backpacking
The Cape Wrath Trail days 4 – 6
The Cape Wrath Trail is a long-distance hiking route in Scotland. It links Fort William with Cape Wrath, the farthest northwest point of the British mainland. Renowned as one of the toughest long-distance walks in the UK, it is not waymarked, has no single recognised route, and there is frequently
The Cape Wrath Trail days 1 – 3
The Cape Wrath Trail is a long-distance hiking route in Scotland. It links Fort William with Cape Wrath, the farthest northwest point of the British mainland. Renowned as one of the toughest long-distance walks in the UK, it is not waymarked, has no single recognised route, and there is frequently
The Cape Wrath Trail diaries
The Cape Wrath Trail trip report series days 1 – 3 mile 0 – 38 days 4 – 6 mile 38 – 65 days 7 – 10 mile 65 – 115 days 11 – 14 mile 115 – 167 days 15 – 17 mile 167 – 203 days 18 – 20 mile 203 – 241 Other articles Preparations for the Cape Wrath
The adventure begins
I’m heading north tomorrow, so this will be my final post before I begin my Cape Wrath Trail journey. My parents are taking their caravan up to the Inverness area to visit my brother James, so I’m catching a lift with them. The plan is to drive from
Cape Wrath Trail Gear List
Regular readers will be aware that I’m planning to hike the Cape Wrath Trail in June this year. I’ve already blogged about my preparations, but my gear list has changed a few times over the last month so, due also to several requests on Twitter, I thought I’
Backpacking in the Yorkshire Dales
I spent a lot of time exploring the Yorkshire Dales as a youngster. My dad’s family is from the area, and we would go up most summers to spend a couple of weeks in the caravan. At the time I was obsessed with fossils and minerals, so the main
Ten years ago
Ten years ago right now — at precisely 11 a.m. on May the 5th, 2005 — I was taking my first steps on an amazing journey. At the time it didn’t feel like very much, but in a very real sense that journey continues to this day, and maybe I
The Tarptent Notch backpacking tent — First Impressions
Recently I blogged about how my old Laser Competition was showing signs of wear and tear, and that for my planned hike of the Cape Wrath Trail I would need to find a new shelter. My requirements for a new shelter were as follows: 1. Lightweight — specifically, under 800g; 2.
Lightweight stoves for backpacking — the alcohol option
Like many a backpacker, I started my outdoor apprenticeship with a classic stove: the Trangia. These stoves run on methylated spirits (denatured alcohol) and include several nesting pots with an integrated pot stand and windshield system. The Trangia system is very reliable and safe when used correctly, but it has
A Tour of Kinder Scout
I’ve made some changes to my backpacking gear this year. Old, heavy items have been replaced by lighter alternatives, and I’ve stopped carrying quite a few things that I never really used or needed. The overall result is a significantly lighter load that makes mountain travel far more