Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2023 i The Great Outdoors

WINTER is a time to slow down and let the cold heighten your senses; a break from the never-ending adventure of summer. A time to be grateful for each moment of daylight. This is according to Vicki McCreadie, a 36-year-old college tutor and outdoor instructor who falls further for the Lake District with each fleeting winter of snow and ice. She moved north in 2012 to develop her outdoor education and instructing career. That’s over a decade of winters spent breaking ice to swim the lakes, installing the fat tyres, dusting off the skis – and removing snowballs from her dog Louie’s coat. “I love the contrast of the white-capped mountains against the red bracken and the blue shimmer of ice that will never form the same shape again,” she…

WAXWINGS THE ROBIN RED BREAST might be synonymous with winter here in the UK, but they are not the only berry-eating bird with matching plumage you can easily spot amidst the snow. During the colder months our shores see an influx of waxwings – up to 10,000 birds – wintering here. These 'irruptions' occur when the large population on its breeding grounds in the boreal forest belt that stretches from Scandinavia, through Russia and across parts of North America imposes too great a demand on the food supply. So, these plump but small Passeriformes fly miles and miles to graze on rowan and hawthorn berries – daily, they average twice their body weight – on our eastern coastline, from Scotland to the south of England. They also move inland in…

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Rab unveils new Vapour-Rise range for fast-paced mountain activities Rab has updated its Vapour-Rise collection for active folk with new jackets tailored to ‘fast’ alpinism and crafted to efficiently manage fluctuating weather conditions and exertion levels for anyone engaged in high-intensity mountain activity. The VR Summit Jacket is designed as all-day active insulation for big mountain days whilst the VR Alpine Light Jacket will interest winter mountaineers. Further jackets – the VR Ridgeline and VR Cinder – are built with, respectively, runners and cyclists in mind, and all styles are available in men’s and women’s sizes. ◼ Cost: From £155 rab.equipment Princeton Tec turns up the power on its core head torches Three head torch models – the Refuel, Remix and Vizz – have been updated by Princeton Tec to…

TESTING CONDITIONS Peter wore these boots in the Arrochar Alps in winter conditions in early 2023 and has used them throughout the year in cool and wet conditions. He approaches winter footwear from a lightweight perspective, and has adapted his techniques on winter ground and crampon choice accordingly. A variety of crampon styles were fitted to each boot. The weights are from his digital scales. Meindl Vakuum Men GTX BEST BUY £310-330, depending on size 1660g (EU41-2, pair) ✓ comfort, grip, wide range of outdoor use ✗ not as stiff-soled as some winter boots B rating: B1 equivalent Waterproofing: Gore-Tex waterproof lining Upper: nubuck leather upper, rubber rand Crampon welts: none Sole: Meindl Multigriff 2 by Vibram Sizes: EU39-49 with half sizes up to 46 Women’s version: yes meindl.co.uk Straight…

Winter is coming, so the saying goes. Cue the annual snow dance as hillwalkers invoke the white stuff during these increasingly unpredictable times. In a bid to manifest mid-winter magic, our contributors have shared routes for snow days up and down the UK – from technical mountaineering propositions to alternative (less treacherous) routes up to summits known for their scrambles, to quiet winter rambles in spots usually crowded with tourists during summer. Here’s to cold noses and alpenglow!…

STRADDLING THE BORDER between West Fife and Perth & Kinross, there’s a surprisingly rugged tract of hill, moor and forest. The Cleish Hills, named after the village that sits at the foot of their northern ramparts, are volcanic in origin like nearby Benarty Hill and the Lomond Hills. The highest point, Dumglow, may only reach 379m, but the summit views take in much of east central Scotland. You’ll find a miniature mountainscape of lochs and crags, offering surprising solitude. The Black Loch especially, nestled below Dumglow, is a superb place to linger as the light fades. There is rough going aplenty around here. Paths are generally poor, faint or non-existent and there are miles of bog and tussock. Winter is the best time to visit when the busy Loch Glow…

BLENCATHRA offers a multitude of approaches and retreats with a bountiful assortment of challenges, which can be selected based upon mood, fitness or confidence levels on the day. But, as is always the case in the mountains, the weather must have the final say. So, if you set out and conditions are more arduous than imagined, it’s easy to modify plans and still be guaranteed a dazzling day out. The scrambles on Hall’s Fell, and more so Sharp Edge, may be avoided by many when winter takes hold, but even the easier-looking paths sometimes teeter briefly alongside drops that may see an unlucky icy step go further than ideal. Without winter gear these concerns will at best etch new worry lines into concerned brows and spoil the day, whereas an…

