Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2024 i Trail

WELCOME TO TRAIL I still remember the first time I saw Striding Edge: its black and white outline staring back at me from the cover of a tatty old copy of Wainwright's guide to Lakeland's Eastern Fells. I asked my dad about that drawing as a young kid, questioning why I'd been wasting my time on our local West Yorkshire hills when I could have been up on Helvellyn making a name for myself. When I did eventually get up there as a wide-eyed student many years later I understood the reasons why – this was proper mountain territory, with all of the fun and danger that comes with it. Thinking back, that crossing of Striding Edge was what got me hooked on mountains. I loved everything about it –…

VIEW WITH A ROOM PEN-Y-CWM, BLACK MOUNTAINS, BRECON BEACONS Perched on the hillside, surrounded by the Black Mountains, this wonderful little cottage is the perfect escape from it all. You can walk from the door straight up Lord Hereford's Knob (Twmpa) or Hay Bluff, with miles of grassy ridges to explore. Access from Hay-on-Wye is easy, and it's a short drive to local restaurants and pubs in the nearby Glasbury and Three Cocks. But after a day's walking, you probably find yourself never wanting to leave, with the outdoor hot tub complete with mountain views. tregoyd.com INFLUENCER MOUNTAINS Could you have guessed the top 5 social media mountain celebrities of the UK? According to Blacks, these five are the most scenic, with the highest number of social media impressions over…

DO Pack your kit into bins which will fit in the footwell of the rear passenger seats. It will make it much easier to stay organised and tidy, and will create some extra stretching out space with the rear seats down. You could just stuff your kit down there as is, but try to keep it at least vaguely organised. DO Get window screens for privacy and midge control. These can be ready bought or made using a length of mesh and some magnets. Be aware that the mesh on most mosquito screens won't be fine enough to keep out midges, which will just crawl through the holes, and you'll need a tight fit at the edges too. DO Use LED lanterns or twinkly lights. It's tempting to rely on…

The perfect camping breakfast, giving you a ton of energy for a day hiking. The textures of crispy potatoes mingled with golden, browned halloumi provide an amazing mouth feel. Once you've tried it, you'll be back for more! PREP TIME: 10 mins // Cook time: 25 mins // Serves: 2 INGREDIENTS ■ 2 tbsp vegetable oil ■ 2-3 large potatoes ■ 1 225g pack of halloumi ■ 1 onion ■ 3 spring onions ■ Small handful of coriander leaves ■ 2 eggs ■ Salt ■ Hot sauce (optional) ■ 1 tbsp Camping Season's Smoky Spice Rub (or substitute below). If you haven't got the spice rub, include: ■ 2 tsp smoked paprika / 2 tsp oregano / 1 tsp chilli flakes / 2 tsp cumin / 2 tsp black pepper…

SIX OF THE BEST FIELD TEST YOUR TESTERS Spring has sprung, the summer approaches and the prime hiking seasons beckon, with the promise of long, warm days and hills basked in sunshine. Then again, this is the UK, so there's a good chance you'll still get soaked at some point, whether from an unseasonable shower or a muddy, boggy puddle lying in wait across the path. Still, at this time of year many experienced hillwalkers choose to ditch their heavier gear in favour of lighter alternatives. This often includes switching from boots to light and nimble trail hiking shoes. After all, “One pound on your feet equals five pounds on your back”, or so says the adage. It's a bit of advice that has been repeated by some of the greatest…

Snowdonia 3 SERIOUS SCRAMBLING TERRAIN If you've ever walked the Miners' Track or the Pyg Track and looked over to Y Lliwedd, you will have seen Y Gribyn. This is the spur that leads down to Glaslyn from the high ground of Bwlch Y Saethau, which translates as 'Pass of The Arrows' and is situated between Y Lliwedd and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). The spur is an adventurous little high-end Grade 1 scramble through some very serious terrain, which is best suited to experienced and confident scramblers. Once you join the Level at Bwlch y Saethau you get to have a bit of a chill and enjoy the views as you make your way over to Y Lliwedd, where the adventure ramps up again for some more scrambling to the summit.…

I'm a bit of a scaredy cat when it comes to exposure while scrambling (and no, I'm not talking about mooning on crags). So the fact that I absolutely adore hauling myself up Swirral Edge – one of the two arêtes that cradle Red Tarn on Helvellyn's east face – suggests to me that it's the perfect starting point for hillwalkers who want to get to grips, literally, with rock, but are wary of finding themselves dangling over a dark abyss. By first climbing Catstye Cam, with its ever so slightly exposed peak, this walk allows you to build confidence on a moderately narrow ridge before tackling the arête itself. There are trails that bypass the crest in places, but you'll have to take your hands out of your pockets…

