A celebration of mountain culture in the Outdoor Capital of the UK

Posted on December 28, 2011 by John Traynor

The programme for the 2012 Fort William Mountain Festival will take place throughout Fort William and Lochaber from Wednesday 15 to Sunday 19 February 2012 – the adventure of the great outdoors, extreme expeditions, remote cultures, and the world’s last great wild places. The enthusiastic audience coming to Fort William for the 2012 festival will be inspired, energised and entertained by the diverse programme that promotes the mountains as an attractive, accessible and above all enjoyable place to be. It includes a superb line up of lectures from top climbers and mountaineers, mountain bikers and mountain filmmakers plus film screenings from cutting edge outdoor athletes and adventurers. The full details of the eleventh festival programme will not be announced until later in January. However, organisers have promised a five-day feast of lectures, film screenings and workshops for visitors who want to learn about and celebrate mountain culture and the true spirit of adventure during the best winter walking and climbing conditions of the year.

Programme highlights include:

Opening Night – a dinner at Nevis Range’s new Pinemarten Restaurant with a special musical performance from Mary Ann Kennedy who will perform a unique, contemporary piece called ‘Black Snows’.

Bike Night – an evening in the company of mountain bike legend Steve Peat and The Dudes of Hazzard; film screenings and Q & A sessions.

Mountaineering Night – a lecture from Bob Shepton, a highly experienced Arctic explorer. It follows his breathtaking sailing and big wall climbing expedition in Greenland. A screening of ‘The Long Hope’, a film by Paul Diffley featuring Dave MacLeod and his 1000ft ascent of St John’s Head on the Island of Hoy – in a day!

Climbing Night – lecture with the master of climbing Johnny Dawes. This is an unusual show involving unseen video, award winning film, writings, drawings and his notorious approach to communicating using metaphor and humour. What lies at the centre of genius and how to find it? Where does the limit lie? How will climbing involve art, rehabilitation, and invention? These are the subjects that a lifetime of pushing and pulling have left behind.

The Best of Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour Film Night – the most inspiring mountain films from around the world will once again be the festival hot ticket

There will also be plenty of opportunity for both novices and experts to hone their skills through inspirational workshops in mountain skills, avalanche awareness, winter walking and winter climbing in the Outdoor Capital; as well as both indoor climbing and ice climbing at Kinlochleven’s Ice Factor Indoor Climbing Centre.

The Fort William Mountain Festival Film Competition is open for entries. Budding outdoor and adventure filmmakers are invited to enter their mountain culture related work into the competition that champions outdoor adventure, breathtaking mountain landscape and the culture that surrounds it. Entries are open until 16 January 2012 and the winners will be announced during the festival in February. For full details of the film competition and entry details go to http://www.mountainfestival.co.uk/film-competition-2012/

To be kept up to date with the Fort William Mountain Festival programme go to – http://www.mountainfestival.co.uk/

Ten top easy Lake District winter walks

Posted on December 23, 2011 by John Traynor

Cumbria’s Lake District is a walker’s paradise but you don’t have to walk for miles up England’s highest mountain to enjoy the stunning scenery. Here are some of our favourite ‘Nano-walks’ – little hikes with big views!

1. Tarn Hows, Coniston
Regardless of the weather, it’s always easy to get around one of the Lake District’s best viewpoints – Tarn Hows. Although set over 600ft in the hills above Coniston, you can drive up the narrow B-road to its top, park up then walk the 1.5 mile circular pathway, which takes about half-an-hour. The walk shows off the best of the Lake District’s mountains for minimum effort. Tarn Hows is three tarns joined into one with views of the Langdale Pikes mountain range. Beatrix Potter bought Tarn Hows in 1929 before bequeathing it to the National Trust. With a big car-park and a well-maintained circular path, there are seats along the way making it suitable for buggies, the elderly and little ones too. www.golakes.co.uk/adventure
Coniston TIC: 015394 41533

