Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2025 i The Great Outdoors

I WAS ONCE TOLD a tale about two warring giants: one who lived in Ireland, the other his English enemy. Their feud of unrecalled origins eventually descended into a rock-flinging match across the water. When one giant’s throw fell short, however, a rock crashed into the Irish Sea. Thus, the Isle of Man came to be. Giant geology aside, it’s said that from its high point, Snaefell, you can see seven kingdoms: Man, Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, Manannán (the sea) and Heaven. Even without the mythologies that encircle our islands like water itself, there is romance in standing on the edges with an eye on the horizon. The symmetry of sea and sky punctuated with soaring mountains is an idyllic trifecta. Admittedly, you can achieve this on our mainland coastal…

I HAVE A CONFESSION: I don't use maps. I don’t think I actually own one. I’m a wistful wanderer. Yet I can appreciate their order: pin-sharp grid lines criss-crossing the paper, the satisfyingly crisp folds. A map’s cartographical perfection is a million miles from the real-world field margins that are bursting with life. Here, you’ll find a different kind of perfect. If ever there was an argument to be made that humans are nature and we have meaningful, positive effects on the environment, a well-managed hedgerow is it. All animals are engineers of the land around us: woodpeckers carving out holes to nest in; earthworms literally making the soil beneath our feet; fungi dismantling ancient trees. And for millennia humans have shaped the world, too. The un-industrialised and gentle shaping…

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ISLANDS that calls to our sense of adventure? Maybe it’s their association with the magic of childhood – even in the adult mind, every island is a Neverland. It might be the isolation: the sense of separation from the rest of the world. Or perhaps it’s just the thrill of beginning a trip with a boat ride. The UK has so many islands that nobody has managed to officially count them. Estimates range between 4000 and 6000, although only 803 of those are large enough to warrant mapped coastlines. Visiting all of them is something that even the most committed bagger will struggle to achieve – but you have to start somewhere, right? The islands here vary in terrain and location, but all of them have…

Canna: Camping by the beach and swimming in the sea in the morning was an unforgettable experience. Skye: Too many highlights to mention. Avoiding the crowds can be an issue, especially in season, so try the stunning short walk to the 296m clifftop summit of Waterstein Head. Allow two hours to drink in the views, but be careful not to get too close to the edge. Arran: Walking Goatfell’s A’ Chir Ridge. The Scottish Mountaineering Club guide notes that “its traverse is only for those with rock climbing ability” (or those stupid enough to give it a go). Needless to say, we managed it; and despite the potential dangers of falling to our deaths, it was a fantastic day out. The 360-degree sea views were breathtaking. Eriskay: This island turned out to be…

Nemo launches backpacking tent with a bluesign product designation The Dagger OSMO tent has received a bluesign product designation, one of the highest standards for sustainability, due to Nemo eliminating harmful chemical substances at the start of the textile supply chain. The 2025 Dagger OSMO is made from recycled PFAS-free materials. This latest version has an updated pole structure that gives more interior space and a higher peak. The vestibule also has 22% more usable space. The Dagger OSMO 2p has a minimum weight of 1.62kg and a packed weight of 1.9kg. ■ RRP: £560 nemoequipment.eu Montane’s new Valen pack is ultralight and tough Montane’s ultralight Valen pack is made from ultra-tough Raptor Grid 20D ripstop yarn, which is 15 times stronger than steel. The pack has a roll top,…

ONE-PERSON BACKPACKING TENTS come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The price tags attached to them vary just as wildly, as does performance. There is a correlation between price and performance, but it is perfectly possible to buy a tent that will deliver a comfortable and enjoyable camping experience at a price that won’t break the bank. Regardless of the cost, choosing a tent is about balancing key attributes: weight vs packability vs comfort vs durability vs protection and useability. Quick and easy pitching are desirable too. It’s important for the tent to offer a decent level of useable space whatever the weather – and as our sizes differ, so too will our needs. Think about cover for kit during prolonged rain – that extra space can make…

Alex Roddie goes for a short scrambling day near Gairloch YOU DON’T HAVE TO head to the biggest mountains to find enjoyable rock for scrambling. One such hill is An Groban, a rugged and rocky peak of 383m that punches far above its weight. It’s situated above the delightful Flowerdale Glen, well known for its waterfall and wildflowers. The peak is mostly rock, and it’s home to a number of climbs as well as some easier scrambles, thanks to its friendly, slabby rock. The route described links up two of the main scrambles on the SW face: Right Hand Slabs and Humpback Buttress. Both are Grade 2 scrambles – or 3, depending on which guidebook you believe – but they are nowhere near as difficult or serious as most big…

Norman Hadley scrambles the east ridges of two Lakeland pikes IN HINDSIGHT, it was rather unwise of Nethermost and Dollywaggon Pikes to set up camp in Helvellyn’s shadow. So underappreciated are these two heights that, contouring just below their summits, you can trace the boot tracks of thousands hurrying to the famous parent fell. But these are fine tops in their own right; Nethermost is Lakeland’s ninth highest, after all, and Dollywaggon ranks a respectable 18th. If the name Dollywaggon sounds a bit ridiculous, it may help to translate it via Old Norse into something like ‘raised fiend’. That should stir the blood of your inner Viking. Both fells present tremendously craggy slopes to the east, each with its own sharp ridge. They are thus best approached from the Grisedale…

