Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2023 i The Great Outdoors

KWESIA is 24-year-old south-east Londoner, qualified youth coach, mother, mentor, podcaster and YouTuber who’s “on a mission to connect inner-city people with the nature on their doorsteps”. There are many systemic barriers young people face, she says. From unsafe housing to low income levels, their priorities must lie elsewhere. “Many have normalised their urban, overcrowded and sometimes threatening environments,” and “there is little room for play and exploration” in their realities. But Kwesia, a Linnean Society John Spedan Lewis Award winner, breaks these down by being her “authentic self ” and sharing her “journey of struggle and renewal.” Kwesia grew up in Deptford, which, in her words, is a place of poverty, unmet needs, gentrification, hidden racism and discrimination. It’s also home to communities who live with a great deal…

In between summer storms, our readers have been checking the forecasts and getting out during those weather windows before the days begin to get shorter. Here’s a selection of the blue sky adventures you’ve enjoyed this month……

Earlier this year, Scottish Mountain Rescue released its annual report for 2022. It is a powerful summation of the incredible efforts by volunteer teams to save lives any day in any weather. The report includes data gathered from the 25 civilian member teams as well as three Police Scotland MRTs. Whilst the headline figures are slightly lower overall than for 2021, 2022 saw the highest number of callouts of civilian teams on record. ARCHIVE “It is a strange fact that each new encounter with midges is always the worst you can remember. Which means either that midges are winning their evolutionary arms race or that the human mind is adept at protecting itself from terrible memories.”RUARIDH PRINGLE The Great Outdoors, July 1996 THE View FROM HERE Ben Vane (Arrochar Alps)…

SCOTLAND’S MOUNTAIN landscape is one of its greatest assets, important environmentally and for recreation. Most of us who visit the mountains use paths, yet too many of them are becoming badly eroded, which is damaging to the environment. They become eyesores too, and are often unpleasant to walk on and even dangerous. These paths are hammered by our boots. The more popular the path, the greater and faster the wear and tear. Weather extremes, which are increasing, have an adverse effect too. Paths will always deteriorate without regular maintenance. Many now need repairing. Some, neglected for far too long, require complete reconstruction. Others may need realigning to a less damaging line, as the John Muir Trust (JMT) did on Schiehallion. A new campaign from Mountaineering Scotland and the Outdoor Access…

TIME AND AGAIN, driving north up Loch Lomondside I’d pass the turn for the A82 at Tarbet, glance west, catch that hooked and vaguely sinister profile of The Cobbler (Ben Arthur) and know that I was in the Highlands. No accident, surely, that the great Scottish mountain writer WH Murray made his home at Lochearnhead, within sight of the hill that had dominated his earliest experiences. For his Glasgow contemporary Tom Weir too, The Cobbler was iconic. The whole outdoor romance of Scottish inter-war mountain activity has its genesis on this outstanding hill. It might only be a Corbett; but of all the fine, distinguished hills that don’t quite make Munro status, this has the hardest summit to attain – an isolated stack with outstanding views spreading wide in all…

Hello 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…

Sole The sole connects you to the terrain. You could be wearing the world ’s best-fitting boots, but without a good sole they won’t do you any good. The make of rubber will affect how grippy and hardwearing it is, with Vibram and Michelin often being used. Deep lugs help with grip on grass and moorland, and some boots have a smoother area at the toe – the climbing zone – which is useful for scrambling and climbing. Midsole This lies between the sole and the footbed or insole, and it dictates stiffness and flexibility. A ‘shank’ will make a boot stiffer; but with less flex, walking on easier terrain may feel more tiring. The drop between the heel and toes also depends on the midsole, with a minimalist or…

