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14 months with the MLD Trailstar

Much has been written about the Trailstar, and at several points over the last year I’ve asked myself if the world really needs another Trailstar review. It’s a known quantity now. Some in the backpacking world have already moved beyond the Trailstar to other shelters entirely. But my

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Hiking the Langdale Skyline – Field Notes

My feature on hiking the Langdale Skyline has been published by UKHillwalking in their series of UK mountain ‘ultimate challenges’. You can read my feature here. Here are some notes about the route, along with a selection of photos that didn’t appear in the main article. No matter how

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Backpacking in the Alps – a mini-guide

E-BOOK DOWNLOAD LINKS: EPUB / MOBI If you’re a British backpacker looking to head across to the Alps for the first time, it can seem daunting at first. Here’s my mini-guide to enjoying the Alps on foot with a rucksack.  This guide can be enjoyed either right here on

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Backpacking gear for sale June 2017

I’m having a clearout, so here’s your chance to grab a lightly used item in great condition! Garmin GPSMap 62s with 1:50,000 OS mapping – £180 NOW SOLD Montane Medusa 32 rucksack M/L – £40 NOW SOLD Trailpix ultralight tripod – £35 Sleeping bags – scroll to the bottom

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Vecto: the best way to carry water in the backcountry

Update 17/07/17: this project has now been funded. I’m looking forward to test it! Lightweight backpackers face a conundrum: how to carry and treat water in the wilderness? Many of us use compact Sawyer filters, but the bladders they come with are less than perfect, and other

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→ New feature: Lightweight Backpacking for Beginners

I’ve just published a new feature on UKHillwalking, intended to help UK backpackers take first steps towards reducing pack weight. This isn’t aimed at the cuben fibre and rain kilt crowd – it’s an article for people who have been lugging around massive packs and want to make

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ViewRanger vs Garmin – I was wrong

In April 2017, faced with the news that ViewRanger was introducing a new social feed that could not be deactivated, I wrote this somewhat angry post explaining why I hated the idea. But fast-forward two months, and my position has softened. I thought I’d be able to replace ViewRanger

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A walk through the Fairy Glen, Rosemarkie

Today I took a short walk through the waterfall-filled valley known as the Fairy Glen in Rosemarkie. Here are a few images from my outing. I’m off trail at the moment and spending a few days with my brother on the Black Isle. Watching the weather and trying to

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Walk2017 – images from May

This month I added a short trip to the Lake District to my everyday walking in Lincolnshire. Summer is finally here. As my daily walks become more and more part of my routine, I’ve found my drive to take pictures has declined. Maybe it’s because I know every

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Field Notes: the West Highland Way

In this year’s issue of the Outdoor Enthusiast Hike and Bike Special1, you can find my feature on hiking the West Highland Way. Here are a few notes and photos from this great backpacking route. I feel like the WHW gets a bad rep in backpacking circles sometimes. ‘It