How Ramblers Benefit by Joining a Rambling Club

I know that if you are out hiking I can fully see the joy that ramblers have. You will know how great it is to get outdoors, to challenge yourself to either height or distance and immerse yourself in the wonders of nature. Also of course it is a great way to exercise. Just ask other ramblers

That is whether you hike, are one of the ramblers or just walk often. You may be new to this and not confident to venture out. Or you may be on your own and want more company

However ramblers need to organise there hike. If you do this on your own you will need to work out where you want to go, what route you wish to take, where you wish to stay and who will go with you.

So a really simple solution to these type of problems is to join a Ramblers Club. There are many benefits. When you first join a Ramblers club they usually allow you to ramble with them to ensure you are happy with the club and they are happy with you before joining.

Fitness does come into it but you can ramble at the pace you need to. You must never or allow anyone else to hike or ramble at someone else pace unless you are ready for problems.. A Ramblers Club will take this into account. You will also be with very like minded people who love the great outdoors. Rambler Clubs are usually well organised, will have a list of great routes and do most of the preparation and organisation.

It is a personal choice to join a ramblers club. My personal choice is to hike with friends and family. However other people have different circumstances and a ramblers club might be the thing for them

Looking at the favourite search engines there are many clubs that ramblers use which are very localised to each area. Some Rambling Clubs consist of just a handful of members whilst others are greater in number and who meet regularly for walks, talks and socialising. These groups usually welcome new members as they share a common like for walking and rambling.

The way that clubs are organised is that they have different grades of hikes or walks and It is up to the individual which walk they wish to join. The decision here will of course very much depend on your level of fitness compared to the difficulty and length of the hike and your experience

You can be a rambler on your own and many people enjoy hiking in their own groups. This is what I usually do. After all hiking can be enjoyed however it is organised. If you do not have a like minded group of friends and want to join other Ramblers then a Rambling Club could be a great way to enjoy this excellent pastime.

Hiking Gear You Need to Take on a Ramble Or Hike

OK so we are going to go hiking. Before you do you need to understand what hiking gear you will need to take with you. The camping stores are full of lots of hiking gear that they want to sell you and lets face it – you want to buy (just like me).
However some important things you will need with you and for you to consider when deciding what hiking gear you need.

1. Rucksack. Sounds obvious but you want a quality rucksack when hiking. There are different sizes of rucksack depending on the type of hiking you are planning. You also need to investigate how to pack a rucksack as this is also very important and has a big impact to your positive or not so positive hiking experience. This is really a subject of its own and this is just a quick note to guide you in the right direction. However you need to concentrate on packing the heavy items at the top with easy access to the things you may need first (such as waterproof clothing etc). Also I suggest you go to a camping store rather than buying on line unless you are confident on exactly what rucksack to buy. The camping store will guide you on a one to one basis as deal with all types of hiking gear.

2. Clothing and waterproof gear. You will need to take at least one pair of complete clothing depending on the number of days you are hiking for. Whilst your clothes can get wet they should be resistant to absorbing water (i.e not jeans) and it is better to take a number of thin jumpers than a thick jumper. Also please remember 80% of heat is lost through your head - so a hat to insulate your head from the cold is important. In addition most importantly buy some good quality waterproof gear. A good raincoat (not thin) and waterproof leggings is essential to keeping dry and safe on a hike – this is especially in England where I hike. This hiking gear is very important for a hike.

3. Hiking boots. Essential item to your hiking gear are hiking boots. You need strong boots for the tough trail ahead. Your boots should support your ankles as well as your feet. Make sure they are comfortable and fit well. Also make sure that you wear your hiking boots a number of times before you use them on the hike. This will help prevent blisters - not very nice. If there was one thing you had to concentrate your money on as part of your hiking gear I would say good quality hiking boots.

