Monthly Archives: February 2012

Girls.. A guide to outdoors Leap Year proposals

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Today is February 29 – and traditionally this is the one day every four years when a women can ask a man to marry her. Yes, yes, we know that in these modern times girls are free to ask their men to marry them anytime should they so wish, but February 29 is still that special day. And if you do plan to get down on one knee girls, you’re surely going to propose in a fun and unusual way? Aren’t you?

A woodland proposal

It was fours years ago to the day that Jenny got down on one knee beside a huge, but very special tree, to ask her man to marry her. The tree, in a location that Jenny isn’t keen to reveal, is set amid fabulous countryside – and it was the place of her first “proper kiss” with Jim.

The couple, who had been romancing for three years, were wed in the summer of 2008, following Jenny’s romantic Leap year’s Day proposal.

Jenny says: “Everyone has a special place, somewhere where they met or where they had their first kiss or dance. Well our special place is beneath a beech tree on a favourite walk near our home.

“We have done the walk loads of times and we always stop for a kiss by the tree… but in 2008 on February 29 I surprised Jim with the big question. As we kissed I got down on one knee and asked him to marry me. He said: ‘Yes’ immediately, fortunately!

“To be honest I’m not sure who was the most surprised, Jim or the dogs!”

Great locations for a Leap Year’s Day Proposal

At SimplyHike, we reckon that proposing outdoors in a special location could easily be the way to your man’s heart.

On a hilltop: Imagine his surprise after hiking to the top of your favourite hill if you then produce a bottle of Champers from your rucksack and get down on one knee to say: “Will you marry me?”

Heart of England: Head to the Cotswolds hills in west-central England, which are often referred to as the Heart of England. Choose your favourite location amid an area 25 miles by 90 miles to pop that special question. Make sure you’re close to a wonderful country pub for that post-proposal celebration.

Beach bonus: A walk along a windswept beach is always romantic… so why not draw a big heart in the sand, pull your loved one into the middle and get down on one knee. We know he’ll “sea” sense when you ask the question: “Will you marry me!”

Rude move: Okay, so this one is a bit forward but if you’ve been thinking about a baby, and you think that marriage should come first (just), then why not take your bloke to legendary naked “fertility” giant carved into the chalk of a steep Dorset hillside? Folklore has it that women who sleep somewhere on top of the 180ft-long club-wielding Cerne Abbas giant will” blessed with fecundity.” You might be jumping the gun a little but he’s hardly going to say no to marriage when you have gone to so much trouble!

* Do you have any suggestions for romantic outdoors leap year proposal locations?

Families just wanna have fun on holiday

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First there was the staycation – and now a fast-growing trend is the “playcation”. In 2012, almost four in 10 British families say they are planning a holiday that includes some kind of sport or activity.

Family fun: Gorge walking with Highway2Adventure

Family fun: Gorge walking with Highway2Adventure

This encouraging statistic is brought to us by a Gocompare.com study, which also revealed that one of the main reasons for taking a more active holiday is to “spend time with family”.

Many parents believe that children aren’t particularly thrilled with a lie-by-the-pool style vacation (nor are the parents, we expect), and instead they want to try holidays with their children that include hiking, cycling, canoeing and other adrenaline sports such as gorge walking, coasteering and land yachting.

One Scottish adventure instructor, Mike McLaggan, has seen a rise in the number of families taking part in adventure activities as the main focus of their holiday.

Mike, of Angus-based Highway 2 Adventure, says: “We have many more enquiries for activities for both children and adults while holidaying in Scotland.

“Parents want to spend time with their kids having fun and an activity, such as mountain biking, gorge walking, kayaking, or coasteering is something that suits the whole family.

“It’s great that so many families are planning adventure holidays as a way of getting together and trying something different.”

Two styles of family activity holidays

While some parents choose accommodation to suit their budget and desires and then sign up to a number of outdoors activities with one of many outdoor adventure activity providers during their holiday, others find that it is more convenient to book an accommodation-and-activity break as one package.

Isles more fun: The Scottish island of Arran is a fantastic place to head for family adventures. Stay at any one of the many hotels, B&Bs, self-catering lodges or campsites and take advantage Arran Adventure for a wide range of activities such as gorge walking, mountain biking, sea kayaking and archery. The Isle of Raasay, off the Isle of Skye, also boasts an outdoor centre, called, you guessed it, Raasay Outdoor Centre. There is accommodation on-site and a wide range of activities, including sailing, cycling, walking, kayaking and mountain biking. Or stay at one of the other hotels on the island.