Peak problem? Trail trouble? Ask Juls… One weather-beaten TGO reader keeps stumbling upon remote shelters with unlocked doors. MBA Trustee Juls Stodel advises he defy the childhood warnings, enter the house that isn’t his, and go and speak to strangers… When hiking in Scotland I have, from time to time, come across remote stone buildings or huts referencing the Mountain Bothies Association (or MBA) on the doors. They look very welcoming – especially if the weather is coming in. Can I use them without permission? David Dear David, The mission statement of the Mountain Bothies Association is “to maintain simple shelters in remote country for the use of all who love wild and lonely places”. Do you love wild and lonely places, David? Then let me set a scene. Say…

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. Moorlands burning After the driest start to Spring for almost 70 years, our upland environments are suffering. One reader had the solemn job of capturing the devastation in the Peak District when the moorlands of the Goyt Valley were set ablaze. He wrote to us and shared some images displaying the destruction. These photographs show the scorched and charred landscape above Errwood Reservoir near Buxton after a wildfire the size of 325 football pitches swept across the moorland in early May. They were taken three days after the moor started burning, with fire crews continuing to deal with hot spots and working to…

I’M BACK. New walls have been painted, some old walls have crumbled. A different veneer, but the island is the same. I’m glad. I thought things might have changed. New grants, new wardens. But Ynys Enlli is as I remembered. The birds circle and swoop, the seals growl and snort, and the sound of bleating sheep is comforting. I’m still too busy in mind and energy. I need to slow down. Sitting quietly is good; it’s allowed. Ynys Enlli or Bardsey Island lies 2 miles across Bardsey Sound at the tip of the Llŷn Peninsula, North Wales. The island is 1.5 miles long and, at its widest point, just over half a mile across. The island’s mountain rises to a height of 167 metres. I wrote an article about my…

MENTION A TRAVERSE OF CORSICA to any seasoned trail walker and they will almost undoubtedly assume that you are talking about the GR20, the world-renowned trail that picks a line through the towering mountain spires and forests that make up the spine of the island. Yet Corsica is so much more than the GR20, boasting picturesque mountain villages, spiky crags and a truly delectable coastline with a multitude of secluded bays and dazzling white expanses of sand. The GR20 is also quite short at 180km, with the challenge to be found in the nature of the terrain rather than the length. Greedy for a multiplicity of experiences and a long-distance route that sampled the very best of the island, I scoured the map and the internet in search of just…

Outdoor Research Vigor Half Zip £95 356g (size 2X) inclusive size range, excellent temperature management and breathability boxy fit Materials: 94% polyester, 6% spandex Features: half zip, thumb loops, chest pocket Sizes: regular XS-XL, plus size 1X-4X Men’s version? yes Regular: outdooraction.co.uk Plus size: vampireoutdoorgear.com Testing conditions: Steph tested this fleece across many hills and mountains in the Brecon Beacons and the south-west of England. She wore it though Autumn, Winter and Spring, in a variety of temperatures and weather. Steph Wetherell finds herself reaching for this grid fleece, available in larger sizes A grid fleece is an essential piece of kit if you are looking for something more breathable or lightweight than a traditional fleece layer. The Outdoor Research Vigor Half Zip is a mid-price option that performs well and…

NOBODY WANTS A COLD, sleepless night, so choosing a sleeping bag is a mission-critical decision, made more difficult if on a budget. It’s important to get a bag that is warm enough for the temperatures you expect, but any additional fill will add weight and bulk as well as warmth. For that reason, most budget sleeping bags are best suited for car camping, where weight and packed size are not major concerns. Temperature ratings are usually categorised as ‘comfort’ (self-explanatory), ‘limit’ (the lowest temperature at which an average person is likely to sleep) and ‘extreme’ (a survival threshold, not one you’d want to test overnight). Research shows that women lose more heat than men while asleep. Budget sleeping bags are usually unisex, and temperature ratings do not take gender or…

James Roddie takes on a big route with an even bigger rep THE AONACH EAGACH is a big route with an even bigger reputation. This is as good as it gets in Scotland – a pinnacled, narrow ridge linking two Munros, with excellent scrambling and exceptional views. Unlike most of the scrambling on the Liathach and An Teallach ridge traverses, the main technical difficulties on the Aonach Eagach cannot be safely bypassed. It is a committing undertaking that should not be underestimated, involving exposed Grade 2/3 scrambling over a considerable distance. Route-finding is largely straightforward, as following the crest of the ridge itself is usually the best option. If you have any doubts about your scrambling abilities or your head for heights, hire a professional mountain guide. Leave it for…

