trail magazine april 2013

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UK’S BIGGEST & BEST-SELLING HILLWALKING MAG APRIL 2013 £3.99 WWW.LIVEFORTHEOUTDOORS.COM LIVE FOR THE OUTDOORS APRIL 2013 SILENT HILLS WILD WEEKEND ADVENTURES! Tailor-made three-walk mountain missions from Betws-y-Coed and Eskdale EXPLORE STUNNING LAKELAND PEAKS – BY THE BACK DOOR BEN CRUACHAN They thought it was Britain’s highest. Find out why... GOLD DofE EXPEDITION Trail tackles it! SOUTH HIGHLANDS LAKE DISTRICT SNOWDONIA AMAZING JETBOIL OFFER INSIDE! 13 ROUTES WITH FULL OS MAPPING HOW TO... ON TEST MAKE AN EMERGENCY KIT BEAT SNOW BLINDNESS NEVER GET BLISTERS AGAIN! SLEEPING MATS+ TREKKING POLES

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A sneak peek of the new April 2013 issue of Trail magazine – out Wednesday 20th February

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Page 1: Trail magazine April 2013

UK’S BIGGEST & BEST-SELLING HILLWALKING MAG

APRIL 2013 £3.99 WWW.LIVEFORTHEOUTDOORS.COM

The one that wishes there really w

as a mountaineer nam

ed Munchies Irw

in

A

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R THE O

UTD

OO

RS A

PRIL 2

01

3

SILENT HILLS

WILD WEEKENDADVENTURES!Tailor-made three-walk mountain missions from Betws-y-Coed and Eskdale

EXPLORE STUNNING LAKELAND PEAKS – BY THE BACK DOOR

BEN CRUACHAN They thought it was Britain’s

highest. Find out why...

GOLD DofE EXPEDITION

Trail tackles it!SOUTH HIGHLANDS

LAKE DISTRICT

SNOWDONIA

AMAZING JETBOIL

OFFER INSIDE!

13 ROUTES

WITH FULL OS MAPPING

HOW TO...

ON TEST

MAKE AN EMERGENCY KIT BEAT SNOW BLINDNESS NEVER GET BLISTERS AGAIN!

ON TEST SLEEPING MATS+ TREKKING POLES

Page 2: Trail magazine April 2013

Been there, climbed that? Send us a picture! OUT THERE

Ben Klibreck north HighlandsNicki, Pete and Iain, in -17 deg C temperatures, wishing Rob would hurry up

and take the photo (the stunning views made it all worthwhile though).

The Old Man of Coniston Lake District

Catherine and Matt, having the previous day got married halfway up

The Old Man. 25 guests just out of shot!

Crib GochSnowdonia

Ian, back in May, about to walk the Snowdon Horseshoe

with his mate Dash.

Arches National Park Utah USA Derren, exploring the maze of � ns, canyons and arches that make up the Fiery Furnace hike. Helen took the pic.

6 TRAIL APRIL 2013

Page 3: Trail magazine April 2013

Been there, climbed that? Send us a picture!

Send us your shots, share your adventures Email your photos to us, along with a description of what was special about

your day, and we’ll publish the most inspiring examples! Put ‘Out There’ in the subject box, and send them to [email protected]

Meall a’ Bhuachaille

CairngormsRAF Lossiemouth

ladies Lou (with Ralph), Jennifer, Sarah, Suzanne, Steph and Alice,

enjoying a taste of hillwalking (and

hot chocolate).

Beinn Dorain south Highlands

John, on a three-day walking trip with brother Andrew (behind the

lens). Andrew tells us they had “excellent weather and lots of snow”.

No kidding...!

Page 4: Trail magazine April 2013

Bring your photos to life 10Create mountain art with the click of a button

Battle for Cape Wrath 12One of Britain’s four corners is under threat Dream peak 16The Snowdonian giant that is Moel Siabod

Behind the picture 18Dr Kellas, pioneer of Himalayan adventure

contents Where this month’s issue will take you...