2. Ruskin’s View, Kirkby Lonsdale
One of England’s most acclaimed but least known views is Ruskin’s View in the chocolate box town of Kirkby Lonsdale. The mile-or-so riverside route starts at Devil’s Bridge over the River Lune, and helpful signs direct you to the viewpoint, although this way culminates in a steep set of steps. Alternatively, start this walk from the charming town centre, where it’s less than half-a-mile on the flat all the way. There’s seating available so you can admire a scene painted by Turner and described by Victorian philosopher Ruskin as “one of the loveliest in England.”
http://www.kirkbylonsdale.co.uk
Kirkby Lonsdale TIC: 015242 71437

3. High Dam, Windermere
Many people know Lake Windermere from their travels, but few find their way to the tiny village of Finsthwaite. Close to the village, you’ll find magical High Dam, a superb, gently rising walk through a leafy carpet of oak, birch and conifer. There’s a car park to put your boots on and then it’s a straightforward stroll through the woods which gently climbs a few hundred feet. The short trip is rewarded at the top as it opens out to reveal a panoramic tree-lined tarn. Water from the Dam was once used to power the village mills, which churned out bobbins for the Lancashire textile industry. You can download a map to this walk from http://www.lakesidehotel.co.uk/lake-district/hotel/walks/Walks1.pdf
Bowness-on-Windermere TIC 015394 42895

4. Holme Fell, Coniston
Peaks like Helvellyn, Scafell Pike and Great Gable are known to many due to the Lake District walking guides writer, Alfred Wainwright. But at just over 1,000ft, Holme Fell on the outskirts of Coniston is one of the smallest Wainwrights and is slap bang in the middle of the Lakes surrounded by fantastic scenery, yet of little interest to the hordes. From its summit, you can marvel at Lake Coniston and features big mountains in the distance like Pike O’Blisco, Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark.
http://www.conistontic.org/
Coniston TIC: 015394 41533

5. Orrest Head, Windermere
The first walk the famous author Alfred Wainwright ever did in the Lake District was Orrest Head, which starts just yards from Windermere Railway station. Wainwright was so impressed, he went onto explore pretty much every summit of the Lake District, writing seven pictorial guides to walking the Lakes. The path up to Orrest Head has changed since Wainwright’s first steps back in 1930, having been asphalted in places so that those in wheelchairs or buggies can reach certain vantage points peering down on Lake Windermere. What hasn’t changed are the views. It’s a meandering 783ft all the way to the top with plenty of seats to rest and signposts pointing the way round every corner. The sign at the start of the walk proclaims it’s 20 minutes to the top, but even Wainwright disagreed with that.
www.golakes.co.uk/wainwright
Windermere TIC: 015394 46499

6. Talkin Tarn Country Park, near Brampton
This six acre lake near the village of Brampton, is set amid 120 acres of farmland and woodland within sight of the Northern Pennines. Whatever your mood, it’s the ideal place for a stroll along the quiet water’s edge. The 1.3 mile path around the tarn is suitable for wheelchairs and the surrounding woodlands are perfect place for catching a glimpse of the ever-elusive red squirrels.
http://www.aboutbritain.com/maps/talkintarncountrypark-map.asp
Brampton TIC: 016977 3433

7. Hoad Monument, Ulverston
Standing proud on a high fell-side above the town of Ulverston is the Hoad Monument, a soaring 100ft lighthouse landmark. This vantage point – over 400ft up – offers awesome views over the cobbled streets of the market-town and the vast sands of Morecambe Bay, one of the largest stretches of seaside in England. The pathways to the top are well-made and you can easily do this walk from the town centre. This is a popular place at Easter for pasche egg rolling – rolling painted eggs down the hillside – as well as being a big Boxing Day hike for local families – particularly if there’s been a spot of snow. The monument itself was built in honour of Sir John Barrow, a naval explorer from the town, and modelled on an earlier version of the Eddystone Lighthouse. www.sirjohnbarrowmonument.co.uk/
Ulverston TIC: 01229 587120

