Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2021 i The Great Outdoors

Ebook £1.99 from Amazon THIS IS A SHORT collection of anecdotes and musings about the nature of hillwalking in Scotland, which should resonate with every walker who has ever set foot on a mountain. The themes may be familiar but the approach is certainly different. The 40 or so stories are spread through eight chapters and the whole book comes in at around 15,000 words; yet there is much to admire and enjoy, and you may be left wanting more. The tone is light-hearted, the individual tales brief, the conversations quirky yet relevant. The author covers the whole gamut of hill experiences; there's the good days and the bad, heatwaves and thigh-deep snow, mistakes and revelations, golden eagles and doggy tales. There are accounts of those mountains that can set…

THE HINT FROM JOHN WOOD [below] about viewing this hill from the Long Mynd is a shrewd one. Geologically, the hill group of which it’s a prominent member is one of the most complex places on earth. Descend at winter twilight from the Long Mynd to Church Stretton and the sense of this is overpowering. A haze across the Severn plain obscures all distance and sense of scale. Ragleth Hill, Caer Caradoc, The Lawley, The Wrekin – the Uricon Volcanics to give them their fabulous geological name – stand aloft white and spectral, western flanks gleaming against a grey gather of night. They’re like a pod of huge whales heading north in line astern. They could be the Mamores or any wild place in the Scottish Highlands, so captivating is…

If you find yourself looking for a new direction and want to compress a lot of experience into a relatively short period of time, it’s well worth taking a look at Fast Track Adventure Pro, a scheme from the Snowdonia-based Plasy Brenin, one of the UK’s National Outdoor Centres. This scheme offers an opportunity to consolidate personal skills over the space of four months. It will allow you to get closer to gaining the qualifications you need to work in the outdoor industry – or learn lots of new skills for your own independent adventures. The programme is personalised for each participant, so a qualification isn’t guaranteed at the end of it; but Plasy Brenin offers 10 days of credits to be used in a 12 month period after the…

CONTENT SPONSORED BY PART ONE: HOW TO CHOOSE A TYPE OF TENT BACKPACKING TENTS come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Which is best depends on where and when you’ll be using it, how many people will sleep in it, and what your personal preferences are. All lightweight tents are a compromise between space, weight and stability. Which is most important to you? In this article I will go through the typical strengths and weaknesses of the main types of lightweight tent currently available, then Hilleberg will take us through what they offer in that category. ■ RIDGE Best for: pitching with trekking poles This traditional design has seen a resurgence recently as trekking poles can be used with it. The ridge runs between two poles and may…

Jetboil Stash stove system £140 200g lightweight, compact, efficient, heat exchanger poor wind resistance Burner weight: 60 grams Pot weight: 140 grams Pot capacity: 800ml jetboil.com Jetboil launched the first stove system combining a burner with a pot with built-in heat exchanger nearly 20 years ago. It was a great success, being convenient, fast-boiling and fuel-efficient, and there are now half a dozen Jetboil stove system models. I’ve always liked the Jetboil system except for one thing – the weight. So I’m delighted that the company’s new model, the Stash, is the lightest Jetboil stove system by far, at 200 grams it weighs 40% less than the previous lightest models, the Zip and MicroMo (both 340 grams), whilst having the same-sized pot. Jetboil has achieved this by simplifying the design…

Quintin Lake Quintin is a photographer with a love of long-distance backpacking. From 2015 to 2020 he walked 11,000 kilometres around Britain’s coast as the basis for a photography project called ‘The Perimeter’. He’s won numerous photography awards, and in 2020 he won The Great Outdoors’ ‘Outdoor Personality of the Year’ award. During lockdown he’s been editing the backlog of photos from The Perimeter and gazing longingly at the mountains of Wales from the Cotswold escarpment near his home. David Lintern Regular contributor David has been enjoying the snowy weather (and record-breaking low temperatures!) close to his home near the Cairngorms whilst out testing gear for future issues of The Great Outdoors. There’s been plenty of sledging with family, some frozen loch walks, and even some Gaelic-medium home schooling. He…

