Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2023 i The Great Outdoors

HEATHER MACKINS, 36, has trekked the Cumbria Way, South Downs Way, Cotswold Way and Tour du Mont Blanc, solo. She ventured to Everest Base Camp with a group and hiked the Great Glen Way with two friends, as well as walking the West Highland Way–twice–with her sister. But, as she told TGO, her most memorable long-distance trail is the Cape Wrath Trail (CWT): “I held the Cape Wrath Trail in such high regard and had wanted to hike it for years before plucking up the courage to do so!” The CWT is considered the toughest long-distance walk in the UK, passing through beautiful and remote areas of the Highlands, including Knoydart, Fisherfield, Torridon and Assynt. Indeed, after “eight days of biblical rain”, Heather was forced off the trail at the…

“I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate my 26th birthday than to tick Crib Goch off (this has been on my bucket list for a while).” “A wonderful day on Creise and Meall a’Bhùiridh (Glencoe).” “They don’t say the west coast is the best coast for no reason. We had such a great day hiking up around Stac Pollaidh, taking in the views and enjoying family time. We had to bail before the summit as the winds were too much for little miss, but it was a great hike nonetheless.” “I like to spend my free weekends climbing in North Wales when the weather warms up. This photo was taken in celebration of climbing a very exposed route. I had to give myself a pep talk with each…

THIS MONTH: PUFFINS IT’S NOT FAR OFF THAT TIME of year when adult puffins (Fratercula arctica) return to their breeding colonies on the UK’s coasts. Here, from mid-April, 580,000 breeding pairs will stay in large flocks until mid-August to lay one single egg and then jointly rear their chick. Creating their nests in burrows or cliff cavities, these unmistakable birds are hard to miss with their orange legs and comically large and colourful bill, set against bright, white puffy cheeks and distinctive black head. Nicknamed the ‘clowns of the sea’, they are small but hardy birds. Those who have heard the males’ low, grumbling call say colonies can sometimes sound like a herd of cows. Photographers and twitchers alike flock to the RSPB reserves where the threats to this Red…

COMMENT A GENERATION ago it was difficult to find outdoor clothing for women. They dreamed of jackets that didn’t have arms so long they flapped in the wind, for clothing designed for bodies with boobs and curving hips. When women’s kit did start to slowly–glacially–emerge from design studios and into outdoors shops, it was pink. Maybe sometimes just a subtle flower detail. Why? Perhaps to reassure you that even if you’re sweating up your fifth Wainwright of the day you can still be ‘pretty’?! There definitely weren’t any map pockets in unflattering (read: useful) places. Equipment suppliers were even slower to acknowledge the v ariety of body shapes. I own rucksacks where I can’t do up the chest strap because I have boobs ‘in the way’. Nowadays the issues for…

“If you think carefully about what outdoor gear you buy, and look after it well, with the right products, it can last a lot longer than you might imagine.” COIRE ARDAIR is a long, winding valley that cuts deeply into the Creag Meagaidh massif, ending with great cliffs rising above the dark waters of Lochan a’ Choire. Creag Meagaidh became a National Nature Reserve in the 1980s; and since then birch woodlands have spread out in the lower valley as overgrazing by deer has been reduced, making it a wonderful and inspiring place. I set out up Coire Ardair with James Roddie on a freezing December day, with a pack full of old well-used and well-looked-after gear. The idea of this trip was to see how this kit performed today.…

IT’S BEEN 11 years since we launched The Great Outdoors Reader Awards. They’ve since established a reputation as the UK’s biggest democratic celebration of the people, places and businesses that make our outdoor lives better. This year, we return with The Great Outdoors Reader Awards 2022. As ever, the list of winners includes some established favourites; but this year’s awards were distinguished by a particularly broad and diverse range of nominees. That diversity is reflected in the roster of winners, which includes more new people, places and organisations than ever. Over the years these awards have run, they have reinforced what the outdoor community cherishes and remains loyal to (certain pubs and cafés…!) but also tracked changing attitudes and an evolving culture. The root of this is the democratic nature…

3 DADS WALKING Many have been inspired by Mike, Tim and Andy–three fathers who lost their daughters Bethany, Emily and Sophie to suicide–as they channel their own grief into help others. In memory of their girls, the trio are walking between the parliaments of the four nations to raise awareness and money for suicide prevention causes. Last year, TGO voters commended them for their 300-mile walk between their three homes. This year, the 3 Dads Walking receive the top award. They said: “It’s good to know that people are hearing our message of hope and are responding to it positively.” One reader shared their moving reason for voting, saying, “My brother took his own life six years ago and I know he would have supported everything these dads do to…

