Will you catch the Munro bagging bug?

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Fiona

Have you heard of Munro bagging? Or the sister pursuit of Corbett bagging? Then there’s Graham bagging, once you have completed the Munros and Corbetts, or perhaps as an introduction to the Munros. What on earth are we talking about here?

Well, a Munro is a Scottish mountain with a summit of more than 3,000ft (914m). It was Sir Hugh Munro who first compiled his list of hills known as Munros Tables in 1891. In the last decade or so, Munro Bagging, which sees walkers heading to the top of every one of the 283 Munros, has turned into a hot Scottish pursuit.

To date the Scottish Mountaineering Council of Scotland, which is the official holder of recorded Munro “rounds”, shows that more than 4,000 walkers have “compleated” a round. (Compleat is the word used in Munro terms, rather than complete.)

Munro bagging extraordinaire

There are Munro baggers who have compleated a continuous round of all 283 summits, either walking or cycling between each of the Munros. Given that the geographical spread of Munros is from Ben Lomond in the southern Highlands to Ben Hope in the northern Highlands this is some feat.

Other Munro hikers have compleated a “winter” round. This is a tough challenge, and often dangerous, as snow usually covers the highest mountain tops in Scotland all through the winter.

Some people have walked a Munros round with their dog, or partner. Some have done a jig on the top of every Munro, or walked with their children. One man is aiming to be the first to walk a round with two metal replacement hips.

The youngest walker to be in pursuit of all the Munro is reportedly a four-year-old boy, who is walking them with his dad.

Other, more driven, hikers have compleated several Munro rounds. To date, the Munro Bagging record holder is Steve Fallon, who is working his way through his 15th round. Yes, you did read that correctly! Steve started out reasonably fit and now is so fit he can run numerous Munros in one day.

Why record breaker Steve likes the Munros

Steve has a simple explanation for all his Munro rounds: “I just like getting out on the Scottish hills.” He says: “Munro Bagging gives you a goal, it keeps you fit, it gets you into the outdoors and it takes you to some amazingly beautiful and dramatic places that you would otherwise never come across.”

While ticking off his 15th round of Munros, Steve is now also aiming to compleat a round of the smaller Scottish mountains called Corbetts.

What are the Corbetts?

Corbetts are Scottish mountains with a summit height of between 2,500ft (762m) and 2999ft (913m) and there are 221 of them. Corbett bagging is a popular pursuit for people who have already completed a Munro round. In many cases the Corbetts can be a tougher challenge because they are less well-walked.

Then come the Grahams. These are Scottish hills with a summit of between 2000ft and 2499ft. These hills, whether Munros, Corbetts or Grahams, offer an ideal goal for all kinds of walkers.

First Munros for starters

There are “easier” Munros, some of which have a starting point of several hundred metres above sea level, and offer a have a well-defined trail to the top. Check out the Munro, Carn Aosad, or The Cairnwell and Glas Maol.

There are others that present a big challenge, such as the infamous ridge walk along the Aonach Eagach in Glencoe or the Cuillin Ridge, on the Isle of Skye. Most people who attempt these lofty and remote peaks require a guide, or at least a large amount of experience.

In between, there are a host of other mountains to suit all fitness levels, desires and abilities. The daddy of them all is Ben Nevis, which is the highest mountain in all of the UK.

Walk a Munro or two in 2012

Whether you live in Scotland or further afield why not challenge yourself to walk a Munro or two in 2012? It takes most walkers many, many years to compleat a round of 283 Munros and no-one is saying you have to walk them all in record-breaking time. We reckon that once you have walked a few you’ll be hooked by the Munro bagging bug.

Please do tell us about your Munro bagging endeavours and adventures.

Starry-eyed walkers and campers

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Fiona

Have you caught the star-gazing bug? Around 36,000 people have already taken part in Stargazing LIVE BBC-led events around the UK this year and many thousands more have joined partnership events in their local area. In 2012, it seems that star parties, astrophotography and starry night walks are fast becoming a top choice for outdoors fans.