Snowdon and Tryfan attract the plaudits (and the crowds), but there is so much more to northern Snowdonia than these two muchloved peaks. The Glyders are a beguiling world of jumbled rocks; the Carneddau are the largest area above 3000ft in Britain south of the Highlands; and the lesser-known Moel Hebog, Moelwyns and Arenigs offer superlative walking without the numbers. Here's our top 10 walks in the area… 1. SNOWDON HORSESHOE Love it or hate it, climbing Snowdon – Wales’ highest mountain – remains a rite of passage for British hillwalkers. For some the experience is ruined by hordes of train-hopping, cafévisiting tourists; others see only the grandeur and beauty of Snowdonia. But, if you can ignore the crowds, the Snowdon Horseshoe – a high-level loop of Llyn Llydaw –…

This month we’ve been tagged in plenty of snow-day pictures as wintery weather takes hold across the UK. Many of you have also been making the most of exploring your local area in the wake of Covid restrictions, and it’s been wonderful to share the joy of those who are making new discoveries about local trails and wildlife… Brian McCready (@BrianMccready, Twitter): “The view from the summit of Slieve Bearnagh in the Mourne Mountains.” James Trowbridge (@MistyLoch, Twitter): “Amazing sunset at Whitsand Bay, #Cornwall” Jamie Neill (@jamieneilscotland, Instagram): “Gairich, Loch Poulary. An all-time favourite of Scotland at sunrise on my last hiking trip before lockdown. Absolutely stunning.”…

WHEN WE HAVE RETURNED from a winter camping trip, some people have responded with a shudder in horror at the idea – surely it’s too cold and dark? But Scottish winters are long and it is good to break them up a bit by leaving the comfort zone of the semi-hibernation of your home fireside to get outside with your tent. It always seems such an adventure, and with a bit of forethought can actually be quite comfortable. Before restrictions on staying in bothies, we would use these as focal points for one or two nights; and by taking a small amount of fuel to get a fire going and some tealights, we can soon create a cosy ambience. We generally sleep in our tents outside and use the bothy…

Background The GR20 spans 190km (118 miles) across Corsica from north to south. An average hiker typically takes 12 days to complete the hike. A popular option is to do one half of the trail depending on preference: either the rugged north from Calenzana to Vizzavona, or the gentler south from Vizzavona to Conca. It is recommended to factor in a couple of extra days as thunderstorms are common. When to go June - September. July and August get very busy. Getting there International flights to Bastia and Calvi can be expensive. An alternative option is flying to Nice and taking the ferry to Île Rousse (north) or Porto Vecchio (south). Maps and guides Paddy Dillon’s Cicerone guide to the GR20 is a great trail companion. Paper maps are usually…

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The Great Outdoors BEST BUY Inov-8 Roclite Pro G 400 Gore-Tex FOOTWEAR Inov-8 Roclite Pro G 400 Gore-Tex The latest offerings in Inov-8’s hiking range are a good bet for those who want the support of boots, but don’t want them to be too heavy £200 830g (size 9) lightweight, good grip, comfortable, tough only available with Gore-Tex lining Upper: Schoeller ceramic-coated fabric Sole: Graphene-Grip Sizes: men 6-14, women 3-8.5 Inov-8 describe the Roclite Pro G 400 Gore-Tex as its “toughest and most cushioned boot to date”. It’s made from a Schoeller ceramic-coated fabric in which “thousands of super-tough ceramic particles are bound together in honeycomb formations” for abrasion resistance and durability, and has a Gore-Tex XCR membrane inside. The outsole contains graphene for durability, and the 6mm deep studs…

Cat 1 lenses have a VLT (visible light transmission – how much light passes through) of 46-79%: not enough for bright sunshine on snow but fine for overcast weather, especially if tinted. Cat 2 lenses have a VLT of 18-45%, which is fine for general use. For snow in bright light Cat 3 and Cat 4 glasses are best; these have VLTs of 8-17% and 3-8% respectively. But they aren’t suitable for general use, as they are so dark.…

