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IMAGE: JOHN NORRIS
Walking essentials Spring has sprung and our glorious countryside is offering an open invitation to come walking. To make the most of your next adventure, why not let the experts take the strain with a tailored walking holiday through glorious landscapes? The following pages provide plenty of inspiration as well as information on the best walking kit to make your trips as enjoyable as possible.
Walking essentials
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Wherever you live in Britain, you won’t be Arrochar are The E tern & Wigton -wes uth far from hills, mountains, valleys, rivers, or Nor thk, Cockermo ic w Kes a dramatic coastline; and the good news for us is that, despite the effects of the modern world, much of our country’s green and pleasant land remains free to visit and fairly easy to access — and it’s just waiting for you to explore it. Enjoying outdoor adventures doesn’t have to be expensive — you just need some basic gear, some basic skills and a love of the open air. And the right kit can be as simple as a pair of appropriate shoes, warm jacket or waterproof and an Ordnance Survey map to find the best routes and places to explore. But before you get active outside, there are a few basic map skills to master.
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or exploring the countryside when walking or hiking the detailed OS Explorer Map series at 1:25 000 scale is ideal. The scale shows every landmark, house, river, viewpoint, hill, and path so you’ll easily be able to plan and navigate your route. Every cm of Great Britain is covered in 403 maps, so whether you’re exploring one of our fabulous national “So, if you parks or making the most of your local area, want to seek Ordnance Survey has the map you need. out great The great thing about maps is that they are packed full of information and each map views, go on has a key or legend with symbols, so that a strenuous you can quickly identify things like nature hill walk or reserves, country parks, viewpoints and choose an parking so there’s no excuse for missing anything of interest – there’s nothing quite easier option, like a paper map for getting an overview of understanding the countryside. With practice, you will be contours able to visualise the shape of the landscape is key” from contour lines, identify the type of terrain - scrub, heath, outcrops, woodland - and choose the best route for your journey. The height and shape of the land is shown on a map using contour lines which appear as thin orange/brown lines with numbers on them. The number tells you the height above sea level of that line. A contour line is drawn between points of the same height, so any single contour line will be at the same height all the way along its length. The height difference between separate contour lines is normally 5 metres but in very hilly or mountainous areas will be 10 metres; the map legend will tell you the contour interval used. So, if you want to seek out great views, go on a strenuous hill walk or choose an easier option, understanding contours is key.
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The diagram shows the link between the shape of a hill and the contours representing it on a map.
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Contact: 08456 05 05 05 www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk
As well as choosing a route, knowing where you are in the countryside, and if the need arises letting someone else know exactly where you are, is very important and this is where grid references come in handy. You will have noticed that Ordnance Survey maps are covered in a series of blue lines that make up a grid. These grid lines help you to pinpoint an exact location anywhere on the map by giving a unique number – a grid reference. The vertical lines are eastings, they increase in value as you travel east on the map. The horizontal lines are northings, they increase in value as you travel north on the map. To calculate a four figure grid reference always give the eastings first followed by the northings, along the corridor and up the stairs is a good way to remember. For example, the number 2 in the diagram is 19 (eastings) and 45 (northings) and gives a four figure grid reference of 1945. The numbered squares on the diagram have the following 4-figure grid references: 2 = 19 45 1 = 18 45 3 = 18 44 4 = 19 44
“...the right kit can be as simple as a pair of appropriate shoes, warm jacket or waterproof and an Ordnance Survey map to find the best routes”
As well as numbered grid lines, Ordnance Survey maps have codes made of two letters, these are printed in faint blue capitals on the map. The whole of Great Britain is divided into squares of 100km and each square is given two letters – you will find a diagram within your map’s key to show which areas of your map fall into different squares of the National Grid. When you quote your grid reference, you should prefix it with the two letters of the area, there will then be no doubt or confusion about your location. For example, if you were at grid reference 50 58 in southwest Scotland, the complete grid reference you should quote would be NX 50 58; without the letters, the numeric reference would be repeated in every 100km square.
