Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 23 i Trail

Carrauntoolhil Ireland “On the way to summiting Ireland’s highest mountain via one of the best scrambles/easy climbs in the whole of the UK and Ireland – Howling Ridge. A fantastic day with mountain guide John Healy on rope duty!” Jade Murray Kinder Scout Peak District “Me & my dog Bob (13) after a wild camp on Kinder Scout, catching the sunrise as we walk back to Edale via Jacob’s Ladder.” Matt Pen yr Ole Wen Eryri (Snowdonia) “I was on Pen yr Ole Wen on 20 January, on my last hike before going out to Kilimanjaro. Superb snow conditions as I crossed the Carneddau to Yr Elen.” Scott Grove THIS MONTH'S WINNER Yr Wyddfa Eryri (Snowdonia) “My daughter’s first time at the summit cairn of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and first…

HOW TO CLIMB… Ascent: 3666m Distance: 45km Route: A long one! Heading south to north, begin at Pen y Pass before tackling Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), then dive down to Nant Peris to ascend Elidir Fawr. Traverse the Glyders and then tackle the Carneddau, beginning with Pen yr Ole Wen. Find a GPX and full route description at tinyurl.com/welsh3000s Time to allow: 3 days. Very fit walkers might be able to do it in the traditional 24 hours, but expect to get little or no sleep. Perfect if… You want a big goal to work (or walk) towards and/or you're utterly besotted with the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia). Kit to bring: Standard walking kit, plus walking poles, knee and ankle supports, a power bank and plenty of food and water. If…

NeoShell Claimed to be "the world's most breathable waterproof fabric technology", NeoShell is used in jackets and trousers (shown: 66°North Snæfell Jacket £435). By optimising the fabric's pore size, heat and perspiration can escape while protection from outside elements is maintained. It's more comfortable, softer and quieter than most hard shell fabrics, yet highly durable. PowerDry A lightweight, wicking, fast drying, odour resistant and highly breathable fabric found in mid and base layers (shown: Arc'teryx Delta Jacket £140). A hydrophilic interior draws moisture away from the skin to the outer layer where it is dispersed and evaporates, preventing saturation and regulating temperature in both hot and cold conditions. Alpha An insulating fill with lofted fibres connected to a solid mesh core, Alpha is lightweight, durable, compressible, hydrophobic, temperature regulating, and…

HYDROSTATIC HEAD RATINGS Gore-Tex tells us all of its fabrics have a minimum 28,000mm hydrostatic head rating (HH, a technical measurement of waterproofing), but doesn't state different figures for their different technologies such as Gore-Tex Pro, Gore-Tex Performance and Gore-Tex Paclite. Some brands use in-house proprietary membranes in their jackets, rather than using Gore-Tex, and consequently state their own HH ratings. In this round-up, we've only selected jackets with a minimum HH of 20,000mm (excluding the Paramo Velez, which has a unique approach to waterproofing). CONSTRUCTION Jackets are generally categorised as 2-, 2.5- or 3-layer, depending on how the waterproof layer is attached to other layers. For poor weather, 3-layer jackets are the most durable, with the waterproof layer sandwiched between a face fabric and inner scrim. VENTILATION It's easy…

FITNESS A long day, so good stamina required, though the last three miles are easy walking. TERRAIN Rough exposed moorland – some boggy, some bouldery; field paths and tracks at lower level. NAVIGATION Straightforward in fine weather but these fells can become featureless in mist when good navigation skills are required. GET THERE Plenty of parking at Blencarn. Nearest station Langwathby – taxi needed or check fellrunnerbus.co.uk for bus links. EAT & DRINK Country pubs in Culgaith, Dufton and Long Marton, plus Post Box Pantry in Dufton. STAY OVER YHA Dufton, self-catering Dufton Barns cater for walkers, and campsite at Ousby. BEST MAPS ■ OS Explorer OL31 (1:25k) ■ OS Landranger 91 [1:50k]…

TRAIL MAGAZINE Lake District HIGH-LEVEL WALK 3 At 600m/1968ft Black Combe just fails to reach the 2000ft mark. But let’s take nothing away from this great top, as it gives the walker an exhilarating outing and the summit area is a magnificent viewpoint for the Lake District fells, The Isle of Man and even the hills of Scotland and Eryri (Snowdonia) which appear as shadowy silhouettes on clear days. The view is a 360° one, and William Wordsworth claimed that, “the amplest range of unobstructed prospect may be seen that British ground commands.” The reason for this is that Black Combe stands isolated near the sea to the south and west of the main Lakeland fells and 16km/10 miles from other high ground. This combination of sea and mountain is simply…

