Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2025 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 99 Quite frequently I read something in Trail that makes me feel incredibly insignificant and borderline pathetic by comparison. This month it was that 665 people have walked America's ‘Triple Crown’ of long-distance trails (page 26), piling up a cumulative 7875 miles while completing the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail and lesser-known Continental Divide Trail. A fairly astonishing distance, which would stretch a quarter of the way round the world if you laid it out in a straight line. Of course there are many reasons more people haven't done it – chiefly that it's a bloody hard thing to do, physically,…

Life is full of double entendre, if you catch my drift. From powdering our noses, to burning the midnight oil, to feeling worse for wear, we human beings have developed sophisticated double-speak for disguising what it is we really mean. And just like HR meetings, relationships, bodily functions and school plays, hiking is also full of these euphemisms. We won't beat about the bush: often when trogging uphill with your beloved or a close pal, certain phrases can slip out, and they're certainly not what they seem on first utterance. So, here's our expert translation of exactly what your hiking partner means when they say things like “it's not far now,” “it should be around here somewhere” and “shut up before I forcibly remove your larynx”. 1 “NOT FAR NOW” TRANSLATION: We're…

SCOTLAND: CIR MHOR Undoubtedly a pointy peak, what else is it about this wonderfully rocky mountain that makes it worthy of the title the ‘Matterhorn of Arran’? Well, like the Matterhorn, Cir Mhor is the hub of a spoke of ridges. This makes Cir Mhor's sharp summit appear to be more isolated than it really is. But that's about as far as it goes. Cir Mhor is still only 799m, and nobody's topped the Matterhorn on the way to summiting Goat Fell. Matterhorn-alike rating: ENGLAND: ROSEBERRY TOPPING At 320m the ‘Yorkshire Matterhorn’ is almost exactly 14x smaller than its 4478m Swiss counterpart. So why does it draw such a comparison? Partly it's because, like the Matterhorn, it stands separate from the surrounding landscape and has a slightly angular and crooked…

■ HEAT RETAINING The first thing to set the Puez Winter aside from regular boots is the insulation. Within the high cut construction of the boot (which helps to keep heat in and snow/slush out) there's a toe box insulated with PrimaLoft Gold to keep your lower extremities warm. The plush padding around the ankle also helps retain warmth, while the CFF Winter footbed is felt-lined to further hold onto heat. ■ PROTECTION INSIDE AND OUT As you'd expect with a boot designed for hiking in the worst of the weather, the Puez Winter features a waterproof lining to keep out the snow, slush, and good old-fashioned rain. Salewa has used its own Powertex membrane, which is waterproof, breathable and free of nasty PFAS chemicals. On the outside of the…

Harvey Ben Nevis Summit Map £7.95 A map is an essential piece of navigation kit. Usually, the scale of these maps is 1:25,000 or 1:50,000 for Ordnance Survey, and 1:25,000 or 1:40,000 for Harvey Maps. However, Harvey's Summit Maps provide detail of complex mountain-top terrain (such as Ben Nevis and others) at a larger 1:12,500 scale, making it easier to safely navigate difficult and often dangerous terrain. These maps are tough, lightweight, waterproof, extra clear for fine navigation in bad conditions, and an excellent addition alongside your regular hiking map. Silva Expedition 4 Compass £38 If a map is part A of an essential navigation kit, then a compass is an equally important part B. A hiking compass should be easy to use, clear to read, tough enough to stand…

Soaring above the Keswick skyline with a shapely profile, Grisedale Pike's eastern ridge is an eye-catching sight – and, by some considerable margin, the most popular way up this excellent Lakeland fell. But there is another way. Around the back, hidden in the depths of Thornthwaite Forest, Grisedale Pike's northern ridge has a secretive feel. Alfred Wainwright described it as a “splendid expedition of charm and variety”. So, if you fancy diverging from the norm, this is the route for you. Starting in Thornthwaite village, the walk ascends alongside Comb Beck to Whinlatter Visitor Centre before climbing the little-known ridge of Hobcarton End and continuing up the northern ridge to Grisedale Pike. From here you pick up the classic Coledale horseshoe loop, ticking off seven more Wainwrights in a big…