11.1km/6.9 miles/4-6 hours Ascent 770m/2525ft Start/Finish 1 Braes of Foss car park on minor road between B846 and Kinloch Rannoch (£2 parking charge) GR: NN753557 Leave car park on obvious path heading S through small patch of woodland. Continue past John Muir Trust sign on mountain path. 2 After an easy flat section, the path steepens and begins to climb the hill with many zig-zags and stepped sections. 3 The ridge gradually narrows and becomes less steep. After a brief level section, it narrows into a rocky crest and the walking becomes rougher underfoot. Cairns mark the way. 4 At the narrowest and stoniest point you’ll find the summit: a small cairn perched atop a rock crest. Descend the same route back to the start. Gradient profile Metres above sea…

20km/12.5 miles/6-7 hours Ascent 775m/2540ft Start/Finish 1 Parking at Borrowdale Wood GR: NY606014 Head W through gate and follow road to bridge. Follow track uphill, right of beck. At altitude 240m find your own way S then SE to where the beck runs through the intake wall at a gate, which can be climbed. 2 Follow quad bike tracks by the wall generally E to where a wall descends from Birk Knott. Follow either side of wall (low enough to step over here) to gap in wall on the ridge. Head ESE to Grayrigg Pike then return to wall. 3 Vague path follows ridge W over Grayrigg Forest and NW to repeater station mast. Track W to second mast, then bridleway WSW for 100m. 4 Take minor path W along…

30km/18.6 miles/6-7 hours Ascent 215m/705ft Start/Finish 1 Free parking at bend in road, south of Oak Inn, Bank GR: SU288067 (Alternatively, Bolton’s Bench car park, Lyndhurst) Turn R, then R again along track. Head S and at next fork bear L (post 258). Carry on southwards, crossing Bolderford Bridge. 2 At corner of large grassy area, Black Knowl, follow path diagonally across it and turn L at Meerut Road. After road bends R keep ahead (L fork) at a green to continue to A337. Turn L, crossing Lymington River, then R along B3055/Balmer Lawn Road, and as road bends R keep ahead along track to Standing Hat car park. 3 Turn R (waymark post 291) and follow track to intersection at post 305 (ignore all turnings beforehand). Turn R, crossing…

The last year of travel restrictions has made it clear how important local outdoors access is for wellbeing and mental health. However, many popular trails aren’t fully accessible to everyone. With more than 70% of Scotland’s population living within 5 miles of a Great Trail (such as The West Highland Way), the Scottish Government has made moves to tackle inaccessibility with a £110,000 funding boost for improvements to the path network. Projects include dedicating £20,000 to The Clyde Walkway for a new wooden boardwalk and the replacement of stiles with self-closing gates. The John Muir Way at Falkirk will also be treated to general improvements and repairs, whilst a new bridge will be built on the Three Lochs Way led by the Helensburgh and District Access Trust. NatureScot Strategic Paths…

AT THE TIME OF writing, lockdown mean the hills and mountains are off-limits to many of us right now - but we can still exercise locally, which for many of us happens in places where we pass others: in the street, in parks, or in local countryside. But how easily does the virus actually transmit outdoors? Dr Müge Çevik (above) is a virologist based at the University of St Andrews and a member of the government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG). She has been studying the transmission of the virus over the course of the pandemic. Here’s her take on what the science says. As I understand it, your research has shown that not all settings are equal when it comes to Covid-19 transmission? It’s important…

Sandstone Press, £11.99, paperback ONE OF THE all-time classic books about Scottish winter mountaineering has been reissued in a new paperback edition by Sandstone Press. The Munros in Winter describes Martin Moran’s groundbreaking 1984 completion of the winter Munros in a single push, accompanied by his wife Joy. This edition includes a new foreword by Joy Moran; and her words, written in 2020 after Martin’s death, help to illuminate a little more of her perspective on this historic mountaineering accomplishment. The Munros in Winter is a story of remarkable drive and determination in the face of sometimes truly horrendous mountain conditions, but it’s more than that – this is a story about a partnership. On the front cover you might notice Sir Chris Bonington’s remark that it is “A great…

Subscribe today and SAVE 25% Take better photos outdoors NEW! FROM THE PUBLISHER OF The Great Outdoors Get the following every 4 weeks: How to improve your photo technique Advice on the best kit for you New monthly edition from the Amateur Photographer team 3 Great reasons to subscribe 1 Free home delivery2 Never miss an issue3 Save over £16 ORDER NOW Visit shop.kelsey.co.uk/APPADT Call 01959 543 747 and quote APPADT *UK Direct Debit o  er only pay just £23.99 for 6 issues…