WHALLEY WARM AND DRY People travel from across the country for Whalley Warm and Dry’s specialist boot fitting service and their stock of high-quality outdoor brands. But it’s the service that really captured the votes of our readers. Owner Jon Smith said, “A huge thanks to all of our fantastic and loyal customers. Thanks also to all of our suppliers,” particularly Altberg, Páramo, Meindl, Rab and Montane. If you are planning to visit to take advantage of our boot fitting and footwear customisation service, please make sure that you book an appointment on our website before travelling.” Outside (Hathersage) A regular winner of our independent retailer of the year award, this family-run Peak District shop has made the podium again in 2022. Between the breadth of expertise, the friendly approach…

ALPKIT Alpkit has taken the title because TGO readers have been “blown away” by the products they bought this year–including the Pipedream 600 sleeping bag–as well as the quality, the service, the prices and the choice across their range. A number of you noted their repair and recycling services and their community initiatives, with one person saying they are “proud to be a loyal customer of such a great UK brand.” David Hanney, CEO, said: “What a moment! All of us at Alpkit are delighted that The Great Outdoors readers have voted us Outdoor Clothing and Equipment Brand of the Year. For a small brand like us, this is a massive deal. Thank you so much to everyone who voted, and to everyone at Alpkit for building a brand we’re…

New big pack from Sierra Designs The latest pack from Sierra Designs is the Gigawatt 60L. The pack has an adjustable back system that fits back lengths from 40cm to 53cm, and a sprung steel perimeter frame. It’s made from durable 300D polyester ripstop. Features include a zipped top and side access, oversized stretch mesh side and front pockets, lid pocket with internal organiser, two zipped hipbelt pockets, plus side and base compression straps. The Gigawatt 60L weighs 1.84kg and costs £130. sierradesigns.com Vasque Breeze gets sustainable update The well-established nubuck leather and mesh Vasque Breeze hiking boot has been modernised with environmentally friendly materials. It’s now made with recycled polyester mesh and is the first boot to have a VasqueDry Waterproof membrane, which is made from 25% recycled materials.…

TESTING CONDITIONS David is a size UK10.5 and has a wide forefoot and a narrow heel. He’s an occasional trail and hill runner, and an advocate for trail shoes for walking and backpacking during the summer months. These trail shoes were tested last spring, summer and autumn on-and off-trail in the mountains throughout Scotland, from the north-west to the Borders–walking, backpacking and on the odd hill run. Weights are per pair and were measured on David’s own scales. BEST BUY Arc’teryx Norvan LD3 £150 612g grip, support high ankle cuff Heel-to-toe drop: 6mm Lug depth: 4mm Materials and features: EVA/polyolefin blend midsole, single-layer mesh upper, toe cap, Ariaprene foam tongue, InFuse midsole (42 Shore C), anti-fatigue insert–85%, internal foot wrap, Vibram MegaGrip outsole Sizes: 6.5-12.5 Women’s version: yes arcteryx.com The…

Our walks this month 1 Blairmore to Cape Wrath North Highlands 2 Pentlands Traverse Midlothian 3 Sewingshields Crags Northumberland 6 Howgill Fells Cumbria 4 Coniston to Langdale Lake District 5 Grasmere to Patterdale Lake Distict 7 Rishworth Moor & Stott Hall Farm Pennine Way 8 Offa’s Dyke & Llan-fawr Powys 9 Lizard Peninsula South West Coast Path 10 Totland to Bembridge Isle of Wight 10 varied routes in Scotland, England and Wales In this issue of TGO we’ve been praising the beauty and escape you can find trekking in the Alps. For this month’s collection of Wild Walks, we stay on the long-distance walking theme, but look closer to home-our contributors share their favourite sections from some of the UK’s most celebrated trails. These circular and linear day routes pick out…

Ian Battersby visits the Hadrian’s Wall National Trail and its undulations HADRIAN’S WALL became a World Heritage Site in 1987, and the sense of history is as embedded now as were the Roman militia then, stationed here to fend off northern raiding parties. This was the extreme north-western limit of the empire, and certainly no place like Rome; but some argue that skirmishes were scarce, and it was better than risking life and limb elsewhere. And what a view they enjoyed! The wall follows the Whin Sill, a geological fault line of tough dolerite that parades as a rolling scarped edge stretching into the far-flung east. Dolerite is so robust the Romans didn’t use it for the wall, instead quarrying softer stone from nearby locations. The wall forms a natural…

