Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2021 i The Great Outdoors

JULY in the hills Heading Home, Bass Rock Lesley Woodbrooks Size: 76x51cm Medium: acrylic on canvas FOR SOME OF US, the welcoming rush and thrill of adventure from the outdoors are calling in a post-lockdown era; for others, it’s the peace and tranquillity of nature that has the strongest allure. Heading Home by Lesley Woodbrooks perfectly captures the essence of the latter. “I am continually inspired by the ever-changing colours of the Scottish sky – the same scene can transform minute by minute as we frequently experience all four seasons in one day!” Lesley notes her inspiration comes from dramatic landscapes and observes that although here she has captured a moment of calm, there’s still an essence of the unpredictable: “We don’t choose when the sun will set, how many…

VIEWRANGER, the go-to navigation app for many hillwalkers, announced plans to merge with the Germany-based OutdoorActive platform in May 2020. Some users have since reported difficulties in transitioning to the new app, with criticisms including the loss of purchased map tiles, a cluttered user interface and a lack of clarity over which features will ultimately be available on the OutdoorActive app. “The problem I have is that OutdoorActive does not have many of the crucial features that ViewRanger has,” says John Collister, who has used ViewRanger for many years in Scotland and western Europe. “OutdoorActive has failed to engage with existing ViewRanger users, failed to describe strategy and direction, and failed to describe a roadmap, if there is one, for what ViewRanger functionality will eventually be included in OutdoorActive. This…

APPROXIMATELY 123,000 of the UK’s trees are recorded on the Ancient Tree Inventory Woodland today 13.2% of the UK’s land surface Around 23% of all UK schools have applied to plant native trees with the Woodland Trust Just 7% of Britain's native woodlands ARE CURRENTLY IN GOOD ECOLOGICAL CONDITION The woodlands in Great Britain together hold 213 million tonnes of carbon Climate change means that Spring is now happening on average 8.4 days earlier ARCHIVE “Few things in life are better than the morning start on a backpacking journey… True, the pack is a good weight, but the accent’s on good and there’s satisfaction in knowing you’re carrying you need for existence. You feel strong, eager, ready for anything.”SHOWELL STYLES May 1978 THE View FROM HERE Loch Tay (Ardtalnaig)…

WITH 2020’S TGO CHALLENGE cancelled and this year’s enforced postponement till June, there were times we wondered if 2021’s challenge would ever happen. Months of Covid-19 uncertainty and restrictions were our background for so long, we just had to doggedly persist with our preparations for 2021 and hope it could all go ahead. We’re delighted it can! This year’s challenge will be different, not least because our numbers are reduced, largely due to the postponement. But perhaps this is no bad thing. Many communities, whilst wanting and needing some economic benefits from tourism, remain wary of incomers. We have done our best to alleviate any concerns arising from the challenge by dispersing numbers away from natural bottlenecks. This has required many challengers to adapt their plans. We know that their…

I AM THE TRAIL. The trail is me. We move together, fluid and smooth. There is no hesitation or resistance. Every step is intuitive yet somehow precise; every movement fast, light and agile, not laboured. It feels effortless and natural, like I’m in auto-pilot mode. Like the trail wants me to succeed. I have discovered my flow – that undiluted sense of connectedness to the craft of walking. This feeling of harmony often eludes me, but here on day two of the West Highland Way it washes over me – and I know why. It’s because I’m challenging myself to put in big days and quick miles. My mission is to walk the 96-mile (154 kilometre) West Highland Way, which is usually hiked in five to seven days, in less…

Selk’bag sleeping bags are more like clothing, with sleeves, legs and even removable booties so you can put on your shoes. All bags have synthetic insulation plus a DWR coating to repel moisture. The Original 6G (£160) has a nylon ripstop shell, cargo pocket and leg vents. It weighs 1.54kg (S) to 2.08kg (XL). The Lite 6G (£100) has a polyester shell and weighs 0.96kg (S) to 1.51kg (XL). The shell of the top-of-the-range Nomad (£250) is 100% recycled polyester with a 100% recycled Primaloft Black Insulation ThermoPlume fill. It features a seamless baffled construction plus a built-in balaclava, and weighs 1.6kg (S) to 2.1kg (XL). selkbag.co.uk…

