The freedom of nature

IN THIS ISSUE

Meet some of the folk who made this mag…

Celebrating experience

For polar pioneer Felicity Aston, science and adventure go hand in hand – but above all she is driven by the humility and wonder inspired by being in the most extreme places on the planet

WALKS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Most walkers fit in their adventures around ‘ordinary’ life, but the world’s biggest trails demand more. To spend months tackling an ultra-long ‘thru hike’ often requires making big changes to normal routines and responsibilities – and in some cases, the change can last a lifetime…

VIEWS WITHOUT QUEUES

Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is the UK’s most popular mountain – yet there is solitude to be found if you know where to look. Francesca Donovan and her partner go in search of quiet places on a camping trip encircling the entire massif – without once touching the busy summit

How to share backpacking adventures(and both survive to tell the tale)

Besides the company, there are some logistical benefits to sharing space in the outdoors. Here’s how hiking with a friend or your significant other can bring significant gains

THE 52-NIGHT QUEST

Are year-long backpacking journeys possible without abandoning work and family responsibilities? Parent, husband, backpacker and Colorado resident Andrew Terrill finds out

COUNTLESS, NAMELESS, AND WILD

Arctic mountain guide Willem Vandoorne summons all his experience to tackle hazards and harsh terrain on a month-long solo journey through the dazzling wilderness of southwest Greenland

GEAR

News from the world of outdoor kit, and product reviews from the UK’s most experienced gear-testing team

NEW REVIEWS

Chris Townsend puts exciting and interesting new gear to the test

SOLO BACKPACKING TENTS

Our equipment editor and backpacker extraordinaire Chris Townsend casts his expert eye over tents for one.

BACKPACKING PACKS

Chris Townsend and Francesca Donovan review big packs for big trips

MEN’S BACKPACKS

TESTING CONDITIONS Chris tested these packs on trips

Ullswater Valley, Lake District

“I woke to the pre-dawn light about 4.20am.

Trashing the environment

Emma Schroeder points the (plastic) finger at our coastline’s polluters

KATE SIELMANN mountaineering & trekking coach

Kate shares hard-won trekking tips – with a little fear-busting humour – so more people can confidently adventure at altitude

Readers’ page

Share your views, your experiences and your favourite

Natural highlights in the hills this month

PINE MARTENS

James Gibson completes the ‘Big Three’ winter trilogy

There are three Big Rounds in the UK

EVENTS CALENDAR

June 2023

To fix the ecological crisis, we need a new way of seeing

Lack of ecological awareness means many British people are oblivious to how degraded our natural environment is. For Mary-Ann Ochota, solving that means starting close to home…

Why Welsh places need renaming– in Welsh

Many beautiful Welsh place names have been lost – so the restoration of Welsh names for national parks is a welcome step towards the preservation of one of Europe’s oldest languages, argues Will Renwick

Dartmoor Walking and Camping

Published by Pesda Press, £19.99, paperback THERE HAS

BEN MORE ASSYNT

The highest mountain in the wild, sparsely populated landscape of Assynt makes for an unforgettable day out, says Jim Perrin

SEARCHING FOR HOPE

Feeling overwhelmed by the climate crisis, Stephanie Killingbeck embarked on a LEJOG with a difference: to visit community environmental projects throughout Britain in search of connection and inspiration. And on the way, the simple act of walking proved to be its own source of hope...

WOMEN’S BACKPACKS

TESTING CONDITIONS Francesca tested these packs on a

WALKING BOOTS ON A BUDGET

Chris Townsend rounds up a selection of budget walking footwear, perfect for anyone working within a certain price range or looking for their first pair of hiking boots

10 varied routes in Scotland, England and Wales

’Tis the season to go walking! The days

WILD WALKS

Our walks this month 1 Carn Liath &

Carn Liath & Culardoch

Cairngorms SCOTLAND

Merrick

Dumfries & Galloway SCOTLAND

Martindale

Lake District ENGLAND

Lingy Hut

Lake District ENGLAND

Bowscale Fell & Bannerdale Crags

Lake District ENGLAND

Cwm Caseg

Snowdonia/Eryri WALES

Arenig Fawr

Snowdonia/Eryri WALES

Kinder Low

Peak District ENGLAND

The Two Moors Way

Devon ENGLAND

Wild Tor & Cranmere Pool

Dartmoor ENGLAND