Ian Battersby’s fine circuit uses parts of two longdistance paths JUST AS ALL ROADS lead to Rome, all paths lead to The Calf–or at least that seems to be the way of things in the Howgill Fells. Here The Calf forms a natural hub connecting ridges that radiate out into Cumbria and thus the world. The fells here form an intimate huddle of high, rounded grassy hilltops, with slender flanks sweeping into steep river valleys that divorce them from surrounding, possibly less alluring, hills. The Dales High Way launches a direct approach from Sedbergh, quickly delivering a high-level promenade along a haughty ridge line overlooking throngs of incising ghylls. But this route begins along the Pennine Journey path, which shadows the River Rawthey and proves to be an irresistible appetiser,…

Fiona Barltrop takes a walk down the Lizard’s western side CORNWALL’S wonderful coastline is a pleasure to walk at any time, but especially so in spring (which starts early here) when it’s at its most colourful, the cliff edges fringed with pink thrift and other wild flowers. This glorious stretch of the South West Coast Path (SWCP) along the western side of the Lizard peninsula takes you to the British mainland’s most southerly point. Scenic gems include the charming Mullion Cove and beautiful Kynance Cove with dramatic cliff scenery all the way. The name Lizard, incidentally, is most probably a corruption of the Cornish Lys Ardh meaning ‘high court’. Coincidentally, much of the peninsula is composed of a rock called serpentine, named for its scaly reptilian texture and long used…

Ronald Turnbull walks a long chalk ridgeline with the sea on his right TENNYSON DOWN is the start of the chalk ridge running east across the Isle of Wight, England’s biggest island. That ridgeline makes for fast, freestyle walking, with wind in your hair and daisies under your feet, great sea views stretching away southwards, and a night out somewhere along the way. If you’ve got a bivvy bag or a very small tent, that night out could be high on St Catherine’s Down, watching the day fade over the sea, wind whispering in the grasses, the smell of salt, the mind going quiet and the fingers chilly as you wait for the first stars. Wind-twisted gorse bushes give overnight shelter, whilst the stone tower of the UK’s oldest lighthouse…

SAVE £22* RECEIVE 6 ISSUES FOR ONLY £15 IN EVERY ISSUE WORKOUTS FITNESS NUTRITION WELLBEING GREAT REASONS TO SUBSCRIBE Get fit for life + Just £15 for your first 6 months + Save £22 in your first year* Free UK delivery directly to your door + Never miss an issue VISIT SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/NY23HWF OR CALL 01959 543747 and quote code NY23HWF SCAN HERE HOTLINE OPEN: MONDAY-FRIDAY, 8.30AM-5.30PM. CALLS ARE CHARGED AT YOUR STANDARD NETWORK RATE UK Direct Debit offer only. You wil pay £15 for your first 6 issues. Your subscription will continue at a rate of £21.99 every 6 months. *Discounts are calculated on full cover price for 1 year. Offer ends 31st March 2023. Your subscription will start with the next available issue. Prices correct at time of print…

TLC SANG ABOUT how you shouldn’t go chasing waterfalls and should instead stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to. I respectfully disagree. Waterfalls are one of my favourite natural sights, up there with rainbows, sunsets, and seagulls stealing chips from people’s hands. Every time I see a waterfall I can’t help but wonder whether I’d survive going down it in a barrel. This is not just one of those intrusive thoughts like “I wonder what that crunchy leaf tastes like,” or “Let’s pick up that pigeon”. It’s based on something I read years ago. In 1901, on her 63rd birthday, Annie Edson Taylor became the first person to survive a trip down Niagara Falls in a barrel. She was nicknamed the Queen of Falls, and her…

Sue Fletcher is an award-winning novelist. She writes contemporary and historical fiction and her articles have appeared in The Independent and The Sunday Times. Her passion for remote landscapes and the natural world heavily informs her writing. Having lived in both the Scottish Highlands and rural Northumberland, she now lives in Warwickshire. She goes bivvying in Lakeland on page 26. Charlie Jarvis is a writer based between Edinburgh and Milan and a first-time contributor to The Great Outdoors. His work covers the environment, culture, and politics, and the unexpected ways these interact, even in the mountains. He’s happiest waking up on Scottish mountaintops, or stopping in a roadside cafe for a pre-hike breakfast. Read about his traverse of the wildest part of the Alps on page 54. Fiona Russell is better known…