THE HIGHEST POINT on the old Roman road between Rowen and Abergwyngregyn is known in Welsh as Bwlch y Ddeufaen, which roughly translates into English as ‘The Pass of the Two Stones’. The stones, prehistoric monoliths of indeterminate age, stand, as they have for thousands of years, just to the east of the boundary wall that transects the pass. I followed this wall south for a mile or so as it climbed the flank of Blaen y Ddalfa. On Carnedd y Ddelw I discovered a cairn: substantial in size, the hollowed-out resting place of some long-forgotten hero – and a good place to shelter and take stock. I then continued along the ridge to the summit of Drum, where rime had locked the catch on the gate. Here I found…

NOVEMBER 2023 COVER STORY Six of the best bucket list treks INSIDE Walk across Scotland, autumn routes, sleep better in camp, insulated jackets, Aviemore JULY 2023 COVER STORY Walk the best Wainwrights INSIDE Lake District, Strathfarrar Munros, Cambrian Way, sleeping bags, hiking in heat APRIL 2023 COVER STORY Hike in overlooked places INSIDE Crowd-free walks, Carneddau, Mournes, Sarek (Sweden), day packs, 3-season boots OCTOBER 2023 COVER STORY Routes combining hills & water INSIDE Skye scramble, Austria, waterproof jackets, spooky walks, secrets to staying dry, Keswick JUNE 2023 COVER STORY Walk the big life-changing trails INSIDE Thru-hikes (e.g PCT, HRP, TA, LEJOG), Snowdon, backpacking packs, solo tents MARCH 2023 COVER STORY Trek an Alps spectacular INSIDE Best Alps treks, bivvying, long-lasting gear, trail shoes, winter wild camping skills SEPTEMBER 2023 COVER…

Francesca Donovan, avid hiker and Content Producer here at The Great Outdoors, has been living vicariously through this issue’s adventurous contributors as she stepped up her editorial input, taking on key responsibilities while editor Carey Davies is away. She is heading to the Highlands on her honeymoon soon, and is looking forward to walking in the hills with her soon-to-be husband and dog. Her ‘out of office’ message is on and the outdoors awaits! Andrew Galloway began 2023 in the Southern Uplands and before the snows of winter had melted, he made a solo traverse of Crib Nantlle in Eryri/Snowdonia. Warmer weather provided an opportunity for wild camping and an encounter at dawn with the wild ponies of the Carneddau. In 2024 he plans to complete the 130-mile North Wales Pilgrim’s Way.…

Postal address The Editor, The Great Outdoors, Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent ME18 6AL. Please include a phone number and postal address. Best of days A TGO reader shared a moment of nostalgia about one of his finest winter days, on Beinn a’ Bhuird in March 1972. Those who have read the book Mountain Days and Bothy Nights by Ian R Mitchell and David Brown will be familiar with the character Fishgut Mac. This is he… My companions Lund, Adrian, The Clerk and I set off that morning in Adrian’s old Morris van. We managed to get it up the Glen Lui track as far as the snow line. The snow had fallen deep, partially melted and consolidated. It had frozen solid overnight, making the…

THE TREE THAT STOOD for almost three centuries in Sycamore Gap was more than a landmark. It was an icon. A celebrity, a friend, a sentinel, a memorial, a shrine, a secret keeper, a witness. The shock of loss has been felt far and wide. Many people, me included, lamented the ecological and social disconnection that we imagined must have contributed to such wanton destruction. I’m not so sure now. Without speculating too much, if the perpetrator was local, it is almost impossible to believe this was an act of mindless vandalism. Whoever wielded the saw, that tree meant something to them. The assault on it reads now more as an act of desperation or defiance. Is it possible such violence could have seemed some way proportionate to a pain…

◼ Invest in a pair of winter gloves that ensure your hands remain functional and warm yet have the dexterity to operate a compass and hold an icy map in strong winds. ◼ Attach your map and compass to yourself by a length of cord and a karabiner. ◼ Make sure that electronic devices such as mobile phones, GPS, emergency beacons or transceivers are kept away from your compass as these can significantly alter the bearing. ◼ Keep the map small by folding it into a quality map case. This allows the map to easily go into your chest pocket, keeping it accessible and easy to refer to throughout your journey. ◼ Get your goggles on sooner rather than later. Take time to perfect the technique of keeping them in…

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,…

1 Stob Coire nan Lochan & Bidean nam Bian Glen Coe 2 Cleish Hills Dunfermline 3 Coledale Round Lake District 4 Skiddaw Little Man Lake District 5 Blencathra Lake District 6 Great Dodd & Clough Head Lake District 7 Stony Cove Pike Lake District 8 Drum Eryri/Snowdonia 9 Shutlingsloe Peak District 10 Beachy Head & the Seven Sisters South Downs…