4. Map, Compass. It is obvious but you need to know where you are going and plan your route and have a map and compass. It is an essential aspect of your hiking gear. It is also very important you know how to use them

Go to my blog on links in this article for a free report on a compass

Get it here

You need to know how to read a map and how to set a map using your surroundings and a compass. Again important part of your hiking gear.
This is not a complete list of all the hiking gear you need to take on a hike however it is a start for the main essentials.

The above hiking gear will help you to prepare for a fantastic and memorable hike. Have a great time!

What to Wear When You Are Outdoor Hiking - From the Top Down

Well its great to go on an outdoor hiking experience. However like anything worthwhile there are problems to overcome. The problem I have seen many times is that people that are going on an outdoor hiking experience for the first time, do not wear the correct clothes. Or they just don’t know what to wear.

Wearing the right clothes does not mean you have to get the credit card out again every single time. However it is important for safety reasons and for comfort reasons for wearing the correct outdoor hiking gear. You just need to follow some simple steps. So I have out together something that I wish I had for the first time and I believe will be useful – what to wear on an outdoor hiking experience from the top down.

1. The top - your head. A lot of your body heat is lost through your head so wear a thick woolly hat to keep you warm.

2. Your torso. People believe they need a nice thick jumper when you are outdoor hiking. This is not the best idea. To insulate from the cold you need to wear a number of thin layers of tops. The reason for this is that you can have some form of heat control (take off or put on layers until you are at the right temperature).

Also and more importantly the air between the thin layers will act as a heat insulator and will keep you warmer when you are outdoor hiking. In summary a number of thin layers is better than 1 thick jumper.

3. Your trousers. Need to be light and strong and also need to be non absorbent in case they get wet from the rain or falling in a stream (not Corduroys or Jeans). I always wear army greens as they are very strong, dry very quickly and are light. In addition army greens have many pockets and handy to keep the small essential items when you are outdoor hiking. So look out for these at the camping stores. However jogging bottoms should be OK.

4. The bottom - your feet, most important. Of course you need good hiking boots but also 2 pairs of socks, one thick pair and one thin pair. This will help stop blisters as the socks rub together and not your skin. The thin pair should be worn first.

Of course make sure you have the right waterproof gear. So you need a waterproof top, trousers and gaiters for your feet. Also make sure this is very handy for the sudden downpour – not at the bottom of your rucksack when outdoor hiking

Finally when you are outdoor hiking make sure you have at least one change of extra clothing. If you are outdoor hiking for 2 days take clothes for 3 days and so on. You absolutely never know what Mother Nature has in store for you especially on the mountains which attracts the rain very easily and quickly

….. and - have a great outdoor hiking adventure.

Hiking Camp Organisation and Pitching Hiking Tents on Bad Surfaces

So hopefully you are planning a hike over the next few days of weeks. You may be hiking as a group and so at least one of you will be carrying your hiking tents – for a maximum group of 4.

After a long day of hiking you have progress off the mountains into the valley and are ready to set up camp for the evening. No doubt the group will be quite and hungry and ready to settle for the night.

You may be tempted at the time to start chilling out and slowly end the day – however this is the very time to continue to work as a group and get yourself organised. It is most important at this time for the group leader to set some tasks for some individuals to cook the evening meal and others to put up the hiking tents. The reason for this is that you may be getting cold as you have stopped and you want to chill out slowly. Also you need food as quickly as possible – do not delay these activities.

Other group members can be collecting water etc. You always need a group leader and it is ideal to take it in turns to be group leader. Its good for the group morale to change your leadership and of course the individuals

Practise at home putting up your hiking tents and therefore you will know how to do this without reading the instructions on the hike. You can also make this fun by putting up your hiking tents blind folded or in the dark - either way it is great practise for putting up hiking tents.

However you may find that the surfaces you are putting up your hiking tents may vary from camp to camp as it will not always be the same type of soil when you are hiking. For surfaces that are hard you will need to use Needle tent pegs. These are strong, light in weight and very thin. They are ideal for staking in very hard and rocky ground.