Ordnance Survey has just launched OS Locate, a free iOS app designed to support you using your paper map outdoors. OS Locate converts GPS signal to OS eastings & northings to enable you to find your current location on your paper map. It includes a virtual compass to enable you to take a bearing and also has a ‘share’ button so you can send your location to contacts via sms. OS Locate operates offline so it can be used in areas with no mobile signal.
So, now you’ve got to grips with your map and have a good understanding of how to read it – get out there and explore!
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Walking essentials
Walking Kit & Holidays
suffolk walking festival
Above: Victoria parka coat Left: Olivia jacket
Target Dry B
rand new from Target Dry for Spring are the ladies’ Victoria parka coat and Olivia jacket. Both garments offer a rare combination of protection from the elements, along with feminine design and finish, ensuring the wearer steps out in style, while remaining bone dry. On a practical level, Victoria and Olivia both offer high levels of waterproofing (5000mm) and breathability (5000gsm), providing protection from internal and external moisture, as well as maximum comfort. All seams are taped for added security. In two colours, Dahlia and French Navy, Victoria offers the contemporary parka styling that is so on trend this season. Its integral hood, polka dot lining, and fishtail back continue the theme of combining style with protection. Olivia comes in three colours – the same French Navy found in Victoria, as well as eye-catching Emerald Green, and rich Orchid Purple. The same statement polka lining ensures beautiful finish, while its full length, concealed adjustable hood and deep front pockets bring high levels of practicality. Explore more at www.targetdry.com where all readers can avail of 15% discount across the Target Dry and Mac in a Sac ranges. Simply use the discount code 15CF at the checkout (there’s free postage too).
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Tiptoe Through the Heather, Wonderful Wildlife and Scrumptious Scones, Across the Marshes to the Castle – just some of the walks on offer during the Suffolk Walking Festival 10th May – 1st June 2014. A mix of short strolls around medieval villages and longer rambles through the gentle landscapes of Suffolk, through areas of outstanding natural beauty and along the glorious Suffolk coast.
Contact: www.suffolkwalkingfestival.co.uk
french walking adventures France’s best kept secret is le Gers in south west. Largely unpopulated, unpolluted, the colourful undulating landscape of sunflowers and Amagnac vines dotted with hilltop bastide villages lends itself to fantastic walking with excellent panoramas and hilltop vistas. Walks are selfguided and fully supported with vetted accommodation. Expect delicious regional food and wines. True escapism away from today’s hectic lifestyle.
Contact: Ray or Denise www.frenchwalkingadventures.com tel: 01634 240326
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Walking Holidays
Contours Walking Holidays burford house 17th century AA 5 star rated town house guest accommodation located in Burford. Known as the ‘Gateway to the Cotswolds’ it offers a great base for walkers. Eight very individual en-suite bedrooms are all decorated in period colours and with antique furniture with prices from £185.00 B&B. The restaurant aptly named ‘Centre Stage’ has a fine reputation for good British food sourced locally wherever possible.
Contact: www.burfordhouse.co.uk tel: 01993 823151 address: 99 High Street, Burford, West Oxfordshire OX18 4QA
Contours Walking Holidays are the specialists in self-guided walking holidays in the UK. Whether you wish to follow in the footsteps of Roman Legionnaires along Hadrian’s Wall, trace the route of cattle drovers in Scotland or climb the mountains of the Lake District, our unrivalled range of walking holidays are the perfect way to explore the countryside at your own pace. With carefully selected accommodation, door-to-door luggage transfers, maps, guidebooks and emergency support, we take care of every little detail, leaving you free to enjoy a relaxing, worry-free holiday with spectacular scenery. To claim a 5% discount on all Contours Walking Holidays, quote the promotion code COUNTRY5 upon booking.
Contact: www.contours.co.uk tel: 01629 821900 email: info@contours.co.uk
HF Holidays
edge of Wales walk
With 19 Country Houses in stunning locations and offering up to 3 guided walks a day led by expert leaders you can be sure of a warm welcome and sociable atmosphere from HF Holidays. Save up to £100 on your first holiday with us – 3 nights Full Board from £166 for Independent Walking or £215 for Guided Walking.