THE CAPE WRATH TRAIL: AT A GLANCE DISTANCE: 370km/230 miles ASCENT: 14,000m/45,951ft START: Fort William FINISH: Cape Wrath DURATION: usually around three weeks Combining the challenge of a 370 kilometre (230 mile) multi-day hike with some of Scotland’s most spectacular scenery, the Cape Wrath Trail has achieved a certain notoriety as Britain’s ‘toughest’ hike. The terrain is rugged, rocky, boggy and remote; the path is often unclear; and supply points are limited, meaning you have to be self-sufficient for several days at a stretch in isolated country. But any competent hillwalker with reasonable fitness, and with some decent prior experience of backpacking, should be able to complete it, given enough time and determination. I followed the Knoydart route (see right) for my hike in September 2022. This is a stunning…

RECEIVE 6 ISSUES FOR ONLY £15 IN EVERY ISSUE WORKOUTS FITNESS NUTRITION WELLBEING GREAT REASONS TO SUBSCRIBE Get fit for life + Just £15 for your first 6 months + Save £22 in your first year* Free UK delivery directly to your door + Never miss an issue VISIT SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/NY23HMF OR CALL 01959 543747 and quote code NY23HMF HOTLINE OPEN: MONDAY-FRIDAY, 8.30AM-5.30PM. CALLS ARE CHARGED AT YOUR STANDARD NETWORK RATE UK Direct Debit offer only. You will pay£ 15 for your first6issues. Your subscription will continue at a rate of £21.99 every 6 months. *Discounts are calculated on full cover price for 1 year. Offer ends 31st March 2023. Your subscription will start with the next available issue. Prices correct at time of print and subject to change. Lines open…

‘.. a great dome of shales and flagstones reaching to over 2,000 feet and given mountain qualities where the Harley Dingle nearly cuts it in two, forming steep slopes that climb to crags such as Great Creigiau.’Bill Condry, Exploring Wales (Faber, 1970) THAT’S BILL CONDRY’S take on one of the most unvisited, and unique, hill massifs in Britain. Rhos Fawr–‘the great moor’, highest point of Radnor Forest–is 2170 feet (670m) So it’s higher than Kinder Scout or Bleaklow, and when you’ve arrived at the OS pillar close to the northern rim you’ll appreciate the resemblances between these mighty land features. So few people come here, yet it is one of the loveliest places–marred, yes, and distressing at certain levels, in certain dimensions; but beautiful and grand, one of the prime…

1. Trangia 27 Stove In use since: 1978 Forty-five years old and a veteran of my first ever long-distance walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats in 1978, this stove will outlast me. The design is rugged, functional and simple. Until this trip I’d recently only been using it for car camping due to the weight (880g) and bulk compared to more recent stoves, but as this was an old gear reunion trip I brought it along. It worked fine. 2. Gregory Shasta pack In use since: 1998 This pack is a monster. It weighs 3kg empty and has a capacity of 82 litres. It is however very tough and very comfortable with a big load. I had 18kg in it on this trip and it handled it easily. I carried much…

Nick Gardner Many of you felt inspired by Nick’s Munro Challenge in 2022. For those who might’ve missed the nationwide coverage, Nick summited all the Munros aged 82, raising £82,000 and counting for Alzheimer’s Scotland after his wife’s diagnosis. For some, with loved ones also suffering the effects of Alzheimer’s, Nick’s journey hit close to home. For others, he is “living proof that age is not a barrier” and some have even started bagging the Munros themselves since cheering Nick on from the sidelines. Nick told The Great Outdoors, “I feel so humbled and proud to be commended like this. I embarked on this challenge to protect my sanity and to help the charities that represent the diseases with which my wife, Janet, was afflicted (Osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s). The success…

YHA BORROWDALE Location–“perfectly positioned for the Borrowdale pub crawl!”–and excellent customer service have won this hostel top spot. One described it as particularly “homely after a wander to some Wainwrights” and others like the family-friendly approach. One voter summed it up with this observation: “Because it always rains in Borrowdale, and you stay dry in the YHA.” Aaron Jones, hostel manager, told TGO, “Our little hostel was built here in one of the Lake District’s most beautiful locations 90 years ago, and today it still fulfils YHA’s original mission: to help all, especially young people of limited means, to a greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside!” Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel, Aviemore On the doorstep of the high plateaus of Scotland’s second national park, the Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel…

