Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2020 i The Great Outdoors

AT THE TIME of writing, restrictions on travel and overnight stays are due to be lifted across the UK, paving the way for wild campers to return to the hills. In England, overnight stays in ‘selfcontained accommodation’ are permitted from July 4 – meaning that wild camping is likely back on the menu too, provided campers remained within their own ‘bubble’. It should, of course, be noted that wild camping is not officially legal in most places in England (although it is legal on Dartmoor and traditionally tolerated in the Lake District as long as it is done discreetly and responsibly). Scotland is due to relax its travel restrictions on July 3. Mountaineering Scotland said that it was “working on the expectation” that wild camping would be allowed from that…

pb Canongate Books, £9.99 Record-breaking adventurer James climbed all 446 2000ft peaks in England and Wales in six months. Mountain Man is the story of that epic undertaking What was your overall impression of the book? CHARLIE: I ended up finding it quite inspirational. At first I thought it was going to be a bit boring – he seemed to start out by writing a list of things he’d done – but the tone relaxed more as he wrote. He’s more experienced than he makes out at the beginning, but he sends himself up a lot and I think for people with less experience that would give them a bit of a confidence boost to say: “Maybe I could do that too.” RUTH: I liked his interactions with people, which…

WHEN RAMBLERS SCOTLAND approached me at the start of the year, I knew that 2020 was going to be different. Being appointed first female president was a huge honour, and I was excited to be involved with the excellent work that Ramblers Scotland does. I did not imagine that I would spend my first three months in the role encouraging people to stay near home amid a pandemic! Lockdown life Now as we gradually return to normal life, it’s alarming to see some of the places we love desecrated by antisocial behaviour, disposable barbecues, rubbish and contempt for access codes. Instinctively, I’m angered by such a wanton lack of care. We know this is a problem of old, but it somehow seems worse now. Yet we must remember that due…

THE CORONAVIRUS SITUATION may currently be casting a huge shadow over the viability of overseas travel, but there’s still a wide range of holiday options that don’t involve heading for foreign shores. Here’s our pick of the best outdoorsbased staycations the UK has to offer – each with a big enough shot of adrenaline, adventure or excitement to transport you well out of the everyday… Sun and rock, the Gower Sport climbing and superb beaches are a combo that most of us associate with the Mediterranean, but you can get a beginnerfriendly intro to bolted climbing without leaving the UK. The Gower peninsula has some of the finest sport crags in the country, and many of them – such as the rockfaces of Shipwreck Cove and Southgate – rise straight…

“IS IT SAFE?” This is what my dad said on the subject of any swim; any lake. His idea of ‘safe’ was tied with that of permission and common knowledge. He never said this about hills. There was always a guidebook to read and a map to follow for hills. My dad was in the terminal stages of prostate cancer when the outline for my new book on wild swimming in the Lake District was conceived. As he became less able to climb hills, we took shorter, easier walks. I started to swim more. He would nervously watch from the water’s edge, always more confident of my ability to drown than my ability to swim. I’d just been for a hair-raising and illadvised swim near a fast-flowing weir on a…

Distance 832km/517 miles (measured by Alex's GPS) Ascent 51,332m/168,412ft (measured by Alex's GPS) Time: Alex completed the route in 33 hiking days plus 4 days off, but the average is considered to be around 45 days. Start/finish: Hendaye to Banyuls-sur-Mer Guidebook: The Pyrenean Haute Route by Tom Martens (Cicerone Press) Time of year: June to September. Significant snow and ice often remain on higher sections well into June. Route: Many variants are possible. Due to severe weather, Alex ended up diverting along the GR11 to avoid the difficult Portillon and Tuc de Molières sections. Maps: The HRP is covered by 11 maps in the Rando Editions series. Alex used the excellent ViewRanger map set on his phone.…

66 Three-season sleeping bags Chris Townsend 72 Compasses Chris Townsend Jack Wolfskin expands its kit range made from ocean plastic Jack Wolfskin has an expanded collection of clothing and accessories made from Seaqual Yarn, a 100% recycled polyester made from the plastic content of marine waste. This material has been developed following a successful pilot project with fishing communities along the coast of the Spanish Mediterranean. Since the project began in 2016 an estimated 600 tons of garbage has been salvaged from the sea. jack-wolfskin.co.uk/seaqual New HydraPak bottles can be flattened for easy stowing HydraPak’s latest bottles can be flattened and stowed in the lid handle when empty so they take up little room in your pack. When full they are free-standing. The Flux bottles are made from dual-layer TPU film laminate…