However for surfaces that are very soft then an Angled tent peg is needed for putting up hiking tents. These type of tent pegs have V shaped ridges that help grip the ground for a much better grip in soft conditions. However for either hard or soft surfaces if you are really stuck and you just do not have the correct hiking tent peg (for the surface required) you can do other things and here is an example.

What you can do to support your guy line is use a big rock or boulder. Also you can tie the guy line to a tree or anything solid connected to the ground. There are always many ways to secure your hiking tents

So work as a team when you stop for camp by sharing out the tasks but make sure you have a group leader and change this person over the hike. When putting up your hiking tents make sure you know how to put it up and take different types of tent pegs for different pitching surfaces. Above all have a great hike and a relaxing camp at each night stop.

How To You Improve Your Climbing Fitness

I normally go hiking and rambling and I am currently planning my next mountain hike. The thing is that I have put on a few pounds and will be ensuring I am fit enough for the hike.

However recently a friend of mine took me rock climbing but before he did he said to me that I needed to improve my climbing fitness. He advised me that rock climbing is a very strenuous activity and you obviously need to be fit and obtain climbing fitness. He then taught me the best ways to improve my climbing fitness. These points really helped me and I thought I would right an article so that we could all share this information. So here we go

Rock climbing whether it is indoors or outdoors requires:

1. Upper Body Strenght: Your upper body strength and pulling power in order to use your arms to pull you to the next position on the rock face. You can perform any pulling exercise in the gym to improve your upper body strength and so to increase your climbing fitness. A good example of one for climbing is what is called “pole pulling exercises”. For this exercise you need to hold on to a pole or beam in the gym and keep pulling your whole body up and down. This will increase your pulling power for climbing fitness.

2. Flexibility: You need good flexibility to ensure that you are able to reach the next handhold which could be quite a stretch away which happens many times I can tell you from experience. Also you may need to stretch your leg very high for the next foothold. So you need to be able to get into all sorts of difficult positions on the rock face. So all stretching exercises either in or out the gym are great for climbing fitness. So stretch and then hold the stretch for at least 30 seconds to ensure you are stretching beyond your comfort zone.

3. Stability: Hip and ankle stability is important for your balance on the rock face. A great exercise is where you stand on one leg and bend your leg so your body bends down to your foot. You can also use a dumb bell for better and greater intensity when you improve with this exercise. This will help train your stability and balance.

Of course going climbing itself is one of the best forms of improving your climbing fitness. This means that you may want to train in an indoor climbing wall using various climbing routes which is good when the weather is bad. This will be good training and climbing fitness for the actual climbing at a later date. This will ensure that you use all the techniques required.

Some great training for the kids in the gym is climbing up a rope that has knots at various heights. This makes the exercise fun (i.e being Tarzan) and helps the child to enhance their climbing muscles and co-ordination on the rock face due to kids climbing fitness.

This of course is not the full list of climbing fitness exercises but a sample of some which will be useful

Have a great climb but please be fit and prepare your climbing fitness.

6 Main Problems and Solutions to Deal With When Trekking India

If you were to visit any trekking India website and you are confronted with great views and even better hiking treks.

India is a country located in South Asia and is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. India is 30% the size of the USA with a population of 1,173,108. However the famous trekking India locations are of course in the Himalayan mountains in the North. This is where you will find your locations for great trekking India hiking and rambling routes

However with all the wonderful things that come from trekking India there are also the challenges come with it – as always. The challenge of the Indian Mountains needs to be met with caution. It is very easy to take for granted the comforts that we enjoy in our own world and assume this is repeated in India – not true. There are problems that need to be resolved and when and before trekking India. So if you plan a trekking India trip, the following health problems need to be considered and planned for. Some are obvious and some not so obvious

1. You will be weak from your incoming flight. Your flight into India is likely to leave you tired and weak which has the potential to be a problem. So you will need to gain some strength. So climatise before you start trekking India and taking your challenge to the mountains.