29km/18 miles/10-12 hours Ascent 1087m/3566ft Stefan Durkacz spends 24 hours in the foothills of the Cairngorms THE A93 between Perth and Braemar crosses the Cairnwell Pass at 665m above sea level. Britain’s highest public road, it’s a handy and popular starting point for the surrounding Munros. It’s also the site of the Glenshee Ski Centre, and the hillsides are covered with ski runs, fences and tows. Happily, there is an excellent, lesser-known approach option: upper Glen Isla, accessible via minor roads from the A93 far down Glen Shee. This long, meandering route explores the plateau via four Munros and the dramatic upper reaches of the Isla where its headwaters, the Canness and Caenlochan burns, cut deeply into the uplands. Adding interest is the Monega Path, an old droving path between Glen…

10.8km/6.7 miles/6 hours Ascent 1161m/3809ft James Forrest hikes around, not up, Great Gable A HUMONGOUS, rugged mass of crags and cliffs, Great Gable is captivating to look at: a devilish pyramid from the south; the dome of a sleeping, curled-up giant from the north. It is a spiritual place too, its summit adorned with a war memorial. But, oddly, perhaps the best way to experience Great Gable it is to walk around it, not up it. The Gable Girdle is a high-level circumnavigation of Great Gable combining the classic north and south traverses. It offers a more intimate interaction with the mountain than the usual slog for the top – and it’s a great option for intermediate scramblers. This route isn’t a graded scramble; it’s more of an adventurous walk over…

19.5km/12 miles/6 hours Ascent 560m/1837ft Andrew Galloway goes in search of the wreckage of aeroplanes JUST NORTH of the trig point at Higher Shelfstones, a piece of twisted aluminium lies on black peat, shining in sunlight as if newly cast. But it’s lain here on the moor for 70 years. It takes a while to orientate yourself amongst the wreckage. The fragments of an aeroplane begin to knit together to form a whole: four engines, undercarriage, wings, tail-plane. This USAF Boeing RB-29, Over-Exposed, was taking payroll and mail from Scampton, Lincs to the supply base at Burtonwood, Lancs on 3 November 1948. In poor weather the flight was conducted on instruments, the pilots effectively flying blind. It’s thought the captain believed his position to be further west and began to descend…

8km/5 miles/4+ hours Ascent 366m/1201ft Emily Woodhouse sets a Dartmoor navigation challenge DARTMOOR has many wonderful qualities, including the proliferation of manmade objects going back as far as the Bronze Age. So many exist that hundreds of precise navigation points haven’t made it onto your paper map. Mix these features with the lack of distinct paths and a tendency towards abysmal weather, and you’ve got yourself a great little Dartmoor navigation challenge – if you know where to look. This route is designed to be challenging. Every point is a clearly identifiable object not on the map. You’ll know you’ve found it when you get there. You can do the whole route point-to-point direct with bearing and pacing. I’ve included clues in the route description. These are suggestions if you get…

Francesca Donovan is a camping, swimming and hillwalking enthusiast and journalist who also happens to be the Content Producer here at The Great Outdoors. In between battles with ever-wavering hilltop Wi-Fi, wedding planning and a dodgy hip, she managed to get into the mountains recently. It led to her first encounter with Mountain Rescue. Luckily, it was a planned scramble along Sharp Edge – and you can read all about it on page 32. Richard Hartfield has backpacked and scrambled his way across the Alps, the Pyrenees and the Greater Caucasus Mountains. His self-shot short film Crossing The Caucasus was featured online as part of Kendal Mountain Festival. When not in the hills, Richard works as a live sound engineer for touring bands. Amidst a hectic summer festival season he’s been…

TRAIL OF THE MONTH THE ROUTE After starting from Bangor at the coast, the Snowdonia Slate Trail begins by heading south towards Bethesda at the north-west corner of the national park. Although it passes a few smaller spoil tips before reaching Bethesda, you can’t fail to notice the Penrhyn Slate Quarry above the town – the first of the huge quarries this trail sets out to explore. Vast piles of excavated rock lie in terraces above the trees. The quarry is still in active use, although its workforce is far smaller now than it was at its peak in the 19th Century. The Slate Trail skirts the quarry to the west, then soon draws near to the Dinorwic Slate Quarry, which delves far into the flank of Elidir Fawr above…

