LIVE FOR THE OUTDOORS
ALL-NEW! Step by step: Sharp Edge in detail 14 ROUTE CARDS INSIDE
THE UK’S BEST-SELLING HILLWALKING MAGAZINE
MAY 2015 £4.45
MAY 2015
T
CUILLIN RIDGE: COULD YOU? EXPLORE YOUR LIMITS WITH OUR 12 PAGE GUIDE EXCLUSIVE!
RAY MEARS
“Mountains mean more to me now.”
HILL-PROOF YOUR KIDS!
Heroes for a day – inspired for life
JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF SCOTLAND Exploring the peak at its heart
the one that gained weight... but in a good way
FOREST OF BOWLAND Into England’s empty quarter
Contents
WHERE TRAIL WILL TAKE YOU
Unless youÕre incredibly relaxed with heights, being exposed to that level of danger will drain you. Skye’s Cuillin Ridge is an enormous challenge, even for ft hillwalkers – page 24.
BASE CAMP
SKILLS
Climb it
6
Carnedd Llewelyn, a superb Welsh 3000er
Experience it
8
Explore a Scottish sea loch – in a kayak
Mountain photo comp
10
Send your best shots and win a Nikon camera
Mountain inquisition
12
Ben Fogle faces Trail cross-questioning
Expert advice
82
The golden rules of scrambling; tasty grub to cook on the hill; when to use a confdence rope; a pack to keep weight of your chest; how the Lakes sell-of will afect access
In box
18 20 40
... and get a Jetboil worth a whopping £80!
109
Outdoor kit worth over £1,800 is up for grabs
4 TRAIL MAY 2015
Hill-proof your kids
42
How to get wee ones to love mountains too
52
Behind the pic
56
A quadcopter’s awesome view of Ben Nevis
Your top mountain moments, on camera
Win the best new gear!
24
To the Isle of Skye for a truly tough challenge
A Brecon Beacon that resembles a volcano
The world of walking: your thoughts
Subscribe to Trail
Cuillin Ridge
Sugar Loaf
YOUR TRAIL Out there
OMG, it’s Trail's amazing Jetboil ofer. of er. Turn to page 40 and this stove could be all yours!
ADVENTURES
Creag Meagaidh
58
Is this the centre of the hillwalking universe?
Forest of Bowland
64
A northern wilderness well worth exploring
Ray Mears
74
Why the bush master is happy in the hills
The very heart of the Highlands – page 58.
A treeless forest – page 64.
A Lakeland family adventure – page 42.
ALL NEW! ROUTES
GEAR GUIDE 3-season boots
90
The footwear that every hillwalker needs
Trail shoes
94
Boots too beefy? These might do the trick
Socks
98
Arguably as important as the boots you buy
Kit me out for
100
...walking with kids (comfy equals happy!)
First test
103
An ultra-light two-person tent from MSR
What’s in your rucksack? 105 Huw Gilbert MIC lets us have a rummage
Used & abused
Blencathra Stanage Edge Crib Goch Cwm Caseg Beinn Trilleachan Mount Keen Clapham Isle of Arran
117 119 121 123 125 127 129 133
5
3 routes on... Isle of Arran Walks of a lifetime Newlands Round
Ridge guide Sharp Edge
10 11 12
Blencathra 7
3 routes from... Clapham Cwm Caseg
Stanage
Crib Goch Map of the month Glyders & Carneddau
107
Team Trail appraises its most-worn gear
1
8 9
3
138 143 145
Mount Keen
Beinn Trilleachan
4
PLUS Walks of a lifetime Ridge guide Map of the month
6
● CHOOSE YOUR ROUTE AND GO HILLWALKING!
MAY 2015 TRAIL 5
2
On Yewbarrow beneath an exploding sunset, with the Lake District’s Wasdale valley stretching towards the coast behind. Moments like this are what entries are made of... TOM BAILEY
MOUNTAIN PHOT0 OF THE YEAR EAR Are you an outdoors lover with a passion for photography? Then send us your best snaps for the chance to win Trail’s 2015 Mountain Photo of the Year award! ven working for a magazine like Trail, we don’t get to spend every day walking and scrambling in the UK’s high places. Tragically, there are times when we have to retreat to a stuffy office and fiddle with computers so we can polish the pages you’re reading now. What that does mean, however, is that we’re able to content ourselves by sifting through huge piles of pictures of pointy British peaks. They come flying at us from all corners of the compass and they arrive by the sackload every week. You post them to us, email them to us, Tweet them to us, and plaster them all over our Facebook wall – and we can’t get enough of it. Through the adventures of our intrepid readers it feels like we’re never totally detached from Britain’s great outdoors, and the quality of the photographs we receive is most impressive. Last spring we launched a competition to fi nd the UK
E
Mountain Photo of the Year, and the contest was eventually won by a student with an image he took on a camera that cost him £10 (see right). The award proved so popular – with over 1,000 entries – that we couldn’t resist bringing it back for 2015! The brief is the same: we’re looking for an inspiring image that shows off what you love most about the UK mountains. We don’t care if it’s taken on a fancy digital SLR or a creaky old camera phone – all that matters is the moment you capture and how you capture it. From panoramic landscapes to crowded summit selfies, anything goes. So get out there, get snapping and get your photos to us by the deadline of 14 August. Our judging panel will whittle the entries down to a fi nal short-list of 20, which we’ll print in our October issue, then we’ll open it up to an online poll so you lot can pick the winner. Good luck!
● GET SNAPPING AND ENTER NOW! www.livefortheoutdoors.com/photocomp
10 TRAIL MAY 2015
Base Camp OFFICIAL SPONSOR
THE PRIZE We’ve teamed up with Nikon to give away a 24.3 megapixel D750 camera, plus a 24-85mm lens, to the winner. The camera and lens set, worth £2,250, allows you to shoot outdoor pictures in great detail. It’s streamlined for compactness, allowing you to travel light in the mountains, and the built-in Wi-Fi means your photos can be shared instantly. www.nikon.com
WIN THIS CAMERA!
