Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2024 i The Great Outdoors

THE SCENT OF COW PARSLEY, “towering green and white” above her, still draws Bryony Ella back to her childhood in Bradford. Here, her mother worked as a community artist and many of Bryony’s earliest memories feature her “small hands full of crayons and paint brushes.” She carried a small rucksack filled with pencils and colouring books wherever she went. Aged eight, her family relocated to Kent. Bryony’s backpack of crayons and biophilia came too. She “always felt safe” exploring the forest and orchards, forming a motley crew with other village kids. They ran through the understory pretending to be wolves, owls and cuckoos as they called to each other. Now 40 and living in New York, where she is working with environmental historians on a project looking at urban heat…

RECOMMENDED Highlander Women’s Ben Nevis 52 Litre Rucksack £125 1266g lightweight, excellent value, easy to pack fussy buckles, not as comfortable as some Materials: 200D nylon with PU coating Features: adjustable back system, front and side pockets, internal and external lid pocket, hip belt pockets, side zipped opening, side compression straps, Velcro webbing tidies, rain cover Size: 52 litres capacity Men’s version: yes highlander-outdoor.com Mountain Leader Lucy Wallace reviews an economical rucksack for those starting out backpacking As a Mountain Leader my day job sees me working in the outdoors with the public on overnight expeditions, often with young people or those on a tight budget for outdoor gear. I’ve seen quite a lot of cheap equipment fail catastrophically in remote places, and I’ve got quite strong opinions as a result. Highlander…

TESTING CONDITIONS: Fiona is 5ft 8in tall, slim, and a cold sleeper. She tested the bags on overnight camps in the Highlands of Scotland at the end of winter and into spring, at lower elevations to simulate milder seasonal use. Weights were taken on her digital scales and include stuff sacks. RECOMMENDED Kelty Women’s Cosmic Synthetic 20 £185 1874g warm, roomy weight, pack size, noisy fabric Fill: Cirroloft synthetic insulation Shell: 380T nylon taffeta, plus PFC-free DWR Liner fabric: 50D 300T poly taffeta Construction: box wall, stitched Zip: 2-way to foot box Length: 188cm Rating: comfort -4°C, limit -11°C Sizes: one Men‘s version?: 2 lengths kelty.com For a budget-priced sleeping bag, the Kelty Cosmic Synthetic 20 offers a good degree of warmth. For cold sleepers, aim for a realistic performance…

We’ve talked a lot in this issue about big mountain challenges and reaching your personal peak. But adventure is about more than summit-bagging. These mini-mountains pack a lot of punch – from natural magic to sweeping views and sunset spots. They may not be the longest walks, but they are sure to hold the attention of big groups, big kids and littler ones, should they be joining for the adventure. Adventure is out there, no matter age or ability. You just have to know where to look. Our walks this month 1 Stac Pollaidh North-West Highlands 2 Windy Gyle Northumberland 3 Rannerdale Knotts Lake District 4 Sheffield Pike Lake District 5 Place Fell Lake District 6 Beda Fell Lake District 7 Holyhead Mountain Anglesey 8 Pen y Fan Bannau Brycheiniog/Brecon Beacons 9 Sugar Loaf Black…

5km/3.1 miles/2-2.5 hours Ascent 293m/960ft YOU DON’T HAVE TO head onto the high fells to experience some of the thrill of being amongst the mountains; many of the lower tops offer a touch of excitement for younger walkers or those just getting used to the hills. Rannerdale Knotts above Crummock Water is one such fell. This short walk from Buttermere village starts as an easy stroll beside becks, through woods and along the serene shores of Crummock Water before gently ascending a terrace path across Rannerdale Knotts’ lower slopes. The veneer of rambling placidity is then stripped away as the route does a Jekyll and Hyde, making a sudden lurch north to climb steeper, rockier slopes. As you reach the 355m summit, the rugged mountains bear down on this whipper-snapper…

9.8km/6.4 miles/3 hours Ascent 469m/1540ft IN THE BEAUTIFUL mountain fastness of Martindale, a fine ridge juts into the centre of the ring of fells. This makes a good introduction to a longer circuit but is also a pleasant, Cat-Bells-sized outing on its own merits. Although Martindale takes a little bit of getting to, with the zig and zag round the Ullswater lakefoot, it is a place of supreme beauty once you’re there. No fewer than four valleys come down and converge at this tiny community, with Beda Fell forming the watershed between Bannerdale and Boredale (once spelt Boardale). There are no boars any more, but Martindale is notable for its population of red deer. Britain’s largest land mammal, Cervus elaphus, is generally elusive but may often be spotted on the…

13.5km/8.4 miles/5 hours Ascent 590m/1940ft WE ALL KNOW how a child likes to draw a mountain: it always rises to a sharp point and tends to resemble a volcano. And when he or she says they would like to climb to the top, the distinctive Sugar Loaf will tick all the right boxes. This just falls short of the 2000-foot mark but its perfect pyramidal summit is part and parcel of Abergavenny, in the way that Table Mountain is symbiotically linked to Cape Town. You could wander for a whole week around the long spurs of Sugar Loaf, and many of the paths and tracks are ideal for family outings. Gradual gradients and sweeping slopes are the order of the day, capped off with an unexpected rocky crest where young…