8. Grasmere
Follow in the footsteps of Wordsworth and walk Grasmere, one of the iconic lakes of the Lake District. It’s easy to see why Wordsworth lived in the village and was inspired to write some of his best poetry. The best section to walk is on the lake’s western flank found from a wrought iron gate off Red Bank Road. To access the path from here head to the centre of Grasmere, take a left at the Dale Lodge Hotel opposite the Church, and then carry on round Red Bank Road until you find the gate. Another way in is parking up at White Moss Car Park just off the A591 on the outskirts south of the village, and then following the paths from the car park and over the beck through the woods. http://www.golakes.co.uk/places/towns/grasmere-and-rydal.aspx
Ambleside TIC: 015394 32582

9. Latrigg, Keswick
Walkable from the centre of Keswick, it’s two and-half miles and 950ft of ascent to Latrigg but when you get to the summit it offers peaks as far as the eye can see and spy on the tiny rooftops of Keswick below. The early slopes of this walk can feel like a backbreaker, but they soon level out to offer “the easiest of Promenades,” as Wainwright put it. From the centre of Keswick, find Keswick Cottage Hospital and just along from here is a historic signpost pointing the way to Latrigg. http://www.dokeswick.com/walks/latrigg.htm
Keswick TIC: 017687 72645

10. Whitehaven Maritime Walk
The proud sea-faring town of Whitehaven was once one of Britain’s biggest ports second only to London. It now offers a 1.8 mile long walk along its newly-regenerated harbour and Georgian streets. With the cry of gulls in your ears and the smell of sea salt, you too can discover its swashbuckling-history. The walk starts at the Whiting Shoal sculpture on the Millennium Promenade and takes you around its harbour and the Old Quay overlooking the magnificent Solway Firth. There are streets to discover as well as The Rum Story attraction. Learn how mariner John Paul Jones led a bunch of American desperadoes on an ill-fated attack on Whitehaven in 1778 which ended when they decided to get drunk at the local pubs instead.
http://whitehavenmarina.co.uk/
Whitehaven TIC 01946 598914

For further information about visiting the Lake District, visit www.golakes.co.uk

Photo: Grasmere from High Close, Red Bank; Copyright: Cumbria Tourism/Dave Willis

Zip up (and down!) at the Outdoors Show!

Posted on December 19, 2011 by John Traynor

Go Ape, the Forest Adventure company (www.goape.co.uk), is bringing zip500, the longest indoor zip-wire to The Outdoors Show at London’s ExCel centre; at 500 feet long, the zip-wire runs the length of the show. If the monster zip is not enough, why not visit the Go Ape zone to experience the full range of activities that Go Ape provides for the outdoor adventurist across the UK? Go Ape! Forest Segways are a new adventure for 2011 and due to popular demand will be expanding to eight sites across the country in 2012. Try out the self-balancing, electric all-terrain Segways on the assembled course in Go Ape’s zone at The Outdoors Show and get a feel for how these fun and rugged machines would operate in their natural forest environment.

Find out more about

the new Go Ape! Tree Top Adventure at Trent Park, Enfield (Go Ape’s first London site)
the five new Go Ape! Forest Segway adventures launching in 2012
the recent launch in October 2011 of Go Ape’s first course for under-10 year olds, Go Ape! Tree Top Junior
Go Ape! Forest Biking
upgrades and extensions to some of the original Go Ape! Tree Top Adventure courses

Go Ape’s operations manager Richard Cooke will also be speaking each day on the ‘careers stage’, providing advice on anything to do with careers in the outdoors industry and at Go Ape. He will be taking to the ‘careers stage’ at the following times:

Thursday 12 January: 13.00- 13.20

Friday 13 January: 13.00 -13.20

Saturday 14 January: 12.20 – 12.40

Sunday 15 January: 12.40-13.00

Dorset’s Top Ten Outdoor Experiences

Posted on December 12, 2011 by John Traynor

You don’t have to go far into the West Country to enjoy a variety of fresh air experiences, from walking to paddling, plus fresh local food and loads more in Dorset so pack your rucksack and explore!