Suunto describes the new 9 Peak watch as “the thinnest, most powerful and uncompromisingly durable watch in brand history”. The watch is 37% thinner and 36% lighter than the Suunto 9 Baro, and is designed to fit under a sleeve and not catch on clothing or packs. There are two versions: the titanium variant at 52 grams and £629, and the slightly heavier but less expensive steel variant at 62 grams and £519. Battery life ranges from 25 hours in best GPS mode to 170 hours in GPS Tour mode. The 9 Peak also has an improved battery charge time (100% in one hour) plus automatic backlight intensity adjustment. suunto.com…

Atom Packs is a relatively new UK cottage business focusing exclusively on backpack manufacture, but founder and designer Tom Gale’s packs have proved very popular with participants on the TGO Challenge (the annual coast-tocoast backpacking event across Scotland, supported by this magazine) and I was keen to find out more. Packs are sized via a guide on the brand’s website. Knowing my personal preference for a shorter back length, I requested a medium – and this proved a perfect fit. The frame inside the Mo is non-adjustable and comprised of a foam-backed plastic sheet further strengthened by an aluminium stay. Other than the slight curve and flex in this arrangement, there’s no other suspension and this keeps the pack close to the body and exceptionally stable. Weight is transferred well…

Lightning 60 £175 1150g capacity, comfort lack of fabric structure, flappy straps! Fabric: 210 D HMPE ripstop nylon Frame: aluminium stay Sizes: adjustable frame Women’s version available exped.com As an adjustable-framed, trekking-volume pack with a weight of around a kilo, the Lightning 60 is an immediately interesting proposition. The weight is kept low with a minimum of bells and whistles, and a single aluminium bar frame. A very ample lumbar pad sits on a Velcro adjuster and the shoulder straps are suspended from the top of the bar. It took me a few walks to get comfortable with this very economical system, but once sorted it gave me no more trouble. The frame transferred weight to the hips well, the load lifters and sternum balance the top half of the…

Women’s Trailhead 65 £110 1700g very good for the price basic comfort Fabric: ripstop polyamide Frame: HDPE sheet and removable metal stay Size: one size, adjustable Men’s version available berghaus.com As a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award supervisor, I’ve seen a lot of budget backpacks over the years. Many are not built with enough care or precision to do the job they are intended for, and I’ve helped a quite few candidates repair their rucksack far from home. Not so the Berghaus Trailhead 65, which comes at an entry-level price but is of a quality that will see a few years of adventures in the wilderness. Inevitably there are compromises: it’s not as wellfeatured as higher spec packs, with only one hipbelt pocket, and external side pockets but no additional front…

W’s Manaslu ND60-75 £185 2300g comfort, stability heavy Fabric: mini ripstop nylon with a 500D base Frame: VT Plus lightweight aluminium stay with HDPE slab Size: one size, adjustable Men’s version available rab.equipment The headline here is comfort and stability, thanks to Lowe Alpine’s excellent VT Plus carry system. The harness hugged me really well, with just enough padding on the shoulders (I don’t like these too bulky) and lots of cushioning around the hipbelt and lumbar region. I tested the latest model; but I also have an older version of this pack that I use for multi-day mountain trips, and I love how well it moves with me whatever the terrain. Full or empty, it has a neat, streamlined shape with no flapping straps. When fully loaded, the pack…

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1 Start/Finish National Trust pay & display car park at Aira GR: NY400200 Follow path up W bank of Aira Beck for 500m. Bear L through gate and climb to Park Brow car park. 2 Cross stile on far side of A5091 and join path to Glencoyne Head. 3 Go through gate in wall on open fell and bear L. After path crosses wall gap, turn R, climbing beside wall. 4 At brow, head roughly W, quickly passing cairn on Birkett Fell. From highest point on Hart Side, descend south-west. As path begins climbing again, keep R. At T-junction with clearer path, continue SW (initially pathless). 5 Turn L along ridge path, into Sticks Pass and then up to Raise. Descend SW. 6 From shallow saddle between Raise and White…

James Forrest James is a former newspaper reporter turned outdoors and adventure travel writer. He is the author of Mountain Man: 446 Mountains. Six Months. One Record-Breaking Adventure, the TGO book of the year in 2019, and is best-known for completing a 3-year mission to climb 1,001 mountains across the UK and Ireland. He also completed a solo, self-supported round of all 214 Wainwrights in 14 days and 11 hours in 2020. Since the easing of lockdown in 2021, James has enjoyed fast-hiking the 299km Pembrokeshire Coast Path and 154km West Highland Way; see his feature about the latter on p36. James Roddie A professional photographer based in the Scottish Highlands, James is a regular contributor to The Great Outdoors. He has been making the most of the recent improvement…

