Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2024 i Trail

GET 50% OFF All first-time Trail Subscribers get 50% off OS Maps, the Ordnance Survey's digital mapping service. That's the equivalent of 607 paper maps in your pocket! PAGE 32 I drove to Ben Nevis and back with my 8-year-old son last week, which involved a round-trip by car of about 18 hours. As always, there were times on the drive when I questioned my sanity, and also questioned everything about why we climb mountains together as a hobby. But then, of course, we arrived in Glen Nevis, set up our base for the night in the fantastic campsite right at the foot of Britain's highest peak, and swiftly realised every mile on the road had been totally worth it. And it reminded me of that famous old quote from…

Wind. There aren't many occasions when it's absent, especially in the mountains where winds are often at their strongest. But have you ever asked yourself what wind is and, more importantly, how it fits into the natural world. Your mind is about to be blown… The atmosphere that wraps itself around our planet, is made up of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and a whole host of lesser gasses. Wind is the natural movement of those particles within the atmosphere. Winds can be global or extremely localised. These planet-wide winds are the result of solar energy which reaches the poles at a different angle to the equator, causing a temperature difference – cold air or high pressure over the poles, warm air and low pressure over equatorial regions. Warm air inevitably…

PEAK DISTRICT I saw a wild boar once. I say wild – it was in a ‘Wild Boar Park’. Although, if memory serves me correctly, you could buy boar sausages from the gift shop, so I imagine it was pretty livid. The Peak District was once home to truly wild boar. Allegedly, England's last wild boar was killed there – quite possibly for sausages. But although they've since been reintroduced in other parts of the country, you won't find them roaming the Peakland moors. There is, however, a wild boar of sorts to be found there. Wildboar Clough cuts into the gritstone in the north-western corner of Bleaklow. But if you didn't know it was there, you'd never notice it. Such is the nature of cloughs; they lurk below the…

MOUNTAIN LIVES “If every time you went up a mountain you got a beautiful sunset and a cloud inversion, you wouldn't be bothered,” says Russ Moorhouse. “They're special because they're rare.” And he should know. He has just completed a two-year-long project camping on top of 100 hills scattered across the whole of the UK. And rarely in good weather. Way back in 2007, these one hundred hills were judged by the Trail magazine team to be the most beautiful, exciting, charismatic hills in the home nations, regardless of height or prominence. As a result, the list ranges from the 1345m Scottish behemoth Ben Nevis to the 320m rocky twizzle that is Roseberry Topping in the North York Moors. In between there are island peaks, soaring ridgelines and remote promontories.…

Alpkit Brukit AllIn-One Cooking System £60 It might not be the lightest (585g), the most powerful (1.2KW), or the most versatile (there's no regulator valve here. But if you want to boil water quickly (2min 27sec for 500ml water) and conveniently (it has a built-in piezo igniter) the BruKit is a PCS bargain. Primus Lite Plus Stove System £130 Primus makes some solid and handsome stoves, and the Lite Plus (or Lite+ to its friends) is no exception. Weighing a smidge over 400g, this 1.5KW burner will boil its 0.5l contents in 2min 45sec. There's an integral igniter to get it going and a choice of cosy colours. MSR Reactor 1.0L Stove System £295 This 420g stove has one job: boil water fast. Once turned on (it's on or off…

TRAIL MAGAZINE Yorkshire Dales CRAGGY LIMESTONE WALK Limestone gives its own special sort of landscape. Flat limestone pavement carved into its clints and grikes; overhanging cliffs of off-white rock; rivers appearing suddenly out of holes in the ground. And it doesn't get more special than Malham, with its two hard-to-ignore, but easy-to-fall-over-the-edge-of, craggy features of Malham Cove itself and Gordale Scar. In between there's limestone moorland, strange little dry valleys, and the pretty large tarn that's got no business being there given that it should have flowed away into the underground holes. At Gordale Scar there's an option down through the waterfalls on some rough limestone rock: a great little scramble if you're up for it and the water's not too high. Otherwise, the route goes along the cliff tops and…