Ben Nevis via the Carn Mor Dearg Arête START/FINISH: Fort William Distance: 25km Ascent: 1524m Duration: 15 hours (in winter conditions) Difficulty: Grade 1 scramble/Grade I winter mountaineering route Snowdon START/FINISH: Caernarfon Distance: 40km Ascent: 1780m Duration: 17 hours Scafell Pike START: Ravenglass FINISH: Wasdale YHA Distance: 31km Ascent: 1525m Duration: 16 hours All the climbs of the ‘three peaks’ Quintin describes in this feature were sea-to-summit journeys that started at the coast, as part of Quintin’s five-year project to walk the entire coastline of Britain. While all these peaks are relatively close to the coast, attempting any of them from the sea in a single day can still be a huge undertaking. Quintin approached Snowdon as a loop from accommodation in Caernarfon and Ben Nevis from accommodation in Fort…

The Mountain Leader qualification is designed for people who want to lead groups in the mountains, hills and moorlands of the UK and Ireland. Mountain Leaders operate the length and breadth of the country with all sorts of groups of people – from Scouts and schoolchildren to outdoor instructors. To gain the Mountain Leader qualification, candidates attend a training course, followed by a consolidation period, then finally an assessment course. Candidates must have logged a minimum of 20 ‘Quality Mountain Days’ before their training course, and a minimum of 40 before their assessment (40 in total). The Mountain Leader qualifies people to lead in summer conditions, while a Winter Mountain Leader qualification extends their remit to winter conditions. Those wishing to lead groups abroad in countries that require a formal…

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Polartec celebrates 30th anniversary with photo contest Polartec turns 30 years old this year and is celebrating with a campaign called Peaking Since ’91, which tells the story of how the company changed from a traditional mill to a textile innovator. As part of this, Polartec is crowd-sourcing a visual history of those who’ve worn Polartec on outdoor adventures in the Family Album Photo Contest. Entrants could win limited edition Polartec products including a recycled fleece jacket, the LC23 X Polartec, designed by Italian designer Lee Colacicco, and armchairs made of offcuts from the limited-edition fleece. polartec.com Finisterre unveils jacket made of recycled materials New from Finisterre, the £150 Transition Reversible Jacket comes in men’s and women’s fit, and uses 100% recycled materials. It has 4-way stretch, a hood and…

Our walks this month 1 Central Highlands Schiehallion 2 Southern Uplands Three Brethren & Minch Moor 3 Lake District Grayrigg Forest 4 Snowdonia The Glyderau 5 Hampshire New Forest National Park CONTRIBUTORS…

15km/9.3 miles/5 hours Ascent 590m/1935ft Start/Finish 1 Yarrowford, layby south side of A708 GR: NT407299 Head E 50m for track on L, turning L up past Broadmeadows farm then forking R. Before gate, fork R on path below former youth hostel, and up beside Old Broadmeadows Burn to wood top. 2 Turn R on duckboard path to track. Turn R then L, NE over wide col N of Foulshiels Hill. Dip across Long Philip Burn to gate. Keep ahead for 200m, then turn up L to cairns at Three Brethren. 3 Wide Southern Upland Way path runs W along ridgeline. After 1.3km, take small gate on L to head up Broomy Law. 4 Drop W to wide col, turn down R to rejoin SUW. It runs W, dipping to Four…

12km/7.5 miles/5-6 hours Ascent 810m/2660ft Start/Finish 1 Lay-by car park on A5 by Llyn Ogwen GR: SH661602 From car park, walk E on A5 for 750m. Take footpath gate on R and follow well-surfaced route, through two gates, to farm buildings at Gwern Gof Uchaf. Cross ladder stile and immediately go R on path. 2 Cross another ladder stile and fork L after 200m on path, pitched in places. Continue to gap in wall/ladder stile and walk uphill through Cwm Tryfan. Fork L at obvious junction and continue steeply, L, and on line of old miners’ track. Turn L at top to nearby Llyn Caseg-fraith. 3 Retrace steps and climb slopes to Glyder Fach, with its famous Cantilever Rock, and continue downhill through spikes of rock to pass to L…