Explore the glorious Dorset countryside by following one of the many walking trails which criss-cross the county. The Wessex Ridgeway is one of the longest – along the way there are intriguing artistic sculptures with poetry by James Crowdon.
www.dorsetforyou.com/wessexridgeway

Go to a farmers market held in the key towns around the county to savour some of the area’s delicious local food; one of the best is Bridport’s every second Saturday of the month; the town is in the heart of Dorset’s farmlands. Dorset Vinny Cheese with Knob Biscuits or Dorset Apple Cake are just two of the local specialities. www.dorsetfoodweek.co.uk

Take to the water on some of the country’s finest sailing and watersports spots – the National Sailing Academy is at Weymouth & Portland in recognition of the quality of the waters. There are plenty of locations to hire boats and kayaks or let someone else do the work and take a boat trip from one of the harbours such as Weymouth, Swanage or Lyme Regis. www.wpnsa.org.uk

Dorset hosts England’s only natural World Heritage Site, known as The Jurassic Coast. The beaches of Lyme Regis or Charmouth www.charmouth.org abound with fossils; regular guided public fossil walks are held. www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk

Dorset’s coastal location ensures fresh fish is available at the local pubs and restaurants; watch the catch come into picturesque Weymouth Harbour and then eat at one of the restaurants around the harbour or pop down to the Crab House Café overlooking Chesil Beach www.crabhousecafe.co.uk . Along the coast there are other seafood restaurants such as the Hive Beach Café in Burton Bradstock www.hivebeachcafe.co.uk and Shell Bay in Studland www.shellbay.net.

Unwind by flying through the trees at Go Ape! in Moors Valley Country Park and Forest, one of the country’s best outdoor leisure parks (more sedately you can also hire bikes to cycle around). www.moors-valley.co.uk

Clamber up to the top of the prehistoric hillforts such as Hambledon Hill near Blandford Forum or Eggardon Hill near Bridport for some of the best views of Dorset – steep climbs are involved but there’s always a pub nearby.

Explore Thomas Hardy country; key ‘musts’ are seeing Hardy’s rather stern statue in Dorchester, visiting the Dorset County Museum www.dorsetcountymuseum.org for the world’s largest collection of Hardy memorabilia and visiting the picturesque cottage where he was born www.nationaltrust.org. Around the Dorset countryside are countless places which appeared in his novels – much of the countryside looks the same as in his novels.

Follow the Swanage Art Trail for a taste of county’s artistic richness; the trail takes you around a series of paintings by famous visiting artists such as Paul Nash and Walter Field. http://www.swanageseen.co.uk/hello-world/

Climb up to the top of Christchurch Priory for panoramic views across the area. The Priory is the longest church in England and one of the few to survive Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries. www.christchurchpriory.org

For further information: www.visit-dorset.com

Ten top coastal calls in Britain

Posted on December 2, 2011 by John Traynor

Exploring Britain’s coastline on foot can be combined with a range of cultural, nature, geological and historical links. Here are some ideas to get you started.

The Jurassic Coast was designated a World Heritage Site because of its importance as a ‘geological walk through time’, spanning 185 million years of the Earth’s history. It covers 95 miles from East Devon to Dorset, including the London 2012 sailing venue of Weymouth/Portland and the town of Lyme Regis, famous for its fossils and The Cobb, which featured in the film ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’.

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in south-west Wales is the only national park in the UK which is predominantly coastal. It includes spectacular scenery, diverse wildlife and internationally important nature reserves and geology. There are great walks (and views) along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, a national trail set in the National Park. For the more adventurous, there is the chance to jump off the cliff, on a coasteering course, described as “a wild combination of scrambling, climbing, traversing, cliff jumping and swimming that was first developed in Pembrokeshire in the 80s and 90s and has now taken off all over the world.”

St. Andrews/Fife coast: situated on the coast north-east of Edinburgh, St Andrews was famous for its golf, before it was placed firmly on the map by a Royal romance. It is a city packed with history with the castle, and cathedral, and world famous golf course, but it is well worth taking the longer, coastal route from Edinburgh, offering the chance to explore the picturesque fishing villages of the Fife coast, such as Crail, Anstruther, St Monans and Pittenweem and the walking opportunities.