Beinn Eighe, the easternmost of the Torridon giants, is one of the UK's oldest and most revered mountains. With its dramatic quartzite ridges, steep slopes, and razor-back peaks, it's easy to see why this mountain holds such a special place in the hearts of hillwalkers. Having spent my university summers working at the Kinlochewe Hotel (at the foot of these hills), I like to think I know this landscape like the back of my hand. I've discovered that out of all the possible routes, this one is by far my favourite, as it seamlessly connects all peaks into one 7km ridge, offering an exhilarating and rewarding day out. Classified as a Grade 1 scramble in summer, the route may appear intimidating and narrow from the roadside, but in reality the…

1 SD698969 From the lay-by just to the north of The Cross Keys Temperance Inn, take the steps signposted ‘Cautley Spout’ down to wooden footbridge over the River Rawthey into access land. Follow path west, turn right on A Pennine Journey path briefly north-east, and then turn left to strike uphill, aiming north-west over pathless and steep slopes of smooth grass towards Ben End. A grassy trod emerges and guides you ever upwards, over Ben End and onwards almost to the south top of Yarlside. The trod curves right, just below the south top to a slight grassy saddle, before a short final climb to the summit of Yarlside. 2 SD685985 Follow Yarlside's ridgeline briefly northwards on a trod, in order to avoid crags to the right. As the ridgeline…

1 NY469107 Follow the path heading up into the valley from the road-end car park at Mardale Head and, when it splits, turn right. Cross Mardale Beck and turn right along the base of the fell. 2 NY472115 Near a stand of conifers close to the end of The Rigg, the path swings through a gap in a wall. Immediately turn left along a trail through the bracken. This enjoys an on-and-off relationship with an old wall riding the crest of the ridge, later alternating between pleasant, grassy ridge and easy, rocky clambering on its way to the top of Rough Crag. The trail crosses the saddle of Caspel Gate before climbing the Long Stile ridge. On reaching a large cairn, bear left (south-west) across the flat, grassy plateau. Turn…

Howard Johnson has, over the course of a 20-year career, coughed through a lot of dust clouds. The plumes of ash formed by a volcano spitting fountains of lava half a kilometre in the air. The debris kicked up by search and rescue operations following the 2015 earthquake in Nepal. The smoke from protest fires in Manila. His role as a BBC News foreign correspondent took him, inevitably, to where things were happening. Those things, usually, were extreme. “I became interested in risk and exploring that feeling of being maybe slightly closer to death,” he says. “Because, you know what everyone says, when you're close to death, you feel most alive.” During his career, Howard reported on an earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia, repressive regimes in the Philippines, prison overcrowding,…

Lorpen T3+ Inferno Biowarmer Over-The-Calf Sock £70 Designed for extreme conditions, these socks use a mix of fabrics including merino wool and PrimaLoft Bio yarns for maximum warmth. Their thickness also adds an extra layer of cushioning. Expensive, yes, but we challenge you to find a toastier pair of socks. Sidas Drywarmer Pro USB Boot Dryers £30 Damp boots are guaranteed to lead to cold feet. Although you can't always stop them becoming damp during the hike, these gentle boot dryers will at least make sure they're dry (and slightly warmed) next time you come to put them on. Thaw Disposable Foot Warmers £2 If your feet need help heating up, these might be just what you need. Simply open the pack, peel back the adhesive, and stick to the…

To those approaching Blaenau Ffestiniog from the south, the powerful, craggirt domes of the Manod Hills are a compelling sight. At first glance they appear wild and unspoilt, but on closer inspection their true nature becomes apparent. Eviscerated by slate extraction, both quarried and mined, Manod Mawr is a shadow of its former self but gained importance during WWII when paintings from the National Gallery were hidden in the belly of the mountain for safe keeping. Local folk look upon these hills with affection, while collectors of Wales' 2000ft peaks ‘bag them’ merely because they are there! Nevertheless, this walk is not exclusively about despoliation, there are also scenic gems to be enjoyed – the windswept Llyn y Manod and the lonely environs of Cwm Teigl never fail to soothe…