IN THIS ISSUE Meet some of the folk who made this mag… Roger Butler wrote his first article for The Great Outdoors when he was a spotty teenager back in 1982! He has just returned from the canyons and arches of Arizona and Utah but the rippling rump of a grizzly bear in the Grand Teton mountains will be an abiding memory. Back home, he’s now looking forward to ticking off Wainwright’s ‘outlying fells’ – as well as picking juicy whinberries on the Stiperstones ridge in deepest Shropshire… Read more on page 40. Richard Hartfield loves the thrill of forging his own backpacking routes through overlooked places. Notably, he dodged Russian police and befriended shepherds to traverse the entire Greater Caucasus. This became the short film, Crossing the Caucasus. Richard currently…

Mother Nature It’s our privilege to share some thoughts from a regular reader of The Great Outdoors about his son Sam, and how the outdoors is helping them both heal from life-changing loss Just over a month ago my son Sam had his world turned upside down when he unexpectedly lost his mum to cancer: a traumatic experience that left him facing immense challenges. Recognising the potential effect this could have on Sam’s mental health, I turned to nature. I have always been a huge advocate of the outdoors and its benefits for our wellbeing. So, I made it my priority to get Sam out hiking with me in the Peak District as often as possible. In the last month, he has almost been blown away by winds on the…

IN TODAY’S FAST-PACED WORLD, the importance of reconnecting with nature cannot be overstated. For many, me included, nature is not just a backdrop but a sanctuary – a place that awakens the soul and provides a refuge for reflection and relaxation. It’s where I find peace and inspiration, akin to finding solace in a church. However, accessing these natural sanctuaries isn’t always easy. A recent survey published by the Ramblers revealed that 25% of individuals are deterred from using path networks due to physical obstacles such as stiles, steps or gates. This issue is compounded by the fact that approximately 11 million people in England alone face mobility challenges that restrict their ability to fully enjoy public rights of way. The consequence of this lack of accessibility is profound. Millions…

TESTING CONDITIONS: John is 5ft 7in tall, wears XL-sized clothing and sleeps warm. He tested the bags in the Three Peaks area of the Yorkshire Dales at the tail end of winter, as the weather warmed up a little. Weights were taken on his digital scales and include stuff sacks. RECOMMENDED Alpkit Ultra 120 £200 632g (Long) weight, low bulk price, tight fit, restricted to warmer nights Fill: 120gsm water-repellent PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Shell: outer: PFC-free DWR treated 20d 420T nylon; inner: 420T nylon Construction: mummy-shaped, stitched through Zip: half-zip with full-length inner baffle Length: Regular: internal length 190cm; Long: internal length 210cm Rating: 1°C (brand sleep limit, no quoted comfort rating) Sizes: Regular, Long Women’s version?: unisex alpkit.com Price-wise, Alpkit’s Ultra 120 sits at the top of the £200…

4.7km/2.9 miles/2.5 hours Ascent 564m/1850ft MANY WOULD NOT consider 1850ft worthy of mountain status, but what Stac Pollaidh lacks in height is more than reimbursed by its surge from the banks of Loch Lurgainn. In addition the challenge conjured by an array of craggy pinnacles along its cocked crown is enough to convert most cynics, especially those who don’t make the true summit. There are advantages to smallness: the mountain is super-accessible, and the climb short. This makes it great for kids: tough enough to entertain, but short enough to maintain interest. The approach curls round the back, offering an ever-changing panorama to chase too. So, as little lungs and legs falter, novel distractions can overcome moments of defeat. Once near the top, stare down from the saddle to relish…

12.4km/7.7 miles/4-4.5 hours Ascent 681m/2233ft I’LL RESIST the urge to go all poetic about this route, but I had a special day when I walked it last summer. Despite climbing directly from a busy road, there was a serene start to the day as I passed through dense oak woods that see few visitors. It was so peaceful I nearly fell backwards with fright when a deer leapt from the thick bracken 20 metres in front of me. Heron Pike’s pleasantly rocky ridge was as uplifting as always, with views across the steep-sided valley to the Helvellyn range. Then there was the excitement of traversing Glencoyne Head, a natural amphitheatre filled with the roar of thunderous becks. And what can I say about Glencoyne Park? Its ancient trees? Its beautifully…