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COMMENT MY LEGS FELT HEAVY. Not just tired from a walk, but physically heavy, owing to the fact that it was raining and I was wearing jeans – bootcut ones that were all the rage in the 90s and acted like portable ankle sponges, soaking up more water from the ground than was pelting down on me from the sky. This happened many years ago, back when I was 17. Before then I’d never really ventured into the outdoors with the sole purpose of going on a walk – I wasn’t sure of the rules, where I could go and where I was allowed. But after meeting an outdoors-savvy drummer when joining a band, I’d been convinced to take the train to Betwsy-Coed to explore. Without knowing where to go…

We all have our favourite snacks for a hill climb – perhaps you favour the smushed-up cheese sandwich that always makes its way to the bottom of your pack, or maybe you’re prone to an over-priced protein bar. Whatever your choice, many of us have strict snacking traditions to indulge in as we aim for the summit. We asked our Twitter followers to share their go-to mountain snacks: John Erskine, @erskine0812: For me it was always dried apricots. Tallington Lakes, @TallingtonLakes: Homemade flapjack! Julie Coldwell, @LivingTLOL: Jumbo oat porridge soaked overnight in juice or milk. With walnuts/dates/banana includes complex and simple carbohydrates plus protein. Perfect, delicious and sustaining.…

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Distance: 96 miles (153km) Ascent: 4312m (14,143ft) START / FINISH: The trail stretches between Milngavie, on the outskirts of Glasgow, to Fort William, at the foot of Ben Nevis in Lochaber. It is typically attempted south to north. DURATION: In this feature James tackles the trail in three massive days – but this is not for everyone! The trail is typically walked in 5-8 days. HISTORY: Founded in 1980 as the brainchild of Tom Hunter – who conceived of it in part as a way of protecting the east shore of Loch Lomond from development – the West Highland Way was Scotland’s first officially designated long-distance trail. It has since become one of Britain’s most popular trails, with around 36,000 people completing it in full every year. It passes through…

Ronald’s route START / FINISH: Keswick Moot Hall GR: NY266234 Distance: 17.5km/11 miles Ascent: 914m/2998ft Duration: 6.5 hours Transport: frequent bus X5/X4 from Penrith rail station Take the lakeside path to Calfclose Bay and Great Wood car park (no overnight parking), then the path below Falcon Crag to Ashness Bridge. Continue via Dodd to High Seat and take the ridge path left of the fence to Bleaberry Fell. There’s a good path down to Walla Crag. After a night of bivvying, follow the cliff brink path and then drop down to Castlerigg Farm. Head down by Brockle Beck to Keswick’s edge, then cross Castle Head to Lakeside.…

David’s route: the 'Flowerdale Three' START / FINISH: Lay by near Am Feur-Loch GR: NG856720 Distance: 34.8km/22 miles Ascent: 2357m/7732ft Duration: 2.5 days Over about 2.5 days, I made three camps and traversed three Corbetts: Beinn an Eoin, Beinn Dearg and Baosbheinn. I shied away from descending the south ridge of the first hill. Having now completed the route, I now wonder if it might be even better in reverse. An ascent (rather than a descent) of the south ridge of Beinn an Eoin would be more confidence-inspiring, and the Castle crux workarounds on Beinn Dearg would be easier to spot going west to east too. Either way, much of this is very rough, pathless terrain and feels very remote. The crux taken direct would require basic climbing gear or…

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Komperdell has launched the latest versions of its range of foldable trekking poles, which are the lightest it has made to date. Building on the success of the self-deploying FXP range of poles, which it launched last year, the Carbon FXP.4 Cloud Foldable Poles (£127 per pair) weigh just 173g (115cm) and pack to 45cm. Also available in a folding / telescoping version, the Carbon FXP.4 Cloud Varios (£175 per pair) feature the Powerlock 3.0 closure, which allows the pole’s length to be precisely adjusted to suit exact needs. The poles are made in Austria and include Komperdell’s 3-year ‘no questions asked’ warranty. komperdell.com…

£105 624g (pair, size 9) lightweight, good grip, comfortable nothing Uppers: mesh/TPU Sole: Vibram Ecostep Sizes: men 6.5-14, women 3.5-8.5 The latest addition to Merrell’s Moab footwear collection is a lightweight trail shoe with a new Vibram sole and some recycled components, which is good. The recycled content consists of 100% recycled laces, 100% recycled mesh lining, 50% recycled insole top sheet and 30% recycled rubber sole. The shoes contain no animal products and so are suitable for vegans. Construction and materials The uppers are made from mesh and TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane). The TPU forms a wide rand and should protect the mesh from wear. The heel and the tongue are padded with foam for comfort. Lacing is via webbing loops and one set of eyelets. The toe and heel…

