backpacking
Hands-on: Trailpix ultralight tripod
Important update: please read my follow-up review. Lightweight backpackers who are serious about photography face a dilemma: tripods are heavy. I’ve tried various solutions over the last couple of years, but I think with the Trailpix I may be on to a winner. The problem There’s no getting
Footprints over Ingleborough: field notes
In the April 2017 issue of The Great Outdoors, available now, you’ll find my feature on backpacking a classic circuit over Ingleborough and Whernside in the Yorkshire Dales. Here are a few photos that didn’t make it into the article. I walked this route in January, but the
Ten top tips for winter backpacking
The British mountains are at their most spectacular in winter, but also at their most challenging. Multi-day missions with nights out in the wild can be particularly hard on you and your gear. UKHillwalking contributor Alex Roddie is a big fan of long solo walks. Here are his top pointers
Gear notes from a night on the dunes – Tread Lite Gear, Oookworks & more
Last night, armed with a few new items of gear to test out, I went for a wild camp on the dunes by the coast. I managed to capture a few good images, too. I’ve camped here before. In June 2016, I took my lightest wild camping gear for
The times when I’ve gone ‘stupid light’
A couple of years ago, I read an article by Andy Skurka called Stupid Light: Why light is not necessarily right, and why lighter is not necessarily better. I’ve always tried to pack intelligently, rather than just aiming for the lightest possible load, but I’ve been guilty of
Thoughts on summer sleep systems
Two years ago, I bought a new sleeping bag and thought it would be ideal for every backpacking scenario. But now I find my needs diversifying, and I’m looking for a new – and much lighter – option for summer trips. The Rab Neutrino 400 The sleeping bag I bought in
Naeboots on the Cape Wrath Trail
Alex Roddie describes his experiences walking Scotland’s greatest long-distance route… with nae boots. This article was first published in The Great Outdoors Magazine, October 2015. ‘You’ll never make it across Knoydart in those flimsy shoes, mate. And that lightweight tent’ll be ripped to shreds.’ Another backpacker had
New UKHillwalking feature: Three Days in the Cairngorms
In November 2016, I walked a 37-mile route through the Cairngorms, staying low level and avoiding the tops due to a huge dump of new snow. Although it takes in no summits, this route has plenty of interest to hold the backpacker’s attention. Here’s an overview map of
My top photo of 2016
I’ve seen a lot of blog posts from people listing several of their top photos from 2016 recently, but I’m not going to do that here – I’ve already shared my #2016Top3 on Twitter. I’m going to share just one picture with you. This is not my
Backpacking the Alder Trail – a mini-guide
E-BOOK DOWNLOAD LINKS: EPUB / MOBI The Alder Trail is a challenging 101-mile backpacking route between Fort William and Aviemore, taking in several Munros and a wide variety of wild country. It was first described in the November 2016 issue of Trail Magazine. Here is a brief guide to enjoying and