North-west Highlands HIGH MOUNTAIN TRAVERSE 1 NG977578 Follow the path that leads out of the rear of the car park and ascends into Coire an Laoigh via the Allt Coire an Laoigh burn. As the path enters the coire it flattens and the burn forks. Take the left-hand burn and ascend the path to the left of some large slabs. Slog your way up the coire on loose scree, aiming to exit onto the ridge at a col. Once on the col, turn right (north) and ascend the ridgeline to the trig point. Scramble up another few metres to reach the true summit of Spidean Coire nan Clach, your first Munro of the day. 2 NG966597 From here, descend sharp right (east) on an obvious ridgeline with cliffs falling away…

Lake District CLASSIC FELL WALK 1 SD302975 From the centre of Coniston village cross the bridge over Church Beck and immediately turn right on a narrow lane. After 200m, fork right at the Sun Hotel between buildings and cottages. Continue for 500m to arched bridge by junction with track to the Coppermines valley. Don't cross the bridge – keep ahead on an obvious path through a couple of large enclosures to reach a wide track by rocky knobbles at Crowberry Haws. 2 SD284980 Bear right for 30m and then fork left on the path, climbing steeply with zigzags, towards the Old Man. The popular path is rough and unstable in places – the result of waste from old slate mining – and rises along the route of an old incline…

Does Striding Edge really need an introduction? It is surely the Lake District's best known mountain icon. The subject of numerous TV shows, countless blog posts, an uncountable quantity of Instagram images, and more than one or two features over the years in this very magazine. You may struggle to remember when it first appeared on your radar, but you're unlikely to have forgotten your first time on it. Striding Edge is simply one of (and I only include ‘one of’ for the sake of the handful of people who would argue that there are others) the best ridge walks in Lakeland, and therefore England as a whole. What makes it so special? It's not as sharp as Sharp Edge on nearby Blencathra, nor as long and remote as the…

WILD BOAR FELL, Yorkshire Dales A splendid mountain, and both one of the Yorkshire Dales’ (although its actually in the county of Cumbria) best and its most overlooked. At 708m it towers over the Mallerstang valley, with the bulk of the Pennines to its east, and the Howgills to its west. WILDBOARCLOUGH, Peak District This village is situated alongside Clough Brook in the south-west Peak District where, legend has it, the last wild boar in England was killed. It has a smattering of homes, a church, a phone box, a post box, a pub, and sits directly below Shutlingsloe hill. BOAR CLOUGH, Lancashire Several cloughs scar Pendle Hill's south slopes. Ogden Clough is the longest and deepest, but splitting off from it above the Upper Ogden Reservoir is Boar Clough.…

TRAIL MAGAZINE Isle of Arran ROCKY MOUNTAIN CIRCUIT Bisected by the Highland Boundary Fault, the Isle of Arran is both Highland and Lowland. Its northern mountain range dominates coastal views from much of south-west Scotland, with Goatfell the highest and best-loved of all the island's peaks. While climbing this mighty Corbett is essential for any Arran hillwalker, a circular route adding North Goatfell, The Saddle and Glen Rosa involves Grade 1 scrambling and gives fine views from different perspectives. Cir Mhor's imposing pyramid dominates the north-west, with Beinn Tarsuinn across the sweeping valley of Glen Rosa in the west; the Firth of Clyde to the east. Continue along the ridge and around the rocky tors to North Goatfell, then head down to The Saddle for more scrambling, less company, and glorious…

TRAIL MAGAZINE Isle of Skye EXPOSED SCRAMBLE The Black Cuillin on the Isle of Skye is one of those places you just have to go and experience. It absolutely deserves its reputation as one of Britain's best mountain environments simply for the sheer drama of the place, and Sgurr Dearg is a great introduction to the area. If Munro-bagging is your thing then you'll already know that summiting involves a roped rock climb and an abseil for anyone who wants to survive the experience. If you aren't after the full climb but still fancy having a look, maybe for another day or just for the sake of curiosity, and are up for some scrambly fun along the way, then an ascent of the western ridge is an adventurous undertaking and sets…