THE DEER RUT LATE SEPTEMBER marks the start of rutting season for the red deer (Cervus elaphus) that call the UK’s high places home. The rut, in which activity peaks after dawn and before dusk, is a high-octane, testosterone-fuelled natural spectacle many hope to behold. During the rut, competing males attempt to establish dominance over other stags in order to mate with a harem of up to 20 hinds (females). Initially, stags size each other up on a ‘parallel walk’. Behaviours escalate to foot stomping and the impressive red deer roar, which reverberates widely. If neither stag yields, the pair will lock antlers in a decisive and fierce fight, throwing their body mass at their opponent in a powerful display. But it’s important to understand ground rules before you go…

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CLOUDS SMOTHERED Lakeland’s Northern Fells, indicating stormy weather ahead. Not what I wanted to see when scrambling Sharp Edge – the exposed arête on the eastern side of Blencathra, which had twice previously given me cause to turn back. The sight of two people in bright red jackets adorned with the Keswick Mountain Rescue Team (KMRT) logo – not uncommon on this accident black spot – climbing deftly over a col reassured me as I assessed a bubbling sky. I’ve long held Mountain Rescue in high regard, perhaps because I harbour a secret fear I might have to call on them some day. So, I was delighted to be meeting two KMRT members under professional circumstances, rather than as a consequence of a mountain mishap. I was not, however, delighted…

Gear News Mystery Ranch creates “coolest” technical packs yet Mystery Ranch has announced the release of three new technical lightweight packs. Expertly crafted for the lightweight-or-bust thru-hiker, climber and trail runner, the brand says the results are “some of our coolest, most technical packs yet”. The minimalist RADIX Series offers superlight, repairable backpacking carry comfort available in 31, 47 and 57 litre sizes. If technical climbing and off-trail adventures is your bag the tool carry solutions of the Scree Series Hiking will suit you. Alternatively, lightweight aficionados and trail runners should check out the Gallagator Series daypacks. ■ From $79 (£62) mysteryranch.com Hanwag adds to Makra family of multi-terrain footwear The Hanwag Makra family is growing with the launch of two new models – the crampon-compatible Makra Pro designed for…

Cameras Most phones now have at least two camera lenses, offering a variety of focal lengths. If you prefer zoomed-in shots, look for a telephoto lens. Megapixels aren’t everything; also consider sharpness and colour accuracy. Screen Bigger screens display more content (great for map apps) but increase size, weight and expense, and can reduce battery life. Brighter screens are easier to use in direct sunlight. Also consider sharpness, measured in PPI; more is better. A refresh rate above 90Hz make animations appear more fluid. Ruggedness Every phone tested is waterproof and dust-resistant. Look for a rating of at least IP67 for mountain use. Shatter-resistant glass can easily be damaged, so unless the phone is also drop tested add a tough case and screen protector. Battery life Battery life varies based…

18.1km/11.3 miles/7-8 hours Ascent 1055m/3461ft Alex Roddie seeks out an exploratory route with a varied feel THE FANNICHS lie on the edge of juggernaut Scottish mountain areas of Torridon, Fisherfield and Assynt, and so can end up a bit overlooked. If you’re heading to the North-west Highlands looking for a memorable mountain day, why wouldn’t you keep going to Beinn Eighe, An Teallach or Suilven? Plenty of walkers travelling along the A835 to Ullapool might simply drive straight past the Fannichs. These mountains may not be as obvious and brash as the heavy hitters, but they have a great deal to offer – and are likely to be quieter too. With sweeping ridges and a blend of easy ground and rugged off-path walking with an exploratory feel, the Fannichs are more…

11.3km/7 miles/4-4.5.5 hours Ascent 787m/2580ft Vivienne Crow finds solitude in the shadow of fashionable giants WASDALE isn’t all peak-baggers and well-trodden paths; it’s still possible to go off the beaten track in this spectacular Lakeland valley. A walk taking in Middle Fell and Seatallan – just 692 metres – might lack the allure of England’s highest mountains but it does bring tranquillity and a feeling of ‘escape’. Faint pathways also reveal sudden, jaw-dropping panoramic of those mighty neighbours, Sca Fell, Scafell Pike, Great Gable, Yewbarrow… These are breathtaking scenes that also take on a more interesting dimension as the route, in its later stages, drops to the rim of Buckbarrow’s steep, Wast Waterfacing slopes. Here, buffeted by the invigorating effects of being on the Lake District National Park’s coastal edge, walkers…