Trail Skills 57 Say goodbye to blisters; emergency gear (including a DIY first aid kit, and comms & navigation back-up) PLUS save your sight; snow know-how; hot drink heaven

Out there 4 Your best mountain moments, on camera

Trail talk 20 The world of hillwalking, according to you lot

Subscribe and save! 32 Sign up for Trail, get a fab Jetboil stove (left)

Last gasp 138 A ridiculously spectacular photograph of Ben Nevis, as you’ve never seen it before

Ben Cruachan 22 Scotland’s ‘hollow mountain’: blighted man-scape or fascinating landscape? Lakeland solitude 34 We tread the quietest corner of our busiest National Park: a pleasing, unpeopled place Tackling the Gold DofE 46 Trail heads to Snowdonia to discover how gruelling this teenage rite of passage really is

a dv e n t u r ess k i l l so u t t h e r e

p22

APRIL 2013 Trail 9

p32 p34

y o u r t r a i l

“i undersTood whaT i found so unseTTling abouT The landscape – iT was possessed.”

Subscribe and get a Jetboil!

tom

ba

iley

disconcerTed by ben cruachan: find ouT why...

Page 5: Trail magazine April 2013

G E A RGear news 70The must-have hill kit that’s coming soon

Gregory Contour 60 72A rucksack rammed with innovation

Hill trousers 74Comfy kecks for mountain adventures

Sleeping mats 84Warmth + support = good camp kip

Trekking poles 92Protect your knees with a pair of these

Where this month’s issue will take you...

Lake District 107Route 1 EnnerdaleA transatlantic-style hike over High Stile

Snowdonia 109Route 2 Craig Cwm SilynExplore the western end of the Nantlle Ridge

Dartmoor 111Route 3 Kestor RockWhat better place for a spot of wild camping?

Cairngorms 113Route 4 Ben MacduiOvernight epic on the UK’s second highest

South Highlands 115Route 5 Ben DonichThe accessible Arrochar Alps reveal secrets

Isle of Mull 117Route 6 Ben MoreA ‘big mountain’ not for the faint-hearted

Betws-y-Coed 119Route 7 Llyn ElsiRoute 8 Y GlyderauRoute 9 Moel Siabod

Snowdonia’s tourist hub proves a great base for a weekend of Welsh walking

Eskdale 123Route 10 The ScafellsRoute 11 BowfellRoute 12 Muncaster Fell This Lakeland valley mixes lonely grandeur with rhododendrons and railway tracks

Peak District 127Route 13 Edale Round Our Classic Route takes you on a long, challenging, circular walk around the skyline of Edale’s enclosing ridge

R O U T ES

APRIL 2013 TRAIL 9

Classic Route

with 3D maps

p84

FREE WITH THIS ISSUE!

100 PAGES PACKED WITH THE HOTTEST

HILL KIT FOR 2013!

Sleeping mats matter!

A Gold DofE lapel badge is earned.

See page 46.

FREE WITH

100 PAGES PACKED WITH THE HOTTEST

HILL KIT FOR 2013!

A Gold DofE lapel earned.

See page 46.

Page 6: Trail magazine April 2013

out there

16 Trail april 2013 april 2013 Trail 17

moel siabodsnowdoniaIf it’s summit views we’re talking, then Moel Siabod is a fine one to mull over. From the 872m ceiling of this Welsh giant you can see straight into Snowdon’s tendrilous maw. In fact, you’ve got a front- row seat: there are only nine grid squares, and nothing over 600m, between it and Snowdonia’s highest. But how to reach it? If you’re just after the spectacular vista, the logical walker would climb Siabod’s gentle northern slopes and think little of it. But that, naturally, would be to miss the point. Look beyond its mild side and you’ll discover a landscape guaranteed to set the pulse racing. A boisterous Grade 1 scramble sits on its south-east ridge, and its eastern face houses a rough and rugged glacial cirque to rival any in the range. Overlook it at your peril.

do it this month! ›› turn to page 122

d r e a m p e a k

Page 7: Trail magazine April 2013

april 2013 Trail 17

Moel Siabod’s soft western slopes under an illuminating coat of snow. A frozen

Llyn Teyrn sits in the foreground.

dream it, do it!