Whitby on the North Yorkshire coast is infamous for one particular visitor – Dracula. Bram Stoker’s classic novel had the evil Count arriving by ship, during a frightful storm. Today’s visitors should be sure to check out the Abbey, towering above the town’s cobbled streets, and the beach and working harbour, while many experts rate the Magpie Café as one of the best places in the country for fish and chips. And if time allows explore along the coast to Robin Hood’s Bay on the Cleveland Way.

Dunwich: visit before it disappears! Dunwich on the Suffolk coast was once a Roman fort, capital of a Saxon kingdom and, in the 11^th century, one of the greatest ports on the East coast of England. But most of it has now been lost to the sea – you can learn all about it in the town’s museum.

Antony Gormley’s Another Place comprises 100 cast iron, life-size figures, each weighing 650 kilos, spread along three kilometres of the foreshore at Crosby Beach, just north of Liverpool, and stretching almost one kilometre out to sea. The figures are made from casts of the artist’s own body and are shown at different stages of rising out of the sand, all of them looking out to sea.

Northumberland’s coast is studded with castles. Heading north from Newcastle, take in Dunstanburgh, Bamburgh, Warkworth and Lindisfarne – taking care not to be cut off by the sea on Holy Island. Inland, you will find the country towns of Alnwick, Rothbury and Wooler – great bases for walking holidays. If you are really in the mood for history, you can always explore the Hadrian’s Wall National Trail from coast to coast.

If you enjoy the White Cliffs of Dover (the place, not the song), why not check out the impressive chalk cliffs of The Needles on the Isle of Wight?

When it comes to coastline, Cornwall has more than most, per square mile. A long, narrow county, surrounded on three sides by sea, the north coast is lined with sandy beaches, and great for surfing, the south and south-west has more sheltered inlets and estuaries. But with just a short drive between two coasts, why not visit both?

It’s an even harder choice to decide which Scottish island has the best coastline. The easy choice is how to get there – by ferry with Caledonian MacBrayne, who serve the best-known islands such as Skye, and Mull, but also the smaller islands like Iona, with the Abbey there being one of Scotland’s most sacred and historic sites. With seven distilleries, on an island just 25 miles long, surely the Scottish island of Islay won’t fail to leave one smiling at the views of sandy beaches and towering cliffs.

With thanks to Bods for the image.

Ten top outdoor experiences in England

Posted on November 29, 2011 by John Traynor

There’s no shortage of exciting opportunities to make the most of your free time outdoors in England. Pack your rucksack and take your pick from or work your way through all these inspiring ideas from Northumberland to Cornwall:

Kielder Water and Forest Park, Northumberland – At Kielder Water and Forest Park you can absorb the peace and tranquillity or try something a little more adventurous. Enjoy events, land and water-based activities, art, culture, heritage, wildlife, and star gazing - www.visitkielder.com

Lake District, Cumbria – From 16 sparkling lakes and England’s highest mountains, to sheltered valleys, heather moorlands and salty seascapes, Cumbria and the Lake District have inspired and captivated generations of visitors and famous writers and poets such as William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter – www.lake-district.gov.uk

Hadrian’s wall, Cumbria – Walk in the footsteps of the Legions, along the Hadrian’s Wall National Trail and around the beautiful surrounding areas or take a trip on Hadrian’s Wall Bus, visiting some of the friendly market town and villages along the way – www.hadrians-wall.org.uk

The Cleveland Way, North Yorkshire – There is no better way to take the weight of the world off your shoulders than to take a walk along the Cleveland Way National Trail. This 110 mile/176 kilometre walking route follows the fantastic scenery of the North York Moors National Park, crossing stunning lengths of heather moorland and providing spectacular views of the North Yorkshire coastline - www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ClevelandWay

Sherwood Forest Country Park, Nottinghamshire – Once part of a royal hunting forest, Sherwood Forest Country Park covers 450 acres and incorporates some truly ancient areas of native woodland. The largest and most famous of these is the Major Oak, linked throughout the world to Sherwood’s legendary hero, Robin Hood -
www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/sherwoodforestcp