North-west Highlands HORNS A'PLENTY 1 NG868576 From the car park, turn right to cross the road bridge, then turn left onto the path which enters woodland and follows the Choire Mhic Nobaill burn. Near the bend in the path there is a slight diversion (there and back) left down the bank towards the burn where there is an impressive waterfall and gorge. Carry on up the path and through a gate which exits the woods to reveal your objective for the day. The path runs on the east side of the river for 1.5km until it comes to a wooden footbridge. 2 NG881588 Cross the footbridge and head up beside the Allt a Bhealaich burn, passing a series of waterfalls with Beinn Alligin's numerous peaks looming. The initial buttress and…

Lake District ROCKY RIDGE & OPEN MOOR 1 SD302975 This walk begins just like Route 10 – walk up to the Sun Hotel and on to the arched bridge over the beck. Cross the bridge, turn left on the track and fork right onto another track after 175m. 2 SD293981 Pass a row of terraced cottages on the left, with spoil heaps on the right, and walk around a couple of hairpin bends. The track soon becomes a simple but steep path through bracken and rocks, with Sweeten Crag on the right. This levels out by a tiny tarn at Hole Rake – an old miners’ path which ran over the fell to Tilberthwaite. Leave the path here and fork left uphill on ground rising to a ridge with Red…

If you've enjoyed a clamber up Wildboar Clough, there's no better descent route back to the car than via its secluded neighbour. CLIMB A STAR OF THIS ISSUE P26 WALK IT Wildboar Clough on the northern side of Bleaklow is undoubtedly a magnificent scramble – turn to page 26 to read all about it if you haven't already. But once you're at the top and out of the clough, Bleaklow's wide and windswept moorland can feel like a bit of an anticlimax, and a trudge back down on the Pennine Way something of a depressing end to the clamber. Instead, head to the top of Torside Clough and descend via its streamdampened gorge; hopping, skipping and clambering your way off the hill. Just be sure to watch your step and,…

Helvellyn Lake District “This is my son Arthur on his way over Striding Edge and to the summit of Helvellyn. He's only 7 years old and managed the whole thing. Really proud of him.” Joe Hunter Bow Fell Lake District “My wife Emma enjoying a brew with a view on a recent camp just below Bow Fell. The simplest things give us the greatest pleasures!” Mark Blaszczyszyn Scafell Pike “My grandson Cam, 16, and I set off from Wasdale campsite very early on 21 June for our first ever night hike. We arrived at the summit of Scafell Pike in time to witness this amazing midsummer sunrise – an experience neither of us will forget!” Dave Bowditch Yr Wydffa (Snowdon) Snowdonia “Matt Chapman and I, supported by James Addison, took…

SKEAUDALE HORSESHOE (HILLS & SEA VIEWS) Start/finish: Parking bay at NB137034 Distance: 9km Ascent: 826m Difficulty: Medium Terrain: Pathless but fairly good walking ground. Mixture of rock and grass. Easy to stay as close or as far away from big cliff drops. Navigation: pathless terrain, good nav required in poor visibility. Cliff edges, with huge drops AN CLISEAM (ROCK & RIDGE) Start/finish: Parking bay at NB182099 Distance: 14km Ascent: 1076m Difficulty: Hard Terrain: Rough and rocky ridges, potentially very boggy approach and return, some bouldery sections and exposed descent require caution, paths are intermittent and not always obvious. Navigation: Sketchy paths through often complex terrain make navigational competence a must. HUISINIS WALK (BEACHES, HILLS, LOCHS) Start/finish: Parking Huisinis Gateway where there are campervan facilities, showers etc (£5 for the day,…

I tried something the other day that made me feel better than I've felt in many a long year. It created a euphoric feeling that lasted for days. It was legal, free and so bleeding obvious that I'm almost embarrassed to name it. But, because we're all in this thing together, the mountains linking our existence and ambitions, I'm going to. It was barefoot walking. Yep, I can feel your eyes rolling at the mere mention of those words because, believe me, I feel silly admitting to it. But bare with me… (sorry, couldn't resist). I remember a few years ago, in the Carneddau mountains of North Wales, I passed a chap who was walking barefoot. He had long hair, nonconventional walking clothes and, to top it all, he was…