HOW TO ENTER Visit www.lfto.com/photocomp and follow the instructions to submit up to three digital photos. Please ensure each image is no larger than 5MB. If you haven’t managed to take your perfect mountain picture yet, you’ve still got plenty of time to get out there and grab it. The competition closing date is Friday 14 August 2015, and you’ll fnd full terms and conditions on the entry page.
I took last year year'ss winning photo on a wild camp – with a £10 camera! THE DEFENDING CHAMP
Ross Campbell, Glasgow ”Winng Trail’s 2014 Mountain Photo of the Year competition was a mind-blowing experience. I took the photo [below] on my frst winter wild camp, with a camera I bought for £10! The picture appeared in lots of national newspapers and on global websites – I even made a live television appearance on STV Glasgow. I won Nikon’s top DX camera, which was a signifcant upgrade on my old camera, so I've been getting outdoors and trying to improve my photography ever since.” Last year’s winning image: a winter wild camp below Scotland’s Ben Lui. ROSS CAMPBELL
MEET THE JUDGES Tom Bailey Trail photographer Most photos you’ve seen in Trail over the last two decades have come from this man’s lens. Working with a passion for the gnarliest conditions the British weather can throw at him, Tom loves capturing ‘mountain moments’ and the personal experiences that come with them.
Colin Prior landscape photographer One of the UK’s most respected outdoor photographers, Colin has visited over 40 countries to pursue his chosen profession. Born in Glasgow, his proximity to the Scottish Highlands fuelled an early interest in photography. He also shares his knowledge through a series of photographic workshops in Scotland and overseas. www.colinprior.co.uk
Alan Hinkes OBE mountaineering legend Al’s climbed all 14 of the world’s 8000m peaks. But did you know that he took enough great photos along the way to release a stunning cofee table book (the excellent 8000 Metres) documenting his travels? He still loves walking and climbing in the UK – in fact, you’ve probably bumped into him on Helvellyn! @alanhinkes
Ben Hawkins Practical Photography editor As the editor of a magazine dedicated to helping beginners and experienced professionals improve their photography skills, Ben’s our expert on the mechanics of taking great images. He’s looking for pics with “instant impact, a strong focal point, balanced composition and a sense of depth”.
Louise Parker Trail art editor We’re far too polite to let slip how long Lou’s been designing Trail; let’s just say she’s seen a few prime ministers come and go. She’s probably looked at more UK mountain photos than anyone in history, so this is a lady you really need to impress. And, trust us, she’s not easily pleased...
MAY 2015 TRAIL 11
Go The Isle of Skye Do The Cuillin Ridge
48 hrs ON THE EDGE WORDS OLI REED PHOTOGRAPHS STEPHEN ASHWORTH
24 TRAIL MAY 2015
Connected by a short rope and descending from Sgurr a' Mhadaidh towards Bidein Druim nan Ramh, with Loch Coruisk far below. And just 30 minutes into our second day on Skye.
MAY 2015 TRAIL 25
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CLICK WWW.GREATMAGAZINES.CO.UK/TRAIL Terms & conditions Subscriptions will start with the next available issue. This ofer closes on 20 May 2015, or if the ofer limit of 1,000 is reached, and is available on UK orders only (colours may vary). After this no more gifts will be sent but a 3 issue extension will be added. Please allow 28 working days for delivery of your gift after payment has been received. This ofer cannot be used in conjunction with any other ofer. We reserve the right to reclaim the gift / value of the gift if you cancel your subscription before the end of the agreed term. The minimum term is for 13 issues (1 year) when paying by direct debit and will continue at this ofer price every 13 issues thereafter unless you are notifed otherwise. You will not receive a renewal reminder and the direct debit payments will continue to be taken unless you tell us otherwise. Cost from landlines for 01 numbers per minute are (approximately) 2p to 10p. Cost from mobiles per minute are (approximately) 10p to 40p. Costs vary depending on the geographical location in the UK. You may get free calls to some numbers as part of your call package – please check with your phone provider. Order lines are open 8am-9.30pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-4pm (Sat). For overseas prices call phone +44 1858 438888. Calls may be monitored or recorded for training purposes.
Go Lake District Do walking with children
HILL-PROOF
YOUR KIDS
Plan a superhero of a hill day, packed with enough energy bolts of fun to slay the evil hard slog, and your children will be your mountain sidekicks for life. Up, up and away! WORDS EMMA BAILEY PHOTOGRAPHS TOM BAILEY
Scrambling to the summit of Harrison Stickle: fun for adults, the adventure of a lifetime for kids!
42 TRAIL MAY 2015
N
INE YEARS, FOUR MONTHS AND
27 DAYS AGO, I MADE A PROMISE. Three months pregnant and feeling sick as a dog, waking up after a wild camp high above the Lake District’s Langstrath valley, I pledged to give my child a love for the hills. Don’t think for a moment that this was some sappy, dewy-eyed moment as the sun rose over Ullscarf – it was way too cold for such schmaltz. More a realisation that whatever parenting responsibilities I would surely bungle, a hankering for the hills would see this kid right. And of course, a hillproofed kid would bring the not-so-altruistic benefit of still allowing me to get into the mountains myself. My strategy to deliver on this vow was very, very simple: give my child the best time ever in the hills, and he or she would always want to go back for more. Trail photographer Tom Bailey – known as Dad in our house – and I devised mini hill adventures and drip-fed them to Ned and, when she too came along, Florence. Just the odd exploit, casually cast into their holidays. They flew kites on Mam Tor. Rolled giggling down grassy Snowdonian slopes. Fought with wooden swords in Iron Age hill forts. Cave-hunted. Tarn-paddled. Our sorties were short and sweet.