Adventure zone: There are lots of activities to discover in the grounds of three UK outdoor centres, one at Culmington Manor, Shropshire, another at Abernant Lake Hotel, Wales, and a third in Scotland at Lockerbie Manor, Dumfries and Galloway. The choice for adventurous families differs from one centre to the next but you’re assured a holiday of fun and adventure. See Manor Adventure

Wet and wilder: Acorn Family Holidays have a huge campsite at Tan Troed, south Wales. It’s located one mile from Llangorse Lake, and offers lots of watersports fun such as such as sailing, kayaking, canoeing and raft building. Land activities on-site include a high ropes course, climbing and abseil towers, archery ranges and two challenge courses.

Skye wins Scottish Campsite of the Year

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Skye Camping and Caravanning Club Site (pictured) has been named as the AA’s Scottish Campsite of the Year for 2012. The Club Site, which is located in Edinbane on the Isle of Skye, received an excellent four pennant rating to secure its position. And the good news does not finish there as Bellingham Club Site, in Northumberland, has been upgraded to five pennants. Meanwhile, Eskdale, Teversal and Troutbeck Club Sites also achieved AA five pennant ratings. It takes the total number of Club Franchise Sites with AA five premier pennants to four.

AA Inspector, Ewan Ross, visited Skye back in July and wrote in his report, “It’s a peaceful site and an ideal base to visit many tourist attractions in the area. It would be remiss not to comment on the quality of the amenity block in particular and site facilities in general, all of which reflect the owners’ attitude towards achieving excellent standards to meet customer expectations.”

The Club’s Franchisees, Nicky Sellier and David Weller, were delighted by the news and said, “We strive to provide exceptional customer service and it’s encouraging to receive such a recognised title. We hope this award will encourage campers to visit our site – it’s located on the shore of Loch Greshornish and offers beautiful views, yet it is still close to many local attractions for all to enjoy.” Cheddar and Corfe Castle Franchise Sites also achieved AA four star pennant ratings.

AA-rated accommodation is assessed under a set of common quality standards agreed by the AA and the UK tourist authorities (VisitEngland, VisitScotland, VisitWales and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board).

The Camping and Caravanning Club – www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk – is 110-years-old and is the largest and oldest club in the world for all forms of camping. It has 109 award-winning sites throughout the UK and, through a partnership with the Forestry Commission, now runs and manages a further 20 Forest Holidays Caravan & Camping Touring Sites.

How to buy the right tent for you

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Tunnel, pop up, festival, family, lightweight, lighter weight, cabin, dome, bivi and two-man through to nine-man. The range of tents grows ever greater as each summer goes by. But rather like choosing a car, bike or new home, there is most likely a tent that will suit you perfectly.

A guide to matching campers with their tent

Weekend festival dudes: The last thing you want is tent hassle during a fun festival weekend. All festival goers require is a tent that’s easy to carry from public transport or the boot of the car, quick to put up, waterproof and mud-resistant. If it’s brightly patterned or coloured then all the better because re-finding your tent in a field of hundreds of other tents when you have had a couple of beers and your head is dizzy from all the dancing could be the difference between a night’s sleep and a night spent searching for your tent.

The perfect tent solution: Pop-up tents or festival tents.

Family, comfort and joy: This type of family likes to pack the car (or mini bus!) full to the brim. Add in two or three children, a dog, a parent or two and perhaps friends. At the campsite, luxury is important. Blow-up mattresses, cosy sleeping bags, pillows, a sink, a larder, solar powered showers, fridges, carpet. In other words, a camping holiday is a home-from-home affair.

The perfect tent solution: A family tent that sleeps up to nine people with a living space and separate bedrooms for parents, kids and hanger-ons. Tunnel family tents make a great choice.

Family + head room: If the worst thing for you about camping is not being able to stand up then you’ll want to choose your tent carefully. If your camping location is likely to be open to the wind and rain then you should also think about the structure of your tent. If you also need a living area and bedrooms…

The perfect tent solution: A dome tent construction offers great internal space and holds strong in wind and bad weather. Or choose the equally sturdy cabin-style tent.

Go wild: This is wild in the sense of the wilderness. Some people like to get away from it all and head off with only a backpack, a lightweight tent, a small stove and some dried camping food.

The perfect tent solution: A one or two-man lightweight tent that packs up small but still offers strength (in case of wind) and is highly waterproof (in case of rain).

Wild and very light: If you’re planning on a long, multi-day camping trip that includes many miles of walking carrying all your clothes, equipment and accommodation then….

The perfect tent solution: Choose a one-man bivi bags. These tents-come-shelters offer protection from the elements but also cut weight and volume to an absolute minimum.

Wild and high: Mountain goats require a lightweight tent that can also cope in extreme conditions.

The perfect tent solution: A mountain tent is a five-season expedition tent that is designed to offer safety and comfort. The geodesic tent design ensures strength and stability against the strongest winds.