FITNESS There’s one relatively steep climb onto Fan Nedd, but otherwise not a difficult route. TERRAIN Boggy sections in places. The escarpment of Fan Gyhirych has a steep drop to the north, so avoid the edge in high winds. NAVIGATION Mainly easy to follow, with well defined paths, but care is needed on the final moorland section across the OFD reserve, where the path is less obvious. GET THERE The T6 bus runs 6 days a week between Brecon and Swansea, via Pen y Cae. Otherwise the start can only be accessed by car. EAT & DRINK Pubs and restaurants in Brecon or Swansea. Closer to the end of the walk, try the Ancient Briton pub in Pen y Cae or Abercrave Inn down the valley. STAY OVER The Sleeping…

TRAIL MAGAZINE Eryri (Snowdonia) MOUNTAIN HORSESHOE 6 There are four mountains named Y Garn within the 823 square miles of Eryri National Park, not to mention Craig y Garn, that wonderful little peaklette which watches over the lower reaches of Cwm Pennant. Many will be acquainted with the Garn that rises so majestically above the head of Nant y Benglog, and some are familiar with the graceful arc of mountain that swoops down to the fields of Rhyd Ddu. Few, however, are those that find themselves looking down onto the Mawddach from ‘our’ Y Garn, a freestanding Rhinogydd outlier possessed of great character and individuality. From the accessible trails of the New Precipice Walk, a horseshoe ridge emerges out of the forest, culminating in a rock-girt summit, affording unrestricted views of…

In association with 1 SH626659 This route to Pen yr Ole Wen leads you through the woods of Braich Melyn and along Braich Ty Du, moving through some lovely open mountain with views to match. Start at the bridge near Zip World and head up Ffordd Braichmelyn. Turn right at Rhes Jams and follow this road to its end, then through two gates into the woodland. Turn left when you reach an obvious track, which brings you to a clearing with a split. Keep right. Broadly speaking, bear south-east until you exit the woods. 2 SH632653 From here, you're essentially out on the open mountain and the terrain gets rougher. There is a track that handrails the wall on your right and you can stay on this for some time…

In association with 1 NN136468 Start in the same car park as for Ben Starav and follow the exact same route with the detour around Coitleitir to the bridge at NN136469. This time, don’t cross it but continue uphill, south-east, handrailing the Allt Mheuran on your right, up into Learg Mheuran to return to the stream head with the double cairn where you either descend or continue on the Ben Starav day. 2 NN162433 This part of the route is harder both navigationally and underfoot than the Ben Starav day. In poor visibility, you will regularly need to take bearings. Turn left (north-east) where the path cuts across the stream. There should be a small cairn marking the route up the hillside – don’t add to it! The track is…

There are a few names you might recognise from the pages of Trail in this new book from Liv Bolton. The book tells the extraordinary stories of people whose lives have been transformed by nature and the British countryside, including 'Mountain Man' James Forrest, wild swimmer Gilly McArthur, coastal runner Elise Downing, 'Fell Foodie' Harrison Ward, and 'The Hillwalking Hijabi' Zahrah Mahmood, all with the aim of inspiring you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life and to make adventure accessible to all. Available now for £20 from adventurebooks.com…

■ BRIAN TAYLOR I'd be interested to know what their motivation is, but it seems obscene to me that one person can come along with a load of cash and have such an impact. Places like Dartmoor should be managed for the good of the majority in mind, not the rich few." ■ MARK REID “There are already laws in place to deal with criminal damage, littering etc without having to take away the right to responsibly enjoy the countryside with an overnight camp. It's set a worrying precedent." ■ MARK GRAHAM "The Duchy of Cornwall owns most of Dartmoor, so it would be great if they could make a statement giving permission for wild camping to continue to take place on their remote land, subject to 'leave no trace’…

For many people, the introduction to the mountains comes via other people, family members or friends. And so the thought of heading out into the hills on their own seems to be the most pointless of pursuits, as people - and the time spent with them - is what they get out of being ‘out there’. Although I’ve spent the vast majority of my time in the mountains with other people, every time I go out alone the experience is completely different. On an intensity level, being with people is a 4 out of 10 for me, while being alone makes it an 11 out of 10. Now, don’t get me wrong - I’m happy when I’m with people, and I definitely have a better laugh. But when I’m alone,…