20km/12.5 miles/8 hours Ascent 750m/2450ft Roger Butler follows pathless terrain along a wild skyline THE VAST, sweeping landscape of the North Pennines is often called England’s last wilderness, and even the locals have been known to bemoan these high, empty hills: “There’s nuthin’ up thear, nuthin’ upon nuthin’.” Paths are few and far between and, when mists descend, good navigational skills with map and compass are always a prerequisite. The boggy escarpment that runs north from Cross Fell – at 2930 feet the high point of the Pennine chain – dips to the hairpin bends at Hartside Pass before swinging over Black Fell and a watershed between the Eden and the Tyne. Panoramic vistas extend west to the Lakeland fells and the distant Solway coast whilst, to the east, empty horizons…

Dig-and-dump or bag-and-bin? That was the question Mary-Ann Ochota asked in her latest column for The Great Outdoors’ August issue. Under the #RespectTheWild campaign launched two years ago, the BMC advised all outdoor users to pack out any waste. But do you still follow the dig-and-dump guidelines? You let us know in the comments sections. Amy Baron-Hall (@amy_floating.along/Instagram) “I started packing out last summer as it was so dry that digging a hole was difficult. I've just continued and have a specific dry-bag on the outside of my pack for it.” Lizzi Wake (@liziwake/Twitter) “This is what dog poo bags were really meant for. Environmental pollution comes from all sources - it’s why we have flushing loos and septic tanks.” Tirio (@tiri0/Instagram) “WAG bags all the way now.” Colin Baxter…

DISTANCE: 133km / 83 miles ASCENT: 2777m / 9111ft START: Bangor, Gwynedd FINISH: Bethesda, Gwynedd DURATION: 4-6 days Llwybr Llechi Eryri, or the Snowdonia Slate Trail, takes a route that may look ambling on the map; but this is an adventure with purpose. Today, Eryri (which you may know by its former name Snowdonia) is a mountain paradise for hillwalkers, climbers, runners and cyclists. But it wasn’t always this way. Centuries ago, tourism had yet to develop – and the main industry of the entire region was slate. Indeed, Welsh slate was renowned as the best in the world. Observant visitors to Eryri can’t fail to notice the scars of this industrial past. They’re everywhere, from the grassed-over spoil tips high on remote mountainsides to entire landscapes that have been…

MAKE A PLAN ‘Fail to plan and plan to fail’ applies to any adventure outdoors. Before you head out, dedicate time to planning. From ensuring you know your route and its topography to checking the forecast and gearing up, there are plenty of free planning resources. Site-specific ones such as the Fell Top Assessors – who summit Helvellyn every day over winter to update followers with ground conditions – will help you plan. Having a Plan B can also help avoid over-commitment. Get skilled and refresh that learning. After all, as Stuart put it, “skills and experience fade.” GET THE GEAR Getting kitted up for the outdoors doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. There are budget options and organisations – such as Kit Collective and KitSquad – offering outdoor…

MOUNTAIN RESCUE in England and Wales report in 2022 that the main callout reason was ‘Human Error’ – referring to navigation mistakes. In Scotland, ‘lost’ and ‘navigational error’ were the second and third most common callout reasons (after ‘slips and trips’). It follows that a map and compass are included in lists of essential gear for hillwalkers, and we need the skills to use them. Being able to plan and follow a route not only keeps us out of trouble, but also makes exploring more fun. Here’s some of the basic skills for finding our way around. TOOLS OF THE TRADE: MAPS Maps A map is a plan of the ground, scaled down to a manageable size. The mapmaker chooses what is useful to include, and maps for walkers display…