© PearlBucknall / alamy

Page 8: Trail magazine April 2013

22 TRAIL APRIL 2013 APRIL 2013 TRAIL 23

Where? South HighlandsWhat? Taming Ben Cruachan

A MOUNTAIN POSSESSED Enslaved by men and bent to their will, is there anything wild left of Ben Cruachan?WORDS BEN WEEKS PHOTOGRAPHS TOM BAILEY

Page 9: Trail magazine April 2013

APRIL 2013 TRAIL 23

A MOUNTAIN POSSESSED

Ben Cruachan looms above a spectacular temperature inversion.

© ANDREW SCOTT-MARTIN / ALAMY

omewhere between knowing your exact location and being completely lost is a place that many of us visit on occasion. It’s not that you don’t know where you are. It’s more a case of not being where you’d expected.

� e night before, we’d been huddled in the bar of the Brander Lodge. With a pint in one hand, photographer Tom Bailey quoted from the Munros guidebook he held in the other. “� e ascent,” he told us, “starts with a short scramble through the le� railway arch.” � e following morning we parked in a layby the book had said would be there and, a matter of yards away, we’d found the group of three arches that marks the start of the climb. But passing under the le� arch brought us face to face with a near-vertical wall of wet rock, sodden earth and exposed tree routes. None of us much fancied the look of it. � e other arches were checked, just in case we or

S�

Page 10: Trail magazine April 2013

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Search and download more than 1,000 Trail Routes online, and print OS maps and directions; plan your own walks and share online! Print OS Landranger maps for anywhere in the UK, and download GPX fi les to your GPS or phone!

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BauerMagForm.indd 1 7/1/13 10:59:26

WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO TRAIL FOR JUST £49!

�� Call us now on 0844 848 8872 and quote ref: BZAA or visit the subscriptions website (right) � Subscriptions will start with the next available issue. The minimum term is 13 issues. This offer closes on 20 March 2013. Please allow up to 28 working days for delivery of your gift. The gift will not be sent until the payment has been taken. Please note: if you choose to renew your existing subscription on this offer please be aware you will not be sent the gift until the future payment is taken, which could be well over 28 days. We reserve the right to substitute the gift advertised for one of equal or greater value if circumstances require. We reserve the right to reclaim the gift/value of the gift if you cancel your subscription before the end of the agreed term, as set out above. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Calls from a BT landline will cost no more than 5p a minute. Call charges from other landline providers or mobile phones may vary. Calls may be monitored / recorded for training purposes.

● 0.8 litre FluxRing cooking cup with insulating cargo cosy

● Adjustable burner

● Pot support and stabiliser tripod

● Drink-through lid with pour spout and strainer

● Bottom cover doubles as a measuring cup and bowl

● Compatible with all Jetboil accessories

● Weighs 345g, not including pot support and fuel stabiliser

● Capacity 0.8 litres

“The Jetboil changed the stove game when it was released – and this Zip is an even more compact, lighter incarnation of that legendary stove. Perfect for backpacking, I never hit the hill without mine.” Simon Ingram, Trail editor

The Jetboil Zip Personal Cooking System will give you hot food and drinks quickly. It’s very compact and lightweight, yet it has an impressive wealth of features including:

(TICK ONE)

The only way to subscribe AND get the Jetboil is to purchase a print subscription with us direct. Digital editions are only available via iTunes at the moment (but without gifts). You will soon be able to upgrade your subscription to a full print & digital package for a nominal fee, just not at the time this subscription promotion goes on sale. We promise to be in touch as soon as this changes.

● Boil time for 0.5 litres = 2 minutes, 30 seconds (average over life of Jetpower canister*)

● Water boiled: 12 litres per 100g Jetpower canister*

● Dimensions: 104x165mm

POST

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Page 11: Trail magazine April 2013

SUBSCRIBE, QUICK!

JETBOIL ZIP 0.8 LITRE

SIGN UP TODAY GET THE JETBOIL ZIP STOVEWORTH £75!

WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO TRAIL FOR JUST £49!

www.greatmagazines.co.uk/trailLines open 8am-9.30pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-4pm (Sat)

Overseas readers call +44 1858 438828

� Subscriptions will start with the next available issue. The minimum term is 13 issues. This offer closes on 20 March 2013. Please allow up to 28 working days for delivery of your gift. The gift will not be sent until the payment has been taken. Please note: if you choose to renew your existing subscription on this offer please be aware you will not be sent the gift until the future payment is taken, which could be well over 28 days. We reserve the right to substitute the gift advertised for one of equal or greater value if circumstances require. We reserve the right to reclaim the gift/value of the gift if you cancel your subscription before the end of the agreed term, as set out above. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Calls from a BT landline will cost no more than 5p a minute. Call charges from other landline providers or mobile phones may vary. Calls may be monitored / recorded for training purposes.

WORTH £75!

* gas canister not included

See Trail’s video review online at www.livefortheoutdoors.com/jetboil

x

Page 12: Trail magazine April 2013

34 Trail april 2013 april 2013 Trail 35

Where? Lake DistrictWhat? Avoiding the crowds

The sound of silence

Ice-bound in winter, inaccessible, but with a secret way in... Trail’s man explores the quietest corner of our busiest National Park.

Words Paul Rees photographs Tom Bailey

Page 13: Trail magazine April 2013

april 2013 Trail 35

All alone on Little Stand, looking to Slight Side and Scafell.

here are two undeniable truths about Lakeland. One is that the pick of it has a grandeur that steals the breath away, no matter how many times you feast upon it. The other is that it can feel as if you’re being trampled underfoot in the rush to experience as much. Personally, I still

shiver at the memory of waiting in line to head up Scafell Pike – and this at dawn, deep into October.

Not this time. Into the afternoon of our second day in the hills, photographer Tom and I pass two fellow walkers on a rocky path winding up Great Carrs. There would normally be nothing notable about such an encounter; but on this lovely, crisp day we are in the heart of the Lakes and these are the first people we have seen, let alone met, in the past 24 hours.

t�

Page 14: Trail magazine April 2013

46 TRAIL APRIL 2013 APRIL 2013 TRAIL 47

Where? Glyders, SnowdoniaWhat? A UK rite of passage

Gold DofEHOW HARD CAN IT BE?Done it? Not done it? Don't know what it is? Well, classroom legend says it is a notoriously gruelling outdoor rite of passage for young people. But what is the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition really like? Trail � nds out…WORDS DAN ASPEL PHOTOGRAPHS MATTHEW ROBERTS

The spiky arms of Snowdon (Y Lliwedd and Crib Goch) seen from the southern slopes of Glyder Fach.

Page 15: Trail magazine April 2013

APRIL 2013 TRAIL 47

Page 16: Trail magazine April 2013

GEAR

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

70 TRAIL APRIL 2013

NEWS A quick round-up of thenew kit Trail has been playing with on and off the hill this month...

Platypus Sprinter XT 25/35 £120/130Think Platypus and you think hydration bladders. Well, those and a duck-billed egg-laying mammal. But as of this year you can also buy rucksacks emblazoned with the Platypus name. For hikers like us are the Sprinter XT 25 and 35 packs, both available in two torso lengths. They have most of the things you’d expect from day packs of this size: wand pockets, axe/pole attachments, belt pockets and, of course, a hydration pouch. They’re sleek and streamlined, but the price may be a deterrent unless you’re really sold on their styling.�� cascadedesigns.com/platypus

Keela Cumulus Pro Mountain Jacket £140

When you buy a new piece of gear, you like to think it’s been created by experts who know and use the stuff. Keela’s Cumulus waterproof was developed in partnership with mountain rescue teams, so straight away we’re off to a good start. And actually, when you start to examine the jacket, its MRT heritage is clear. There are multiple usefully-sized pockets with stormfl aps and D-ring retainers that will swallow maps, gloves or whatever you need to stow away. There’s also a small pocket on the left wrist, which (we’re told) MRT members use for latex gloves when treating injuries on the hill, although its application for the average walker is less clear. Nonetheless, for a very reasonable £140 you get a solid, well-made hard shell that’s been specifi cally designed for tough days on British hills with input from some of the UK’s fi nest hill-goers. Naturally, it’s also available in Mountain Rescue Red.�� www.keela.co.uk

A Platypus pack: nice styling, and quite a prominent bill...