Attending an organised star-gazing event is a great way to find out more about our supernova, star clusters and galaxies. And, as the warmer weather of spring comes along (and aren’t we looking forward to that?!), why not head off for your own star-gazing camping adventure?

Getting away form the bright lights of towns and cities is the key to being able to better see the night’s sky. Without artificial lighting it is easier to see the stars, but you will also need to keep an eye on the weather forecast to ensure clear skies for the best viewing conditions.

Make star gazing a comfortable adventure

If you’re planning to camp out make sure you take the perfect item of camping furniture with you. A camping chair or a blow-up camping sofa are great choices, or else choose a waterproof blanket on which to lie down. Many people prefer to lie down on their backs to star gaze to save their necks from getting sore, rather than sitting down to stare up at the sky. Add warm outdoor clothing and a sleeping bag for extra comfort. Lying – or sitting – still can make even the warmest evenings seem a little chilly.

It’s also a good idea to have looked up information about what stars you might see at certain times of the year. Take a star-gazing guide with you, too.

UK’s top three Dark Sky Places

These three areas have been identified as fantastic places to see stars at night. They are:

Galloway Forest, south west Scotland

Sark Island on the Channel Islands

Exmoor National Park, south-west England.

The first to be awarded this special status by the International Dark Sky Association was Galloway Forest Park. Lighting experts were brought in to ensure the skies above the forest park were pitch black at night. Part of the selection process involved giving a rating via a sky quality meter, which measures the darkness of the sky overhead.

To find out about other stargazing events near you check out the star-gazing events finder

Be inspired: By the UK’s Mountain Film Festivals

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Fiona

Why do we take up a new outdoors activity? Perhaps a friend asks you to chum them on a hill walk? Maybe you’re invited by another family to go on a camping holiday? Then again, it could be that you’re inspired to try a new outdoors activity because you’ve seen an amazing film or documentary. If you’re looking for fresh ideas for 2012, or simply yo be wowed, head along to a truly awe-inspiring mountain film festival.

In the UK, a number of annual mountain film festivals will give you a glimpse some amazing outdoors adventures. Perhaps this will see you giving these new outdoor pursuits a try, or motivate you to take your outdoors adventures and trips to the next level.

A guide to some of the best mountain film festivals in the UK

The 2012 Fort William Mountain Festival. Taking place in the Outdoor capital of the UK, the film festival promises a fantastic line-up of fascinating lectures and films, including a Bike Night, a Mountain Evening and the best of the Banff World Tour (see below). From February 15 to 19.

Banff Mountain Film Festival features the film Cold, about an attempt to climb one of Pakistan’s 8000m peaks. Credit: Cory Richards Photography, LLC 2011

Banff Mountain Film Festival. This is one of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world. The “mothership” festival has been held at the start of November each year since 1975 in Banff (well, obviously!) in Canada. The festival draws some of the world’s best film-makers and outdoor heroes to celebrate adventure, the environment, mountain culture and the outdoors through film. There are dates across the UK from January 27 to March 10.

Sheffield Adventure Film Festival More than 70 of the best adventure, travel and extreme sports films hand-picked from around the world, as well as talks and lectures.March 9 to 11.

Keswick Mountain Festival. An action-packed festival that celebrates the best the great outdoors in the heart of the Lake District. Full of activities including sporting competitions, adventure challenges, your favourite outdoor brands and great inspirational speakers. May 16 to 20.

Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival. Films, speakers and charity fund-raisers add up to a cracking film festival weekend in Scotland’s capital. From October 25 to 28.

Dundee Mountain Film Festival. A great line-up of films and speakers at this popular weekend festival from November 23 to 24.

See you at one of these mountain film festival events?

Walk your way to better winter health

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Fiona

Walking just got even better. Most walkers will already vouch for a host of mental and physical benefits. Now new research has revealed just why walkers feel so darned good during the winter as well.

You see, there is a fine balance when it comes to being fit and warding off illness, especially common winter bugs, and enjoying a brisk daily walk is about the best balance you can achieve if you want to stay fit and healthy.

The study at Loughborough University found a link between too little exercise, moderate exercise, too much exercise and the body’s ability to see off common winter illnesses.