Ian Battersby dodges one scramble and ends up in a glut SCRAMBLING CAN BE a fickle sport. When confidence rides high the abyss can be stared down while employing balletic, poetic moves. Yet on other days survival mode kicks in, brows bead and adrenaline gets pumped into sewing machine legs. The rocks of the Langdale Pikes offer a range of routes from scrambles to climbs, prompting reactions from cool assurance to freezing terror. Fear not; this route offers a middle way. Begin on a climbers’ path little used by walkers. It offers a detailed appreciation of Raven Crag, mainly a climbers’ paradise. (There is a Grade 2 scramble but it failed to lure me in, alone and without a rope.) Instead, weave up a joyful weakness in the cliff’s defences,…

KILLARNEY – dubbed ‘the Outdoor Capital of Ireland’ – rubs shoulders with the country’s oldest national park. In early Spring, the town plays host to a festival that volunteer organiser Paul O’Neill calls a “conduit” for the expert local guides, activity providers and cultural happenings already operating out of his hometown. Wander Wild fosters an atmosphere free of elitism. While there are ticketed events aplenty, free activities – such as a self-guided walk of Muckross – also feature on the festival programme. It’s different strokes for different folks here, whether you’re looking to explore in the mountains or on the water, ramble in the park, or relax your mind. Sometimes we equate outdoor festivals with exploitation of our parks. Not here. I saw acts of stewardship at every turn: the…

IN SCOTLAND, we’re lucky enough to enjoy what is colloquially termed the ‘Right to Roam’. This public right of access over most land and inland water means that our islands are open to those who love spending nights under canvas. Camping is possible on hillsides, by the edges of lochs, near beaches and – within reason – almost anywhere in the great outdoors. Over the course of two years, between 2021 and 2023, I exercised my right to visit, walk and camp on 42 of our west coast islands. As something of a long-standing map geek, the planning of these journeys was a joy. It involved pondering questions like: What are the ferry timetables? Could I walk rather than take the car across? How much food would I need? What…

“FOCUSING ON FEAR just reinforces it. Instead we must focus on positive feelings, such as the exhilaration of being at height, or the sense of achievement at getting to the top.” My wife Hannah and I were sitting in a village hall with a group of outdoor enthusiasts, listening to hypnotherapist Alison Mortimer. We were both feeling a bit out of our comfort zone. Everyone there was. Ben, Claire and Jared came from diverse outdoor backgrounds, and the stories we’d shared were deeply personal: of being gripped with fear on pitches of via ferrata, struggling to cope with exposed paths, feeling limited in what we could comfortably achieve in the outdoors. We were all here because we had decided to do something about it. Hannah and I are both veteran…

A BACKPACKING RUCKSACK is a bit of a chicken-and-egg item. When packing, do you choose your other kit first, or your rucksack? Gear choice influences the rucksack you’ll need, and rucksack choice influences the gearyou can comfortably carry. Put another way, choosing the right rucksack is an important decision! Most of us will end up with several packs and that’s because it’s hard to find one that will do everything well. Many TGO readers who are into backpacking are interested in multi-day routes with a rugged flavour… even if our lives don’t always allow for that! Some of us opt for a lightweight approach in the hills, but there’s always a place for bigger packs, especially in Winter, or when planning for bucket list expeditions abroad. Whatever your style, a…

James Forrest takes on an unconventional and adventurous route 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 is not a graded scramble. Instead, it’s more of an adventurous walk over rough, rugged, rocky terrain, including scree slopes and boulders fields. There is some exposure, and navigationally it can be challenging – particularly if clag is shrouding the mountain. But as Alfred Wainwright once put it: “here one never has the feeling that the end is nigh”. The highlight of this scrambly-walk is undoubtedly the traverse below the Great Napes, which serves up views of…

Vivienne Crow switches between rocky walking and easy scrambling I DON’T MIND admitting that, while I love the feel and challenge of rock under my hands on an easy scramble, I’m a bit of a scaredy-cat when it comes to exposure. Hall’s Fell, yes; Sharp Edge, no. So, when my fellwalking radar picked up on Wetherlam’s Steel Edge, I was intrigued – especially as it would indulge my insatiable appetite for ‘alternative’ routes in the welltrodden Lakes. It turned out to be straightforward – the angle of the climb is not especially steep, there are plenty of good foot- and hand-holds and, if you keep to the gullies, there’s no sense of exposure. The biggest drawback was that it was so short-lived. I found that, after gaining Wetherlam’s summit, I…

Andrew Galloway finds a precarious scramble leads to a legend ACCORDING TO a Welsh legend, fabled King Arthur fought his final battle at the head of Cwm Llan beneath the precipitous southern crags of Yr Wyddfa, more commonly known in English as Snowdon. Having received a mortal wound, Arthur is said to have died in the arms of the Knight Bedwyr at the col beneath Yr Wyddfa, forever to be known as Bwlch y Saethau, ‘the pass of arrows’. In grief Bedwyr cast Arthur’s sword, Excalibur, into the waters of the lake Glaslyn beneath the col. In some accounts Bedwyr buried Arthur’s body where he had fallen, erecting there a cairn over Arthur’s remains. In other accounts Bedwyr placed his body into a wooden boat, which, accompanied by three maidens,…