Page 17: Trail magazine April 2013

Lifesystems Intensity 560 £45A torch: an essential tool in a hillwalker’s pack – and most of us opt for a headtorch. But this hand-held effort is an effective, ruggedly built illumination-giving device. The downside? Well, it takes two CR123a lithium batteries, which, while offering great reliability and longevity (20 hours), are unlikely to be found in any of your other hill-going electricals so you’ll need to carry a set of spares just for this. But it is small (132mm long) and intensely bright (560 lumens). It also has a lower-power option and a full-power fl ash setting for attracting attention. �� www.lifesystems.co.uk

To be in with a chance of winning one of these fab prizes go to: www.greatcompetitions.co.uk/trail

APRIL 2013 TRAIL 71

Alpkit Battling the Elements mugs £35Yes, that does seem rather a lot for a set of four mugs. Nearly nine quid each is pricy when you can pick a bog-standard plain mug from a pound shop for, well, a pound. But these are not bog-standard plain mugs. These are Andy Smith-designed Alpkit mugs, celebrating the confl ict of man against the elements in vivid, technicolour form. Be taken back to your hardiest hill battles with the weather as you sup your choice of hot beverage from one of the four works of art, smug in the knowledge that you’ve earned the right.�� www.alpkit.com

Win 1 x Fizan Compact poles worth £60 reviewed on page 93

We want one of those!

EDZ Merino Wool Touchscreen Gloves

£14.99In last month’s Q&A we addressed the issue of using touchscreen GPS receivers while wearing gloves. Lo and behold, no sooner had that issue gone to press than we received these gloves from Keswick-based EDZ. Made from soft, wicking merino wool, they’re ideal liner gloves, but with the added benefi t of silver strands woven into the wool to make them touch-screen-conductive. Although you’ll need to whip off your thick outer gloves to use your touchscreen device, you will at least be able to keep these liners on to retain some warmth in your pinkies while navigating on a cold day.�� www.edzlayering.com

Win 1 x Therm-a-Rest Neoair X-Lite sleeping mat worth £120 reviewed on page 92

Win 1 x Karrimor X-Lite FL sleeping mat worth £70 reviewed on page 87

WIN PRIZES WORTH £539!

Win 1 x MSR Surelock UL-3 poles worth £70 reviewed on page 94

Win 1 x Vaude Norrsken sleeping mat worth £100 reviewed on page 91

Win 1 x Black Diamond Ultra Mountain FL poles worth £119reviewed on page 95

Page 18: Trail magazine April 2013

What to look for

What you need to knowQuality trousers are a much underrated piece of kit for the UK hillwalker, backpacker and scrambler – although mountaineers certainly do take more care when choosing a pair, as they will need them to perform well in more challenging situations. For many years there were few options in legwear but today the choice is vast, meaning there is something for virtually every personal preference.

There are some features that most hillwalkers would agree are worth having in a pair of trousers, such as a good fit that’s not too baggy and yet not too tight and restrictive. Some water resistance is

helpful, as is a scattering of suitable pockets. But the exact combination of features is very personal, with some walkers rating pockets as essential for OS maps and a GPS receiver, while scramblers and mountaineers may rank a close fit, durability and freedom of movement most highly. In this test we’ve focused on what we think hillwalkers will find ideal when, for instance, bagging Munros or backpacking across Dartmoor – so these trousers all offer stretch fabric, great pockets and a good cut.

We received examples costing from £45 to £200 and have picked the best across the price range.

Manufacturers were asked to send in technical

hillwalking trousers for scramblers and

mountaineers for use in spring, summer and

autumn while hillwalking, scrambling and back-

packing in the Peak District, Lakes, Snowdonia and Scotland. We received

25 pairs and whittled them down to the eight finalists

shown here after using them in the Lake District.

april 2013 Trail 77

How Trail did the test

features

group test

76 Trail april 2013

Ankle cuffThe ankles of trousers can be too wide, so they flap about and potentially snag or get torn. Conversely a very narrow, close-fitting ankle is not very fashionable, and so many walkers prefer a medium relaxed fit. A zipped gusset allows some control over the fit in this area on some trousers, while others have a small drawcord or Velcro tab to give some adjustment.

