Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2025 i Trail

In 2007 we created our own mountain ticklist – not based on height, or location, but on the very best peaks to climb in the UK. Hand-picked by Trail's hillwalking experts, the Trail 100 takes you from the mighty summits of Scotland to the limestone peaks of the Yorkshire Dales and the gritstone edges of the Peak District. You'll cross razor-sharp Welsh ridges, lose yourself in Lakeland valleys, explore the weird tors of Dartmoor, discover the dazzling green beauty of the Brecon Beacons, and head across the Irish Sea to the Mourne Mountains. So if you are looking for inspiration for your new mountain year, or want to kick-start your bucket list challenge, here's a selection of seven fantastic Trail 100 peaks to get you started in 2025. SGURR ALASDAIR…

“It was titillating to brush up against the enigma of mortality, to steal a glimpse across its forbidden frontier. Climbing was a magnificent activity, I firmly believed, not in spite of the inherent perils, but precisely because of them.” Jon Krakauer, Into Thin Air. Your phone runs out of battery. You trip. Take a wrong turn. Any of these things at sea-level are usually an inconvenience at worst, but in the mountains they can lead to the severest consequences. Balanced on the tip of a sky-high arête, with a rock wall falling sheer below, the margin for failure is very thin. A simple slip can be fatal. Yet, these routes, for a lot of hill-goers, are the most enticing, the most thrilling and frequently carry the most kudos. Crib Goch…

For a little hill with an easy walk in, Crimpiau has some of the best views of Ogwen that you will find. It's really suited to those days where you want to get out but can't really be bothered with a full-on hill day – a restful Sunday kind of walk. It also works well for people who are newer to hillwalking, as well as young people with little legs. It was the first hill I ever took my daughter, Aili, wild camping on. There is a great path for lots of the walk, but with a really rugged and off-path section up on the high ground. In any time other than summer, you'll be glad of a pair of gaiters though, unless you enjoy the feeling of your feet…

Located in a wedge of land between the market town of Cockermouth, Bassenthwaite Lake and the Lord's Seat group of fells, Ling Fell and Sale Fell form the northernmost cornerstone of the north-western fells – a duo of grassy, rounded hills with a quiet and understated air. But they are a delightful place for a half-day amble in a figure-of-eight shape, serving up gorgeous views across Bassenthwaite of Ullock Pike's shapely ridge, Dodd's wooded flanks and the majestic bulk of the sprawling Skiddaw Massif, as well as vistas north to Criffel and the Galloway Hills in south-western Scotland. Better still you can start and finish your walk at The Pheasant Inn (Bassenthwaite), a charming 17th century coaching inn with a delightful beer garden, charming bars and an excellent food and…

When it comes to walking peak to pub, the iconic Wasdale Head Inn is one of the greatest. Set in the foothills of England's highest mountain, and on the shores of the epic Wast Water, it has inspired generations – from the earliest climbers to modern-day Three Peakers. You're spoilt for choice with walks, but it would be a shame to miss Scafell Pike while you're here. So start your weekend with the awe-inspiring scenery on this classic circular up Scafell Pike via Mickledore and around the back to Sprinkling and Styhead Tarns. On day 2, you'll miss the summit but not the drama on a lap around Great Gable. Finish off with a nip up airy Yewbarrow for one last mountain hit before the drive home! GET THERE Whether…

KEY FACTS Distilled down to its key component parts, the Ring of Steall is four Munro summits linked by ridges. Sounds awesome, doesn't it? And so it is – if big days and exposed scrambly ridge traverses are your thing. To be clear, this is a tough day at any time of year. The length is reasonable, but it's the accumulated ascent and descent that tests your legs to extremes. As cliched as it may be to say so, the best things in life are often hardest won, and as far as mountain days out go, the Ring of Steall in the Highlands’ Mamores mountains is right up there with the best of them. But before you lace up your boots and head directly to Glen Nevis, you should probably…

LAKE DISTRICT Dale Head If you've ever stood on top of Dale Head – with its sheer northern crags (to the left of this picture) falling away beneath your feet into the picture-perfect scoop of the Newlands Valley – it's easy to forget you haven't claimed the scalp of one of the Lake District's big boys. Depending on which list you go by, Dale Head doesn't even sit inside England's top 70 mountains, but don't let that put you off. The views from its 753m cairn stretch dreamily to every point of the compass – down to Buttermere, over to Great Gable and the Scafells, across the Central Fells to the Helvellyn range, and all the way north past the Solway Forth to the distant shadows of Scotland's Galloway hills.…

1 Yr Wyddfa's South Ridge ERYRI (SNOWDONIA) There is no finer sight to behold, possibly in the whole of Britain, than Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in winter attire – she's beautiful. There's one route that truly celebrates this fact, concentrating solely on Wales’ highest rather than seeking pleasure amongst the other very distracting peaks, and that is an ascent of the South Ridge. If you look at Yr Wyddfa on a map, you can't help but notice the pleasingly direct nature of the South Ridge and the way that it drops down the map like a stone down a well. That part of the day, up from Bwlch-Cwm Llan climbing steadily northwards (you can, of course, walk this route in either direction) is grand, especially when you take a peek at Cwm…

