Trail magazine – the September 2021 issue

There are around 40,000 lochs, lakes and llyns in the UK, with many of the most spectacular set among our hills and mountains. Here are some of Trail's favourites to add to your walking bucket list.

Rucksacks bobbing on inflatable rafts behind us, into the water we go. Welcome to the world of ruckrafting – a glorious mixture of backpacking and wild swimming.

So what does it really take to climb every peak on our Trail 100 mountain bucket list? In the case of our own intrepid photographer, the answer is around a quarter of a century of epic adventures, plus a good old-fashioned butt-kicking from the final mountain for good measure.

The mountains west of Ffestiniog are relics of Snowdonia's once mighty slate industry, riddled with old mines and quarries. As well as bagging summits, intrepid walkers can also venture underground, deep into the very mountains themselves. Grab your headtorch for a hill day with a difference.

Boots, clothing, map and compass are standard hillwalking kit, but are they always essential?