Once thought to be the UK's highest mountain, Ben Cruachan is a masterpiece. It's a mightily impressive sight when it first slips into view on the drive along the A85. A complex massif, multi-topped and sprawling, it rises to a pointed apex 1126m above the shores of the appropriately named Loch Awe. To see it is to want to be up among its ridges and peaks, to discover its secrets. And secrets Ben Cruachan has. Within its bowels it contains one of Europe's most incredible feats of engineering. Like Eryri's Elidir Fawr, Ben Cruachan is home to a gigantic, subterranean pumped storage hydroelectric power station. It works by drawing water up from the loch to the Cruachan Reservoir while energy demand is low, before releasing it through four huge turbines,…

1 SD658921 From the Joss Lane pay & display car park in Sedbergh, walk up Joss Lane, which heads north and then north-east to reach a wooden gate. Continue on a track, which passes next to a barn and veers north for Settlebeck Gill. Go through a swinging gate set within a drystone wall to emerge onto a narrow path. Continue north following the stream, go through another gate, and arrive at a final metal gate that leads to the open fellside. Veer left on a track, which zigzags uphill, and then follow the Dales High Way north. After 800m, aim directly for the col between Winder and Arant Haw. Turn right on the main ridge path briefly and then veer left off it onto a trod that leads to…

The peregrine sees all. From thousands of feet above the tops of the mountains, she (falcon refers to the female, the male is known as a tercel) is scanning the map-like landscape below with huge eyes and a coolness that goes hand in hand with being the best. Islands of snow cover the terrain; the topmost regions of the peaks wear months-old coats of snow and ice, reflecting a searingly pure white light back onto the retinas of the watching falcon. By contrast, between these islands, the heather, grass and tree cover look impossibly dark, as if these things are swallowing the extra light the snow gives out. Even the sun, nearly at its zenith for the day, fails to brighten the snowless regions. It's as if they're sulking, waiting…

DO get hold of a bivvy bag if you don't have one already. The lightest are simple sacks with a drawstring hood but some are more tent-like, with a simple pole structure to create headroom and midge mesh across the opening. DO bring a midge net if you're bivvying between May and September. If you're going somewhere which tends to be very midgey then you might want to consider a full midge jacket and mittens. There's no tent to escape to after all. DO test your sleeping set-up. Do you want to put your sleeping mat inside or outside the bag? Inside gives it some protection from the ground but does limit space inside the bag. Try both to see which you prefer. DO bring a large dry-bag or bin bag to stash your pack and boots…

YOUR TESTER Rewind to 2005 and you'd never have seen me in the hills with a pair of trekking poles. As a self-conscious young man I saw them as a fashion faux pas committed by anorak-wearing, map-around-the-neck rambling geeks, or grannies with early onset osteoarthritis and creaky knees. Today, as a 41-year-old man, I'm a trekking pole evangelist. I never go out into the hills without them – they are my new essential, not optional, accessory. Why the change of heart? Well, because poles bring so many benefits: fewer falls and trips due to improved balance; more secure footing on rough and uneven terrain; increased speed when ascending; and enhanced confidence on tricky downhills. The anchor points add stability to your every step, the rhythmic powering of the arms adds…

A shell for all weathers Berghaus Ridge-Roamer Softshell £270 Much as we like a soft shell, it can be difficult to know exactly what weather it's best suited to – certainly here in the UK where we can get a mix of everything in one day. But it's exactly these mixed conditions that the Ridge-Roamer has been created for. Labelled a soft shell by Berghaus, it nonetheless has a hydrostatic head of 10,000mm, which is enough to qualify it as properly waterproof. It's more breathable than a typical hard shell but still weatherproof enough to protect me from most precipitation. It had a lot of use at the tail end of the summer and into autumn, and is likely to get a good deal more once spring comes around. In…

