The Great Outdoors

FOR THOSE of us who are fortunate enough to be inveterate tourists and travellers, summer is often a time for escape; the time when we’re most likely to leave these shores and explore the wonders of ‘Abroad’. Abroad is brilliant. The mountains are so

“After days of weather watching and anticipation, the forecast was constantly changing. But with the small chance of rain and warm temperatures on the summit of High Street, this looked promising for a potential cloud inversion, and what could be an

Size: 60x60cm Medium: oil on canvas SUMMER IN SCOTLAND isn’t all blazing blue skies, week-long heatwaves and packed beaches. Of course, for many that seems obvious – but what aren’t always obvious are the fleeting moments we experience up here when t

CRIMES against birds of prey have soared since lockdown was announced in March. The RSPB logged 56 potential offences between March 23 and May 15, with more reported in the past few weeks. “Since the lockdown began, the RSPB has been overrun with rep

WE BELIEVE that publishing a more diverse range of voices in The Great Outdoors will lead to a magazine that’s better, more insightful and more enjoyable to read than ever. That’s why we’ve launched a writing competition in partnership with the hikin

pb Canongate Books, £9.99 Record-breaking adventurer James climbed all 446 2000ft peaks in England and Wales in six months. Mountain Man is the story of that epic undertaking What was your overall impression of the book? CHARLIE: I ended up finding i

CAN YOU NAME England’s Tree Champion? Neither could I until I looked him up. In fact I didn’t even know such a role existed. He’s called Sir William Worsley, and I found out about him when checking on the annual new planting figures published by the

WHEN RAMBLERS SCOTLAND approached me at the start of the year, I knew that 2020 was going to be different. Being appointed first female president was a huge honour, and I was excited to be involved with the excellent work that Ramblers Scotland does.

WE KNOW we are fortunate to live in a Highland village – and we have appreciated it even more during the many weeks of lockdown. There are paths and tracks in every direction – along the Spey and the rocky river Calder, into Glen Banchor and its vari

THE FIRST TIME I really saw Blencathra was on a winter’s day in the 1960s when I’d been climbing on Castle Rock of Triermain with the wife of a friend of mine, whose husband had gone up to Scafell intent on some serious winter climbing. We’d arranged

THE CORONAVIRUS SITUATION may currently be casting a huge shadow over the viability of overseas travel, but there’s still a wide range of holiday options that don’t involve heading for foreign shores. Here’s our pick of the best outdoorsbased staycat

I TURN A CORNER and glimpse it for the first time. The legends are true. It isn’t just a myth – the godly glen does exist. l'm like a traveller in search of a promised land of impossibly craggy peaks, razor-toothed ridges and lush hidden valleys – an

“IS IT SAFE?” This is what my dad said on the subject of any swim; any lake. His idea of ‘safe’ was tied with that of permission and common knowledge. He never said this about hills. There was always a guidebook to read and a map to follow for hills.

THE DREAM had been years in the making. To make a complete crossing of the Pyrenees is a considerable challenge – one I’d begun to see as a drawing together of everything I loved about the mountains. It was always clear that I would be taking an ‘ult

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66 Three-season sleeping bags Chris Townsend 72 Compasses Chris Townsend Jack Wolfskin has an expanded collection of clothing and accessories made from Seaqual Yarn, a 100% recycled polyester made from the plastic content of marine waste. This materi

A COMPASS with a base plate is, of course, the traditional navigational tool to use with a map if visibility is poor or the terrain unclear. Digital navigation is a hugely useful tool; but a compass is a tiny fraction of the cost and weight of a GPS

18km/11.2 miles/5-8 hours Ascent 1301m/4268ft Glen Strae, parking just beyond bridge GR: NN145294 1 Walk up glen, passing two ponds before leaving track at bridge over Allt Dhoireann. 2 Follow water N, with cliffs of Beinn Eunaich on left, all the wa

20km/12.5 miles/5-7 hours Ascent 240m/787ft Bus stop at Waverley Court on Dundas Street, Bonnyrigg GR: NT311650 1 From the bus stop, take the cycleway SW past a former railway platform towards Rosewell. 2 After 3km, follow a sign SE for Rosewell and

24km/15 miles/7-8 hours Ascent 730m/2394ft Park tidily in Gamblesby GR: NY609394 1 Path heads E from centre of Gamblesby along stony lane, turning NE to reach lane. NW along lane to sharp bend. Track N then E to cross A686, continuing to climb to sma

16km/10 miles/6-7 hours Ascent 775m/2542ft Off-road parking at the end of the lane beyond Swineside GR: NY327326 1 From the north side of the bridge over Grainsgill Beck head N up pathless terrain beside Poddy Gill. From the top of the ghyll head NE

16km/10 miles/5-6 hours Ascent 830m/2722ft Layby on the A470 between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Dolwyddelan GR: SH701489 1 Walk for 250m along the A470 in the direction of Blaenau Ffestiniog. At a steel gate cross the stile and follow the wide track for

13km/8 miles/4-5 hours Ascent 410m/1340ft New Ground parking area (free) above Fortuneswell GR: SY690731 1 Route follows waymarked Coast Path clockwise; info panels along the way describe the many points of interest. Head E along green (parallel to r

In our readers’ photography series, we invite you to send in your best pictures on a specific theme. Next is ‘good company’ by 27.07.20. Next month: ‘good company’ Send your pics to tgo.ed@kelsey.co.uk or The Editor, The Great Outdoors, Kelsey Publis