Suzanna Cruickshank Suzanna is an open water swimmer, walker and writer based in the Lake District. A reformed hill-bagger, she works as a freelance swim guide, sharing her love of the landscape from a watery perspective (see her feature on p44). She leads swim walks and holidays in Cumbria and on the Isle of Mull. Unable to work during lockdown, she rediscovered her love of walking on the quiet lanes and farmland near her home. Although her heart belongs in Cumbria, she found herself missing Scottish seawater most of all during lockdown and is relishing a trip north later this year. Alex Roddie Regular contributor Alex has been focusing on nature and wildlife photography in the Lincolnshire Wolds over the last few weeks, studying the wildlife of a small nature…

CAN YOU NAME England’s Tree Champion? Neither could I until I looked him up. In fact I didn’t even know such a role existed. He’s called Sir William Worsley, and I found out about him when checking on the annual new planting figures published by the Forestry Commission. These figures are hugely disappointing. Last year’s Conservative manifesto promised 30,000 hectares of new planting in the UK per year by 2025. This could make a real difference, not just in our fight against climate change (trees are wonderful at capturing and storing CO2) but also in terms of human recreation and enjoyment. But despite a whole raft of subsidy and support schemes, total new planting in the UK for the year to March 2020 came to just 13,460 hectares – less…

WE KNOW we are fortunate to live in a Highland village – and we have appreciated it even more during the many weeks of lockdown. There are paths and tracks in every direction – along the Spey and the rocky river Calder, into Glen Banchor and its variety of small lumpy hills. There is a moorland route to Kingussie where you are dive-bombed by anxious curlew and lapwing with a panoramic view of the Cairngorms. Even the A9 cyclepath, a corridor of broom and wild flowers, was a pleasure to walk (and cycle) along with traffic numbers reduced. Presiding over all of this is Newtonmore’s closest Munro – A’ Chailleach (930 metres / 3051 feet), which we have climbed many times along with its neighbour Carn Sgulain (920m). These hills…

Prefer a walking holiday to the thrills and spills in the rest of this feature? These more unusual trails of various lengths all make excellent options for a UK escape while coronavirus is still at large – wild, beautiful, and mostly away from the crowds. 1. SNOWDONIA SLATE TRAIL, NORTH WALES – 83 MILES, 4-6 DAYS Opened in 2017, this new trail starts in Bangor, heads inland for Bethesda and then completes a circular loop around Snowdonia National Park. Devised to connect walkers with the area’s industrial heritage (think ruined slate mines and abandoned quarries), it’s part journey through time, part epic mountain scenery – a great combination. 2. CUMBRIA WAY, NORTH-WEST ENGLAND – 73 MILES, 5-7 DAYS The Cumbria Way – which traverses the county from Ulverston to Carlisle,…

PUBLIC TRANSPORT:Travelling to Glen Coe by car is easy via the A82. Alternatively the best public transport option is to take one of the regular Scottish Citylink buses between Glasgow or Edinburgh and Glen Coe. The nearest train station is Fort William. BOTHIES: There are no bothies in Glen Coe. The nearest two bothies are in Glen Duror to the south of the Ballachulish Munros and by Loch Chiarain to the north of Blackwater Reservoir. ACCOMMODATION: Budget options include Glencoe Youth Hostel, the campsite and ‘microlodges’ at Glencoe ski centre, or the Scottish Mountaineering Club’s Lagangarbh mountain hut. Several more expensive options such as Glencoe House are available nearby. FOOD AND DRINK: For an excellent post-hike meal and a pint (or two) look no further than The Clachaig Inn, winner of…