10.2km/6.3 miles/4 hours Ascent 626m/2054ft THE HIGHEST POINT on the isle of Anglesey (Ynys Môn) may not be comparable in altitude to mainland North Walian giants that share the same designation. But Holyhead Mountain’s Welsh name – Mynydd Tŵr, meaning ‘tower’ – is apt for this small summit (722ft/220m), which packs a punch. From this coastal vantage point, on a clear day, you’ll see the Wicklow Mountains. To reach the summit, you’ll pass Ellin’s Tower, South Stack lighthouse – a great place to watch the sunset – and its neighbouring North Stack where the Precambrian quartzite cliffs have birthed some extreme trad climbing routes. On terra firma, you’ll walk in the footsteps of Romans who built a hillfort, Caer y Twr, the rubble of which still lies here. A stone’s…

19km/11.8 miles/5-6 hours Ascent 540m/1771ft LEGEND SAYS the depression known as the Devil’s Punch Bowl was created when Thor, the God of Thunder, scooped up a handful of earth and threw it at the Devil, who had annoyed him by jumping from hill to hill. Prior to the opening of the Hindhead Tunnel in 2011, the old A3 ran on the rim of the Devil’s Punch Bowl. As part of the restoration project, the old road was buried and some 200,000 trees and shrubs were planted. Today, this diverse area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest – and the network of paths is enjoyed by walkers, runners and horse riders. The route described follows the Greensand Way from Haslemere, skirts the rim of the depression and then drops down to…

MEADOW PIPIT YOU’LL LIKELY have had an auditory encounter with the meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis) already on your rambles this year. The most common upland songbird has a high, piping call that, for many, signifies the start of the warmer hillwalking season. And yet this small, sociable bird is often overlooked for its undistinguished streaky, brown and pink-legged aesthetic. It does blend in well with its grassland, moorland and bog upland home where it feeds on insects – flies, beetles and moths – and spiders whilst trying to dodge predators, occasionally keeping watch perched on gateposts and higher shrubs. During summer, look out for its white outer tail feathers when in flight. In the breeding season, which occurs twice annually, the meadow pipit puts on a show with a fluttering…

HELSBY HILL’S sheer presence is out of all proportion to its lowly height of 141 metres above sea level. Mind you, sea level when you’re at the OS pillar, which is securely fastened to the bare rock of this hill summit, is just down there. Between you and it are the bunched tiers of one of Britain’s finest rock-climbing outcrops – a great bluff of exposed old red sandstone that glowers down on the traffic roaring along the M56 directly beneath. The chemical plants of Widnes and Runcorn and the petrochemical flares from Stanlow oil refinery by the mouth of the Manchester Ship Canal along the last stages of the River Mersey are very close at hand. On fine days you can see the Welsh hills rising along the horizon…

THE CAPE WRATH TRAIL How hard can it be? Fort William to Cape Wrath. It’s only about 320km, isn’t it? Well, yes, but it’s generally regarded as the UK’s toughest backpacking route. Unmarked, largely pathless, crossing rugged terrain and involving several unbridged river crossings that become impossible in spate, this is serious hiking in wild and remote country. With only limited facilities along the route, those undertaking it usually carry a tent and enough provisions to last for several days at a time. Excellent navigational skills are essential as well as the mental strength needed for when things go wrong. THE PENNINE WAY The granddaddy of our trail network, the 435km Pennine Way – from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders – was devised by access…

25.8km/16 miles/8 hours Ascent 707m/2139ft THE CHEVIOTS, once bitterly fought over and strategically important for holding more habitable lands beyond, are now ignored by all but a few lovers of lonely hills, delivering harmony in abundance. Our way follows the border between these once warring lands. Follow the dashing Rowhope Burn to the south ridge of Windy Gyle, whose summit is the route’s early high. The ridge stretches north-east, climbing further to The Cheviot, but this time our way lies opposite: gently rolling downhill miles that offer a relaxed amble allowing group chats in a real world of flora, fauna and whatever elements the planet chooses to stir in. Should those elements intervene, there is a wonderful hut perfectly placed for a sheltered lunch. Outside alluring hills crowd English farms…

10.3km/6.4 miles/4-5 hours Ascent 586m/1923ft ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS about the Lake District is that it truly can be all things for all people. This variety extends to the number of peaks that are well suited to families. I could have picked any out of a dozen or more I’ve climbed, but for me Place Fell wins. Why? The secret to Place Fell’s winning formula is quite simply its position – and therefore its views, which genuinely are up there with the best. Combine that with an ascent that isn’t too long or hard, and you have a combination that has the potential to deliver serious outdoor magic for smaller adventurers or the less experienced. The shortest way up from Patterdale is brief and a bit brutal, so the…

16.2km/10 miles*/5.5-6 hours** Ascent 902m/2960ft*** PEN Y FAN, the highest point in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park – and indeed southern Britain – is by far the most popular peak in the park, attracting over half a million visitors a year. At 886m it is closely followed in height by its near neighbour Corn Du, 873m. Both these decapitated tops provide superb views and are ideal for anyone new to hillwalking, where the company of others may be a reassurance. They are also good choices for families and groups, with a variety of routes possible. The easiest and most-trodden routes are from the A470 to the east, with a straightforward circuit taking in both Corn Du and Pen y Fan. Approaching from the north, however, offers more choice of circuits, with…