MAY 2015 TRAIL 43
Go central Highlands Do a classic corrieRidge
58 TRAIL MAY 2015
The great clifs of Coire Ardair – the core of the Creag Meagaidh massif, and perhaps the entire Scottish Highlands.
WORDS DAN ASPEL PHOTOGRAPHS TOM BAILEY
Ringed with mighty clifs and sitting on the watershed between Scotland’s great ranges, Creag Meagaidh’s Coire Ardair might just be the centre of the hillwalking universe. Here’s why.
MAY 2015 TRAIL 59
Go Forest of Bowland Do blissful solitude
FAR FROM THE
MADDING
To most people the Forest of Bowland is little more than scenery to drive past on the way to No wolves to be seen at Wolfole Crag, one of the region's most remote and rocky summits.
64 TRAIL MAY 2015
The treeless plains of the Forest of Bowland, which was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1964 .
CROWD
WORDS BEN WEEKS PHOTOGRAPHS TOM BAILEY
the Lakes. But it’s what isn’t there, rather than what is, that makes it worth a closer look.
MAY 2015 TRAIL 65
The big interview Ray Mears
74 TRAIL MAY 2015
FOR REAL
Ray Mears on precious skills, the British hills and why we all need wilderness. WORDS SIMON INGRAM PHOTOGRAPHS TOM BAILEY
“I'm a traditionalist in some ways, but in some ways not.“ Ray Mears tending a home-made fre, Surrey, March 2015.
MAY 2015 TRAIL 75
EXPERT ADVICE: PLAIN & SIMPLETM YOUR EXPERTS
Graham Thompson GT – Trail’s technical editor for nearly 25 years – is our walking gear guru.
Rob Johnson MIC
Lyle Brotherton Navigation expert Lyle is one of the world’s leading search and rescue authorities.
Jeremy Ashcroft Trail’s mountaineering editor Jeremy has a lifetime of outdoors experience.
82 TRAIL MAY 2015
TOM BAILEY
Rob is an international expedition leader and mountain instructor.
SCRAMBLING: FIVE GOLDEN RULES If you’re intending to get your hands on rock this spring, remembering these simple tips will help see you right, says Jeremy Ashcroft...
Being able to visualise from below what crag features es are climbable and what aren’t is part of the game . .
3
VISUALISE THE ROUTE
Scrambling happens in 3D. When you step of the path, not only do you have to think about north, south, east and west; you also have to think about up, down, back down again, and sometimes even side-step around the back! Being able to visualise from below what crag features are climbable and what aren’t is part of the game. Along with varying types of rock, holds and friction, you can easily see it’s a real test. Starting on easy routes and thinking about what’s around you will help you get to grips with features like arêtes, cracks, pinnacles, chimneys, gullies and chockstones, and to know if they are friend or foe. You’ll also get the feel of rock in the wet and the dry.
4 Scrambling is essentially the grey area between walking and climbing. (And it can be great fun!)
1
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
As with walking, one of the great joys of scrambling is the anticipation that a session at home planning brings. Scouring maps and guidebooks, and spending time surfng the web for insight, can prove hugely benefcial. It allows you to know what you are taking on and to understand if other people have had problems. It also gets you to think about ‘Plan B’ should you be over-faced by your frst route choice and want something a bit easier. Importantly you can also think about escape options should you need to bail if, for example, bad weather catches you.
2
PRE-LOAD SCRAMBLING SKILLS
This might sound a bit daft, but the most comfortable way to scramble is to learn to rock-climb frst. Pre-loading your skill set with a few sessions down at the local climbing wall or a short course on an outside crag will get you used to exploiting small or tenuous holds, using friction and making moves in balance. You'll get to know yourself – and armed with these skills you’ll be able to head of to your chosen scramble confdent in the knowledge of which moves you can safely make and which you can’t.
WEAR A HELMET
Scrambling is often described as the grey area between walking and climbing. Climbers head for steep rock as it gives the most challenging terrain, and – as it holds few ledges – tends to be cleaner. Scrambles occupy less steep ground, which is generally more broken, vegetated and covered in loose material. This stuf can be dislodged by natural action or by scramblers or climbers, and fall on you. You can reduce the risk of being hit by stonefall by being aware of what causes it and not lingering long in risky spots. Wearing a climbing helmet when scrambling is also a good plan.
5
FACE THE RIGHT WAY
Picking the right route is all about spotting the sequence of holds in front of you. This is easy when ascending as you can face the rock. Descending, however, is another matter altogether and as a natural response you will try to downclimb by again facing the rock. Avoiding looking outwards, however, puts you at a disadvantage, as you won’t be able to spot the sequence of holds you need to make. Clearly if a crag is so steep that you have to face in to balance then that is what you’ll have to do, but as long as you are in balance you should face out to descend.
MAY 2015 TRAIL 83
TEST OF THE BEST TOP HILL KIT GOES HEAD TO HEAD
3-SEASON BOOTS The most important gear a hillwalker needs is decent footwear. Here we test the best 3-season boots for walkers heading to the UK’s moors and mountains. TESTER PROFILE Graham Thompson Technical editor Foot size UK11/Euro 46 Foot shape normal width, but bony
ANKLE CUFF To reduce weight and price, the ankle cuf may be cut quite low in some boots. However, this can be a false economy as a lower ankle cuf more easily allows water, mud and debris to enter the boot while also providing less ankle support, which means your foot has to work harder on uneven ground.
UPPER If cared for well a traditional leather upper made with minimal stitching will last for many years and will probably outlast the tread on the sole. Conversely an upper that is made of synthetic fabric, mesh and thin strips of suede leather is unlikely to be as durable and often tends to be slow-drying.
TOE BOX To protect the foot from stray boulders a stifened toe box is important. You can test this by pressing the top of the area where your toes will be in the boot.
MIDSOLE FLEX Grab the boot by the toe and heel, and bend them together to test longitudinal stifness; then twist the sole to test lateral stifness. A more fexible sole fex is better for comfort on level ground while a stifer sole fex is more comfortable on rockier ground and also allows more precise use of small footholds when scrambling over rockier terrain.