What the heck have I done? I'm at mile 11 of my training walk for the marathon-length Macmillan Mighty Hike in the Yorkshire Dales, wondering how on earth I'm going to manage to double that distance, and then some. I know I should be capable. Eight months ago I ran my first half marathon for the Sue Ryder charity, so a full marathon walk seemed like a good logical progression. I also experienced first-hand with the run what an incredible thing it is to pour grief and love into a physical challenge for a charity that really means something to you. What I got from the experience wasn't just a new-found fitness that made my trips to the mountains even better and my waistband slightly less tight. It allowed me…

ESSENTIAL KIT Alongside full winter kit and clothing, including an ice axe and crampons, you should carry: ■ Goggles ■ Map and compass ■ GPS and/or navigation apps ■ Fully charged phone in a protective case and power bank ■ Headtorch ■ We'd also recommend a timings card and slope aspect measurement tool USEFUL RESOURCES Scottish Avalanche Information Service sais.gov.uk Lake District snow observations lakedistrictweatherline.co.uk Mountain Weather Information Service mwis.org.uk Met Office Mountain Weather Forecast metoffice.gov.uk/weather/specialist-forecasts/mountain 1 PLAN YOUR ROUTE WITH WINTER CONDITIONS IN MIND Full winter conditions change the nature of the hills dramatically, so it's essential to plan your route accordingly. First, check the relevant mountain weather forecasts and avalanche information for the area you hope to walk in – this will refine your route to the areas safe…

HotHands Hand Warmers (twin pack) £1 The simplest handwarmer type. Open the outer pack to expose the HotHands to air and the chemical reaction within the all-natural ingredients warms up in 15-30 minutes to offer up to 8 hours of warmth. They're very light, but only work once, then have to be thrown away. Lifesystems Reusable Hand Warmers £5 Click the metal disc in the pads to start a reaction that crystalises the gel, generating up to 54°C of heat. This only lasts for around 45 minutes, and each pad weighs 118g, but they're low priced and can be recharged by simmering them in water to return the crystals to gel. Zippo 12-Hour Refillable Hand Warmer £33 Powered by lighter fuel, the flameless burner provides up to 12 hours of…

Start your journey at Llanthony, in the heart of the Black Mountains, and step onto the Offa's Dyke trail. This long-distance path carves along the ancient English-Welsh border with its roots in the 8th century. The route from Llanthony Priory to Hay-on-Wye offers a rare blend of rugged beauty and historical intrigue, guiding walkers through open moorlands, lush valleys, and alongside the remnants of Offa's earthwork. Ascending gently from the atmospheric ruins of Llanthony Priory – the path offers sweeping views over undulating hills and pastoral landscapes dotted with grazing sheep. As you reach the ridge, panoramic vistas open up, stretching across the Wye Valley and deep into the Welsh countryside. Descending toward Hay-on-Wye, you'll feel the pull of its charming streets lined with unique bookshops and cosy cafés. Reward…

At 550m (1815ft) Cosdon Beacon is one of Dartmoor's finest viewpoints: a magnificent array of Dartmoor tors complemented by the patchwork Devon fields stretching north to Exmoor. Cosdon is crowned with a large prehistoric cairn. Nearby, is a 150m long prehistoric triple stone row, one of the most impressive of the 76 on Dartmoor, which range from a few metres in length to over 3km. Also en route are hut circles (prehistoric houses) near White Hill and Little Hound Tor's stone circle, one of eighteen that survive on Dartmoor. Like stone rows, circles probably date from the Bronze Age, but perhaps even earlier. Their exact age and purpose is unknown, but we can speculate over refreshments at the Oxenham Arms in South Zeal. This handsome granite and thatch building is…

A deeply dramatic, glacial carved valley is home to the tumbling mountain river of Afon Nant Peris. And roughly shaped spurs bear down from the Glyderau and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) mountain massifs. These high mountain summits tower above a winding road and jumbled boulders, from centuries of freeze/thaw action on the surrounding volcanic rocks. This is Bwlch Llanberis (Pass of Llanberis) and is familiar with many walkers in Eryri; a gateway to Yr Wyddfa from Llanberis and where the village Nant Peris nestles. Here is a remarkable base to explore some familiar and not so familiar ground, indulging in the captivating silhouettes of Crib Goch, Glyder Fawr and Elidir Fawr that surround the valley. Access excellent mountain walking by bus and enjoy the hospitality and comfort of the village pub,…