‘THREE-SEASON’ is a broad category. Boots with this description are designed to be used in a wide variety of terrain and weather (pretty much anything besides snow and ice). As with any footwear, the most important factor is fit. Aim to try boots on in a shop with a boot fitting service, and wear them around the house before committing to outdoor use. It’s also a good idea to do shorter walks to break the boots in before tackling anything too epic. Boots in this category are made from a variety of materials including full-grain leather and a mix of fabric and leather, or are fully synthetic. The materials used affect durability, weight and comfort. Many people find that fabric boots require less breaking in, although modern leather boots should…

Maps Look for detailed topo maps of the country you’ll be walking in (OS or Harvey maps in the UK). Offline use The app must let you download maps and planned routes for use offline. You should be able to plan routes when offline too. Planning The best apps for route planning let you ‘snap to path’, automatically tracing the lines of paths on the map. This saves a lot of time! Grid references Although not essential, a quick OS grid ref is very useful, especially if you also use paper maps. Website A companion website lets you plan routes on your computer and may even let you print maps to scale. Recording Most apps let you record your walk for future analysis (or save it as a route to…

10 varied routes in Scotland, England and Wales In this issue of The Great Outdoors, we’ve been looking at the theory and practice of safety in the hills and mountains with a special focus on how honing your grasp of navigation can get you out of some sticky spots. More than an essential tool, a map and a compass can also lead you to secret waterfalls, quiet cwms and crags, and even relics of history via lesser-trodden trails. We hope this selection of Wild Walks inspires you to put your skills to use and go exploring. Our walks this month 1 Caenlochan & Upper Glen Isla Cairngorms 2 The Central Fannichs North-west Highlands 3 Fairfield via Greenhow End Lake District 5 Middle Fell & Seatallan Lake District 4 Gable Girdle Lake District 6 Black…

15.1km/9.4 miles/5.5-6 hours Ascent 896m/2940ft Vivienne Crow goes off-piste to climb a popular fell MOST HILLWALKERS climb Fairfield as part of a horseshoe, experiencing it as little more than a flat, uninspiring summit. Few come at it from the east, from Deepdale, where the head of this tranquil valley reveals the fell’s best side. Here lie secretive corries guarded by tremendous crags and buttresses, all clinging to Fairfield’s forgotten faces. It’s a striking area that will definitely appeal to walkers, like me, who love hunting out the Lake District’s hidden nooks and crannies. Put your navigation skills to the test as faint footpaths lead to leg-wobblingy exciting glimpses into this formidable world of rock. To feel your heart thumping from labouring up the steep ground to the south of Greenhow…

19.5km/12 miles/7.5 hours Ascent 910m/2985ft Ian Battersby uncover a trio of remarkable waterfalls THE HOWGILLS are made for explorers, especially since the CROW Act 2000. The entire region is designated ‘open access’. What’s more, there are precious few walls to bar the way, and well-drained grassland makes being off-piste a cinch. Even so, energy can be saved if unmarked paths are discovered. It’s just a matter of poring over the map, finding landmarks that set the imagination alight, then taking that research into the hills and seeing what theory and practice allow. Black Force and The Spout illustrate the point nicely. These names, along with their tightly packed contours, are invitations for scallywag explorers who can’t stick to normal rights of way. There is little doubt an approach should be possible,…

20.5km/12.7 miles/7 hours Ascent 986m/3234ft Steve Eddy tries one of the best wild walks in the Beacons REMOTE GLACIAL lakes edged by swooping escarpments and long, lonely pathways with awe-inspiring views await you on this route. It crosses the rocky river Tawe. It ascends gradually to the lovely Llyn y Fan Fawr (Lake of the Big Peak) where you could almost expect a hand to emerge holding Excalibur aloft. Then drop down to Llyn y Fan Fach (Lake of the Small Peak), which has its own legend of an otherworldly woman emerging from the waters to marry a mortal, eventually abandoning him and returning to the lake when he gives her ‘three causeless blows’. A steep ascent up to Waun Lefrith is rewarded by expanding views of the mirror-like lake below…