2. There is the highest risk that the natural waters you encounter whilst being nice trekking India are not safe at all to drink. Again this is a problem and includes everywhere that water exists - the lakes, streams and rivers. However both snow and boiled water are safe. So during your trekking India be aware, and know what water is safe and take plenty of water with you. So a few solutions to get over this problem

3. Diarrhoea can be a real problem you can experience when you are trekking India. The best solution here is to drink large amounts of water and also bring from home some diarrhoea medication that can be prescribed by a doctor in your country.

4. The Khumbu Cough. This is caused by breathing excess quantities of dry cold air causing problems to your chest area. One thing that can help are throatlozenges that will help with this problem. So take plenty with you while trekking India.

5. Leeches reside in the Indian forests. They are known to get through socks and gaps in your hiking boots. So to remove those leaches use a butter knife to ease the leech off your skin. Ignore what you see on the films when trekking India which is burning leeches off your skin. The butter knife is the best.

6. Also consider altitude sickness. This I have written a specific article just on this alone which you can find here
So again I have tried to look at some health problems and provide solutions when trekking India. Once these solutions are in place - have a great hiking and trekking experience. Also please let me know how you got on.

Yosemite Hiking Up Half Dome Mountain - The Yosemite Hiking Challenges and how Prepare For them

Yosemite National Park is situated within the central Sierra Nevada of California. The Yosemite Valley is a large glacial area and is about 8 miles (13km) long and up to 8,000 feet (2,400 m) deep and forms a great hiking venue. Yosemite hiking is an adventurous pastime however one of the more adventurous and most exhausting and of course rewarding is the climb up Half Dome Mountain.

Firstly lets talk about the rewards first. To put it simply the climb is fantastic and has every hiking element you can expect to experience when you are Yosemite Hiking including great waterfalls and steeping climbs than you can probably walk. However without getting too carried away there are some problems and some challenges that you will need to prepare for to complete this epic journey.

This actual climb involves a 5000ft climb and takes over 16 hours to complete – so maybe an overnight stop is in order. You start in the Yosemite Valley. There is more than one route up but the recommendation is to hike the John Muir trail.

One of the reasons this hike is so great is that it takes you through great mountainous views over the Yosemite Valley. This Yosemite hiking trip takes you past a vast waterfall that could quite literary be out of this world. The final stages of the hike is bare rock and appears to be a 90 degree climb (it is not - but steep). However the climb up the rock does require man made steel cables to use as hand rails to pull yourself up. Many hikers have stated that this Yosemite hiking experience up Half Dome Mountain is a once in a lifetime hike.

Well that’s the glossy “lets do this bit” Now the problem areas you need to take notice of and prepare for.

1. It is a long strong hike and going to take at least 16 hours. So you should be aware how fit you are and act accordingly (i.e get hiking fit). Make sure you are fit so you do not put yourself and others at risk. Apart from normal fitness one of the best ways is to measure yourself on smaller hikes. It is only going on hikes you can really measure yourself as youuse difference muscles in your body and they need to be exercised.

2. Take lots of food especially when going Yosemite hiking. This is true for any hike in the Yosemite valley. This will of course keep you hydrated and keep energy levels up

3. Make sure you have adequate footwear and clothing. Ensure your boots are supported by an ankle support with a sewn in tongue.

4. The cables on the last stretch can be a problem for hand blisters. So take some gloves to prevent hand blisters

5. There is sometimes a problem at high season around the cables getting congested with long waits to get on them. So maybe Yosemite hiking up half dome should be tackled at off peak times.

6. Another big problem is that the natural water from the mountain contains Giardia, which will cause diarrhoea so take a water filter pump and sterilising tablets or just boil the water on this Yosemite hiking trip.

So hiking the Yosemite Valley and up Half Dome Mountain is a real lifetime experience filled with wonders of nature. However be prepared and use the 6 steps above to ensure your Yosemite Hiking experience is fantastic and safe.

How to Prevent Wet Feet When Walking UK

I enjoy most of my hiking and rambling in the United Kingdom (UK). Places to walk such as the Lake District, Scotland and Snowdonia are my favourite places to go on a really challenging hike. These places are great. There is however a known problem when you go walking UK.