90 TRAIL MAY 2015
OUTSOLE Well-spaced and deep lugs can bite into soft ground without clogging. A deep heel breast (the step between the heel and midfoot area of the sole unit), is vital for providing braking power in descents.
MAGAZINE
BEST VALUE £160/1558g (size 11)
m n
PHOTOGRAPHS GRAHAM THOMPSON
Berghaus Hillmaster II GTX
£165/1732g (size 11)
m n
Mammut Brecon
www.berghaus.com
www.mammut.ch
leather upper; minimal stitching, + light; full rand; aggressive outsole; well-priced
upper; minimal stitching; toe rand; + leather aggressive outsole; very stif sole; light
–
–
heavier boots are more supportive on rockier terrain
suede leather rather than full-grain leather
FEATURES
Berghaus and Brasher have merged, so this is the classic Brasher Hillmaster under the new Berghaus logo. It has a Pittards leather upper that has virtually no stitching, particularly at the fex point to lengthen durability. There is a full rubber rand too, again for durability. The outsole is well-stifened and there are deep, well-placed lugs for grip in the mud. 5/5
The upper is made of suede leather rather than full-grain leather, but it has minimal stitching while a Gore-Tex waterproof lining provides extra protection against the elements. The toe box is nice and frm, while a rubber rand in this area adds further protection. Underfoot a good stif sole unit with deep lugs and a decent heel breast provide grip. 4/5
FIT
The Hillmaster comes in a good range of sizes: 7-14 for men and 3½-9 for women. The boot is quite spacious with a useful locking eyelet quite low down the lacing to allow tension at the arch to be controlled. The ankle cuf is lower than some heavier and higher-priced boots, so ankle ft is less restrictive. The ft is not quite as precise as the best boots though. 4/5
The Brecon is available in size 6½-13 for men and 4-8½ for women. The ft is good and close with a precise feel on the foot that would be good for scrambling and walking on rockier ground. The ankle cuf is slightly lower than some models and the boot is also wellcushioned for comfortable support. 5/5
COMFORT
The toe box and forefoot area are very roomy, making the boot comfer for those with wider, higher-volume feet. The heel cup is a closer ft than some other boots, while the soft and low ankle cuf is very comfy. The sole is more fexible than some, making it more comfortable on softer ground. 5/5
This feels comfy, with an easy walking action and a good level of support and stifness for general walking. The toe box is well-stifened to protect the foot and the outsole is stif enough to make rockier ground comfortable. At just 1732g (pair, size 11) this boot doesn’t feel quite as heavy as some others. 5/5
IN USE
This model feels good for walking on moorland and general hill paths, but the ft and general positioning of the boot are less precise for more technical ground. You can scramble in it, but the best boots are better. On rockier ground there is less support here, so again the best boots are slightly better. But the Gore-Tex waterproof lining and general performance are ideal for paths. 4/5
Straight from the box this is great on the hill due to the support and stifness it ofers. The upper – being suede leather rather than full-grain leather – is a drawback for long-term performance, but that is why this is a lower-priced boot compared with others that are equally stif and supportive. For many this won’t be a drawback but more regular users may value paying more. 4/5
VALUE
A general hillwalking boot ofering better value for money than pricier options. 4/5
A good price for the stifness and sole quality and less costly due to the suede upper. 4/5
VERDICT
The classic Brasher Hillmaster retains its hillwalking edge under the new Berghaus branding.
Very good on the hill; but more regular users may prefer a full-grain leather upper.
4.4/5
4.4/5
MAY 2015 TRAIL 91
BEST BUDGET FOR YOUR
OUTDOOR KIT TO SUIT EVERYONE’S WALLET
MIDSOLE FLEX Grab the shoe by the toe and heel, and bend them together to test longitudinal stifness; then twist the sole to test lateral stifness. It’s a matter of personal choice but generally a more fexible sole fex is better for comfort on level ground and for moving fast. A stifer sole fex is comfer on rockier ground and allows a more precise use of small footholds when scrambling over rock.
TRAIL SHOES Trail shoes are ideal for walking on paths from the valley to the hills, and they’re the perfect alternative to boots around the campsite and in the pub. TESTER PROFILE Graham Thompson
TEST AND STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHS GRAHAM THOMPSON OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPH TOM BAILEY
Technical editor Foot size UK11/Euro 46 Foot shape normal width, but bony
TOE BOX To protect the foot from stray boulders a stifened toe box is important. You can test this by pressing the top of the area where your toes will be in the boot with your thumb, then judging if it’s stif enough to provide protection.
HEEL COUNTER Pinch the heel of the shoe between thumb and fngers to test how supportive it will be for your foot. Support in this area is important for moving over uneven ground to help stabilise the foot and prevent injuries.
UPPER A leather upper made with minimal stitching will last for many years if cared for well and will probably outlast the tread on the sole. Conversely an upper that is made of synthetic fabric, mesh and thin strips of suede leather is unlikely to be as durable and often tends to be slow-drying too. But mesh and synthetic uppers are much lighter and lower in price than leather, so they’re commonly used in trail shoes.
OUTSOLE
WEIGHT Trail shoes are often chosen over boots because they are lighter. However, the lighter the shoe the less support it may provide and the less durable it may be. Equally a lighter shoe may lack cushioning underfoot, (making it more tiring to wear) and the stifness in the sole to make climbing over rocks easy. So do consider performance and weight when choosing footwear.
Look for lugs that are well-spaced and deep so they can provide a good grip without easily clogging with mud and without wearing away too rapidly with regular use. Also look for a deep heel breast (the step between the heel and midfoot area of the sole unit) as this is vital for providing braking in descent.