Alex Roddie heads (far) north on the Cape Wrath Trail MANY LONG-DISTANCE walkers dream of hiking the Cape Wrath Trail (CWT) one day. It’s got everything: wildness, mountain views, remote country and bothies aplenty. But what if you don’t have two weeks to hike it in one go? Many of the CWT’s sections are of exceptionally high quality, and if you ask me which is best I might give a different answer each time–they’re all that good. However, if you are looking for a section that is representative of the CWT experience, with a good mixture of grand scenery, legendary bothies and good old-fashioned off-path navigation, you could do a lot worse than the northernmost stretch. Starting at Blairmore just north of Kinlochbervie, the trail visits Sandwood Bay and Strathchaill…

It’s hard to beat this section of the Cumbria Way, says James Forrest THE CUMBRIA WAY is a 73-mile route that covers the length of the county from Ulverston to Carlisle via Coniston, Langdale, Keswick and Caldbeck. Devised by local Ramblers groups in the 1970s, it is a low-level, valley-hopping walk that delivers a visual feast of Lakeland splendour for the five or so days you’re on the trail. If you don’t have enough time to hike it all (poor you), fear not–you can easily sample the best bits as day walks. Langdale to Keswick via the remote Langstrath valley and the western shores of Derwent Water is pretty tempting, as is the quiet remoteness of Back o’ Skiddaw on the Keswick to Caldbeck leg. But perhaps the best section…

Andrew Galloway visits the Pennine Way’s ‘Little House on the Prairie’ STOTT HALL FARM, the 18th Century farmhouse sitting between the lanes of the trans-Pennine M62 motorway, is known affectionately by countless drivers and fans of BBC Radio 2’s ‘Sally Traffic’ as ‘The Little House on the Prairie’. The farm’s location gives the impression of inaccessibility. Determined walkers may, however, approach the dwelling by descending into Booth Dean Clough and passing below the concrete dam of Booth Wood Reservoir. The crest of the dam includes an outlet over which excess water spectacularly cascades 150 feet into the clough below, a dramatic sight for motorists on the westbound carriageway of the motorway. The farm’s tenant, Paul Thorp, uses traditional livestock practices that have changed little in 300 years, not a stone’s…

David Isherwood (Facebook) “His bit of Dartmoor is not very accessible to the public, something to do with his closing car parks making access a long hike. Other complaints include erosion along well-trodden tracks, which funnily enough seem to be made by farm vehicles. Photos of said erosion showed what looked like the sort of damage you get from the Hunt, not the dogwalkers and hikers that used to walk from one of the car parks they have closed.” Steve Brown (Facebook) “Litter is definitely a big problem but not really aware of this area so won’t comment further. There is certainly a lot of empty plastic bottles and food packaging left around Cannock Chase area where I walk a lot locally.” Daz Whittington (Facebook) “I’ve personally been walking public…

CHRIS TOWNSEND Hailed for his “daily contribution to the outdoor community” and “approachable advice”, this long-distance walking legend won this closely-called category of The Great Outdoors Reader Awards 2022. One of the world’s most respected experts on long-distance walking, backpacking and outdoor equipment, Chris has authored 22 books and was the first person to complete a continuous round of all the Scottish Munros and Tops. He has done a host of longdistance walks across the world, including recognised North American trails like the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Northwest Trail, plus several self-devised long walks, including 1600 miles through the Canadian Rockies. Chris has been closely involved with TGO almost since our inception 45 years ago, but he received a number of nominations as an…

RED SQUIRREL CAMPSITE, GLENCOE Campsite of the year proved a “hard choice” for some voters. But Red Squirrel pipped the competition to the post with a quarter of the votes thanks to excellent facilities–lots of you love the campfires and dipping spot–as well as the friendly staff who go above and beyond. But the setting is worlds apart from the rest, according to our readers. “It’s rustic enough that it still feels like camping” and is “far enough out of town to be secluded, but close enough to visit the town for a meal.” Happy campers, here! Sandi and Matt MacLeod, the new management, said, “This award for best campsite in our first season is fantastic. It’s great to be appreciated by people who love the site and location as…

‘FELL ASLEEP’ BY RUSS MOORHOUSE Russ Moorhouse set himself a mission to sleep–or, more specifically, bivvy–on every single Wainwright. Besides being an incredible personal feat–“Russ really did put the effort in by heading out in all weathers to build a relationship with the fells,” one fan said–his book on the adventure “got us all out in our bivi bags,” according to another reader. You loved the “authentic commentary”, route descriptions and wonderful photography in Fell Asleep, with more than one voter dubbing the book a “love story” dedicated to Lakeland. Of his win, Russ said, “What an honour! I’d like to dedicate the award to [my partner] the beautiful Doro. The star of the story, she made my dreams a reality.” ‘We Can’t Run Away From This’ by Damian Hall…

