A Look At The August Issue Of The Great Outdoors

In the August issue of The Great Outdoors I review six backpacking stoves, Alex Roddie reviews six two-person tents, and Fiona Russell and John Manning review a pair of budget sleeping bags apiece. There are also reviews of the Highlander Women's Ben Nevis 52 Litre Rucksack by Lucy Wallace and the Alpine Parrot Ponderosa Trousers by Mary Ann Ochota.

In the main features Vivienne Crow looks at seven mountain challenges including the Cuillin Ridge, the Cairngorms 4000s, the Lakeland 3000s, and the Welsh 3000s. Alex Roddie goes west to east along the challenging Aonach Eagach in Glencoe. Roger Butler explores the Stiperstones, a beautiful and fascinating corner of the England/Wales border. In Switzerland Richard Hartfield takes the new Via Glaralpina trail round the Glarus Alps and meets the volunteers who built it. 

Also in this issue Creator of the Month is artist and writer Bryony Ella, Francesca Donovan reviews Wild Service: Why Nature Needs You edited by Nick Hayes and Jon Moses, in the Opinion column Debbie North says improving accessibility does not mean paving the landscape, Jim Perrin recalls learning rock climbing on Helsby Hill in his Mountain Portrait, James Roddie looks at things to do in and around Inverness, mountain leader Keri Wallace gives advice on moving faster in the mountains, and in her Notes from the Edge Emma Schroeder laments our lack of biodiversity. 

In Great Walks Ian Battersby goes scrambling on Stac Pollaidh in the NW Highlands and has a gentler walk on Windy Gyle in the Cheviots. There are four walks in the Lake District. Vivienne Crow explores Rannerdale Knotts above Crummock Water and Sheffield :Pike and Glencoyne above Ullswater. Also above Ullswater Alex Roddie climbs Place Fell. The fnal Lakes walk is Norman Hadley on Beda Fell above Martindale. Great Walks then jumps to Wales where Francesca Donovan explores Holyhead Mountain on Anglesey, Fiona Barltrop traverses Pen y Fan in Brycheiniog/Brecon Beacons, and Roger Butler follows paths over the Sugar Loaf in the Black Mountains. Finally down in Surrey Nike Werstroh visits the Devil's Punch Bowl on the Greensand Way.