THE COLEDALE ROUND, or Coledale Horseshoe if you prefer, is a high-level, summit-bagging loop of Coledale Beck – the stream that flows north-east from Eel Crag to Braithwaite, nestled in the steep-sided valley between Grisedale Pike and Outerside. It is one of the finest walks in the North-Western Fells, and a versatile Lakeland classic with an almost endless array of options. Think of it as a tapas set menu, with tasty optional extras. The basic meal features six dishes – Outerside, Scar Crags, Sail, Crag Hill, Hopegill Head and Grisedale Pike – a gastronomic delight that will satisfy most palates. Hungrier participants won’t be able to resist ordering sides of Barrow and Causey Pike (the approach we’ve suggested here), while the greediest of all will somehow find room for Wandope,…

THREE RIDGES coalesce north of Ambleside to form Fairfield, then reach north for many miles, passing vertical crags and rising over 3000 feet at Helvellyn. From this noble position the miles go on, slowly declining whilst crags diminish, establishing lofty rounded tops more akin to the Pennine hills. Great Dodd and Clough Head form the final summits. On a misty day you could be conned, but when the cloud flies high the comparison to England’s backbone collapses. The northern vista is crammed with Blencathra’s beloved sharp ridges and steep corries, and alongside these stand the pyramids of Skiddaw. Swinging west and far, far away a serrated skyline becomes a riot of the old favourites. Distinctive profiles emerge south of Grasmoor and the Derwent Fells: Great Gable, the Scafells and Bow…

AFTER HEAVY SNOWFALL, the Peak District National Park boundary is notoriously hard to breach from the west, with the two main approaches – Snake Pass and Winnats Pass – turning perilous and facing closures. The Cat and Fiddle Road, however, is often the first to be gritted, making Cheshire’s hilly outskirts of The Peak a good (and safe) option for a snow day. Whilst forests and country parks may sound tame, head to Shutlingsloe – aka the Cheshire Matterhorn – for slightly loftier views and to bag a 506m trig overlooking the Cheshire Plain. The quickest approach is from Macclesfield Forest – look out for red deer – or Wildboarclough; but the vistas from Shutlingsloe’s westerly neighbour, Tegg’s Nose, which reach as far as to Eryri/Snowdonia on a clear day,…

“See this layered sandstone in the short mountain grass. Place your right hand on it, palm downward. See where the summer sun rises and where it stands at noon. Direct your index finger midway between them. Spread your fingers, not widely. You now hold this place in your hand.”People of the Black Mountains (Raymond Williams) THE BLACK MOUNTAINS! Not The Black Mountain, which is over to the west and the other side of Bannau Brycheiniog (the now official name for the Brecon Beacons). The Black Mountains are a compact and delightful group of moorland ridges at about the 2000-foot contour, hand-shaped and stretching out to the south, to be found along the shared Herefordshire and Welsh borders. The finest section of Offa’s Dyke long distance footpath – Britain’s most relaxed…

IT IS SAID THAT every mile feels like two – if not more – in winter. That means double the effort – and double the delight. But these rewards don’t come without a bit of a fight. Beyond the bitter cold, which can nip at noses and toes, nature can be at its most beautiful – and brutal – in the mountains from November to March. The mountains will also demand more of you: better navigation skills, a deep understanding of winter hazards. Heightened confidence and a greater degree of exertion will be required. All this can be found in the Scottish Highlands – the stomping ground of Glenmore Lodge’s team of winter enthusiasts. Scotland’s mountains are wildly worthy in their own right–but the Munros are also stepping stones to…

PLANNING Use weather and avalanche forecasts to identify problems (such as hazardous snow) and likely locations. Be aware of personal and party skill levels, knowledge, fitness and equipment required for any mountain journey. Identify avalanche terrain on topographic maps and any current avalanche hazards. Create a route plan that avoids hazards and identifies Key Places with alternative route options. JOURNEY Observe the weather and conditions, recognise a mismatch from the forecasts and recognise when to change a plan. Maintain good communication throughout a team with the intention of creating a supportive decision-making environment. Recognise when a challenge is beyond personal skills or knowledge, and adapt appropriately. Identify slope aspect, slope angles and avalanche terrain, and monitor the party’s position relative to the planned journey, avalanche terrain and avalanche hazard. KEY…