UNDER £100
£60/1000g (size 46)
m n
MAGAZINE
APPROVED
m n
£65/784g (size 11)
£90/1164g (size 11)
m n
Anatom V1 Ex Ventia
Columbia Peakfreak XCRSN Xcel
Hi-Tec V-Lite Altitude Pro Lite RGS
www.anatomfootwear.co.uk
www.columbiasportswear.co.uk
www.hi-tec.com/uk
+ aggressive outsole no waterproof lining; not the most – durable and supportive option
+ very breathable upper no waterproof lining; not as durable or – as supportive as higher-priced options
+ sole; aggressive lugs on the sole; price a little heavy and feels a little ‘clumpier’ – than others
FEATURES
You get a synthetic open mesh upper that has suede leather and rubber reinforcement. There is some stifness in the toe, but not as much as in better shoes, and the heel cup is fairly supportive. There is no waterproof liner, though, so it’s good for warm weather but you need to avoid the wet. The outsole has good lugs for grip, but isn’t very stif. 3/5
This shoe is exceptionally lightweight, and that is its main advantage. The upper is very open mesh with synthetic overlays, which won’t be as durable as leather, but this does keep the weight down. The upper isn’t very stif, and neither is the sole, but you get good, deep lugs for grip. The waterproof option is the Peakfreak XCRSN Xcel Outdry at £80. 3/5
Few shoes under £100 provide a waterproof lining, which makes this very appealing. The waterproof Dri-Tec lining is protected by a synthetic and suede leather upper that feels more protective than some but not quite as good as higher-priced models. You also get an exclusive Vibram sole unit, which is designed to support the natural roll of the foot. 4/5
FIT
Available in sizes 41-47 for men and 37-42 for women. The ft is quite close and snug with some tapering at the toe, which those with chunky forefeet may fnd restrictive – so try before you buy. As the shoe is quite soft in the upper and sole it moulds easily to the foot. 4/5
The sizes available are 6 to 14 for men and 3 to 10 for women, which is an exceptional range. On the foot this fts closely with good room for toe movement. The soft upper and fexible sole mean this fts closely with a little tension on the laces to mould the shoe to the foot. 5/5
Available for men in size 7-12 and women 5-8, this shoe feels spacious. Lacing extends to a bit closer to the toe than some, which helps provide a closer ft. The heel cup fts closely and there is good stability underfoot. This fts well without being too baggy or too tight. 5/5
COMFORT
As you can blow through the upper this will be comfortable in warm, dry weather but in the slightest puddle you will get wet easily. There isn’t much stifness in the upper or sole unit so on rockier and rougher ground your feet are going to be working harder than in stifer, more protective footwear. But there is good cushioning underfoot. 3/5
The low weight makes this feel comfortable, as do the fexible sole and upper. But comfort will drop quickly on rocky ground, as the upper and sole aren’t very stif, and also in the wet as there’s no waterproof lining. The foot also has to work pretty hard as there is so little support from the shoe. 3/5
Straight away these felt comfortable, with a good rolling action on the sole that allowed a good stable movement on every step. As there is a waterproof lining this comfort will remain in the wet. Also the upper is slightly more protective than lighter shoes, although a stifer toe box would be better for rocky ground. 4/5
IN USE
If used on dry forest tracks and footpaths this will be fairly useful, but on wet ground or more uneven and rocky terrain it will cope less well. There is good grip for soft ground, though, so certainly in hot weather it would be ideal. I’d recommend it for trips abroad when trekking on good paths. 3/5
Used on dry, level ground this is ideal for travel and trekking. But performance rapidly drops of as soon as the ground becomes uneven as it isn’t very stif and that upper ofers only minimal protection. I’d doubt this would be as durable as heavier shoes with leather or rubber reinforcement either. 3/5
Great on level paths but for rockier ground stifer shoes ofer even better support and protection as well as better climbing ability and comfort. The outsole lugs are very deep and well-spaced, though, so on soft ground it works well. It feels less ‘clumpy’ than it looks but is less good for fast action than some. 4/5
VALUE
The price is low as there is no waterproof lining, less stifness in the toe and the upper isn’t leather. So no complaints on value. 5/5
A great price, but the £80 Peakfreak XCRSN Xcel Outdry with waterproof liner is probably a better choice for the UK hillwalker. 4/5
A waterproof shoe is what most hillwalkers in the UK really need, and one that comes in under £100 has to be good value. 5/5
It ofers the minimum you need for countryside walking but is best suited to dry climates and good paths away from challenging terrain.
If you want the lightest shoe then this is great for the money, but beware of the performance drawbacks if you head onto more challenging terrain.
Not the absolute best shoe, but it is waterproof, and has good comfort and grip, so on easier terrain it is a good option if your budget is less than £100.
price; supportive heel cup; reasonably
VERDICT
3.6/5
weight; aggressive lugs on sole;
3.6/5
waterproof lining; supportive upper and
4.4/5
MAY 2015 TRAIL 95
Routes
THE BEST HILLWALKS BY THE EXPERTS WALK HERE THIS WEEKEND! p134
Checking out Caisteal Abhail from Cir Mhor: Route 10. KEITH FERGUS
Where to walk this month...
Mount Keen 5
Walks of a Lifetime Newlands Round
Welcome to Trail’s routes section: your cut-out-and-keep guide to the best days in the UK hills. Whether it’s an airy mountain scramble, a classic Lakeland fellwalk or a multi-day backpacking epic, you’ll fnd it here... written by experts, walked by you.
6
Beinn Trilleachan 3 routes on... Isle of Arran Ridge Guide Sharp Edge
7
4
3 routes from... Clapham
10 11 12
Blencathra
1
8 9
Cwm Caseg
3
Stanage
Crib Goch Map of the month Glyders & Carneddau
EDITED BY DAN ASPEL (DAN.ASPEL@LFTO.COM)
● Trail Routes use OS mapping and gradient profiles, and are available to download at www.lfto.com/routes MAY 2015 TRAIL 115
2
May 2015 Choose the best route for you... 12 EXPERTWRITTEN GUIDES TO THE BEST WALKS
Wast Water, seen from Kirk Fell.