We provide coastal walking holidays on the Llŷn Peninsula in North Wales. We offer a complete package of accommodation, transport, baggage transfer, maps and information for a perfect self-guided walking holiday, tailored to your exact requirements. This is an ideal way to walk a long-distance trail, with full back up services along a gorgeous and unspoiled coast.
Contact: www.hfholidays.co.uk tel: 0845 470 7558 email: reservations@hfholidays.co.uk
Contact: www.edgeofwaleswalk.co.uk tel: 01758 760 652 67
Walking essentials
The Point of Difference Does it ever feel like every piece of outdoor clothing you buy is exactly the same? Does every rucksack you see have the same features, laid out in the same way as every other? Today we ask the question, is there any point in being different, and if so why? For a company like Lowe Alpine being different is woven into the very fabric of the organisation. Long before Lowe Alpine became the household name it is today, the founders Greg and Jeff Lowe worked feverishly in his basement creating never seen before equipment to aid their exploration and climbing in both the Grand Tetons national park and also in the greater ranges. This desire to do things differently while always bringing great benefits to the end user still lies at the very heart of the company and can be seen clearly in every piece of clothing and equipment that they make today. Lowe Alpine offer three technologies that span the layering system for shell, insulation and base layer. The technologies that the company created, Triplepoint, Aleutian and Dryflo are 3 of the best recognised in the world and have been undergoing constant development for the last 20 years. The priceless knowledge gained from this experience places Lowe Alpine in the unique position of being a clothing manufacturer well-versed in developing innovative solutions that maximise the potential of every single technology they use.
“A Unique Layering System” What started as a unique breathable waterproofing technology that uses ceramic particles to accelerate the movement of water vapour away from the body has now become so much more. Lowe Alpine now work with a number of ‘miracle’ fabric technologies to produce waterproof, windproof and breathable fabrics that together make up a selection of shell garments perfect for wet, windy days out walking in the hills of the UK.
Aleutian is a name synonymous with warm, comfortable, technical fleece clothing. Lowe Alpine’s original Aleutian 300 fabric essentially brought fleece to the mass market in the UK and current offerings such as the technical Nitro Pull-on continue to prove that Lowe Alpine are still number one when it comes to making great fleeces, perfect for hikers everywhere.
Back in 1995 the Lowe Alpine boffins came up with a very clever denier knit that allows sweat to be moved away from the skin with ease. They used this technology to create one of the best base layers available. Fast-forward to the present day, the incredible Dryflo fabric has been made even better with the addition of two incredible technologies. The first, 37.5 is a fast-dry, quickwicking super treatment that has natural UVA and UVB protection. The second is Polygiene, a bacteria killer that will keep the base layer odourfree and feeling fantastic.
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“Room to Breathe” Lowe Alpine are world leaders in backpack technologies and have been at the forefront since they produced the very first internal framed backpack in 1967. This culture of innovation is still very much alive and kicking and the constant advancement into new areas of design and technology continues to put Lowe Alpine at the forefront of the backpack industry. In 2007 Lowe Alpine introduced their first breathable back system to the market. They called it AirZone, a name now synonymous with comfortable, easy to carry hiking and walking packs. AirZone is an incredibly exciting technology for walkers and hikers because it creates an optimal air space between the wearer’s body and the pack. This space allows air to flow between the pack and the wearer, making the chances of developing a sweaty, hot back much less likely. The new AirZone range also includes another exciting Lowe Alpine technology - Adaptive Fit. Adaptive Fit is yet another great example of Lowe Alpine’s attention to detail when it comes to design and innovation. The Adaptive Fit hip belt will adapt to each wearers unique shape and the Adaptive Fir harness acts like a 3-D flexible joint, wrapping itself closely and comfortable round any shaped shoulder. This subtle, yet important feature ensures a perfect fit for people of all shapes and sizes and perfectly exemplifies the care that goes into every single feature you’ll find on a Lowe Alpine AirZone pack. Other exciting additions include a completely unique TipGripper system for stashing walking poles securely on the pack and a side entry system (on bigger models only) that gives access to the internal contents of the pack without ever having to put the back of the pack on the ground. This is unbelievably useful when you need to access the contents of the pack in muddy, wet situations. When you bring all of this exciting innovation together with strong, weather repellent fabrics that won’t tear and rip, great colour schemes and special designed features for women you get just a small insight into the thought that goes into creating a Lowe Alpine AirZone pack.