Exercise can have a positive and negative impact on health

Professor Mike Gleeson, who was in charge of the research, looked at exercise and upper-respiratory tract infections that affect the nose, throat and sinuses, and include the common cold, tonsillitis, sinusitis and flu.

The university study revealed that couch potatoes who do very little exercise are more likely to suffer an increase in cold-like symptoms and infections.

Meanwhile, people who participate in moderate exercise, such as a daily walk or jog, will benefit from enhancing the action of the body’s natural killer cells, which in turn can help to fight off viruses. Indeed, the cumulative effect of regular exercise will lead to a long-term improvement in immunity.

But for people who participate in very high energy and endurance activities the opposite can occur. It was found that exercising hard or for a long time in one session, such as training for and running a marathon, can actually leave you more vulnerable to illness.

Prof Gleeson was reported at the Association for Science Education conference as saying: “NK cells recognise viral-infected cells as foreign invaders and force them to commit suicide. During moderate exercise the activity of NK cells is enhanced…These changes are tightly regulated by stress hormones and other immune cells.”

He added that “exercise can have both a positive and negative effect on immune function, combined with genetics and other external factors like stress, poor nutrition and lack of sleep. Collectively these factors determine an individual’s susceptibility to infection”.

Professor Gleeson said: “Conversely, in periods following prolonged strenuous exercise, the likelihood of an individual becoming ill actually increases. In the weeks following a marathon, studies have reported a two to six-fold increase in the risk of developing an upper respiratory infection.”

So there are even more reasons to pull on your walking boots and outdoor clothing and head out every day for a brisk walk. Add a longer walk at the weekends just to keep your body and mind in tip-top condition. As the Prof concluded: “Moderate exercise has a positive effect on the immune system.”

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.

Make the most of hiking with walking poles

Posted on September 23, 2011 by John Traynor

Walking (also known as trekking) poles are far more useful than the obvious use of easing the strain on knees, joints and muscles. Those pluses are appreciated by hillwalkers and backpackers of any age up and down steep footpaths but often overlooked are the benefits to balance and conserving leg power. On top of those pluses is the feeling of enjoying more of a ‘workout’ – using your upper body and your legs to swing your way through the hills. As well as dealing with problems, there’s also the angle of not letting them develop in the first place. Walkers of all ages can benefit from reducing the load and stress on their legs by swinging along with a pair of poles. Plus, for instance, when crossing streams and soggy terrain they help avoid potential catastrophes. The extra stability poles offer can also ease back problems by helping to avoid sudden lurches, trips and wobbles as your arms and shoulders take some of the strain. In the situations where you need to use your hands – scrambling, for example – then poles aren’t much use anyway so won’t be a hinderance.

Rather than carrying them strapped to your rucksack until you feel tired and sore, use them from the start of your walk and head off problems before they spoil your day. Or even a holiday! You may feel that you’re pretty fit when you set out on day walks each weekend but a holiday on which you’re walking or trekking day after day will soon winkle out weaknesses and can spoil the best-laid plans.

To make the best use of poles, how you hold and use them is important. Happily, the techniques are simple. Place your hand up through the strap and onto the grip, sandwiching the strap between your palm and the pole handle. Adjusting the strap is easy and allows you to hold the grip loosely, placing the downward force on the strap and not losing the pole if you let go of it. Adjusting the pole length is equally important rather than just setting them up around waist height for level ground and then ‘making do’. As a rough guide, you should be shortening the poles walking uphill and extending them on downhill tracks. That’s a rough guide, of course, and you don’t need to constantly tweaking your poles all day. The key is to feel comfortable and you’ll soon find out how to adapt the advice to suit yourself and where you are.

When walking, swing your arms from the shoulder as you would normally, placing pole tips lightly on the ground before leaning onto them and getting into an easy rhythm that you can maintain without thought or effort. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder how you managed without them. Plus, of course they can double up as tent poles in many recent designs and help to cut the weight in your rucksack.

