’s my dog and me walking on the SWCP. He is a Turkish street dog whom I met walking the Lycian Way long-distance trail under magical and emotional circumstances. He helps me with my mental health issues. We hitch-hiked from Turkey to the UK, and our adventures together continue here.” Moona Lorraine “The countryside and mountains have always been my escape, ever since I was young. It was a place I felt comfortable. After a 6-month hiatus due to a torn tendon in my knee, I’m slowly getting the miles back in and I’ve never been as grateful. “I became a dad for the first time in lockdown, which was both amazing and terrifying. The…

LMGPERSONALTRAINING.COM Our monthly fitness tips from personal trainer and mountain leader Matt Le Voi will help you get ready for any mountain adventure. MAX YOUR GAINS MATT SAYS: “You don’t get fitter when you work out, you get fitter when you rest. When you increase the amount you exercise, you’ll probably also need to adjust how you rest and eat to support that change. These are three of the main areas to pay attention to: EAT WELL Exercise causes trauma to your muscles and burns a chunk of calories, so it’s crucial you get enough fuel to aid the repair and recovery. This is still the case if you’re aiming to lose weight. Protein to help muscle repair is key and a balanced diet, containing whole foods and plenty of…

■ THREE MOUNTAIN CLOTHING CATEGORIES The new Extrem clothing range is divided into three categories. The MTN Arete kit is for ski touring and ski mountaineering – it tends to be lighter weight for more intense activity. The MTN Guide gear has been created for mountaineering, ice climbing and Scottish winters, and as such it’s tough, warm and reliable. The MTN Seeker clothing is aimed at those who are mostly walking in winter but may also dabble in some mountaineering – it’s this kit that seemed the best match for Trail. ■ TWO PACKS FOR ALL In addition to the clothing there are two rucksacks in the Extrem launch – the MTN Seeker 32 and the MTN Guide 45. Despite the names, both sit across the MTN Guide and MTN…

What’s the most important bit of kit you need for winter hillwalking? It’s a difficult question to answer. After all, it’s very easy to get distracted by shiny hardware, like ice axes and crampons, or to be tempted to splurge your hard-earned cash on an expensive down jacket, a super-rugged waterproof shell or a pair of burly B2 mountain boots. Admittedly, all that gear will help to ensure you’re suitably equipped for cold conditions and tough terrain when winter rolls around. But if there’s one piece of kit that you should always, always remember to pack in your ’sack, it’s the humble headtorch. After all, you might be the world’s most accomplished mountaineer, but if you find yourself out in the hills after dark and can’t see anything, you’re still…

DIFFICULTY MEDIUM DISTANCE 8.5KM TIME 5 HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 435M PEAK BAGGER STATS WAINWRIGHTS 1 Grange Fell isn’t terribly high but it should always be near the top of any lists which prioritise Lakeland’s most scenic summits. This bumpy cluster of humps and hollows rises steeply above the east side of Borrowdale and eventually dips its toes in the placid tarn at Watendlath. And there’s a bit of everything here: tangled woodland, rocky crags, open summits, surprising views and, to finish, a series of churning marmite-coloured cascades. It’s certainly a fell to savour and autumn is the time to come. The birch trees in tucked-away Troutdale, at the start of the walk, take on a regal grandeur which Wainwright described as ‘a golden ladder to heaven’. A panorama from King’s…

DIFFICULTY MEDIUM DISTANCE 10KM TIME 5-6 HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 1100M PEAK BAGGER STATS MUNROS 2 TRAIL 100s 1 It is easy to overlook the Southern Highlands when all the popular peaks are further north, deeper into the Highlands. But miss them at your peril! Scattered between some lesser-known summits sits Ben Lui, a picturesque mountain that has as much to offer as those in the north. With sweeping ridges and rocky summits, accessed by traversing a multitude of terrains, a day out on this peak combines all of the best bits adventure in the Highlands can offer. Its nearby neighbour, Beinn a’Chleibh, may not be as imposing, but provides great views of the mountains beyond Ben Lui and is worth the short diversion to include it. 1 NN239278 From the…

DIFFICULTY EASY DISTANCE 10KM TIME 3 HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 292M The south-east may be somewhat lacking in mountain terrain, but whether you’re stuck in the flatlands, or just looking for a new place to discover a bit closer to home, there’s still plenty of places to get an uphill workout and a dose of the great outdoors. Around the village of Peaslake is an area known as the Hurtwood – the largest area of common land in Surrey, and one of the very first privately owned areas of the country to create ‘a right to roam’ in 1926. Two miles south of Peaslake, on the Greensand Ridge, lies Pitch Hill (257m) and the nearby Holmbury Hill (261m), which are two of the highest viewpoints in Surrey. Both the Greensand Ridge…

The creation of Hadrian’s Wall was the masterstroke of Emperor Hadrian Aelius. Hadrian had come to power in AD117, inheriting a volatile situation at the northern edge of his empire. After failed attempts to conquer Scotland, Hadrian’s startling idea was to construct a wall from coast to coast. Predominantly made of stone, this linear divide would run 80 miles (128km) from the tidal River Tyne at Newcastle in the east to the Solway Firth, west of Carlisle – a defensible line of control that interrupted the erratic movement of the Pictish tribes which so troubled the Romans. The wall appeared to be the perfect ‘grand scheme’ to enhance Hadrian’s standing at the helm of the Roman Empire. However, as the only stone-built frontier in the history of the empire, it…

CWM IDWAL, SNOWDONIA WALK IT The Devil’s Kitchen is a dark cleft in the headwall of Cwm Idwal, and an exciting path from the Glyderau mountains above passes right beneath it. It gets its name from a sinister-looking plume of steam that can sometimes be seen rising from the crack. Myth has it that the Devil beckons weary travellers into his kitchen, and they are never seen again. If you dare, you can complete a high-level circuit of Cwm Idwal with the Devil’s Kitchen making for a descent that is as exciting as the ascent. From the north shore of Llyn Idwal, head west on a path which picks up the shapely and steep north-east ridge of Y Garn. It’s a fun and engaging climb, so don’t forget to look…