■ Take an empty canister and weigh it on a set of kitchen scales to get a base weight for the canister itself. ■ Weigh your partially empty canister on the scales and subtract the weight of the can from the result. ■ That's how many grams of gas you have left. Tip: Budget about 10g per boil or 100g for a solo weekend trip. Prep Before going out, get two canisters of the same brand and quantity - one empty, one full - and a container of water. ■ Float the full canister in the water, releasing the air bubble from underneath, and mark the water line on the side in permanent pen. Use detail printed on the canister to get an accurate point. ■ Do the same with…

Appy days Komoot smartphone app Free with premium option I love a paper map and compass, but since I started camping the Trail 100s (see page 8) I’ve been using Komoot regularly. You can plan trips, follow routes and meet like-minded hikers in the Komoot community. All of the Trail 100 mountains haveq their own route, which is is handy for pre-hike planning. The offline map with GPS is useful, meaning you can pinpoint your exact location even in clag when landmarks for taking bearings are few. But what I find most useful is the weather updates. You don't get that on a paper map! Verdict For me a phone app isn’t an alternative to a paper map, but this is a great tool to use alongside one. USED BY…

TRAIL MAGAZINE Arrochar Alps MINI MUNRO 2 Ben Vane is a character. The smallest of all 282 Munros, at 916m, it is mighty for its size. You might think this would be a good one to pair with one of the neighbouring Munros – Vorlich perhaps, or Beinn Ime – but I’d reckon against it. The bealachs linking it with the surrounding hills are all very low, and the slopes near the top of the hill steep enough to have you gasping for breath and grasping at grass. There’s a bit of a walk in, along the A82, then a tarmac road laid to serve the hydrodam at Loch Sloy, but this is good preparation for the ascent ahead. For there is almost no let up. Fortunately, there is some delightful…

FITNESS Strenuous climb to the summit plus a steep descent. TERRAIN Mostly good paths and tracks throughout. Little in the way of exposure but some rough going and pathless sections on Horse Back ridge. NAVIGATION Paths and tracks are generally clear and easy to follow, but the vague path on Horse Back ridge would be problematic in mist. GET THERE Start at a small roadside parking area (3-4 cars only) by Beckside Farm on the A595 (SD152846). EAT & DRINK There are pubs, cafés and shops in Millom and Broughton-in-Furness. STAY OVER Check out The Old Kings Head in Broughton in Furness, or Baystones Farm campsite near Hallthwaite. BEST MAPS ■ OS Explorer OL6 (1:25k) ■ OS Landranger 96 (1:50k)…

TRAIL MAGAZINE Grampians STILE-FREE MOUNTAIN WALK 5 Cairn na Caim, a mountain in the Grampian Mountains of Scotland, is a Munro, and it was to be my first Scottish mountain experience since becoming a wheelchair user. For this adventure, I used my all-terrain wheelchair called a TerrainHopper, which can climb over rough and muddy terrain. Cairn na Caim (the rocky hill of the curve) sits high to the east of Drumochter Pass near Dalwhinnie, on the border of Highland, Perth and Kinross. Located on a high plateau, Carn na Caim is the higher of the two Munros above the Pass. Contrary to the weather forecast, our day in the mountains was met with driving rain, which was relentless. I am told that on a clear day the view on this rambling…

FITNESS A standard hillwalk requiring moderate fitness. TERRAIN Singletrack road, forestry track, broad ridge, boggy terrain. NAVIGATION Care with field navigation is needed at the start and end of the walk. Linear features are followed in the mid section. GET THERE 1.7 miles west of Llanelltyd (A496), turn right up the minor road. Just short of the old chapel, there is space for two cars. EAT & DRINK Hungry and thirsty walkers are well catered for by numerous pubs/ eateries in Barmouth and Dolgellau. STAY OVER Check out the George III hotel, or YHA Kings. BEST MAP ■ OS Explorer OL18 (1:25k)…

In association with 1 SH631665 This is a great day out and the more adventurous of the three, taking in the remote north-east spur of Yr Elen, which is a beautiful mountain and dominates the view of the Carneddau from Bethesda. Even the name sounds beautiful when spoken in a local Welsh accent and it’s an underrated gem of Eryri. Walk south-east from Caban Cysgu until you reach the end of the housing area. There is a road on the left called Gwernydd. Follow this uphill, all the way to the mountain gate near the old pumping station. Turn right and follow the track that runs next to the obvious boulder and handrail the wall until you reach its end, where it turns sharply to the right. 2 SH647667 Continue…