New technology to reduce accidents on Snowdonia Mountains

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The number of calls for assistance to Mountain Rescue Teams in Snowdonia has significantly increased. However, modern mobile technology and an awareness initiative launched this month will contribute towards reducing these calls and a safer enjoyment of the area.

The Mountain Info Services Project was formally launched by Hywel Williams MP at the Snowdonia National Park Warden centre at Pen y Pass. It aims to give mountaineers and hillwalkers access to state-of-the-art information, as well as traditional safety advice and enable them to plan a journey or walk in the mountains of Snowdonia safely.

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During 2011, 411 calls for assistance to Mountain Rescue Teams were made as people ventured to North Wales to enjoy the beauty and special qualities of the area and this resulted in 291 Mountain Rescue team deployments. Recent research shows that a significant number of avoidable calls were made by young male adults who were not adequately prepared or did not have the required skills or equipment for their activity.   The “Reducing Mountain Accidents in Snowdonia” survey concluded that young male adults from urban areas were mainly responsible for these avoidable calls.

The Mountain Info Service Project aims to target this particular audience by using modern technology and today at the Pen y Pass cafe, a new app for the iPhone was launched by Hywel Williams MP who said,  “By applying the latest technology to the field of mountain safety, which is such an important issue in areas such as Snowdonia, there is a greater chance of accident prevention and of promoting the safe enjoyment of our wonderful hills and mountains. In so doing, the strain on local Mountain Rescue Teams will also be eased. I congratulate everyone involved with the Mountain Info Service Project, and hope that all mountaineers and walkers, be they local residents or visitors, will take full advantage of the advice and information that is available.”

Elfyn Jones, British Mountaineering Council (BMC) Officer for Wales, added, Although visitors may have researched the area on the internet before coming, some may not have the required skills to read and use maps and have not prepared themselves for travelling safely in the mountain environment. This app provides the necessary information for visitors who are planning a trip to Snowdon and will help them make an informed judgement before they begin their journey.”

As a result of the Mountain Information Services project, in addition to the development of the new Mountain Info app which is available from iTunes, three additional tools have been developed:

  • A daily report by Snowdonia National Park Wardens on ground conditions and snow levels on the mountains during the winter months, including advice on the skills and equipment required to enjoy these conditions safely. These are provided for the Met Office’s Mountain area forecasts page www.metoffice.gov.uk/loutdoor/mountainsafety/snowdonia/snowdonia_latest_pressure.html and on Twitter by following @safesnowdonia or @eryridiogel.
  • A series of five short video clips narrated by Sian Lloyd, demonstrating the way to prepare for a journey in the mountains including hazard avoidance and what to do in an emergency. These are available on the Met Office and YouTube websites. Visit www.metoffice.gov.uk/loutdoor/mountainsafety/video.html.
  • A publicity and marketing campaign to publicise the project, made up of posters, banners, leaflets and commissioning articles in relevant magazines and periodicals.

The Mountain Info app was rated as the best available app for mountain safety planning by novices by Trail magazine in autumn 2011 and, depending on funding, it is hoped that a Welsh version of the app will be produced in future.

Ramblers National Get Walking Weekend gets into the sporting spirit

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The Ramblers is urging everybody in the country to get to their feet for this year’s National Get Walking Weekend. They’re making it easy with two days of free, fun family walks as Olympic fever sweeps the country. Get your family and friends involved and join ‘Get Walking for the Games’ from Saturday 26 – Sunday 27 May.

Simon Barnett of the Ramblers said, “2012 is the year to get walking. It’s one of our nation’s favourite pastimes but best of all its easy, enjoyable and affordable. We can’t all be Olympic medalists, but we can get into the spirit of the Games and use it as inspiration to get active and contribute to a great atmosphere in the build up to the Olympic and Paralympics Games – what better way to get into the sporting spirit than by getting yourself and your family to their feet. There will be plenty of easy walks under 8km/5 miles taking place across the country, so bring your friends and family to enjoy a fun day out and you’ll soon want to fill all your weekends with walking!”

If you’re just getting started and especially if you want to walk regularly for health and fitness, The Ramblers Get Walking Keep Walking website at www.getwalking.org has loads of information and advice including an interactive 12 week walking plan – My Get Walking.

Other Ramblers events include:

Summer Evening Walks Festival – a new festival (1-31 July; nationwide) for 2012, which aims to make the most of longer days.

Festival of Winter Walks – Britain’s biggest walking festival (22 December – 6 January 2013; nationwide) will see hundreds of winter-themed walks on offer, from short ambles to more demanding outings.