The Danger Of Gas Appliances In Your Tent

Posted on August 23, 2011 by admin

Recently there have been many stories in the media regarding the use of gas stoves, heaters and lanterns inside a tent which have resulted in tragedy. Despite the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, using a stove inside an enclosed vestibule or tent is actually common practice amongst mountaineers especially if it’s blowing a blizzard outside. So for those campers who still wish to risk exposure to the deadly gas we’ve put together some common sense tips.

Carbon monoxide or CO is a deadly gas that is formed when a fuel burns in an enclosed space where little oxygen is available, for example inside a tent. The gas is colourless and odourless and can produce minor symptoms of headaches, sickness and fatigue whilst long term exposure can lead to death or brain damage.

A little bit of science

Usually we breathe in oxygen which temporarily binds to our red blood cells and this is then carried all around our body and eventually expelled again out of our lungs. If carbon monoxide is introduced it permanently attaches itself to the red blood cell, meaning that the oxygen is unable to catch a ride. This results in a lack of oxygen delivered to the whole body and can result in damage to brain tissues. This toxic gas takes up to 5 hours of normal breathing to eliminate just 50% of the carbon monoxide taken in. At higher altitudes it would take a lot longer to remove the build up of the toxin.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

Watch out for any of these short term symptoms. If any of these are present it’s best to immediately turn off any appliances and move to a well ventilated area. Seek medical attention as soon as possible

Headaches
Nausea and vomiting
Lethargy
Dizziness
A cherry red appearance to lips and skin
Confusion and visual disturbance
Loss of dexterity
Rapid heartbeat

Longer term symptoms include the following

Incontinence
Collapse
Seizures
Coma
Death

So how can you reduce your risk of carbon monoxide exposure?

Increase ventilation to remove CO build up and allow oxygen to enter
Choose a removable groundsheet tent where these is increase ventilation
Prevent snow or ice from covering the fly sheet and regularly clean tent fabrics to ensure they remain porous
Get up and take a walk in fresh air which might reveal any symptoms.
A yellow sooty flame suggests CO is being formed due to a lack of oxygen so keep and eye on your appliance. It might need a clean, fuel replaced or setting at a higher output level. You want a blue, clean flame!
Low outputs and flames for simmering will produce more CO.
Some fuels are ‘dirty’ and will produce more of the toxin. Kerosene is dirty whereas gases such as propane and butane and methylated spirits are ‘clean’.
Don’t agitate your flame! Placing a pot over the flame will increase CO production so consider a pot support or using a very small pot

At note about use at high altitude

The risk of CO poisoning at high altitudes is amplified in various ways.

Ice and snow on tents can trap the gas inside further and because the environment is cold you’re more likely to fire that stove up to keep warm.

At high altitude there is a decreased oxygen pressure meaning blood will already be holding little oxygen resulting in a faster breathing rate and increased fatigue from normal activities. Breathing faster would mean you would inhale more CO from that burning stove.

Being at high altitudes for longer periods causes the body to create more red blood cells just to cope with the lack of oxygen. This means there are more cells for the toxin to attach to. When you then move down to sea level your body would be bursting with the toxin and causes it to linger longer than usual.

Top tips on ‘where to go’ outdoors

Posted on July 15, 2011 by John Traynor

It would be a sad day if we found toilets dotted all over the countryside when we’re walking and camping. It’s never going to happen so we need to address the issues of ‘personal waste management’ positively and practically. For most of us, the problem is ‘where to go’ but it’s what you leave behind that matters. None of us would enjoy scraps of toilet paper blowing across our path or munching a sandwich next to somebody’s outdoor loo. There are various methods of dealing with human waste in the outdoors that are suitable for multi-day excursions. For single days outdoors, a good, if unpopular, method is to carry out what you carried in for disposal later. The best, of course, is to plan ahead and avoid the need to do so.