THE SCOTTISH WINTER mountain experience can give you plenty of perspective when transferring your skill and fitness level to the Alps. With its changeable and tough winter weather, long walks-in, superb ridges and climbs as well as mountains that require planning, pace and team resilience, here in the Highlands you can develop qualities required for operating in the Alps. It is an accessible testing ground for winter climbing and mountaineering and a great place to learn more about alpinism. WHY IS SCOTTISH WINTER A GOOD TRAINING GROUND FOR THE ALPS IN SUMMER? Scottish winter climbing and mountaineering is respected throughout the world for its unique, challenging weather conditions and the variety of mountainous terrain. Traditionally, it has been a stepping stone to the Alps, and winter here has played an…

1 Keep gadgets cosy Modern tech can do a lot, but batteries hate the cold. Even your smartphone, which might seem like it runs on pixie dust, has a battery that will behave in specific and predictable ways to different environmental stimuli. Wellbelowfreezing? Battery life will be shorter. Your phone just wants to be cosy. So do your head torch, camera and GPS. So pop your phone in an inner jacket pocket (rather than switching it off and bunging it in the bottom of your pack). In very cold conditions, devices that take AA or AAA batteries should be fitted with non-rechargeable lithium cells. They’re expensive, and not as environmentally friendly as rechargeables, but they last far longer – and are less likely to suddenly fail in freezing weather. Always…

TESTING CONDITIONS Kirsty tested during the winter of 2022/23 in all weather and conditions on both personal mountaineering days and whilst delivering winter skills courses. The latter often involves lots of standing still and digging, so the waterproofing and insulation properties were well tested! The AKU boots are a new model so haven’t been tested in snow, but were used in cold autumnal weather on steep and wet terrain. All boots with the exception of the AKU were tested with C2 crampons (see Kirsty’s review on p67). All boots were weighed on Kirsty’s digital scales. BEST BUY Mammut Kento Pro High £290 1320g (EU38, pair) ✓ price, insulation ✗ runs small, fabric lace eyelets B rating: B2 Waterproofing: Gore-Tex Upper: velours leather Crampon welts: heel welt Sole: Vibram Hexa Tech Sizes:…

ALTHOUGH I only lived in Glen Coe for three years, my time as a barman at the Clachaig Inn had a disproportionate impact on my life. I didn’t have a car, so I spent a lot of time climbing the local hills. And the one I climbed more often than any other was Bidean nam Bian. You might think that I’d be bored of Bidean by now, but the great thing about this mountain is that you can climb it by many different approaches – and they all hold plenty of interest. Of all the walking routes, one of the most popular is arguably the best. Approaching via Coire nan Lochan to climb Stob Coire nan Lochan first, this fine Munro Top conceals Bidean behind its sculptured turrets. Once high…

I KNOW it’s unfashionable amongst fellow hill-goers – a lumpen thing lacking the excitement of gnarlier Lakeland peaks further south – but I’m rather fond of Skiddaw and not ashamed to admit it. I particularly love it in winter when its white bulk dominates the northern Lakes in paternalistic style. I headed on to England’s fourth highest mountain from Keswick last winter, a rare (for me) trot up the ‘tourist’ path. At Jenkin Hill, though, I left the well-trodden ways to climb Skiddaw Little Man, an 865m subsidiary top with excellent views. Barely able to hold my camera steady in the fierce winds slamming into the western side of the fell (and haunted by the story of a friend who was sent arse-skating across the summit plateau in similar conditions,…

WOUNDALE is a valley that Lakeland visitors will have looked up dozens of times as they’ve driven up the Kirkstone Pass, but mentioning its name to even a seasoned fellwalker is likely to elicit a blank look. Equally, when walkers gather to debate their favourite fells, I’ll wager Stony Cove Pike gets precious few votes. This is a shame because, despite its unassuming, flat-topped appearance, it has many facets and hidden recesses. Six ridges radiate from the top; in purely numerical terms, that means it can hold its own with Blencathra. It also has some intriguing hollows that lend themselves to leisurely exploration. It’s common to disturb deer high in its recesses, especially on the southern flanks. And in high summer, these hollows are jungly with bracken and richly populated…

EXCELLENT though the walking is anywhere on the South Downs, there’s no finer stretch than that along the Sussex cliffs, from Beachy Head to Seaford Head via the incomparable Seven Sisters. However, over the past decade these iconic chalk cliffs have suffered from excessive visitor numbers, especially in summer. But visit in the winter, ideally on a weekday, and you should enjoy a much quieter experience. Indeed, a coastal walk can be a great tonic in winter, the reflection of sun on water intensifying the light, and if, perchance, there’s been any snowfall (admittedly uncommon) it’s all the more memorable. No two days are ever the same here, depending on the tide and state of the sea. A couple of years ago the new England Coast Path waymarks were installed…