You can swim anywhere in the Lake District where you are able to access the water without trespassing. Ordnance Survey maps are invaluable for planning swim adventures. But the mere existence of access does not mean you should swim. Whether it is ‘safe’ depends on you, the swimmer, and conditions on the day. Remember, if an easily accessed section of lakeshore looks undesirable, a gem might be just around the corner. Always let someone know where you are going and try not to swim alone. There are lots of social swim groups across the country. Don’t drink and drown. As well as lowering your perception of risk, having alcohol in your system impairs your body’s ability to regulate its temperature. Ditto drugs. Identify your entry and exit points. Get in…

Fitness should be your first priority. My average distance per hiking day was 25.2km (15.7 miles) with 1556m (5104ft) of ascent (like climbing one and a half Fairfield Horseshoes every day, with a big pack, and in higher, more remote terrain). If you don’t have a very good level of mountain fitness before starting this trail, you will struggle. Choose versatile clothing. The weather will often be hot and sunny, but heavy rain and cool conditions are also possible, especially in the high mountains. You might not need active insulation but a light down jacket is a good idea. Carry storage capacity for several litres of water. Water supplies can be a major challenge at either end of the trail, but less so in the mountainous central sections. I sometimes…

How to carry less weight when backpacking Lightweight backpacking doesn’t have to be about spreadsheets and cutting the handle off your toothbrush. There are plenty of simple things you can do to lighten your pack. But why go light? Up to a point, it’s about comfort and pleasure. All else being equal, a lighter pack can make it easier to walk longer distances without many of the aches and pains that a heavier pack can induce. My sweet spot is a base weight (pack weight minus consumables) of around 6-8kg. Packing light isn’t all about buying expensive new stuff. In fact, that should be the last thing you aim to do. You can probably cut several kilos just by leaving items behind and reconsidering preconceptions. The lightest item is the…

AA THREE-SEASON SLEEPING BAG is generally thought to be suitable for spring, summer and autumn use. That period covers a huge range of temperatures from well below zero to well into double figures. Designing a product to cope with this is quite difficult. In fact, many sleeping bags termed three-season are too hot for summer unless you are a really cold sleeper, and are actually two-season ones – spring and autumn – while for others the three seasons in question are autumn, winter and spring. It’s easy to increase the warmth of a bag by wearing insulating clothing in it. It’s not so easy to cool down if the bag is too hot. For comfort over a wide range of temperatures a sleeping bag needs ventilation options. At the very…

18km/11.2 miles/5-8 hours Ascent 1301m/4268ft Start/Finish Glen Strae, parking just beyond bridge GR: NN145294 1 Walk up glen, passing two ponds before leaving track at bridge over Allt Dhoireann. 2 Follow water N, with cliffs of Beinn Eunaich on left, all the way to small lochan at col. 3 Make rising traverse NE across slopes of Beinn Lurachan to another col then turn N over edge of Meall Beithe. 4 Descend NNE to col and keep climbing in same direction to rocky summit of Meall Garbh. 5 Reverse the route to return, with the option of going over Beinn Lurachan. Gradient profile Metres above sea level Always take a map and compass with you. ©Crown copyright 2020 Ordnance Survey. Media 051/19 1 Alan Rowan seeks out a secluded Graham MEALL…

24km/15 miles/7-8 hours Ascent 730m/2394ft Start/Finish Park tidily in Gamblesby GR: NY609394 1 Path heads E from centre of Gamblesby along stony lane, turning NE to reach lane. NW along lane to sharp bend. Track N then E to cross A686, continuing to climb to small wooden footbridge over dyke at top of ridge. 2 Path climbs S to Fiend’s Fell. Drop SSW to gate. Path SSE then S to Little Knapside Hill and Knapside Hill. Continue off path to Melmerby High Scar then E to Dun Edge. 3 Head SE to join bridleway at pools near Meg’s Cairn. Bridleway drops S veering SSW to sign at fork in track. (Option: Main track drops W to Kit’s How and Spoutgill Sike, then heads through unlocked gates to path at Waypoint…

16km/10 miles/5-6 hours Ascent 830m/2722ft Start/Finish Layby on the A470 between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Dolwyddelan GR: SH701489 1 Walk for 250m along the A470 in the direction of Blaenau Ffestiniog. At a steel gate cross the stile and follow the wide track for 1km to the old quarry. 2 Following the line of a wire fence, climb steeply 450m SSW to the top of Moel Dyrnogydd. 3 Descend SW for 450m to the W shore of Llyn Dyrnogydd. 4 Cross the stile and follow a line of pylons S for 200m. Branch away from the pylons heading SW, following the ridge for 600m to the spot height marked on the OS map as 583m. 5 Keep to the ridge, heading SW for a further 600m, then climbing SSW for 500m…