In association with 1 NN198512 Park in the lay-by on the left just after the bridge. Cross the bridge and head south onto the rough terrain immediately. There should be signs for the walkers bypass path. Cross a stile with a bog of despair at its foot. Turn right to cross the large bridge, then head left through the woods and follow a very wet and boggy vehicle track until you hit the gate at NN196502. From the gate, head out of the frying pan and into the fire, slogging steeply uphill through long grass, tussocks, myrtle and anything else that is horrible to walk though. There is very little in the way of a route. There are two streams flowing from the west. Handrailing one of them up the…

Hydro Flask Food Jars £30 (8oz) Avoiding single-use plastic containers – such as expedition meal pouches or supermarket pasta pots – is vital for the planet. Hydro Flask’s excellent food jars enable you to do this, providing a double-wall, vacuuminsulated container for your homecooked meals. Whether your meal of choice is porridge, noodles, soup, rice or casserole, these colourful, leakproof, wide-mouthed jars will keep your food hot for hours. VERDICT: Durable, effective and beautifullydesigned food jars for your home-cooked meals. Darn Tough Women’s Hiker Micro Crew Midweight £25 It’s better for the planet when outdoor kit lasts longer, because it results in less landfill and reduces the carbon emissions of the manufacturing process. Darn Tough prides itself on offering undeniable durability, and the brand’s socks even come with a lifetime…

WILD SLEEPS THIS MONTH High Stile Slieve Donard Helm Crag TRAIL 100 BIVVY COUNT 25/100 I have a dream, every night I sleep in a tent. Memories are what make us. Fixed points frozen in time, dictating the future. Dreams are fuel, burning with hope that keep us going. Getting comfy inside a rain-battered tent on High Stile in the Lake District, past memories float to the surface. Jenny, my camping companion, asks: “How come when you bring me camping we never get a view?’ I can’t fix the weather, but having camped here before I can show her pictures of what she is missing. Last time I was here the summit was bathed in magical light. Through the open tent door Pillar, across the valley, looked magnificent. Snow outlined the crags…

One group of animals seems to suit our rocky uplands more than any other. They are the long-lost relatives of the animals farmed by our Neolithic ancestors 5000-3000 years ago. I’m talking about the grumpy, shaggy, and definitely smelly, feral goat. Or, to give it its proper name, the British Primitive goat. The mountains of Snowdonia are the place I most associate with feral goats. Maybe that’s because it was the first place I encountered them, on my first ascent of Tryfan. About a third of the way up, a colleague drew my attention to a rather ‘funky’ smell, and said there were feral goats close by. I, knowing nothing about them, just thought it was a rather flimsy cover story for a guilty fart. So imagine my surprise when,…

Trail reader Mark Hanley says: "While on the North Ridge of Tryfan with my friend Ian, before the imposing North Tower, we diverted on to the eastern traverse path. Some way ahead, I ascended the upper section of Nor Gully to 'the Notch' but, not seeing the way I’d gone, Ian ended up on steep, difficult ground. He got a crack on the head, bandaged up by a couple of climbers, and later joined me at the summit in good spirits. But the outcome could have been much worse. The moral of the tale? Don't get split up, particularly where route-finding isn’t obvious."…

Icebreaker Merino Multisport Light Micro Sock £18 If these don’t look like your regular hiking socks, it’s because they’re not. To be clear, these lightweight socks are not suited to year-round use or wearing with boots. But in warmer, drier conditions where you’re wearing lowcut approach shoes or trail trainers, these are perfect. They’re durable, wicking, and odour resistant, and despite their svelte build, they offer instep support for stability, Achilles support to keep the sock in place, and a seamless toe closure for improved comfort. They’ll also give you less ridiculous tan lines. BEST FOR shoe wearing, fast moving summer hikers 1000 Mile Approach Repreve Double Layer Sock £15 Can you even call yourself a proper hiker if you've never had blisters? Truth be told, modern footwear makes it easier…