ERYRI (SNOWDONIA) THIS PANORAMA FROM MOEL SIABOD'S SUMMIT IS AN ACTION-PACKED GRANDSTAND VIEW OF THE YR WYDDFA (SNOWDON) HORSESHOE. ★ CLIMB A STAR OF THIS ISSUE P18 BE HERE NOW This might just be the most impressive view in all Eryri. From Moel Siabod's summit, the Snowdon Horseshoe fills the sky with a joyous explosion of ridges, summits and hidden llyns. So if you've enjoyed the view from Yr Wyddfa in the past, now it's time for the best view of it from one of its quieter neighbouring peaks. Access to Moel Siabod couldn't be easier, with a route heading directly from the A5 straight up its north-east walking ridge. But if you've read Jenna's article on page 18, you'll know that our favourite way up Siabod is its Daear…

PHOTO COMPETITION BASECAMP Trail magazine's UK Mountain Photo of the Year competition is now open! Could your shot be a winner? You don't need to be a professional photographer to be in with a chance of claiming the top prize. Whether your image is taken on a smartphone or a DSLR camera, the important thing is capturing those moments that encapsulate the magic of the UK's hills and mountains. You have until 16 August to enter, so remember to get snapping on your hillwalks this summer to be in with a chance of winning some incredible prizes from FUJIFILM, worth a total of £4547. ■ To find out how to enter, see below right. THE PRIZES 1st prize FUJIFILM X-T5 Kit + XF16-50mm Lens worth £2049 2nd prize FUJIFILM X-S20 +…

MOUNTAINS FOR THE MIND “I find the Lake District such a calming environment in any season. It's so wholesome and uplifting and all of those good things. And the way I create paintings now is heavily involved in being outdoors. “Ever since I was a toddler, I liked painting, and as I got older I started to study it more formally. I wrote my dissertation on art and environmental wellbeing and that forced my art to go outside. So now my process combines both – absolutely adoring making art and also my love of being outdoors. It's like a cycle. It's important to me to be out in nature and being out in nature feeds into my artwork. The more I do of both, the better I feel. “Making art…

WHAT IS IT? Essentially, it's a multi-day running journey. Fastpacking isn't quite the same as speed hiking or lightweight backpacking. Those require boots and are essentially still walking. Fastpacking is done in trainers, running where possible, maybe better described as 'run-packing'. The line between these things is fuzzy. You might very well run the downhills on an ultralight expedition or walk a bit more than intended on a running trip. You can stay overnight in accommodation to lighten your load, but purists will take a lightweight camp or bothy set-up. WHAT DO YOU NEED? Very little. By definition. But essentially: running kit, clothing for mountain conditions, a sleeping set-up, food, drink and navigation/safety gear, all packed into a 30L or less pack. You're aiming for the bare minimum without sacrificing…

West Highlands 1 WONDERFUL RIDGE WALKING Scotland holds so much opportunity for exploration and adventure, with both expanse and topography that can justifiably be described as staggering. Which is why so many mountain lovers will dwell on the concept of walking the 'Munros' in Scotland; 282 mountain summits over 3000ft, with a list first identified by Sir H T Munro in the Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal of 1891. This route presents two of those particular peaks, and what a fine introduction to Munro walking they can be. Seated sufficiently close to one another, the pair enjoy good road access from Invergarry, and a slender connecting ridgeline and commanding views over many other Munros and other summits. Gleouraich and Spidean Mialach might not make front page news, thanks to infamous reputations…

Lake District 4 RIDGES GALORE There's always something invigorating about ridge-walking. With the ground at your feet dropping away on both sides, it's as close to flying – without parachute, wings or engine – as humans get. For the brief time we walk on that arched spine of risen earth, soaring above the everyday world, the ridge becomes the edge of space, and the sky limitless. Wouldn't it be great if we could stitch all our favourite ridges together and just keep going…? This route doesn't quite manage that, but it does join together several excellent ridges in the Lake District's north-western fells. It's a rollercoaster ride, dropping into a side valley and a high road pass along the way, but it's mostly on ridges: Rowling End, Causey Pike and…

West Highlands ULTIMATE WEEKEND ▲ 3 ROUTES If it's rock and ridges you're after, then spending a few days walking the mountains around Glen Nevis will give you everything you want and more. Doing the three routes here in three days – Carn Mor Dearg Arête, the Ring of Steall, and Stob Ban – is no small undertaking. All of them are big mountain days with amazing ridges. If you're feeling particularly fit and up for a challenge, you could link up the Ring of Steall with Stob Ban and do it in one massive suffer-fest, or take it easy with a bivvy halfway (it would be a difficult route with a full wild-camping pack). Each of the routes is worth the trip in its own right, so even if you…

LONG-DISTANCE TRAILS Opened by Scottish Natural Heritage in 2017, the Hebridean Way stretches 247km (155 miles) along the length of the Outer Hebrides, from Vatersay (Bhatarsaigh) in the south to Stornoway (Steornabhagh) in the north. The route crosses 10 islands linked by six causeways and two ferries – and if these numbers don't appear to add up it is because the so-called 'Isles' of Harris (Na Hearadh) and Lewis (Leodhais) share the same landmass. The route traverses a variety of different terrains, passing over rugged hills, along dazzling white shell beaches and across seemingly empty moorland. The stunning landscape, varied geology, exceptional wildlife and numerous antiquities of the Outer Hebrides are truly awe-inspiring. The Outer Hebrides retain a distinctive culture too, with Gaelic often spoken as a first language. Unlike…

