The November issue of The Great Outdoors is out now. I review five men's synthetic insulated jackets and Lucy Wallace reviews five for women. I also review Helly Hansen's Lifa Active Solen base layer and some tasty coffee bags from Ridgeline.
There's a big feature on pub walks with five writers - Francesca Donovan, Jon Sparks, Andrew Wasdale, Andrew Galloway, and Hanna Lindon - giving their best hike and hostelry pairings in the Peak District,the Lake District (two here!), the Cotswolds and Glencoe. They all sound excellent. Also featuring a great pub is James Roddie's account of a walk in Knoydart in the Western Highlands. The Creators of the Month are in Knoydart too - Sam and Matt Humphrey who make craft ales at the Knoydart Brewery.
There's also a special feature on mountain photography with excellent advice from James Roddie plus favourite photos from James and three other top outdoor photographers - Sophie Carr. Alex Nail, and David Lintern - with the stories behind them.
In the other main features James Forrest tackles a trio of airy scrambles on Blencathra, Stefan Durkaz undertakes a tough backpacking journey tracing the almost-forgotten Comyn's Road across the high moors between Atholl and Strathspey, Vivienne Crow explores the limestone mountains and dramatic gorges of the Costa Blanca, and Bella Falk explores the volcanoes of Guatemala.
In shorter pieces Mary-Ann Ochota, in the first of a regular series, ponders the dilemma of where to build wind farms, 82-year old Nick Gardner is intereviewed on climbing all the Munros over the last two years, Jim Perrin pays homage to The Merrick in Galloway, and Mountain Leader Lucy Wallace gives advice on how to plan a route.
Finally, in the Wild Walks section Craig Weldon climbs Rois-Bheinn in Moidart in the Scottish Highlands, Ronald Turnbull walks the Ettrick Head Horseshoe in the Southern Uplands, Vivienne Crow links Longsleddale and Kentmere in the Lake District, and Andrew Galloway visits Hollingworth Lake in Greater Manchester.
The article about the Merrick was very interesting for me personally as this Hill has been my home from home for many years.I first walked up it in my early teens and fell in love with the Hills of the area.A read for anyone would be i suggest The Merrick and the neighbouring hills by McBain.A truely sensational part of Scotland.Thank you.
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