Paul Richardson An expert on the dales, hills and moors of northern England.
Jeremy Ashcroft
Trail's mountaineering editor and a veteran of every classic UK route.
Chiz Dakin
Tom Hutton
Kirstie Shirra
Award-winning writer, photographer and flmmaker. Avid traveller.
Our Wales guru – his knowledge of Cymru's peaks is unsurpassed.
Guidebook writer and lover of Scotland’s ‘best small mountains’.
Sean McMahon
Peter Macfarlane
Keith Fergus
Lakeland local, curator of stridingedge.net and devoted fellwalker.
Lightweight expert, prolifc blogger and local of the Arrochar Alps.
Author of nine guidebooks to Scotland's isles and coastline walks.
STRENUOUSNESS How tired will this route make me? The times quoted for Trail Routes are based on estimates of 4km per hour, plus 30 min for every 300m of ascent, with another hour for rests every 8 hours. The blocks give you an at-a-glance guide: ● Quickie ●● Short day ●●● Full day ●●●● Very full day ●●●●● Endurance test
Hill bagging stats Walking the Wainwrights, the Munros, the Corbetts or the Welsh 3000s? These routes have got you covered.
NAVIGATION Wainwrights 1
TRAIL’S A ROUTE Strenuousness u ●●●●● Navigation a ●●●●● Technicality n ●●●●● Wainwrights w 1 Trail 100 2
Gradient profle We map every route for its unique gradient profle, giving you a pinpoint impression of its progressive steepness and the heights you’ll hit.
What are the Trail 100? They’re your tick-list of the 100 UK mountains you MUST climb! Download the full list from: bit.ly/trail100
Always take a map on the hill We aim to provide the most accurate information, but you must ALWAYS use an Ordnance Survey or Harvey map on the hill and double-check any directions against it.
!
BEFORE YOU GO...
If you’re likely to encounter snow or ice on your walk you need to take precautions. You MUST have ice axe, crampons and the skills to use them and navigate in winter, and
you should check weather forecasts and avalanche forecasts (www.sais.gov.uk) before heading into the mountains. Visit Mountain Weather Information Service www.mwis.org.uk
How tricky is this route to follow? ● Clear, well-marked paths in a valley or following a linear feature like Hadrian’s Wall ●● Valley, moor or mountain paths that are normally clear but low cloud could afect your ability to follow ●●● Almost pathless in valleys; less clear paths on moors and mountains, but generally following clearly defned hill shapes ●●●● Some paths but not clear, not well used or some confusion possible ●●●●● Open moorland, mountain plateau or crag without paths. Route confusion likely and close attention to navigation needed at all times
TECHNICALITY – WALKS How difcult will I fnd it? ● Easy walking in gentle countryside ●● Unthreatening slopes with no exposure ●●● Typical Lakes fellwalk – rough, rocky ground, bogs and steeper slopes ●●●● Steep, rough ground and scree. Some exposure ●●●●● Hands required for at least one move – airy and steep throughout
TECHNICALITY – SCRAMBLES/CLIMBS ● Grade 1 scramble ●● Grade 2 scramble ●●● Grade 3 scramble ●●●● Grade 3S scramble or Dif climb ●●●●● V Dif climb (Look for extra winter warnings on red-graded routes)
TRAIL ROUTES ARE AVAILABLE FROM VIEWRANGER If you have a GPS-enabled smart-phone you can install these Trail Routes on it via ViewRanger’s app for free for the next 30 days*, using special route codes. 1 Install the ViewRanger app for free from your phone’s app store. 2 Open the app and download your free Trail Routes by going to Menu > Store > Search andenter the red route codes found on the following pages. 3 Go walking! (Sorry; Walks of a Lifetime is not available.) * On Android and Apple devices, from publication date. OS maps are available to purchase in-app.
116 TRAIL MAY 2015
WALKS OF A LIFETIME
Newlands Round
Join a ridgetop journey from lakeside pastoral charm to the wild heart of the mountains, with Jeremy Ashcroft as your guide.
138 TRAIL MAY 2015
Lake District
16.3km/10 miles 6½ hours Summer sunlight on the Newlands Valley and the Derwent Fells. © STEWART SMITH / ALAMY
MAY 2015 TRAIL 139
GEAR GUIDE E YOUR 100-PAGE EXPERT GUIDE TO THE LATEST, GREATEST OUTDOOR KIT
From the makers of
MAGAZINE
GEAR GUIDE p68
A tent will give you many memorable nights in the heart of the hills – and we've given you 12 to choose from.
A showcase of the most exciting new kit that'll be popping up in 2015. p6
TOM BAILEY
We’ve footwear to suit all outdoors ambitions.
4 TRAIL GEAR GUIDE 2015
Check out a range of rucksacks, from lightweight day packs to backpacking beasts.
p16
CONTENTS
p74 Whatever the conditions, the right sleeping bag is vital.
How to buy boots
6
Watches
64
Boots
8
Cameras
67
Trail shoes
12
How to buy tents
68
Socks
15
Tents
70
How to buy rucksacks
16
How to buy sleeping bags
74
Rucksacks
18
Sleeping bags
76
How to buy waterproof jackets
22
Bivvy bags
81
Waterproof jackets
24
Sleeping mats
82
Subscribe and get a Jetboil!
28
Stoves & cookware
84
Fleeces
31
Camping food
86
Insulated jackets
32
Knives & multi-tools
87
Soft shells
34
Accessories
88
Gilets
36
Ice axes, crampons & helmets
90
Base layers
38
Kit for kids
92
Gloves
41
Used & Abused
94
Hats & Bufs
42
Win a new outdoor wardrobe!