The problem is bad weather (i.e. rain). Walking UK is different to most places around the world as you never know what the weather is really going to do. The weather can change very quickly changing a great sunny day into suddenly low cloud and unstoppable rain. The weather produces boggy areas and these areas can give you wet feet.

There is absolutely nothing worse than wet feet. As well as not feeling comfortable wet feet can lead to cold feet and possible infections such as "trench foot" when walking UK.

So here are the actions you can take prior to and during walking UK. Of course you can use this anywhere there is wet and rain. However the UK is one of the best examples where there is repeated rain.

1. You need to ensure that you have good quality hiking boots that sit high on your ankle. You should not be walking with trainers. On my last hike I saw a young girl wearing trainers while I was hiking in the Lake District up Scafell Pike and she was in trouble coming down the mountain and was taking twice as long Your hiking boots should also have a sewn in tongue to keep the water out when walking UK and help prevent your feet getting wet.

2. Wear waterproof gaiters. These are great and keep out the wet from your boot and feet (especially walking UK). Waterproof gaiters have the added benefit of fitting from your hiking boot to just below your knee so the lower half of your leg will be protected from the damp and wet. I have used gaiters a number of times and found then to be very useful.

3. Always carry spare socks. Of course if your socks get wet whilst hiking you will want to change them. When you get to camp you can dry your wet socks in a jacket while you are setting up camp and cooking dinner. This will prevent wet feet the following day. Nice tip!

4. At hiking camp keep your hiking boots inside and stored away in a dry place. I have mad mistakes before by forgetting about them and leaving them outside in the rain. Your hiking boots can then also be dried out if needed. Put newspaper inside your hiking boots to draw out the wet and therefore keeping your feet dry for the morning and therefore prevent wet feet when walking UK.

So follow these steps and avoid wet feet when you are walking UK. Above all have a great walking UK.

How To Discover and Plan Eastern Europe Walking

I love hiking and rambling and walking. Right now I am currently planning my next trip with a twist. There is so much in the natural world to view and so much great scenery to take in and really discover.

I have been hiking and researching the usual places like the Lake District in the UK, Grand Canyon and many walks in the USA (you may have seen my blog posts) and the many walks in Europe etc including the Alps in Austria etc.

I have been looking on various websites and hiking discussion forums on the internet and I have found that there is a lot more than the usual famous places. So I am looking now at Eastern Europe Walking. Is it not exciting to discover somewhere new.

I did not realise that the countries around this part of the world are so beautiful. Yes it is true that I have not yet actually been to these countries however they are now definitely on my life planner from now.

The countries for East Europe walking I have looked at are Bosnia (Sutieska), Montenegro (Durmitor), Romania and Bulgaria.

Let us take a look at Romania as a starting point. It appears that Sibiu, Sighisoara and possibly Timisoara are a great base for East Europe walking. Sibiu looks great as I am told it is a Saxon city with great beauty. As for hiking areas, the Fagaras, Retezat or Bucegi mountains look very impressive however the research will continue. As for accommodation it appears the best overnight stays are mountain huts. In Retezat the mountain huts are very basic but are very large and homely. The largest is a Pietrele hut and very impressive

Another country for East Europe walking is Bulgaria. I am told that the great walks are in Rila, Pirin or Rodopi mountain ranges.

East Europe walking costs change between countries. Croatia seems the most expensive. This is closely followed by Montenegro. Bulgaria is a bit cheaper and I am researching Romania and will update content on this later.

Again this is a short report to what I think is a great place for East Europe Walking. I am really on a discovery mission to learn a lot more and will be discussing this in various hiking forums.

However have a great hike. If it happens to be in East Europe I would be particularly interested to hear your story.

Knowing your rights of way when planning walks Britain Activities

I am amongst of the many hikers and walkers that I love to go on many walks Britain activities. Now is the time of year to get out in the sunshine and go on walks Britain. The good thing is that there are a number of footpaths that can be used all around Britain that can be used for walking. These footpaths the council have deemed "rights of way" that are made for this very purpose.