AMAZON By a narrow margin, Amazon has taken the democratically elected top spot in The Great Outdoors Reader Awards 2022. One voter admitted, “Although I don’t like what Amazon stands for or how it operates, it’s just so easy to use… perhaps too easy.” Another said, “You can’t beat Amazon for fast delivery and convenience; the returns are easy and refunds are quick.” Trekitt This is what one reader had to say about choosing Trekitt, which has been serving outdoor adventurers since 1986, as their online retailer of the year: “I’ve used Trekkit a few times and have found their service to be excellent, their prices to be competitive and their packaging to be environmentally friendly. I’ve been very impressed with their service and will continue to use and support…

TESTING CONDITIONS Fiona is a size UK8.5 and has a narrow foot. She is a keen trail and hill runner, as well as a hillwalker. To test the trail shoes, she walked and ran in each pair on the full range of terrain, from forest tracks to off-path mountain slopes, through peat hags, bog and streams and on ground covered in tussocks, heather, rocks, stones and grass. The product weights are per pair and are taken from Fiona’s digital scales. BEST BUY inov-8 Roclite G315 GTX V2 £155 668g fit, waterproofing, grip, stability price, limited upper sizes for women Heel-to-toe drop: 8mm Lug depth: 6mm Materials and features: graphene G-GRIP outsole, textile upper, mid-width, Powerflow Max foam midsole, 6mm EVA footbed, Gore-Tex membrane, mid-heel lock panel, META-PLATE, front-end bumper Sizes:…

THE GREAT OUTDOORS is the UK’s original mountain magazine. We have been inspiring people to explore high places and equipping them with the knowledge they need for almost 45 years. Through compelling writing and beautifully illustrated stories, we convey the joy of adventure, the thrill of mountainous and wild environments, and the wonder of the natural world. We’re here to help you make the most of your time in the outdoors. As well as stunning photography and top-class writing, our gear reviewers are the country’s most experienced team–and we always ensure clothing and equipment is put through its paces in the right places. Our essential skills advice is reinforced by top outdoor instructors and guides. Our roster of contributors ranges from world-renowned outdoor experts and authors to younger, up-and-coming voices…

Craig Weldon enjoys the best of the Pentlands on a rollercoaster route YOU WANT TO do a hill. Your other half wants to visit Ikea. What do you do? Do both, is the answer, if you are lucky enough to live anywhere near Edinburgh. The middling-altitude peaks of the Pentlands offer clear paths over long, rolling ridges on which it is possible eat up the miles, gain fresh air and enjoy views across the Borders, Ochils, Fife and the Highlands–and even, on a clear day, from The Cheviot in Northumberland to the Isle of Arran in the Firth of Clyde. Catch these hills on a day of sunshine and snow, and it feels like someone has chopped the top half off a Highland range and deposited it on the outskirts…

Vivienne Crow tackles part of Wainwright’s Coast to Coast SOON TO BECOME one of England and Wales’s National Trails, Wainwright’s Coast to Coast route passes through three spectacular National Parks on its 306km journey across northern England. Each park has a character of its own, but the most rugged and most mountainous stretches are those through the Lake District. After climbing to the perfect teardrop of Grisedale Tarn, the section from Grasmere to Patterdale offers three contrasting options: down through the glacial trough of Grisedale; up and over Helvellyn, using Striding Edge in its descent; or over St Sunday Crag. The hike described here takes the latter route. At Deepdale Hause, it joins a high ridge, broad enough to feel safe in all but the trickiest conditions but narrow enough…

Roger Butler follows where Offa and Owain Glyndŵr trod BANG ON THE BORDER, Offa’s Dyke Path follows the line of the ancient earthwork that still prompts debate amongst historians: was it a long defensive barrier or a clever attempt to control trade? Nowadays, it’s an undulating snake wriggling and rising through some of the finest scenery in the glorious Welsh Marches. ROUTE Start/Finish Evenjobb GR: SO263623 1 SO263623 Walk east 1 from Evenjobb, steeply uphill on a narrow lane, and take steps on L after 650m to join Offa’s Dyke Path. 2 SO270623 Turn L and then 2 R at fingerpost to follow narrow path through Granner Wood, with views west to Whimble and Black Mixen at the end of the trees. Go through gate, turn L at track and…