The Ramblers is Britain’s walking charity. It works to make it easy for everyone to walk, whether in countryside, cities, hills, coasts and on or off the beaten track. It has a grass roots network of over 17,000 volunteers who work tirelessly for a walking Britain. For over 75 years, it has helped build and protect Britain’s 130,000 mile long path network, it runs over 38,000 walks a year, and campaigns for better walking routes and more walking opportunities.

Stay tuned to www.ramblers.org.uk/walksfinder to find a walk near you.

Facebook www.facebook.com/ramblers and Twitter twitter.com/RamblersGB

plus www.ramblers.org.uk/scotland; www.ramblers.org.uk/wales

Top tips for winter hill walking

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The photo with this blog post was taken late last month in the Lake District. In the valley, the weather felt quite mild; a few hundred feet higher, the wind and snow made for Arctic conditions despite the bright sky. Winter hill walking should really be seen as mountaineering with the added dimensions of shorter daylight hours plus snow, ice and severe weather.

Never take the weather for granted in the hills. By their very nature, mountain weather patterns can change quickly without warning and can pose serious problems if you’re unprepared. Always check the weather forecast and never just ‘hope for the best’. Check the Met Office weather forecasts – www.metoffice.gov.uk – as well as local advice.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Steep ground, snow and cold conditions will sap your strength and can turn what you thought would be a good day out into an epic. On your map, before leaving, check out and mark ‘escape routes’ off your planned walk in case the going gets too tough. Tell somebody where you’re going and let them know when you’re back. Walking alone high in the hills in winter is definitely not recommended!

Your rucksack will hold more than you’d expect to take on a summer stroll so it will weigh more so take that into account as well when planning your walk.

Warm, wind and waterproof clothing is obvious to wear and it pays to carry an extra layer of warmth for when you take a break to avoid cooling down too much. Overheating and sweating is not good for comfort and safety so ventilate your body heat and take off hat and gloves when you start warming up  (unless conditions are horrendous!). Time and again, people pile on the gear as they slog uphill from the car park and stop at the top, sweating as they pull the layers off to cool down. Let your body keep you warm when working hard and use your clothing to retain heat when you stop.

Map, compass and GPS are not accessories, they’re essentials. As is keeping them to hand and knowing how to use them competently. Emergency equipment should include a torch, whistle (emergency signals are six blasts on a whistle or six flashes with a torch), first aid kit and a bivi bag or emergency shelter.

Your footwear needs to offer good support and reliable traction so boots are usually preferred to low shoes. Ice axe and crampons should be considered if conditions warrant. Carrying them, though, is not much good if you don’t know how to use them. Gaiters are a really practical item to wear in snow; put them on before you head off up the trail.

Take enough food to see you and your party through the day with something to spare – you’ll burn calories faster in winter. As well as hot drinks, take plenty of water and drink regularly.

Walking Festival offers free guided walks

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Larger than ever before, the 2012 Ironbridge Gorge Walking Festival, which runs from Saturday 5th to Sunday 13th May, features around 30 free guided walks covering a range of interests and abilities. These include some challenging full day outings in and around the glorious World Heritage Site as well as family adventures, historic trails and wildlife walks. The walks are graded into four levels of difficulty ranging from a gentle two-hour family treasure hunt up to a strenuous, 15 mile circular hike over the Wrekin, ideal for more experienced walkers happy with steep climbs and rough terrain.

New for the 2012 Olympic year is a 12 mile walk from the Toll House at Ironbridge into the historic town of Much Wenlock with a chance to visit the local museum and follow the Olympian Trail. The Much Wenlock Olympian Games, created by local surgeon Dr Penny Brookes in 1850, are said to be the inspiration behind today’s modern Olympic Games. Other new outings include two walks around the churches and chapels of the Severn Gorge; a circular trail taking in some of the heritage sites of the Gorge and an industrial look at the landscape above Coalbrookdale.

For the more adventurous there are also longer walks along the South Telford Heritage Trail and a circular tour of the Gorge to discover the history of the river bridges, making the festival both more challenging for the experienced walker, and interesting for those wanting to find out more about this beautiful area.

Other highlights include a ‘splendidly spooky’ stroll around a candlelit woodland trail for families, a guided bird walk around Devil’s Dingle with local ornithologist Glenn Bishton and a wildlife and environmental photography walk with technique and species advice. There are also all-ability outings suitable for wheelchair users and pushchairs with a commentary on the natural and cultural heritage. Well-behaved dogs on a lead are welcome on most walks but check before booking.

All walks are free but with places limited to between 15 and 20 people, pre-booking is essential. To reserve a place or request a copy of the programme, contact the Ironbridge Visitor Information Centre by email at tic@ironbridge.org.uk or call 01952 433424. Additional information is available on www.visitironbridge.co.uk.