98
Trousers & overtrousers
44
Gaiters
46
Mapping & GPS units
48
Compasses
51
Trekking poles
52
Headtorches
55
Portable chargers
56
Bottles & bladders
58
Water treatment
61
Eyewear
63
WIN GEAR WORTH OVER
ÂŁ750!
p22 UK hillwalkers need waterpoofs: sad but true! There are options here to suit every budget.
TRAIL GEAR GUIDE 2015 5
WATERPROOF JACKETS
HOW TO BUY
WATERPR WATERPROOF JACKETS JACKET Drawcords Check that the drawc drawcords on the hood, hem and waist are all neatly tu tucked away in order to prevent prev them from snagging on anything – or whippi whipping you in the chops.
Pockets accessible while wearing a rucksack, and large Pockets must be acce enough for maps and guidebooks. Some pockets extend below the waistline, makin making it difcult to retrieve small items from them without remov removing your rucksack. Mesh-lined pockets add ventilation but they allow water to pass through the jacket if left open, if the zips have no stormfaps or if you put anything wet in them. So mesh-lined mesh-lin pockets are desirable where maximum breathability is often essential, but when walking in the rain sealed pockets are a b better option.
Zips Normal zips aren’t waterproof, and neither are water-resistant zips. In other words, all zips leak. To keep the water out you need a double stormfap over the top. Double faps do make zips hard to operate, however, so a single stormfap may be ftted instead – you need to decide if the ease of opening outweighs staying dry.
Fabrics and coatings Waterproof jackets a are usually made from 3-layer fabric with no lining, or 2-layer fabric with a loose mesh or material lining. Hot names in the fabric world in 2015 are Gore-Tex Pro Shell and Polartec Ne NeoShell, as well as classics like eVent, Nikwax a and a slew of proprietary fabrics. Loose materi material and mesh linings make a jacket softer and m more comfortable, but they snag easily. Jackets u usually feature a DWR coating (durable wat water repellency) that repels rain, causing it to ’bead’ ’be on the fabric’s surface.
22 TRAIL GEAR GUIDE 2015
Hood
Design
The hood should move with your head and not restrict vision at all. Watch out for hood drawcords cutting into your face. Ideally the peak should be wired or stifened so that you can shape it around your face. If you’re going to be using the jacket for casual wear of the hill, then a rollaway hood may be useful. When cycling and climbing a removable or rollaway hood is a good idea; you might also want to check if a hood is helmet-compatible.
The he jacket should be designed to work rk while wearing gloves and a rucksack. cksack. Ideally you should be able to o pull the cufs cufs down over the gloves ves to stop water getting in when walking. But when scrambling g it’s best if you can ft ft the h gloves over the he cufs. cufs. Take your gloves into the shop hop to make sure you o can operate all the drawcords, zips, p press studs,, stormfaps stormfaps and pockets o with them m on.
Ventilation Look for ventilation optionss in the jacket, such as a front zip p and adjustable cufs. Pit zips allow w venting under the arms, while mesh pockets allow core venting g across the body.
Sizing Some jackets are available in women’s sizes while others are only available in men’s or unisex sizes, and this is indicated for each jacket. Look for a reasonably long length with good freedom of movement, so that the jacket hem remains still and the cufs don’t ride up when you move around.
Sleeves Look for sleeves that ft the length of your arms and won’t ride up when clambering over things like stiles and rock steps. The cufs should ft snugly around the wrists.
TRAIL TIP Cleaning jackets is just as critical – if not more so – as washing normal clothing. The pores in waterproof membranes need to stay clear and DWR coatings need to be up to scratch, so regularly wash with a specialist cleaner like Granger's or Nikwax. TRAIL GEAR GUIDE 2015 23
WATERPROOF JACKETS This is Britain. It rains here, a lot. Happily, there is kit available to deal with the dampest of deluges...
uSpraywayTyrant£100 Sprayway Tyrant £100 m An outstanding jacket for the price. The three chest pockets are OS-map sized and easy to access when wearing a rucksack, while the hood – which allows great vision and moves mo well with the head – can be rolled away tto the neck when not needed. The extra body llength provides good protection without being too restrictive; and although you may get better b fabric and lower weight if you spend more mo money, this is a great option if you’re shopping on a budget. www.sprayway.com
qTarget Target Dry DryElement£105 Element £105 m A longer ger body length than most waterproofs, which h is a good feature if you’re only likely to use it for walking but can be restrictive for activities ties such as scrambling and climbing. The wired hood provides excellent protection from the elements ements and the pit zips will help prevent you from rom overheating on sweaty uphill trudges. The one ne major drawback of this jacket, however, is the weight of 776g (size L), which is more than double e that of many similar priced competitors. www.targetdry.com
MAGAZINE APPROVED
MAGAZINE APPROVED
MAGAZINE APPROVED
p Patagonia Torrentshell Plus £130 m TorrentshellPlus£130 This lightweight jacket (350g, size si L) packs down to a small size, making makin it extremely easy to stuf into you your rucksack when not needed. You get pit zips to help regulate your temperature while walking and the pockets are sealed rather tha than mesh-lined, which makes them extremely water-resistant and h helps protect anything you stash insid inside them. The hood isn’t the best available and would benef beneftt from a wired peak peak, but for the price this is a fantastic jac jacket. www.patagonia.com/eu
24 TRAIL GEAR GUIDE 2015
tMountain Mountain Equipment m n Aeon on £170 Made e from Mountain Equipment’s Drilite fabric, the Aeon delivers top-end performance in terms of waterproofness aterproofness and breathability while still managing aging to retain a low weight (357g, size L). It hugs gs the body nicely thanks to the ‘Alpine f ft’ t’ and the he soft fabric gives it a really comfortable feel. The mesh-lined pockets are great for venting ing but not as waterproof as fully sealed pockets, ets, so this jacket is at its best when used for mountain ountain walking in mild weather. www.mountain-equipment.co.uk w.mountain-equipment.co.uk