Flex Capacitor 60-75 £185 1210g capacity, frame and lid design, weight lack of smaller back size Fabric: 100D nylon-poly ripstop/420D nylon Oxford Frame: internal Y frame flex DAC aluminium Sizes: various hipbelt options, but Large back length only Unisex sierradesigns.com Designed by American thru-hiker par excellence Andrew Surka, I was excited to try this large-capacity pack out. It comes equipped with a minimal Y frame aluminium pole, which is curved and has some flex to it, providing some suspension. I found this transferred weight to the wide, removable hipbelt very well, allowing comfortable transportation of full winter loads in relative comfort, with just one important caveat – back length. The larger volume (60-75 litre) versions of the Flex Capacitor only come in a longer back length, which means that the…

Katmai 65 £230 2012g comfort, hipbelt, bottle holder weight Fabric: mix of recycled and non-recycled nylons, 210D and 410D for high-wear areas Frame: alloy steel frame & fibreglass cross-stay & HDPE Sizes: small/med and med/large Women’s version available eu.gregorypacks.com Gregory is perhaps the Rolls-Royce of rucksacks, and accordingly the Katmai prioritises comfort and features over weight. Rather than having an adjustable frame, the pack comes in two sizes. I found the sizing to be accurate and, as a result, the frame transferred weight to the beefy integral hipbelt exceptionally well. There’s plenty of ventilation via a tough, almost ‘string vest’ style mesh. Suspension back systems can sometimes feel unstable on more challenging terrain, but the load lifters are equally excellent here and while it’s clearly not built for fast n’…

Denali 65 Women £200 2700g lots of features heavy, bulky, huge Fabric: 280D and 320D ripstop polyamide Frame: aluminium honeycomb and HDPE Size: one size adjustable (women’s M-XL) Men’s version available jack-wolfskin.co.uk At 65 litres, the Denali is ostensibly the same volume as most of the other packs in this test; but on comparison it is cavernous. In fact, everything about it is big: the volume, weight and back length. It’s advertised as covering women’s sizes M-XL. I’m 172cm tall, and shortened the back length a lot more than expected. It’s easy to adjust (although it does tower over me a bit), but I think anyone under 160 cm will struggle to get a good fit with this pack. Jack Wolfskin make a 45 litre backpack (The Highland Trail) fitting…

I CONFESS that I’ve come late to sunhats. I have a full head of very thick, long hair; and in my youth, I was ignorant about the need to protect myself from the harmful effects of the sun. I do find some sunhats overly hot, and fussy; and in warm weather, hot and fussy isn’t good. But lately I’ve learned to appreciate the benefits of the shade of a good brim, the cooling and reflective effect of lightweight fabric, and even the way a hat can help keep my ridiculous mane under control. I also recognise that, much as I love the sun, those glorious rays can cause serious harm in the form of heat exhaustion, heatstroke and long-term problems including skin cancer. An effective, lightweight sunhat isn’t just about…

Our walks this month 1 Central Highlands Beinn nan Lus 2 Lake District Raise from Aira 3 Lancashire Glasson & Cockersand 4 Black Mountains Black Mountains tops 5 South Downs Cooksbridge to Lewes CONTRIBUTORS…

1 Start/Finish Glasson Dock pay & display car park GR: SD446560 Go L. Opposite Victoria Inn, cross lock; follow Tithebarn Hill E then S to junction at Old Glasson. Go R down Marsh Lane; at 2nd gate bear R between hawthorns, then L to Janson Pool. Across footbridge follow track to Crook Farm. 2 Follow embankment L. At Lighthouse Cottage, kissing gate leads to path along embankment. Pass Plover Scar, Cockersands Abbey and Cockerham Sands Observation Tower to reach Bank Houses. 3 Follow road E 900m to T-junction; go L (N). Follow road R to Hillam Farm. L on public footpath past farm building, through four gates then two stiles to Norbreck Farm. R then L through farmyard, ahead toward trig point, R then L round pond to gate. Cross…