PockeTsIf you want to store anything in the pockets while walking then a zip is essential to prevent items from falling out. If you like to keep a map or guidebook to hand when not wearing a waterproof or other pocketed jacket, then a large, map-sized thigh pocket is ideal; but not all trousers have them.

WAisT designA stretchy waist, either with a belt, or the option to fit a belt, gives all-round adjustability. Some waistbands are lined with soft fabric for more comfort and others sit higher at the back to prevent cold spots when bending over.

fly oPeningNot all trousers have a fly opening while some have a fly with a double zip so you can open them from either the bottom or top, for easier use when wearing a jacket, a rucksack or a harness.

durAbiliTyHeavier fabrics are often more durable, but lighter trousers may have reinforced panels on the ankle cuff, seat and knees to improve long-term wear – and this may be particularly of benefit for those scrambling over rock regularly.

sTreTcH PAnelsStretch fabrics are commonly used to improve freedom of movement in the knees and seat. Some trousers are made from stretch material throughout for even greater comfort.

Page 19: Trail magazine April 2013

Kiwi clothing from Craghoppers is an extremely popular range with walkers and travellers – and the addition of the Pro Stretch Active Trouser provides something for the more demanding user at an excellent price. For just £45 you’re getting a two-way stretch fabric that’s also guaranteed to provide UPF 40 protection against UV rays from the sun. The cut of the trouser is ideal for walkers and backpackers as it is reasonably close without being restrictive. The waist is elasticated and has belt loops. You don’t get a diamond crotch panel, but the stretch fabric provides plenty of movement here. There is some articulation in the knee and the calf area is not too baggy, which is good as there is no adjustment in this area. The pockets are all

zipped and the leg pocket is wide enough for an OS map, but it isn’t deep enough to fully accommodate it. These trousers aren’t perfect, but at this price they’re more than good enough for most walkers heading up the valley, across the moors or into the mountains; but you will get a better product if you pay more.

TRAIL VERDICTA superb price for a very good trouser that provides most of what people will need when moorland, hill or mountain walking and backpacking.

CRAGHOPPERS KIWI PRO STRETCH ACTIVE TROUSER £45

APRIL 2013 TRAIL 77

HILL TROUSERS

The Sawtooth is a thinner trouser than some of the higher-priced examples, and this thinner fabric makes it better for slightly milder conditions than the heavier, warmer materials. The Sawtooth is very stretchy in four directions, which makes it instantly comfortable, but it doesn’t come in the range of leg lengths of other trousers. I needed an XL in this trouser, while in others the size L fi tted me – and this may be because there is no stretch in the waist. The waist is comfortable though, with a tricot lining and belt loops if needed. There is a diamond crotch panel too for extra comfort. The knees are articulated and there is some additional reinforcement at the ankle cuff to prevent scuffi ng from damaging the trouser. The lower leg isn’t too wide, which is good as

there isn’t a zipped gusset to manage it, but you do get a hem drawcord. All that is pretty good, but what sets the Sawtooth apart from other similar trousers is that it gets an OS map-sized thigh pocket on each leg, so it’s ideal for left-handed or right-handed people to stash a map or guidebook on the move.

TRAIL VERDICTMild-weather trouser with great pockets, good general comfort and features for walking and backpacking.

RAB SAWTOOTH PANT £70

BEST VALUEMAGAZINE

BEST VALUEMAGAZINE

BEST VALUEMAGAZINE

RATINGS

FEATURES � � �

DESIGN � � � �

COMFORT � � � � �

PERFORMANCE � � � �

VALUE � � � �

OVERALL � � � �

RATINGS

FEATURES � � �

DESIGN � � � �

COMFORT � � � � �

PERFORMANCE � � � �

VALUE � � � � �

OVERALL � � � �

Page 20: Trail magazine April 2013

84 TRAIL APRIL 2013 APRIL 2013 TRAIL 85

GROUP TEST

TEST SIMON INGRAM PHOTOGRAPHS TOM BAILEY

SLEEPING MATSWarmth and comfort: two absolute necessities if you’re camping out at any time of year, and it’s your sleeping mat that will make or break a night’s kip. Here Trail tests eight of the best...