I am sure you are aware however Great Britain is a European country that is a collection of 5 separate countries England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. There are many paths that link throughout these 5 countries and offer some excellent walks and hikes. You can be hiking in the mountains of Scotland, Wales and the Lake District or having a gentle walk on the Devonshire or Yorkshire moors (some may not be so gentle). All of these add up for some pleasurable walks Britain activities.

However there is a problem. I have seen on a few hiking forums that people are not fully aware of their rights and don’t know where to walk. It is very important to know your rights to enjoy your walks Britain time.

So here are some questions and answers that may help.

1. So what could be a right of way?
A right of way is a footpath that has been deemed as a public right of way.

2. What are my rights on a particular public right of way?
Your right is to walk, rest or run or anything legal on a public right of way. However remember this is only on the path deemed as a public right of way. As soon as you move off the path you may not have right of way which is not good. So keep to the path during all your walks Britain activities.

3. How do I know if the path is a public right of way or not?
The way to do this is to go to your local surveying authority and ask for a "definitive map". The definitive map shows you the official public rights of way. However be aware that some paths are "rights of way" but not shown on the definitive map. This is because the official application has not been raised yet however is likely to be shortly. However not all footpaths are public rights of way so be careful.

4. What person or group is responsible to make a path a public right of way?
In England the county councils and local district councils together with top government (i.e. Secretary of State) are responsible for making a particular path a public right of way for all walks Britain paths

My suggestion is that when you are planning any walks in Britain then go to your local surveying authority and ask for that "definitive map". You are then in a strong position to know where to walk and therefore be comfortable planning for your particular route.

Have a really great walk!

Where to Backpack in America and on a Low Budget

I am a keen hiker and rambler together with writing articles on the subject. I love the great outdoors, the countryside and really great scenery. I also realise I am no "spring chicken" - heading toward my fifties – but not totally past it yet and still enjoy the odd hike.

However what really lights my candle is when I read about kids that have barely left high school but planning to backpack America. I suppose it is a important and difficult time in their lives where they are discovering what they want to do with their young lives. I would be proud if my kids wanted to do this around Europe or Backpack America. I think it is great that these young people are so adventurous and ambitious.

These young people (I like to call them young people rather than kids) come across 2 problems when they backpacker America. The first is money (no prizes for guessing this one) and the second is where to go. So I have been using a little experience and by surfing the internet I have been looking for answers to these all important issues and hopefully this will help when young people backpack America.

When you backpack America you are probably on a low budget. Therefore you will obviously need to stay in cheap accommodation. Hostels are the most likely and are all round and varied and more importantly cheap. So really it is not that difficult to find one at a reasonable price, at a fraction of the cost of a hotel. The other option is a tree under the stars which is completely free (although check out the safety risks first).

The buses services are quite good for travelling between locations. In particular the Greyhound is a good point to get prices especially booking a few weeks – say 2 to 3weeks in advance. For example can can find some really cheap rides from Los Angeles to San Francisco via a Chinatown bus for a relative cheap price when you backpack America.

Where are the good places to visit when you backpack America? Some suggestions for you:

1. The West side is good. This side of the country is good to Backpack America. Try and Start in Vancouver for example and get a bus down to San Francisco then via Yosemite National Park. Take a bus down to Los Angelos then through the red rocks - desert and onto the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is not far from Las Vegas however take my advice and stay clear of Las Vegas unless you want to lose your money. In my view Las Vegas is a place for spending cash and is not a place to backpack America on a budget.

2. The other option I have seen is Florida. South Beach in Miami is a lovely place especially if you like to meet some famous people. It is also great in Tampa Bay and Orlando when you backpack America.

3. The other favourite is backpacking in South America. I would recommend that a good place to start is Quito (capital of Equator). From Quito travel the gringo trail (as the route through Central and South America is known). There are la number of places to visit and lots to view whether you are doing the Caribbean beaches in the North or trekking and hiking in the Patagonian wilderness in the South.