The Broads, Norfolk – The Broads is England’s largest nationally protected wetland; the whole area is 303 sq km. Its rivers, broads (shallow lakes), marshes and fens make it a unique area, rich in rare habitats, which support myriad plants and animals. Globally, wetlands are among the most threatened of landscapes. The Broads is also one of Europe’s most popular inland waterways. Once an essential transport network, today the waterways are used for recreation, attracting more than two million visitors a year -
www.broads-authority.gov.uk

Jurassic Coast – For stunning views steeped in geological and historical interest, the Jurassic Coast and its share of the South West Coast Path encompasses the elegant Regency town of Sidmouth, the former smuggling haven of Beer and the unspoilt and friendly Budleigh Salterton and reaches into fossil country; rightly recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – www.jurassiccoast.com

Dartmoor National Park – Dartmoor is a living, working landscape haunted by the ghosts of the past; today’s farmers, rangers and visitors tread in the steps of Bronze Age man, medieval monks and tinners. Walking, cycling and horse riding is the order of the day for many active enthusiasts or try ‘letterboxing’, a game originating on the moor with similarities to orienteering – www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk

Thetford Forest Park, Norfolk – a working forest as well as a place for relaxation and recreation. It is a haven for wildlife and there is a good chance of seeing deer, cross bills, night jars and more. Find out more about the High Lodge Forest Centre with its ever expanding range of recreation facilities and much more – www.forestry.gov.uk/thetfordforestpark

Cornwall Coastal Path – With one of the most scenic, and longest stretches of the South West Coast Path, and an inland path network of over 2,400 miles no walker could ever get bored in Cornwall. Amble through lush countryside, across wild rugged moors or along stunning coast paths. Breathe in the fresh Cornish air and see places only reached on foot – www.southwestcoastpath.com

With thanks to Angies for the stunning image.

Lake District million pound paths

Posted on November 18, 2011 by John Traynor

Two years after record-breaking floods caused havoc in Cumbria, the Lake District National Park has just spent its one millionth pound on repairing damage and restoring the rights of way network. After the floods, a survey indicated that some 253 bridges needed repairing or replacing to increase the resilience of the rights of way network in case of future flooding disasters. So far, 180 bridges have been repaired by local contractors under the supervision of national park teams.

“The unprecedented rainfall in November 2009 left a trail of destruction in dozens and dozens of locations all over the national park. There are still further repairs and improvements to be complete before the end of the project in March 2013,” said Paths for the Public Project Co-ordinator Dylan Jackman. More info about the National Park Authority’s work can be found at www.lakedistrict.gov.uk.

Meanwhile, volunteers who help maintain vital paths and access routes throughout the Lake District National Park are celebrating reaching an annual workload target for 2011 with two months to spare. The Fix-the-Fells ‘lengthsmen’ – who repair and maintain more than 100 identified Lake District paths – gave a promise at the start of the year to volunteer for 1,000 days of work during 2011. The National Trust ranger teams organise and lead work groups as well as residential weekends working on path repairs, pitching and training up on other skills; whilst volunteers organise their own drain runs. Sometimes, an entire valley of routes can be completed in one weekend. For further details, see www.fixthefells.co.uk.

Photos: Gale Bay bridge before and after.

Top 10 Best Gifts for Christmas

Posted on November 11, 2011 by admin

With December fast approaching Simply Hike is getting prepared for Christmas and we’ve already started writing out our lists to Santa! If you need a little push to get into the spirit this year then look no further; we’re taken the work out for you by providing a list of our top ten gifts for family and friends. So sit back and check out our Simply Hike Top 10 Best Gifts for Christmas.

For Secret Santa

Selecting a Christmas gift for a colleague is a minefield especially if you don’t know them that well. Humourous gifts can go down like a lead balloon whilst other gifts can make you look boring and unthoughtful. The Light My Fire Spork is an absolute favourite of ours here at Simply Hike with a spoon, knife and fork combined into one tool. These colourful bad boys are brilliant for lunch breaks and obviously camping or just on the move eating and are really sturdy so will last and last …plus they’re fairly cheap too!