Page 21: Trail magazine April 2013

april 2013 Trail 85

Sleeping matS

what we testedALPKIT Airo £40KARRIMOR X-lite Fl £70 MULTIMAT Adventure 38 £79HYALITE PeAk AC regulAr £80 KLYMIT inertiA X-FrAme £85VAUDE norrsken £100THERM-A-REST neoAir X-lite £120EXPED downmAt ul 7 m £150

Page 22: Trail magazine April 2013

NNORTH

1

2

3

1 Kilometre

1 Mile

Ward’s Piece

Lose Hill

Black Tor

Kinder Low

NoeStool

Jacob’s Ladder

Brown Knoll

Horsehill Tor

Colborne

Swine’sBack

The Cloughs

Pym Chair

CrowdenTower

Pennine Way

Pen

nine

Way

EdaleHead

Crowden Brook

Chapel Gate

Rushup Edge

Mam Tor

Windy Knoll

Hollins Cross

MamFarm

Cold Side

OllerbrookBooth

Edale

GrindsbrookBooth

The Nab

RingingRoger

Nether Tor

Grindslow Knoll

Fox Holes

Grinds Brook

Gold

en

Hartshorn

K I N D ER

S

C O U T

EdaleRocks

Lose Hill

Black Tor

Kinder Low

NoeStool

Jacob’s Ladder

Brown Knoll

Horsehill Tor

Colborne

Swine’sBack

The Cloughs

Pym Chair

CrowdenTower

Pennine Way

Pen

nine

Way

EdaleHead

Crowden Brook

Chapel Gate

Rushup Edge

Mam Tor

Windy Knoll

Hollins Cross

MamFarm

Cold Side

OllerbrookBooth

Edale

GrindsbrookBooth

The Nab

RingingRoger

Nether Tor

Grindslow Knoll

Fox Holes

Grinds Brook

Golden

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EdaleRocks

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Lord’s Seat

128 Trail april 2013

Distance 24.1km (15 miles)

Total ascent 950m

Time 7-8 hours

Start/finish Edale, SK123852

Nearest town Glossop

Terrain valley roads, steep-sided clough, moorland plateau, packhorse tracks, exposed moorland summits, boggy ground, col and long narrow crest

Maps OS Landranger (1:50,000) 110; OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL1; British Mountain Maps (1:40,000) Dark Peak

Accommodation Edale Youth Hostel 0845 371 9514, www.yha.org.uk; Fieldhead Camp Site (01433) 670386; Coopers Camp and Caravan Site (01433) 670372

Tourist info (01433) 670207; www.visitpeakdistrict.com

Public transport Traveline (buses) 0871 200 2233; National Rail Enquiries 08457 484950

Guidebooks High Peak Walks by Mark Richards, pb Cicerone; Pennine Way Companion by A Wainwright, pb Frances Lincoln; Freedom to Roam, High Peak, Kinder Scout and Edale by Roly Smith, pb Frances Lincoln