This delightful circular walk ticks off two Wainwrights – Illgill Head and Whin Rigg – on the south-eastern shores of Wast Water. The twin fells provide an excellent perch from which to ogle England's deepest lake and its rugged amphitheatre of surrounding fells, from Great Gable, Yewbarrow and Kirk Fell to the mighty Scafell massif. But, perhaps, somewhat oddly, it's this route's low-level return leg – along the infamous Wast Water Screes path – that truly steals the show. Alfred Wainwright described it as “a vicious quartermile, compared with which the top of Scafell Pike is like a bowling green”. The crux, old Alf adds, is a section at the south-western tip of the lake, where “big awkward boulders are loosely piled at a steep angle and avoidable only by…

Towering over Glen Coe, Bidean Nam Bian's Three Sisters dominate the southern side of the valley. But hidden behind the Three Sisters, the Munros of Stob Coire nan Lochan (1115m) and Stob Coire Sgreamhach (1072m) are Bidean's highest points, and indeed the highest summits of Glen Coe. This route takes you between the Sisters via the Lost Valley up onto these highest tops in an epic day of pure mountain magic. The terrain is spectacular and rocky, with some mild scrambling at times, but paths are well-worn for most of the route. The view is jaw-dropping in all directions, from Loch Etive and the Isle of Mull in the south-west, to the Aonach Eagach on the other side of Glen Coe and all the way to Ben Nevis in the…

1 NY618044 From the road junction in the centre of Tebay village, head east on the road past The Old School B&B, and then turn immediately right on a minor road. Pass a line of sheds, cross a cattle grid and continue up the road, ignoring the turn-off left to Edge Farm. At a prominent junction, fork left as signposted ‘Public Footpath via Waskew Head'. The rough track descends briefly to cross bridge over Tebaygill Beck before climbing gently south-east. Stick to main track and pass to right of Waskew Head farm buildings. 2 NY627035 Head east on stony track and then continue east over pathless grassy terrain to reach wide track next to a drystone wall. Turn right and follow the track south, as it veers right away from…

1 NY469107 Follow the path heading up into the valley from the road-end car park at Mardale Head and, when it splits, turn right. Cross Mardale Beck and turn right along the base of the fell. Near a stand of conifers close to the end of The Rigg, the path swings through a gap in a wall and down into Riggindale, part of a huge RSPB reserve which encompasses much of the ground covered on these three walks. This valley used to be the haunt of England's last golden eagles, which raised 16 chicks here from 1970 until 1996. You won't see eagles today – the last one disappeared in 2015 – but there's a good chance of spotting red deer grazing the slopes. 2 NY467117 Cross Riggindale Beck via…

1 NY469107 Follow the path heading up into the valley from the road-end car park at Mardale Head and, when it splits, bear left. On its way up Gatescarth Pass, the wide, stony byway climbs below the crags of Harter Fell, the ledges of which shelter some of the UK's rarest Alpine plants. Of course, you won't see them from the path, but you might spot peregrines in this area. There is a brief easing of the gradient before the route climbs more steeply again via a series of tight zigzags. 2 NY473094 The track swings right when the ascent eases again. Leave it here by bearing left along a faint, grassy trail (east-south-east, quickly veering north-east). Stay with the clearest path at two faint forks to reach a fence.…

KEY FACTS If Scotland's Isle of Skye is home to the scariest mountains in the country, some of you might be delighted to know there's an epic ridge, right in the heart of the action, that caters for the walker. And it's Bla Bheinn's South Ridge. Don't relax too much though, because even a walk on Skye can involve a short scramble. Bla Bheinn is situated just a stone's throw due east of Skye's Black Cuillin mountains, and that regal crown of savage peaks will keep a lofty eye on your progress as you ascend to its 928m, Munro-qualifying, summit. The South Ridge route is of such stupendous magnitude that you'll find plenty more to look at though: it does after all rise straight out of Camasunary Bay, one of…