1 Start Cooksbridge railway station (car park at station; much bigger one at Lewes station) GR: TQ400134 Cross A275 and turn R for 160m. Just after lane on R turn L along L-hand side of drive (by house called Nursery Cottage) beside hedge on L, continuing along enclosed path. Cross residential road and continue along path to field and across railway line. Turn R, then L in next field to Hamsey Lane. Turn R then L down Whitfeld Lane (Sussex Ouse Valley Way – SOVW – joins from L). Lane bends R, then reaches a R turn. 2 Route continues ahead along SOVW but worth making short detour to visit nearby Hamsey Church – L over bridge and along lane to end, then retrace steps. Follow riverside path to next…

THE JOHN MUIR TRUST has launched the Nevis 21 campaign, to celebrate over two decades of caring for the UK’s highest mountain and to raise awareness about its conservation work. More than 1,000 days of volunteer time have helped keep the paths around Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis maintained and litter-free over the years. This year also marks another engagement initiative for young people with the launch of the Nevis Junior Rangers programme for the next generation of conservationists. “Inspiring young people to get involved with wild places is something the Trust feels very strongly about,” said Nathan Berrie, JMT Nevis Conservation Officer. “‘You could argue that young people have more at stake here than anyone else, as the people that will inherit the consequences of the actions we take…

For many of us, this summer will be another spent in the UK, whether that’s through choice or pandemic-thwarted travel plans. It’s easy to experience a little FOMO when the great trails and mountains beyond our shores remain mostly out of reach. However, there’s none of that here – our readers have flooded our socials with spectacular shots that continue to show the UK’s landscape at its finest. Matt Deamer, @matt_deamer (Instagram): Cold winds on Trotternish this evening. Paul Byers, @ pablos___adventures (Instagram): Standing at the top looking down to Mangersta sea stacks the wind was absolutely brutal, so decided to make my own wee route down to the bottom. Simon North, @fstop_photography_gb (Instagram): Superb morning today on Mam Tor. what looked like another washout turned into something rather stunning…

THE FIRST TIME I climbed Lugnaquilla, the night before my ascent I slept in St Kevin’s Bed. It’s an interesting place to bivouac if you like your doss to come with atmosphere. The saint had left many centuries before, in case you’re wondering; and the ‘bed’ is a small cave, just long enough to stretch out in, that’s prominently visible in a small cliff on the south side of the upper lake at Glendalough. It’s well worth a visit, and a great bivouac site, so long as you don’t mind the piast – “a gigantic water-snake with a horse’s head or waterhorse with a snake’s body (whichever you prefer), ever present though seldom seen.” Loch Ness monster eat your heart out! I did peer out anxiously from my balcony cave…

74 First Looks 50+ litre packs 76 82 Hats The new Mojito Bio shoe from Scarpa is made from plantbased materials that, after their usable life, will naturally biodegrade. The midsole is made of medium-density biodegradable EVA. The tread is also biodegradable and includes natural rubber. Scarpa says it has excellent grip and durability compared to synthetic rubber. The uppers are made of PET yarn from recycled plastic bottles, which is woven with knit technology that avoids scrap production. Construction is carried out using only water-based, nonpolluting adhesives, whilst all other components have a vegetable base, including the packaging, which is made with recycled paper. The Mojito Bio costs £140. scarpa.co.uk…

The North Face has launched a new range of women’s summer clothing and shoes. The clothing includes the Glacier Short Sleeve Anorak (£70), Glacier Shorts £45), and the Glacier Tank Top (£45). The latter, like several other pieces in the range, uses a fabric produced from recycled coffee grounds that is moisture-wicking and quick-drying, and is said to lower body temperature in hot weather. The Vectiv Taraval shoes (£110) are lightweight and breathable, and have a rocker midsole for long-lasting forward propulsion. thenorthface.co.uk…

Rab has launched a down ‘collect and recycle’ scheme in conjunction with Italian down recycling expert Minardi Plume. Customers can send worn-out down products to the recycling service at Rab’s HQ in Alfreton, Derbyshire. The down is then sent to Minardi Plume where it is washed, treated and graded so it can be used in new technical products. Other materials from items are processed and recycled offsite. The scheme is part of Rab’s parent company Equip Outdoor Technologies’ long-term sustainability strategy to reach Net Zero by 2030. equipuk.com…

CHOOSING A BIGGER BACKPACK suitable for the likes of multi-day walks, long-distance journeys, backpacking and wild camping can be a very personal decision, comparable to choosing a pair of walking boots. What works well for the individual varies. We humans come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and rucksack fit is absolutely critical, as aches and pains can get worse over a long trip. The pack will need to carry heavier loads than usual for more than one day at a time; and the more time we spend on the journey, the more we will notice any problems if they exist. Ideally, most of the weight should be carried on the hips, which are much more able to bear heavy loads than the shoulders, and an adjustable back system…