■ A PERSONAL COOKING SYSTEM If you're one of the few remaining backpackers on the planet who is unfamiliar with Jetboil, its PCS stoves form the backbone of the range, and the Sumo is one such example. Designed as a complete system, the burner and pot are perfectly matched. In use they clip together, with the FluxRing at the base of the pot and the design of the burner head combining to offer both maximum heat exchange and maximum windproofing for best efficiency and performance. Plus, the burner, gas canister and fuel support can be stored in the pot for transport and stowage when not in use. ■ REGULATED VALVE TECHNOLOGY The burner on the best-selling Jetboil Flash has just 2 settings: on and off. It makes it great for…

Ronald Turnbull Hannah James Jamie Rooke Simon Stokes Katie Featherstone Nick Livesey Tom Hutton Roger Butler GET TRAIL ROUTES ONLINE Every Trail magazine route is published digitally in OS Maps, allowing you to view, download and follow it using the Ordnance Survey's award-winning app. All you need to do is scan the QR code on each route with your camera to open it on your phone. Plus, all first-time Trail subscribers get 50% OFF OS Maps, giving you digital Ordnance Survey maps for the whole of Britain. Full details on PAGE 99 SUSTAINABLE STEPS Look for our Tread Lightly logo throughout the routes section for tips on how to lessen your environmental impact. ALWAYS CARRY A MAP! Trail routes are written as guides, but for detailed mountain navigation you must…

If you're going to do one walk in the Brecon Beacons, then this is the one you really have to do! It's the best route if you want to take in the finest walking all in one go, making it the perfect walk to choose if you only have a day there. It's not easy to get to the starting point, up above Tal y Bont, but it's certainly worth the extra effort. You'll park in Neuadd car park and begin by strolling up the road before taking a track up towards Cribyn. Don't let this gentle start fool you as the climbs up and down Cribyn, and Pen y Fan itself, are nice and sharp. Although it's easy to miss out, I'd definitely recommend climbing Cribyn, if you can,…

TRAIL MAGAZINE Eryri (Snowdonia) HANDS-ON BIG MOUNTAINS The Carneddau massif is home to seven of the 15 Eryri 3000s, with most of its rock-strewn summits punctuating whaleback ridges that scarcely drop below the 900m line. It's no surprise, then, that it's as challenging to walk as it is spectacular. This route ups the ante even further though, by linking together the more airy of these ridges to provide short, easy, yet exhilarating scrambling high in the hills. It starts in Cwm Lloer, as remote a cwm as you'll find in the area despite being so close to the main thoroughfare, and then leaves the valley floors via a succession of short scrambles that set the tone for the rest of the day. From Pen yr Ole Wen, you bridge across to…

North-west Highlands RUGGED RIDGES 1 NG936566 From the layby on the north side of the road (there's a larger parking area 100m west), take the path beside the Allt an Doire Ghairbh burn towards Liathach's southern walls. The burn splits into two at the Toll a’ Meitheach and heads up into Choire Liath Mhor. Keep right and traverse north-east across the southern walls. The path steepens and there is some scrambling before you emerge to be greeted by the ridge. Turn right and ascend the quartz rocky ridge to summit Stuc a’ Choire Dhuibh Bhig. 2 NG942582 Double back on yourself to where you entered the ridgeline, to meet a saddle which then joins a left rising slope to a series of boulders and rocks at Stob a Choire Liath…

1 SD302975 Today's walk begins with a quick march up the steep lane towards the Walna Scar Road. From the centre of Coniston walk south over the bridge and after 100m take Station Road on the right. Keep straight ahead, around a sharp bend, and continue up the steep hill, past another bend, to the car park (you can cheat and drive up here – but there's an £8.50 charge and you might bash your exhaust on the badly rutted surface!). 2 SD289970 Walk straight through the parking area and join the track. Simply keep ahead, rising gradually uphill and over one rocky notch, for 1.75km. Leave the track and fork right on a good path leading into the corrie between Dow Crag on the left and the Old Man…