Manchester

Middlesbrough

Kendal

Skipton

Sheffield

PeterboroughBirmingham

Derby

Betws-y-Coed

Pembroke

Brecon

Bristol

Plymouth

Poole

Bodmin

Minehead

BrightonSouthampton

Oxford

Berwick-upon-Tweed

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

EdinburghGlasgow

Aberdeen

Inverness

Fort William

Oban

MallaigInverie

Shiel Bridge

Ullapool

Braemar

Killarney

TraleeDingle

KenmareCork

Waterford

Dublin

Belfast

Londonderry

Donegal

Hay-on-Wye

Llangollen

IngletonBentham

Lancaster

Stranraer

Ballantrae

Ayr

Dumfries

Portree

MULL

ISLE OF SKYE

ISLE OF LEWIS

Lairg

Thurso

Invergarry

Aviemore

Newton Stewart

Jedburgh

Leeds

York

Northallerton

Barmouth

RhylConway

Cardigan

Aberystwyth

SwanseaCardiff

Gloucester

Exeter

ISLE OF ARRAN

JURA

ISLAY

HARRIS

Bodelwyddan

Liverpool

Carlisle

Penrith

Windermere

Keswick

april 2013 Trail 129

facts

peak district13 route

classic route

STRENUOUSNESSNAVIGATION

TECHNICALITY

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3

SK123852 With easy access via both

train and car, Edale provides the best place to start this walk. Parking is limited in Grindsbrook Booth so make use of the big car park near the railway station. The main ascent of the day is right at the very start with a fairly sharp slog to the rocks of Ringing Roger. From Grindsbook Booth, just up the road from Edale, a path crosses Grinds Brook and then zigzags north-east up the blunt spur of The Nab to gain the base of the rocks. The path then makes a bypass and swings around the western flank of Ringing Roger onto

the plateau edge. If you fancy doing some scrambling, the crest of Ringing Roger provides a bit of excitement.

SK125875 Once on the plateau take the

path that heads west along the edge. It provides easy walking with lofty views over Grinds Brook. Grindslow Knoll is out on a limb, set slightly apart from the Kinder Scout plateau, and can be bypassed. However it’s worth taking the time to reach it as from its large and rather chaotic cairn you can either stand and peer out across the great expanses of peat and heather, or turn and

peer past the ring of gritstone crags down into the verdant valley below. This contrast of views is what goes to make this desolate moorland such a special place.

SK109868 From Grindslow Knoll the

plateau edge path is followed west around the head of Crowden Clough to the impressive gritstone tors of Crowden Tower, and just a

1

2

An early morning view towards Horsehill Tor, Vale of Edale.

Leaving the top of Mam Tor.

At Noe Stool, looking towards Pym Chair.

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Page 23: Trail magazine April 2013

NNORTH

1

2

3

1 Kilometre

1 Mile

Ward’s Piece

Lose Hill

Black Tor

Kinder Low

NoeStool

Jacob’s Ladder

Brown Knoll

Horsehill Tor

Colborne

Swine’sBack

The Cloughs

Pym Chair

CrowdenTower

Pennine Way

Pen

nine

Way

EdaleHead

Crowden Brook

Chapel Gate

Rushup Edge

Mam Tor

Windy Knoll

Hollins Cross

MamFarm

Cold Side

OllerbrookBooth

Edale

GrindsbrookBooth

The Nab

RingingRoger

Nether Tor

Grindslow Knoll

Fox Holes

Grinds Brook

Gold

en

Hartshorn

K I N D ER

S

C O U T

EdaleRocks

Lose Hill

Black Tor

Kinder Low

NoeStool

Jacob’s Ladder

Brown Knoll

Horsehill Tor

Colborne

Swine’sBack

The Cloughs

Pym Chair

CrowdenTower

Pennine Way

Pen

nine

Way

EdaleHead

Crowden Brook

Chapel Gate

Rushup Edge

Mam Tor

Windy Knoll

Hollins Cross

MamFarm

Cold Side

OllerbrookBooth

Edale

GrindsbrookBooth

The Nab

RingingRoger

Nether Tor

Grindslow Knoll

Fox Holes

Grinds Brook

Golden

Clo

ug

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Hartshorn

K I N D ER

S

C O U T

EdaleRocks

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Lord’s Seat

april 2013 Trail 129

always take a map out with you on the hill

Crowden Tower 619m/2,031ft

HarTsHorn 609m/1,998ft

Grindslow Knoll 601m/1,972ft

Brown Knoll 569m/1867ft

lord’s seaT 546m/1,791ft

ColBorne 521m/1,709ft

MaM Tor 517m/1,696ft

lose Hill 476m/1,562ft

the high points

‘This conTrasT of views is whaT goes To make This desolaTe moorland such a special place’

grindslow Knoll from grindsbrook Clough.

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140012001000800600400200

Edale Edale

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 150 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Ringing Roger

Edale CrossGrindslow Knoll Rushup Edge Mam Tor

Brown Knoll

2 3 6 7 8

Lose Hill

1094 5

GRADIENT PROFILE

METRESABOVE

SEALEVEL

MILESKILOMETRES

1 2