Monte Rosa Italy “A selfie on the Lys glacier.” Sammy and Louise Abbott THIS MONTH'S WINNER Ling Fell Lake District “One last Wainwright at 8 months, before our little explorer joins us. He'll be introduced to the fells at the earliest opportunity!” Chloe Procter Loughrigg Fell Lake District “It was after 30 years, two broken legs (Caroline) and a triple heart bypass (me) that we completed all the Wainwrights! If we could get our picture into Trail, we would be very grateful! We have been lifetime readers.” Caroline and Del Jacob Conic Hill Trossachs “A recent wild camp with my friend Tom, on the summit of Conic Hill overlooking Loch Lomond. A nice easy walk with stunning views of Ben Lomond and the Arrochar Alps.” Chris Willliams Striding Edge Lake…

The Isle of Skye has become a tourist mecca for Insta snappers and jet set travellers. The top must-see venues are mobbed, yet there is still hope on another side to the Misty Isle, with plenty of adventures to be had far from the madding crowd. Coir a' Ghrunnda on the south-west of the island is more remote than its better-known neighbour Coire Lagan and, as such, is much less popular. The glorious walk I'm about to describe is out and back, but the views are so stunning that the return trip will be just as impressive as the outward journey. It requires a bit of effort to get there but the rewards should more than make up for the calories expended. Prepare to enter Middle Earth as you enjoy…

Insider THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN OUTDOOR KIT GEAR This is not the first time we've expressed a fondness for the traditional fleece. In fact, it's been a fairly regular occurrence of late. Perhaps it's because, on the great ever-spinning wheel of trends and fashions, it's fleece's time to come back around again. Or maybe, and this is the explanation we're most inclined to follow, fleeces are simply getting better and bear increasingly little resemblance to the fleeces we regard as 'traditional'. Black Diamond's Coefficient Hoody is a case in point; a highly technical lightweight mid layer that allows alpinists to move efficiently over some of the most challenging mountain terrains. This makes sense. In the same way that high-performance cars tend to be the first invested with new technology, it's…

SIX OF THE BEST FIELD TEST YOUR TESTER When the weather is warmer and your load is lighter, a comfortable daypack is exactly what you need to carry your hill kit. But there's still a lot to consider, and many features that deserve closer scrutiny when choosing your pack. Do you want a 'close to the body' fit for maximum stability, or one that offers more ventilation in the back system? Do you want the weight saving of a frameless pack, or are you happy to carry a few extra grams for the sake of improved load bearing? Will a minimalist harness be enough for your lighter day out, or do you prefer more padding for comfort? Once you've decided on the pack for you, how can you be sure it'll…

Snowdonia 2 EPIC SUMMITS Embark on an exhilarating journey through the rugged landscapes of Eryri (Snowdonia) as you conquer the majestic peaks of Elidir Fawr, Carnedd Y Filiast, Mynydd Perfedd, Foel Goch and Y Garn. This epic route promises adventure-seekers a thrilling day filled with breathtaking scenery and unforgettable experiences. Starting with Elidir Fawr, the route leads you through stunning valleys and rocky terrain to the summit, where panoramic views of the National Park await. Feel the rush of achievement as you stand atop this mighty peak, surrounded by sweeping vistas. Continuing onwards, Mynydd Perfedd awaits, offering another test of endurance and determination. Traverse its rugged slopes and rocky ridges, soaking in the beauty of Eryri from another breathtaking vantage point, and just beyond you can reach Carnedd Y Filiast.…

Western Highlands 5 RIDGE WALK & SCRAMBLE Let other glens seethe with envy. With nine Munros on the south side and twelve on the north, Glen Shiel bisects such an array of alluring mountains that it's difficult to know where to start. It's not just the numbers either. The peaks are characterised by attractive pointy summits linked by narrow ridges that are among the most thrilling in the country. Creag a' Mhaim (Breast [-shaped] Crag) and Druim Shionnach (Foxes' Ridge) are the easternmost of the seven Munros that form the South Glen Shiel Ridge. With Loch Cluanie at their foot, the scenic round of the pair makes a superb introduction to what the glen has to offer. Courtesy of an excellent stalkers' path that runs nearly all the way to…

Snowdonia ULTIMATE WEEKEND ▲ 3 ROUTES It's hard to imagine a better long weekend's walking than this delightful trio from Beddgelert. It's straight into the drama on the first day, with an adventurous walk from Moel Hebog across to the Nantlle Ridge, descending via the gorgeously airy, scrambly Mynydd Drws-y-coed. There's more technical ground on the second day, summiting shapely Yr Aran, which rises from the southerly reaches of the Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) range, and descending via the Watkin Path. The final day may be gentler on the legs but is no less engaging, taking in atmospheric trails through some of Eryri's mining history and finishing along the utterly magical Pass of Aberglaslyn. The village itself makes an excellent adventure base, boasting cafés, pubs, an ice-cream parlour and Crib Goch Outdoors.…