For Uncle Bob

The Platypus Preserve Bag

What to get the old soak Uncle Bob is a yearly conundrum and unneeded hassle. This year, don’t let it be and wrap up one of the Platy Preserve bags from Platypus. These genius bags will preserve wine after a bottle has been opened and therefore prevents oxidation and is a brilliant choice for anyone from wine connoisseurs to casual gluggers of wine.

For Stocking Fillers

Socks. Everyone’s friend especially in the winter! So why not just give in and make sure Santa has these staple stocking fillers in his sack this year? We have a huge range of socks from every day wear to hiking socks and mountaineering pairs from Smartwool and Bridgedale and we also offer bulk discounts when you buy more than 3 pairs!

For Techno Geeks and Teenagers

Etip Gloves are a brilliant invention by The North Face allowing you to use touch screen gadgets including iPhone, iPad and iPods without ever having to remove your gloves. X Static finger tips on the thumb and index fingers as well as a silicone grip pattern on the palms means you can grip objects easier too. For family or friends who are constantly playing on their phone these will go down very well.

For Nans and Grandads

Keep family members warm with a new Glove and Scarf set this Christmas. These sets for men and women are matching and often include a scarf, hat and gloves for total warmth during the winter.

For the DIY enthusiast

Swiss Tool Micro Max Multi Tool

Swiss Tech is a new brand to Simply Hike this year and offers some brilliant multi tool products that will fit on to any key ring for convenience. The Micro Max is a 19 in 1 Tool which folds out into 19 different professional grade tools, similar to a pen knife. Swiss Tool use stainless steel so the Phillips screwdrivers and wire cutters on this set are solid and sturdy.

For Students and Travellers

Rucksacks are a great gift for those who enjoy travelling so are ideal for sons and daughters off on a gap year or to university. We have a massive range of rucksacks in 80 litre plus capacities down to less than 20 litre daysacks so there’s something for everyone. We particularly love this trendy Torridon Backpack from Berghaus.

For Wife’s and Girlfriends

Hunter Regent Montpelier Wellingtons

Ok, so we’ve reached the more important part of the Christmas List! Women are picky beings and often it’s just best to ask them what they want the most. However, if you haven’t picked up any hints then choose some super popular Hunter Welly boots. We love the girly range of boots in bright colours the most but we have to plug that there are kids and mens boots available too! Our Hunter Wellington boots range from festive glossy red styles through to the equestrian inspired Balmoral Westerley and the classy high street Regent Montpelier so stick to our site and you can’t go far wrong.

For Husbands and Boyfriends

A great gift for the man in your life is an Insulated Jacket to stave off winter chills. Our insulated jackets are really popular and are oh so trendy with quilted and puffed puffa looks. We do have a range of modest jackets that would suit a more conservative gentleman so there really is something to suit everyone.

Berghaus Insulated Liskamm Hooded Jacket

For The Serious Outdoor Enthusiast and Ultimate in Christmas Gifts

So we’ve finally reached the end of our top Christmas presents list but have obviously left the best to last! For someone really special this Christmas check out our Suunto Range, but more specifically this military inspired Suunto X10. This wrist top computer is the smallest and lightest with GPS navigation, altimeter, barometer and compass as well as displaying your tracks on Google Earth and providing a storm alarm. What more could anyone want?

For more gift ideas check out our Gifts department for all of the items above as well as a huge range of Stocking Fillers, Gifts for Her, Him and Gifts for under £25!

With thanks to tengrrl for the banner image.

Working for walkers and mountain bikers

Posted on November 11, 2011 by John Traynor

Walkers and cyclists heading for the summit of Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales National Park will find the going much easier – thanks to a massive donation from a local business which provided 140 tonnes of gritstone to reinforce a busy bridleway leading to the summit. Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Area Ranger Steve Hastie then arranged to shift it in loads of almost one tonne in a hopper underneath a helicopter.