q Berghaus Light Trek Hydroshell Elite m n £170 Having been developed with insight from trekkers who’ve completed the 96 mile West Highland Way, this jacket is very much designed with hillwalkers in mind. It has four zipped pockets (two chest and two hand-warmers), plus bounded cuf tab adjustments, core body vents, a good body length with dipped back hem, its own mesh stuf sack and reinforced fabric designed to carry heavy rucksacks on overnight adventures. Berghaus may well have created a future classic! www.berghaus.com
t Marmot Crux Jacket £180 NEW FOR
2015
NEW FOR
Made from Marmot’s ripstop NanoPro fabric with fully taped seam construction, this new release ofers excellent waterproofness without restricting your movement on the hill. The two large chest pockets are positioned high to provide unrestricted access and have water-resistant zips, and the elastic drawcord hem allows you to tailor the ft while stopping wind and rain from whipping up inside. It looks like another great product from Marmot that we’re looking forward to testing thoroughly this year. www.marmot.com
NEW FOR
2015
uRab Flashpoint£200
m n
2015
NEW FOR
m
Constructed from the lightest 3 -layer fabric Rab has ever used, the Flashpoint weighs in at a scarcely existent 180g (size L). With a hydrostatic head of 20,000mm (the same rating as the average 4-season winter shell), it should prove very waterproof and its low weight means this is the ideal jacket to stash in the bottom of your bag and only pull out if you’re faced with severe weather. Also check out the Rab Muztag jacket, which is slightly heavier at 285g but with better-designed pockets for walkers. www.rab.uk.com
2015
▲ Páramo Cascada £210
m n
Comfort-wise, it’s hard to knock the Cascada – and it’s been a f rm hillwalking favourite for many years. A great ft with well-designed sleeves and a good combination of Velcro and elastic at the cuf s, it’s cut from rustle-free fabric that makes it a real pleasure to wear. It’s also extremely waterproof and highly breathable. A slight negative is that the pockets are hard to access under a rucksack, and the excessive weight at 860g (size L) will put lightweight fanatics of. www.paramo.co.uk
TRAIL GEAR GUIDE 2015 25
62 TRAIL GEAR GUIDE 2015
Keep your peepers protected and your mountain vision keen with a suitable pair of sunglasses or goggles...
EYEWEAR
▼ Bloc Scorpion £40
▲ Bollé Mojo £28
For sunglasses that look a little more at home of the hill as well as on it, the Scorpions are a good option. They still ofer full UV protection and the sports frame grips the temples to keep them on your head during active pursuits, but they also have the cool factor you want in a pub beer garden. www.bloceyewear.com
Sometimes when the snow is coming at you from all angles, glasses just aren’t enough – you need goggles. And if the weather’s dark and ominous, shaded lenses will be more of a hindrance than a help. For such entirely typical conditions in the UK winter hills hills, the Bollé Mojos are perfect perfect. www.bolle-europe.co.uk
▼ Sunwise Chromafusion romafusion 2.0 Waterloo £77 77
▲ Sportviz XTS Sun Core £50 It’s the ability to retro-ft Sportviz prescription ‘Inzerts’ that makes the XTS Sun Core special, transforming regular sunglasses into prescription shades. The Inzerts can also be ftted to a range of Sportviz eyewear, including ski goggles and diving masks. www.sportviz.co.uk
Photochromic lensess cover category 2-3 UV levels, ensuring they’re more than enough for even the brightest day out in the UK hills. Polarised lenses keep details crisp and sharp, while an anti-fog treatment ensures your view remains mist-free at all times. www.sunwise.co.uk
MAGAZINE APPROVED
▲ Julbo Tensing £45 Available with either category 3 or 4 lenses, the Tensings are no-nonsense, virtually indestructible sunglasses. They can be squashed, dismantled and easily reassembled, so you don’t need to worry about them in your pack, while side vents keep them fog-free on your face. www.julbo-eyewear.com
TRAIL TIP The closer the lenses sit to your face, the greater the chance of them fogging up in cold weather. To reduce the chances of misted vision, choose glasses or goggles that are vented or that have a clear gap between their lenses and your skin.
▼ Julbo Bivouak Cameleon eon £140 The Cameleons are polarised and photochromic; the darkness of the lenses adjusts automatically from category 2 UV f ltering (general use) up to category 4 (high-mountain exposure). The removable windshields further enhance the Cameleon’s credentials as eyewear for altitude. www.julbo-eyewear.com
▲ Oakley A-Frame 2.0 £89 If your goggles have to be on your face all day, comfort is important. The A A-Frames’ Frames fexible ft ofers just that, along with improved peripheral vision, fog-free lenses, and an orange tint for improved contrast in dull or fat lighting. uk.oakley.com
TRAIL GEAR GUIDE 2015 63
WIN! A NEW OUTDOOR
WORTH OVER
£750!
WARDROBE
We’ve selected nine fantastic pieces of kit from the Trail Gear Guide 2015 to give away as one huge competition prize – and it could all be yours! For the chance to win over £750-worth of outdoor stuf, simply visit www.lfto.com/gearguidecomp and follow the instructions.
pIcebreaker Icebreaker Pocke Pocket Hatt worth £20 (see page 42)
p Berghaus Light Trek Hydroshell ydroshell Elite worth orth £170 (see page 25)
p Vaude Defender Pants III worth £130 (see page 44)
pS Sealskinz Smartphone artp Glove worth orth £55
u Falke TK Stabilizing Stabilizingsock socks worth £20
(see page 41)
(see page 15)
p Montane Medusa 32L rucksack ucksack worth £80 (see ee page page18) 18)
t SilvaExpedit Silva Expedition Type 4 compass Type4compa worth £33 (see page 51)
p Berghaus Explorer Ridge Plus GTX boots worth £140 (see page 8) 98 TRAIL GEAR GUIDE 2015
p Rab Shadow Hoodie worth £140 (see page 31)
Enter now!
www.lfto.com/gearguidecomp