Aether 65 £200 2200g solid frame weight, high sternum strap Fabric: 420D high-tenacity bluesign-approved nylon Frame: ‘Airscape’ composite Sizes: adjustable frame Women’s version available ospreyeurope.com The Aether is a very well-appointed adjustable-framed pack that should prove very durable. It’s built around the brand’s ‘Airscape’ frame: a composite of foam, plastic and a U-shaped aluminium stay that is very stiff, provides ventilation without too much ‘float’ in the suspension and should transfer the load to the hips well. The lumbar pad is chunky but I’d prefer a wider hipbelt on a pack of this weight. The side pockets are stretchy and accessed from the top as well as by the hip, and there’s a front stuff pocket and a large floating lid, plus a lower compartment that I found too small…

WOMEN'S TESTING TERRAIN Women’s Sirenik 65 £160 1475g lightweight, comfort small hip pockets Fabric: 100D RAPTOR Featherlight and 420D RAPTOR Endurance nylon Frame: pre-curved aluminium Size: one size, adjustable Women’s specific model montane.com My husband has an annoying mantra – “light plus light equals heavy” – that he trots out whenever packing for the hills. He’s right, of course: a load often contains little additions that all add up to the overall weight. The pack itself is one area where a few grams, even a kilo, can be shaved off, making a big difference to physical performance on the hill. The Sirenik is lightweight, without being overly stripped down. There are one or two compromises, such as slightly-too-small-for-my-camera hip pockets, and lighter materials that trade a bit on durability. What this…

Keb 72 W £300 2900g quality, durability, low-carbon materials price, weight Fabric: G-1000 Heavy Duty Eco-S 65% polyester 30% cotton, 400D recycled polyamide Frame: birchwood laminate Size: one size, adjustable Men’s version available fjallraven.com This rucksack’s biggest strengths are also its drawbacks, making it quite a niche product. I love that it is made from renewable and recycled materials, but these add to the weight and the price. The main shell is Fjällräven’s G-1000 Heavy Duty Eco, which will last a lifetime. Elsewhere, Bergshell – a waterproof, recycled polyamide fabric – has been used. The stays are a strong and gently flexible laminate of birchwood, a renewable resource that Fjällräven say reduces the overall carbon footprint of this pack by 90%. But this isn’t a lightweight option – and that’s…

SMARTWOOL GO FAR FEEL GOOD RUNNERS CAP A stretch cap made from recycled polyester with an ultra-fine Merino Sport 150 mesh liner (wool / polyester mix) for breathability and superior wicking qualities. smartwool.co.uk TILLEY MODERN AIRFLO RECYCLED HAT A Tilley hat is guaranteed for life, and this one is made from recycled materials, making it the most sustainable widebrimmed hat out there. uk.tilley.com INOV-8 RACE ELITE VISOR A very lightweight and packable visor with a folding peak, rear adjustment and wicking liner for maximum comfort. inov-8.com…

1 Start/Finish Victoria Bridge car park at W end of Loch Tulla GR: NN271419 Take track W from the start for about 4km then cross Abhainn Shira by stepping stones. 2 Continue W (there’s another stream crossing) past Loch Dochard and over increasingly slabby ground to the high point at Coire Beithe. 3 The path descends SW alongside the river, passing Glenkinglass Lodge to reach the bridge over the Allt Hallater. 4 Once over the bridge, choose a direct ascent line W, heavily vegetated slopes at first, then rockier with height, to reach the summit cairn on Beinn nan Lus. Return by reversing the route. Alan Rowan explores gloriously remote hills THIS fine hill deserves a long, clear summer’s day to enjoy it at its best. The favoured route is…

1 Start/Finish Car park at Llanthony Priory GR: SO288278 Follow a path N through fields, then a stiff climb up Loxidge Tump to meet Offa’s Dyke Path on the crest of the long ridge separating the Vale of Ewyas (Wales) and Olchon Valley (England). 2 Follow the well-made Offa’s Dyke Path NW for about 8km of easy walking. 3 From the trig point on Hay Bluff (677m) turn SW. Cross the road at Gospel Pass and continue SW along the crest, with big views over the Wye valley to the N. 4 About 1km beyond the trig point on Pen Rhos Dirion (713m) turn L on a path, climbing gently SSE to eventually reach the summit of Waun Fach (811m), the highest point in the Black Mountains. 5 A short…