A PETITION to save National Trust for Scotland (NTS) rangers and ecologists from redundancy had attracted nearly 9,000 signatures by the beginning of July. The NTS placed 429 of its staff at risk of redundancy after the coronavirus crisis devastated its income – but campaigners say that the cuts will disproportionately affect rangers and ecologists, and that the Trust is failing to “recognise the value of Scotland’s nature reserves and of the staff who have devoted years and decades to protecting them.” A spokesperson for the campaign told TGO that wildlife in areas managed by the NTS – which include Glen Coe, Ben Lomond and Ben Lawers – could suffer without the care of rangers and conservation experts. “We’re looking at a situation where one person is potentially going to…

Postal address The Editor, The Great Outdoors, Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent ME18 6AL Please include a phone number and postal address. Letters may be edited for clarity or to fit the space available. Happy memories of childhood The hottest day of the year so far (June 25), and the July edition of The Great Outdoors arrived with me. The editor’s welcome, which described his experiences revelling in nature as a child, brought back wonderful memories of my early years. I was born in 1946 to a nurse matron mother and a cotton mill manager father. From a very early age, I and my two brothers were weekly taken out to the Ribble Valley to walk in the countryside and explore nature, while having…

Whether you’re looking to dazzle some new hillwalkers or are seeking something different yourself, these mountains are some of the most distinctive the UK has to offer. Cameras at the ready…! 1. SUILVEN, ASSYNT Considered one of Scotland’s most iconic hills, the remarkable, other-worldly outline of Suilven towers over Lochinver. Surprisingly, you can tackle this hill with little scrambling, a sharp zig-zagging path making for one of the more accessible routes to the summit. Walk to the foot of the trail from Lochinver – which makes for a lengthy trek, but the reward is well worth it. On a clear day you’ll be able to see all the way to Skye. 2. INACCESSIBLE PINNACLE, ISLE OF SKYE Tackling the infamous ‘In Pinn’ is no easy feat, and this fin of…

THE FIRST TIME I really saw Blencathra was on a winter’s day in the 1960s when I’d been climbing on Castle Rock of Triermain with the wife of a friend of mine, whose husband had gone up to Scafell intent on some serious winter climbing. We’d arranged to meet him in Keswick’s Lamplighter bar that evening, after an enjoyable session in the sun on some of the Castle Rock classics – Overhanging Bastion, Zig-Zag, South Crag Direct – jugpulling delights sheltered by High Rigg from the bitter wind blowing down from the north. I can remember few better winter days of rock-climbing than this. When we’d coiled the ropes and clattered back down to the van, she – a local woman – decided that, instead of taking the dreary old…

With Covid-19 still at large, how many of the activities and adventures described in this feature will you actually be able to do? Predicting how far the different nations of the UK will open up to visitors, travellers and holidaymakers this summer is difficult for the short term and impossible for any further ahead. But, essentially, the holiday industry is to be allowed to gradually start operating again during July. Beyond that, so much depends on the disease’s progress; national or regional lockdowns may be reimposed. But, at the time of writing, this is how things are scheduled to happen: In England from July 4, people will be allowed to stay overnight in self-contained accommodation, which includes self-catering cottages and apartments, caravans with their own bathroom facilities, hotels and bed…

Ogwen Valley Snowdonia Perhaps Wales’ most exhilarating valley, Ogwen is a place of towering giants, gnarly scrambles and captivating ridges. South of the A5 are the Glyders, a world of jumbled boulders and craggy towers; to the north are the bulky, knurled Carneddau; and to the southeast is Tryfan, a sheer-spined fin of unparalleled drama. Glen Torridon Highlands Home to a trio of sandstone behemoths, Torridon is a Munro-bagging nirvana. Beinn Alligin is a Scottish masterpiece featuring the charismatic and imposing Horns of Alligin pillars; Liathach is a scramblers’ playground with razor-blade ridgelines and rocky pinnacles; and Beinn Eighe is a rockstrewn wilderness topped by greywhite quartzite. Wasdale Lake District Known as the wildest and most remote of Lakeland valleys, Wasdale is home to England’s deepest lake (Wast Water) and…