TRAIL MAGAZINE North Pennines HIGH POINT OF THE PENNINES 1 Cross Fell – just short of 3000ft – is the highest point in the Pennine chain, and its bulky plateau sweeps above the long escarpment on the eastern side of the Eden Valley. The distinctive summit shelter was rebuilt a few years ago by expert stonemasons, and on a clear day the uninterrupted views from the top extend west to the Lake District, north to the Solway Firth and east over moors to the boggy headwaters of the River Tees. And the walk passes further landmarks: the giant golf ball radar station on Great Dun Fell, a lonely bothy known as Greg’s Hut and some strange medieval earthworks known as the Hanging Walls of Mark Anthony. But also keep an ear…

FITNESS With an ascent from sea-level and extremely steep, sustained sections, this hill is small (for a Munro) but tough. TERRAIN Briefly along a busy road, tarmac track, rough path between rocky outcrops, easy scrambling near the top with exposure low. NAVIGATION Route-finding is straightforward in good weather, following the nose of the hill on a fairly clear path. GET THERE Paid car park at Inveruglas Visitor Centre. Infrequent buses to/from Glasgow. Train to Arrochar and Tarbet via Glen Loin adds 14km. EAT & DRINK Café at the Inveruglas Visitor Centre, or head to Arrochar for pub grub at Ben Arthur Bothy or burgers and pizzas at Cu Mara Bistro. STAY OVER The Village Inn has reasonably priced, comfy rooms, and also does decent food. The nearest hostel is Crianlarich,…

TRAIL MAGAZINE Brecon Beacons DRAMATIC SCARPS & LONELY MOORLAND 4 The Ogof Fynnon Du (OFD) National Nature Reserve is a truly special corner of the Brecon Beacons, with limestone pavement criss-crossed by 19th century tramroads that brought quarried limestone and silica to the valley below. The abandoned village of Penwyllt, once the home to the workforce, sits above the deepest known cave system in the UK, with more than 60km of passageways connecting spectacular cave formations of national significance. The only hints of this vast subterranean wilderness are now the shake holes, strange craters and undulations either side of the trail. The old tramroads can be followed up to the steep, glorious glaciated scoop of the Fan Gyhirych escarpment, from where views to the north take in quiet valleys, lakes and…

FITNESS The easiest route to the summit, but still a climb and requires reasonable fitness. Wheelchair users will require a sturdy, all-terrain vehicle. TERRAIN There is a wide rocky track to follow at the start, but above the plateau the grassland track is very boggy, especially around the summit. NAVIGATION A straightforward route, which may require navigation in poor weather. GET THERE This route starts on the east side of the A9, south of the Dalwhinnie junction. Limited parking in lay-by 87 on the other side of the road. EAT & DRINK The Lodge, Dalwhinnie offers great food and an excellent selection of gin! Campervan travellers can stay over in the car park. STAY OVER The Croft House at the Round House, Uvie Farm, Newtonmore, Scotland. Great facilities amid spectacular…

In association with 1 SH631665 Although rough and wild, this walk is reasonably laid back. It takes in the ground up above the track you walk for Yr Elen, so offers yet another perspective on the mountain and the area in general. Walk south-east from Caban Cysgu until you reach the end of the housing area. Follow the road on the left (called Gwernydd) uphill, all the way to the mountain gate near the old pumping station. Turn right after the gate and at the large and obvious boulder 50m away, take the track that forks off left, uphill (north-east). 2 SH639666 This is the start of a long stretch of uphill walking that lasts for half the route. It is broken up with level sections and beautiful rest spots…

In association with 1 NN136468 This is a tough day with a lot of climbing, in one big push, to the summit of Ben Starav. Park in the obvious raised area on the right of the road. Immediately opposite the southern end is an access road with a barrier. Walk down this to cross the bridge then follow the road right. At NN140466 a sign asks you to take the bypass path on the left, avoiding Coileitir. Follow it through the bog but don’t stay on it too long. Just circle around the property then get back on the road to cross the bridge. Turn left immediately after the bridge and push uphill for about 500m, then head up the obvious spur on the right as you near the top…

OUR EXPERT SAYS… "A Lake District classic that offers a bit of everything for the developing scrambler." From tiny acorns, the mightiest oaks do grow. That’s how the saying goes, isn’t it? The idea being that, from the smallest start, great things can unfold. Well, while it might seem like a criminal understatement to refer to Pinnacle Ridge on St Sunday Crag as a tiny acorn, we happen to know that it was among the starting points for one of the UK’s greatest mountain careers. Cumbrian native Leo Houlding cut his climbing teeth on the rocks of Lakeland, and Pinnacle Ridge was one of his earliest climbs. He was taken up this classic route by his father, long before racing Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear or putting lines up the…