A Look At The April Issue Of The Great Outdoors

The April issue of The Great Outdoors has just been published. In it I have a review of Alex Roddie's The Farthest Shore, the story of a wild night in the Cairngorms, a comparison of three rugged smartphones, and reviews of the Rab Generator Alpine Jacket, Arc'teryx Beta LT jacket, and a couple of cold-weather Tilley Hats. Also in the gear pages Alex Roddie reviews seven smartphone navigation apps.

In the main features David Lintern walks the Cape Wrath Trail, James Forrest attempts the Dales High Way in winter, Hanna Lindon picks out ten UK long-distance hiking routes, and Mark Waring goes hammocking on the Finnish taiga. 

The issue opens with a tremendous double page spread of skiers on Braeriach in winter by James Roddie. In shorter pieces Alex Roddie describes a circuit of Kinder Scout, adventurer and expedition leader Chaz Powell shares stories of his trips in a Q&A, there's a look at oudoor clothing as fashion, mountaineering instructor Mike Raine gives his view on some controversial path repairs in Snowdonia, also in Snowdonia Jim Perrin praises Carnedd Elidir, and James Forrest gives some tips on blister prevention. 

In the Wild Walks section Keith Fergus climbs Stob Binnein in the Southern Highlands, Ian Battersby climbs Helm Crag and High Raise in the Lake District, Andrew Galloway has a coastal walk round Strumble Head in Pembrokeshire, James Deboo takes tracks to Malham Cove and Malham Tarn, and Vivienne Crow climbs Cold Fell in the North Pennines.