Vertebrate, £14.40. v-publishing.co.uk This feature is an edited extract from Swimming Wild in the Lake District by Suzanna Cruickshank, an informative and inspiring book for both new and experienced wild swimmers, exploring the larger lakes in the beautiful Lake District National Park. Illustrated with stunning photography, and featuring overview maps, the book is full of useful tips for both new and experienced wild swimmers. It contains sections on getting started in wild swimming, how to look after your own safety, and impartial advice on all the essential kit you’ll need. Whether you’re an experienced wild swimmer or just dipping your toes in the water for the first time, you’ll find plenty to inspire your next adventure.…

Alex gives a quick verdict on some of the main items of gear and equipment he used on the trail. TENT: Mountain Laurel Designs Solomid (330g). This very light DCF shelter was excellent, and coped well with high winds and heavy rain. I used the flysheet alone, paired with a bivvy bag. PACK: Atom Packs Prospector 40, carbon frame (700g). A British-made customised pack made from tough, water-resistant VX21 fabric. Supremely comfortable and superb in every way, although 50L would have been better for my usage on this trail. QUILT: As Tucas Sestrals, rated to 0°C (669g). I’ve used this synthetic quilt for several years. It performed well and was just warm enough, although a down quilt would have taken up less pack room. WATERPROOFS: Alpkit Gravitas jacket (160g) &…

1. Fill The choice is between down and synthetic. Both come in different types. With down the higher the fill power (fp) the higher the quality and the greater the warmth for the weight. Fill power is the measure of the volume a given amount of down will fill. 2. Construction To ensure there are no cold spots at the seams three-season down bags have short walls (known as baffles) that separate the lining from the outer. Synthetic bags may have overlapping layers of fill or single layers without stitching. Some bags also have more fill on the top than the bottom. This is fine as long as you turn over inside the bag rather than turning with it as the latter moves the thinner section to the top and…

20km/12.5 miles/5-7 hours Ascent 240m/787ft Start/Finish Bus stop at Waverley Court on Dundas Street, Bonnyrigg GR: NT311650 1 From the bus stop, take the cycleway SW past a former railway platform towards Rosewell. 2 After 3km, follow a sign SE for Rosewell and cross the road to enter Whitehill estate. Walk past the front of Whitehill House and go through a gate. 3 At a junction head uphill to Thornton. 4 Follow a sign for Capielaw, but after 20m take a path into a wood. 5 A path is marked on the map going past Parduvine Farm, but this was ploughed up when we visited. No problem: continue following the path in the wood to come out at a minor road, and head for Stonefieldhill Farm. 6 Take the path…

16km/10 miles/6-7 hours Ascent 775m/2542ft Start/Finish Off-road parking at the end of the lane beyond Swineside GR: NY327326 1 From the north side of the bridge over Grainsgill Beck head N up pathless terrain beside Poddy Gill. From the top of the ghyll head NE to Iron Crags and continue to the top of Carrock Fell. 2 Follow the broad ridge W by Round Knott and Miton Hill to a col at Red Gate. 3 Continue just N of W to where the track coming down off High Pike is reached. Turn north, and leave the main track to climb over grass to the summit of High Pike. 4 Return S to the main track and follow it SW over Hare Stones to the Lingy Hut bothy. 5 From the…

13km/8 miles/4-5 hours Ascent 410m/1340ft Start/Finish New Ground parking area (free) above Fortuneswell GR: SY690731 1 Route follows waymarked Coast Path clockwise; info panels along the way describe the many points of interest. Head E along green (parallel to road), keeping close to fence to enjoy views, passing info board about Verne Local Nature Reserve. Continue along road towards Verne Citadel. 2 Follow road as it bends R, passing on L Fancy’s Family Farm. Continue along rough road with high security fence on L. Over to R is Verne High Angle Battery. Beyond Old Engine Shed, Coast Path continues along a road, with high fence on R (Young Offenders Institution). Good views eastwards towards chalk cliffs of mainland. Continue until just before a tall chimney where you’ll see a blue…