The Great Outdoors August issue

Here's a brief look at what's in the latest issue of The Great Outdoors. Following Emily Rodway's departure this issue is edited by online editor Alex Roddie, who's currently away hiking the Pyrenean Haute Route. Next month new editor Carey Davies takes over.

This issue has details of The Great Outdoors Awards 2019. Get your nominations in!

My gear review is of fourteen sleeping mats ranging from minimalist closed cell foam ones to thick insulated ones as comfortable as your bed at home. Also in the gear pages Judy Armstrong reviews six pairs of women's lightweight boots.

The opening spread is a lovely misty dawn photo of Suilven from Stac Pollaidh by James Roddie. 

The BMC's successful Mend Our Mountains fundraising campaign (organised by TGO's new editor) offered various prizes, including days out with well-known walkers and climbers, or, in the case of Alan Rowan, a night out. Alan describes how the bidder for the night walk with him was Carles Ibanez, who he'd met in a bothy a year earlier. There's an interview with Carles too.

Following the 40th TGO Challenge organisers Sue Oxley and Ali Ogden (who did the Challenge herself this year) look at what makes the event so special.

Jim Perrin looks at Lakeland outlier Black Combe, a hill that inspired writer Harry Griffin, in his Mountain Portrait column.

Up in the Highlands Cameron McNeish writes about Kinlochleven as a perfect base for for walkers.

In Snowdonia Sarah Stirling goes swimming in mountain lakes and describes her favourite lake walks.

Daniel Neilson is in Snowdonia too and the Peak District and the Cairngorms as he goes in search of places with the devil in their name.

Tom Prentice has written a new guidebook to the Cuillin on the Isle of Skye and describes the explorations he undertook researching the book.

In the Lake District rain cuts short an attempt by Paul Beasley to follow a river to the sea.

Alex Roddie returns to the Mettelhorn in the Alps after a decade and finds that the retreat of the glaciers has changed the landscape greatly.