Steve said, “This is a busy path and needed a bit of TLC to keep it in good condition. The donation has enabled us to top-dress the path surface to complete restoration work that began last summer and the fact that the stone has been moved such a short distance is a real bonus.”

In 1986, the Institute for Terrestrial Ecology carried out a study of the condition of the path network in the Three Peaks area and concluded that the region had the sad distinction of possessing the most severely eroded network in the UK. The following year, the first Three Peaks Project was established by the YDNPA with a staff of 13. Its remit included trialling new path-engineering and re-vegetating techniques to provide sustainable routes and to allow damaged surrounding land to recover. The mid-90s and early 2000s saw a number of externally-funded projects completed, each with one or two extra staff appointed. However, since 2004, the management and maintenance of the Three Peaks network has reverted back to the YDNPA’s Rangers – a team of just two officers covering the whole of the wider Ribblesdale area.

The latest project aims to create a sustainable source of both practical and financial support that will help protect and enhance the area and the rights of way network into the future. Since its launch, many of the charities that regularly use the Three Peaks for sponsored events have volunteered to donate money towards the upkeep of the area.

The YDNPA has produced merchandise to celebrate walking one, two or all of the peaks and has launched the Friends of the Three Peaks, a group being set up to help support the Authority’s work in the area. Anyone can join by making a suggested minimum annual donation of £10. The Authority aims this year to have an events programme members can take part in, with activities like Area Ranger-guided walks and chances to do practical things like path maintenance. They will also be kept up to date with developments in the project through a newsletter. Anyone wanting to become a Friend can log on to the YDNPA website at www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/threepeaks and follow the pages to join online.

Photo credit: Hanson Aggregates

Best Camping Applications for Your iPhone

Posted on November 10, 2011 by admin

Camping has now reached the digital age and there is now a massive range of apps for your iPhone available to download now! Here at Simply Hike we have saved you time by collating what we think are the very best applications for your camping trips. These iPhone apps can help you plan your camping trip or help you out in an expedition or just travelling.

A Survival Guide is great for learning techniques quickly in dangerous situations and this app provides some basic skills including signals, water and food and shelter. We love the ‘psychology’ of survival section and the convenience of having a reference manual on your phone. Just make sure your iPhone is fully charged before you set out in the wild!

AA Caravan and Camping Guide features over 850 recommended and thoroughly inspected campsites for you to search through. Search for a campsite by area, get hold of price information and get there phone numbers instantly! You can get this app for your iPhone or iTouch for free.

Taking a BBQ on your camping trip? Then the ibbq app is a great help! This application features BBQ recipes, checks out the weather in your current location for unexpected showers and gives expert tips for perfect BBQ food. This app is available free for all iPhone users.

Camping anywhere nice, like the South of France? This Traveller Dictionary Phrasebook will come in so handy if you are! With over 26,000 words or 1200 phrases to choose from you can sort out any camping predicament.

Nuts about Knots? Check out the What Knot To Do app by Columbia. This free app provides a glossary of all the different types of knots and how to tie them!

Angry Birds is an essential for keeping entertained on your camping trip and who doesn’t find this game addictive? Ok, there’s a small charge to add this app but it’ll provides days if not weeks of entertainment. To sum it up in a nutshell the birds are angry after having their eggs stolen by green pigs and they seek revenge by throwing themselves at various structures. Brilliant!

The English Heritage App will give you some amazing ideas for fun days out wherever you are. A majestic castle, a classic English garden or ancient ruin then this application is sure to brighten up any camping holiday. You can view the location, see the top tips for when you arrive and check out the events that are on.

Flashlight is the perfect app for locating items, finding your way to the toilet block in the night or reading in your tent. This shouldn’t take the place of a proper lantern or torch but is brilliant for quick tasks.

Simply Hike Of course not forgetting our app! We know every outdoor enthusiast has a busy lifestyles and the Simply Hike app allows you to shop online and order all your camping products via your

iPhone. A must have for any camper!

With thanks to Dougbelshaw for the banner image.

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