Three of the stars of the new issue of Trail – High Cup Nick, Sgurr na Stri and the Old Man of Coniston – have something in common. All three of them are among the best places to go hillwalking in Britain, and all three are achievable for just about anyone who loves lacing up boots and heading for high places.
When I tell non-hikers how much I love climbing mountains, I usually get the same reaction, which is that they’d love to do something similar but are put off by how scary the whole thing sounds. But take any of the three names above as an example, and you quickly realise you don’t need to be a descendant of George Mallory to take them on.
High Cup Nick is one of England’s geological wonders, yet you can explore all of it on a relatively short stroll. Sgurr na Stri delivers the best view of Skye’s fearsome Black Cuillin ridge but is half the height of most of them.
And the Old Man of Coniston is so loaded with history and hidden tarns you won’t know where to look, but is still a firm favourite with school groups and walkers of all ages.
So although we hope you enjoy the big names and big peaks in this issue, just remember that the little peaks pack a mighty punch too. The best views don’t always come after the hardest climbs.
Oli Reed, Trail editor
Ode to the Old Man
Our deputy editor Jenna climbs the Lake District’s Old Man of Coniston with her dad, bringing back floods of family memories on a mountain, and a walk, that means so much to both of them. It’s a wonderful article that does justice to this famous Lakeland peak, but even more so to the experience they shared while climbing it.
Beyond the snowline
Winter has returned to the UK mountains this week, which means the hillwalking world is about to transform into an ocean of white. But what does walking in winter conditions involve, and how can you prepare for it? We turn to Ronald Turnbull, one of the all-time great hillwalking writers, for the answers.
Cumbrian carving
Oh High Cup Nick, what a place it is. This delightfully shaped slice of landscape is so easy on the eye that trying to find the right words to describe it feels like injustice. So we sent Chris Williams up there (a New Zealander who’s been living in England for the past 4 years) to get his opinion on one of England’s most talked-about landscape features. We also took a big pile of tasty new photos too, which we’ve plastered over 6 pages so you’ve got plenty to gawp at.
The power of adventure
It sounds like a cliché, but we all know that time spent outdoors can change your life. Most often for the better. So we met an amazing group of people from Outward Bound and Venture Trust to find out more about the work they do to inject a little bit more adventure into people’s lives. Big thanks as ever to Sarah Ryan for the great job she does sourcing and writing up these inspirational interviews.
6 of the best – winter waterproofs
At this time of year, you need an out layer that can handle wind, rain, snow, sleet, and somehow retain some form of breathability at the same time. Not a simple ask, and also not usually a cheap one. We tasked James Forrest with testing, reviewing and recommending the best options out there for hillwalkers – and as always, he’s done a cracking job.
The CMD Arete – in the snow
Ben Nevis is a fairly chunky challenge at any time of year – not least when the serious weather shows up over the winter months. So how do you climb Britain’s highest mountain, via its best hillwalking route, when the days are short and the temperatures are low? Jamie Rooke has the answers.
Rolling the Ridgeway
But it’s not all about winter this month! If you fancy something a little more relaxed, check out the latest instalment in our guide to Britain’s long-distance trails. This time Steve Davison guides you along 86 miles of glorious green southern English countryside on the Ridgeway.
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Every issue of Trail is packed with award-winning writing and photography, mapped mountain routes, expert reviews of all the latest outdoor gear, interviews with the biggest names in outdoor adventure, and expert advice from mountain pros on how to improve your hill skills.