Is there really space for another Peak District guidebook? A few friends asked this as we passed around a brand-new copy of Graham Hoeyās Peak District Gritstone (published by Vertebrate Publishing last April). The answer, we decided, depends on the guidebookā¦ As it turns out, thereās definitely room for this one. Original route descriptions…
Thereās nothing like a surprise blessing of a pregnancy to stop you in your tracks and make you look at the world around you. This was particularly strange during 2020 going into 2021! From changing seasons to changing hormones, the unfolding of my pregnancy alongside one of the oddest years ever has been a constant…
When you pick up a walking route card or guidebook, you expect to read line after line of dry directions. Turn left at the stile then descend down to a bridge. Cross the bridge and turn right… But when I picked up the Sheffield Round Walk Guidebook, I accidentally read the whole thing from cover…
In 2021 International Women’s Day asked us to #choosetochallenge. Here in the outdoor industry there is a gender gap. For there to be more women working in the outdoors and as instructors and guides there needs to be more women climbing, mountaineering and hillwalking full stop. So, to play our own small role in forging…
On this Sheffield walk Hati takes us on a 5 mile loop from Redmires Reservoirs to Stanage Edge. Walk or run this route at your leisure! Up on the outskirts of Sheffield, theĀ Redmires Reservoirs were built between 1833 ā 1854 to provide clean drinking water for the ever-growing Sheffield population. Despite their clashing, crashing industrial…
Do you enjoy or endure night navigation? Hati shares how she built her confidence and discovered the freedom of going solo on the moors by night. (For more general advice on night navigation, read Chris’ blog on Top Tips for Night Navigation). I left my Hill and Moorland Leader training brimming with excitement about almost…
With this lovely spell of sunny weather at the beginning of April I decided to treat myself to a new pair of shorts. I wanted something not too technical that I could potter about in and maybe use for some rock climbing and bouldering so the Patagonia Stand Up shorts seemed a good choice. Iāve…
This is a up-dated version of a post on clothing and equipment for Scottish winter walking and mountaineering first published in 2017. Not much has changed but some brands have some new kit that I have now included in this up-date. BootsPossibly your most important items of clothing and equipment for Scottish winter walking and…
There isn’t very much to say about chalk bags. You put chalk in, tie them round your waist and go climbing. a chalk bag is a simple item of equipment. However I found myself really liking this one and have felt compelled to write a few words. Built to Send are a small, UK based…
Pulling on Youāve checked RAD, packed your kit and walked to the crag, finally itās time to get some real rock climbing done. Hang on, where are all the holds? Which ones do you use? Where are the crash pads and the permadraws? Rock climbing outdoors presents its own challenges and can be hard to…
The law of the crag Youāve settled on your destination and youāre on the way to the crag. Sorted. But before you rock up and pull on, make sure your crag etiquette and behaviour is up to scratch.Ā Stuff thatās perfectly acceptable at the climbing wall may not be good practice at crag. This is…
Alleviating Depression through Climbing I’m feeling the need to get out on rock. There is an Interesting article here from the American magazine Climbing talking about how rock climbing can be used to focus the mind and help with mental health and alleviate depressionĀ https://www.climbing.com/news/can-climbing-be-used-to-treat-depression/ I don’t know about true depression, but I do know that…