EXHIBITION EVEREST A brand-new Everest Revisited exhibition has opened at Rheged in the Lakes, looking back on 100 years of inspiration and human endeavour through art, photography and rare artefacts. Marking the centenary of Mallory and Irvine's disappearance on Everest, the exhibition delves into pivotal moments of Everest exploration, from early mapping expeditions to pioneering climbs, advancements in mountaineering technology and the vital role of the Sherpa community. Historical items will be exhibited – those kindly on loan include Mallory's boot and goggles found on Everest, and Irvine's ice axe found mysteriously on its own in 1933 high on the mountain. A programme of talks, films and Q&A sessions in Rheged's cinema also offers a deeper insight into the history and stories of those who have tackled Earth's highest peak.…

THIS MONTH'S WINNER Liathach Torridon “What a fantastic day! Weather was superb (slightly cold at the start) but that's not a bad thing, as most of the ascent on Liathach comes early. The views were quite sensational throughout the whole walk but from the top of the pinnacles it was just mouth opened, jaw dropping, take your breath away, from the island of Skye to all of the Torridon giants including Beinn Eighe and Beinn Alligin! It just kept getting better and the views of what you were going to do going over Liathach loomed large ahead. The sight of the pinnacles had the heart racing and when going over these they kept you alert, although I didn't find them overly difficult. After the pinnacles just a straightforward Munro with…

For such a mammoth mountain, Bidean nam Bian is remarkably good at hiding. Its name means ‘Peak of the Mountains’. At 1150m, the closest mountain with more metres is Ben Nevis itself, some 17km away. It's the highest mountain in Glen Coe by some margin. And yet driving through the glen, you'll be lucky to spot the peak, despite it making up most of the south side of the valley. That's because Bidean nam Bian's summit is just the highest point of a sprawling massif of convoluted ridges and peaks. And, from down in the glen at least, it's these ridges and peaks that obscure the view to the top. If you've been through Glen Coe, you will have seen bits of Bidean (and such is the regard with which…

Cold hands are no joke. At best, numb fingers add a dose of discomfort. Worse, they can prevent you performing essential tasks like zipping up jackets, fixing crampons, or operating a stove. And, worse still, it can lead to permanent damage from frostnip or frostbite. But even if your winter adventures are unlikely to be the kind that can lead to digit loss, there's a lot to be said for simply avoiding suffering in the cold. And while a good pair of insulating gloves will certainly help your hands stay warm, they don't always cut the mustard when it comes to warming your hands up. That's where a little external heat can be invaluable. Handwarmers are not a new thing. From the single-use air-activated type to the lighter-fuel powered heaters…

YOUR TESTER There is something quite primal – and utterly miserable – about being cold at night when you're in the outdoors. It feels perilous, as if you're battling vindictive, merciless weather gods. I've shivered through a few suffer-fest wild camps in my time, after misjudging temperatures and packing a woefully thin sleeping bag. Suffice to say, it's a scenario I'm now desperate to avoid at all costs. And I've developed a personal strategy for doing so. It works like this. I pay close attention to a sleeping bag's EN/ISO standard temperature ratings, but – as someone who feels the cold badly – I ignore the ‘extreme’ and ‘comfort limit’ ratings. Instead I use the ‘comfort’ rating as a baseline guide and then make sure my sleeping bag has a…

Is Wharfedale the finest of Yorkshire's famous dales? Well, it's definitely a contender. While the highest ground consists of dark, peaty moorland often peppered with outcrops of millstone grit, the valley and lower slopes are dominated by the sort of limestone features that make the Yorkshire Dales unique in Britain. Nowhere else can you find the wealth of potholes, dry valleys, limestone pavement, caves and scars that you can find here in England's second largest National Park. This walk provides a taste of that limestone country, first visiting the unusual outcrop known as Conistone Pie and then clambering up through Conistone Dib, a narrow, dry gorge hemmed in by vertical rock faces. Having left the limestone grassland, the haunt of curlews and lapwings in the spring, the route then briefly…

The Cluanie Inn occupies a spectacular position in the heart of Glen Shiel on the road to the isles, and it makes a great stop – with a café and petrol station in addition to the inn itself. It gives access to numerous Munros and valley trails, but the best easy scramble in the area is the south ridge of Mullach Fraoch-choire, on the map as Na Geurdain. It is considered Grade 1 in summer and winter, and allows views north into the wilderness around Glen Affric. This route is the quickest way to reach the scramble, taking you through the valley of An Caorann Mor and climbing to the summit ridge via the subsidiary top of Stob Coire na Craileig. The benefit of this route in winter is that…

In recent years there has been a growing interest in long-distance hiking in the Pyrenees. The impressive and tranquil mountain landscape, dotted with lakes, is seeing good numbers of walkers without becoming too crowded. It is this unique combination of picturesque scenery and peacefulness which draws hikers to this mountain chain. Many come for a couple of weeks, while others are lucky enough to have the time to do a long-distance trail in one season from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, from one side of the mountain chain to the other. In between the two extremities, there are magnificent landscapes with a variety of trails. The GR11 is one of the trails which crosses the whole Pyrenees, staying on the Spanish side of the border, which is marked…