You’ll find the brand new spring/summer 14 clothing and packs ranges stacked with technologies mentioned in this article and many more exciting new innovations over on the Lowe Alpine website. Both packs and clothing are available to buy from most major outdoors retailers. Check the stockist list on the website for more information.
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Walking essentials
Walking Holidays footpath holidays Established in 1982, Footpath Holidays is a specialist operator of walking holidays in Great Britain
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rom our village base in rural Wiltshire, we offer a comprehensive selection of guided and self-guided walking holidays in scenic locations throughout Britain. For those who like to be guided as part of a group try one of our single centre residential holidays, based in comfortable country hotels with a full meals package and led by one of Footpath Holidays’ team of experienced walk leaders. For those who prefer to be guided but want the challenge of walking a Long Distance Path, take a look at our unique Daypack Hikes. This year’s options include the Pennine Way and Wainwright’s famous Coast to Coast walk.
For the more independent travellers, there is an extensive range of ‘selfguided’ holidays. If you like to move on each day with your luggage transported between accommodations there are a number of paths and trails on offer including the South West Coast Path, the Cotswold Way and the Thames Path. For those who prefer to do without the chore of packing and unpacking each day, our wide range of single centre self-guided holidays should fit the bill. With a choice of either B&B or hotel-based half board, there really is something for everyone.
Contact: www.footpath-holidays.com tel: 01985 840049
Mickledore Walking Holidays Self Guided Walking Holidays. Stay in handpicked country houses, village inns, and farmhouse B&Bs.
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ickledore Travel are walking holiday specialists, offering 20 superb routes, including the classic Coast-to-Coast traversing three National Parks, Scotland’s stunning West Highland Way, the breath-takingly beautiful Pembrokeshire Coastal path and, of course, the astonishing Hadrian’s Wall. This year we have also introduced the South Downs Way, exploring
Southern England’s lovely new National Park. With durations from 2–17 days and the start-date of your choice, we plan everything for you, from accommodation (including the hidden gems!), to bag-carrying, packed lunches, route-maps and guides. We’ll even arrange for you a 15% discount at Cotswold if you need a new pair of boots and or a rucksack!
To find out more, please visit www.mickledore.co.uk or call 017687 72335, or email: info@mickledore.co.uk
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Britain’s More Beautiful On Foot
Borrowdale Valley Walk
O
n a Ramblers Countrywide Holiday you will discover a whole new world from home. From the Orkney Islands to the Cornish Coast we take you deep into the heart of the UK’S countryside and show you the best of it. Witness the geological magnificence of the Giant’s Causeway and walk back in time along the Jurassic Coast. Take gentle strolls through picturesque villages or breathtaking cliff walks above crashing seas. Follow the footsteps of pilgrims or fine tune your navigation and hill skills. All our holidays allow you to savour the magical sensation of life outdoors. Walk with us and rediscover these spectacular places we are proud to call home.
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Guided UK Walking Holidays and Short Breaks. Fun and hassle-free, there’s no better way to explore Britain than on foot with the original walking experts
places. To get the most from your holiday be sure to choose not only the date, location and theme that suits you, but also one which suits how physical you want to be. With our expert leaders you’ll be in safe hands.
St Ives, Cornwall
YOUR HOLIDAY, YOUR CHOICE
Our walking holidays visit all sorts of places, for all interests and degrees of fitness and ability from gentle sightseeing on foot to strenuous hikes into the UK’s high and less accessible
Contact details To find out more call 01707 386801 or click here: http://www.ramblersholidays.co.uk/page/uk-walking-holidays 71
WaLK YOUR
most REwARDING wAlk Of ThE year
We’re looking for enthusiastic walkers to host their own walking event whenever and wherever you like to raise money for Macmillan.You’ll feel great in more ways than one!
Get your FREE walks pack today
Text WALK2 to 70550
or visit macmillan.org.uk/yourwalk Texts cost standard network rate. Registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SCO39907), and the Isle of Man (604)