Top tips:

It may sound obvious but be discreet by picking a private spot that is considerate of other people living, working or just enjoying the outdoors.
Remember that running water may be the water supply for a house that’s out of sight. Make sure you are at least 30m away from any running or apparently still water when you pick your loo site.
That loo should also be at least 50m from paths and 200m from huts and bothies. Where possible, dig a 15cm deep hole with a small trowel and bury your poo.
If you can’t dig a hole, spreading it thinly with a covering of soil and/or loose leaves and vegetation, helps the process of breaking down the poo. Digging or spreading in areas of sensitive vegetation should be avoided.
Squashing poo under a rock to hide it will slow decomposition and should be avoided. If other techniques can’t be used then allow air to circulate by leaving a gap between rock and poo.
Consider using loose natural materials instead of toilet paper.
If you do use toilet paper, even biodegradable, then pack it out in a plastic bag. Burning it is a fire hazard and burying it is not acceptable as it slows down decomposition.
Burying tampons and sanitary towels is not a reliable way to dispose of them as they take so long to decompose and animals may unearth them so it’s best to pack them out using a secure container.
As the results of an upset stomach in remote areas can be more serious than at home, it is absolutely vital to wash your hands after a loo break. If you use a biodegradable soap, don’t use it directly in running or still water; hand gel which needs no water is easily available these days in supermarkets and can be carried in a small bottle.
Where feasible, use a proper toilet when you find it.

Backpacking in Britain

Posted on July 5, 2011 by John Traynor

Backpacking is all about enjoying self-contained travel on foot in the outdoors staying comfortable and well-fed along the way. With a rucksack, tent, sleeping bag and a stove you have the basic ingredients to whip up a variety of recipes for outdoor adventure year after year, wandering through a landscape carrying everything you need for a night or more without the need to be anywhere at any particular time.

As we have no right to camp where we like in most of the UK, leaving overnight pitches to chance is not recommended. Accommodation guides that include campsites are published for many long distance footpaths (LDPs), especially national trails. The Backpackers’ Club’s LDP Site and Pitch Directory is the only one of its type. Covering most of the established long distance routes in the UK, it is compiled and updated by members and complements its UK Farm Pitch Directory. Then there are tourist boards, national park centres and commercial guides. Pulling together a number of sites in a new area from a variety of sources and working out your own routes to link up several can while away many happy hours.

Pitch tips

* There’s something quite relaxing about camping near water but beware of mossies and boggy ground.

* If you cannot find some shelter behind a rock or wall, pitch your tent so the entrance faces away from the prevailing wind.

* Try to avoid pitching in a dip in the ground or at the bottom of a slope – rainwater runoff and cold air creeping downhill may disrupt a good night’s sleep.

* Avoid pitching under a tree – unlikely though a lightning strike or falling branch might be, the drips from above will drive you mad long after rain has stopped.

Useful contacts

Backpackers Club – www.backpackersclub.co.uk

National Parks – www.nationalparks.gov.uk

National Trails – www.nationaltrail.co.uk

Ordnance Survey – www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Outdoor Industries Association – www.outdoorindustriesassociation.co.uk

Tips for enjoying adventure holidays

Posted on June 27, 2011 by John Traynor

Our top tips will help you make the most of your adventure holidays and to travel safely and comfortably.

Aim to keep your passport with you at all times; don’t hand it over to strangers. A photocopy kept separately (with a copy of your medical insurance) means numbers and references are easily available for reference and backup.
Have enough appropriate medical expenses insurance to cover all the activities you’re likely to try.
Pack versatile durable clothing that dries quickly. Light layers made from modern high performance fabrics offer flexible comfortable options that are easy to manage.
If you’re likely to need it, take plenty of insect repellent and sunscreen.
Pack your own small first aid kit that covers your particular concerns. If you need glasses for reading, pack a spare pair of cheap ‘off the shelf’ specs as back up.
Choose luggage that is sensible for your trip – rucksack, travel pack or duffle; each has its advantages depending on how you’re travelling. A daysack is really useful for excursions and carrying smaller items.
Pack a tough, easy to fill water bottle plus your own water purification preference.
Tourism Concern – www.tourismconcern.org.uk – has details of UK tour operators with clear policies on locals’ rights and working conditions.
Adventure Travel Live is an annual show in London that is a great event for anyone planning an ‘off the beaten track’ travel adventure – www.adventuretravellive.com.

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