So where ever you go backpacking I take my hat off to the young kids that want to adventure and discover themselves. Have a super journey, do not lose your shirt in Las Vegas and return home safely when you backpack America.

How to Select a Childrens Backpack and Encouraging Them to Hike

I have enjoyed hiking and rambling since I was a young boy. However now I am a Dad and I of course I have brought up my two boys to also love hiking. I was looking forward to buying my kids their hiking gear and in particular - a childrens backpack. However I had a problem of encouraging them to get off their computer games and go on a ramble or hike carrying a heavy Childrens Backpack, being very tired and having aching feet? – the spoils of a hike.

However I wanted my kids to want a Childrens Backpack rather than just giving it to them and selling the positive points of hiking . I did a bit of promoting by suggesting hiking was fantastic fun. You had to be grown up to hike and wear a childrens backpack. Also it was the BIG boys that like to carry the backpack. Not only did I try to verbally encourage them but also what also helped was to be a great example and hike myself. I took them on small local hikes in the area (although it was flat). I found that planning small hikes is the key to ensuring your kids grow with the pastime.

The reason I am writing this is because I have seen so many times on hiking forums that encouraging your kids to hike and wear a Childrens Backpack is a problem for the best hikers I know.

I also made sure they were involved with outside groups like scouting for boys. My eldest is 10 years old and has just finished a 12 mile local hike with the local scouts. He loved it

I found that by putting all the above into action we not only bought a childrens backpack for him but he cannot put it down and nearly went to bed wearing it – which was funny. Now of course I am being pestered by my youngest to buy a childrens backpack as well.

Also last year I took my kids up the Ben Nevis mountain which is the highest point in the UK. They achieved this being at the ages of 9 and 5 and yes with a childrens backpack. This year we travelled to the Lake District and climbed Scafell Pike and we loved ever moment of it

So if you want to get your children involved and enjoying hiking I suggest

1. Positively encourage your children,
2. show by example and get them involved slowly.
3. This will lead onto more adventurous things

Very quickly you will be proud to buy them a childrens backpack and being as proud as I am. Have a great Hike!

4 major points to consider when buying women's rucksacks

It does not matter if you are a man or women we all love hiking and rambling and getting out in the fresh air and getting amongst some great scenery. However whether you are a man or a woman we all need the same type of gear but there is a problem that can be gender based. Are their different types of gear required?

In particular are there different types of rucksacks required between a women and a man? If so what is the reason and in particular (in the case of a rucksack) what do women need to consider when purchasing woman's rucksacks. This is the particular question I will be covered for Women’s rucksacks

I have heard some people say that Women buy more than men and therefore all women's products including women's rucksacks are geared toward a woman's market. I disagree with this and believe that Women's rucksacks are needed for physical reasons and are different from men's rucksacks. It’s a matter of opinion
So here are differences and the areas to look for when buying women's rucksacks.

1. The shoulder straps are actually on narrower women’s rucksacks to ensure a comfortable fit however are curved to allow for the bust area.

2. The back of the women’s rucksack are generally shorter. Although just because Women's rucksacks are shorter this does not mean a women has to buy this type of rucksack. Some Women have longer backs and should look at a obtaining a man's rucksack for best fitting. It really is a personal thing

3. Women's rucksacks are built with a wider waist belt. Getting a little technical - the waist belt should ideally have a conical shape to it. This conical form is achieved by angling the belt diagonally upwards and by curving the waist belt wings. You can get women's rucksacks that contain a frontal adjuster system. This will simplify the waist fitting procedure and will add some value.

4. The rucksack frame is shorter on a Women's rucksack than a man's. When choosing a rucksack (for anybody) I suggest going to a recommended hiking and rambling shop and getting yourself measured for the right women’s rucksack.
So there are the main four points. Of course this is no way clear cut. A man could buy a man's rucksack and a woman could buy a women's rucksack and be very uncomfortable. They could swap and everything could fit nicely. There is no sure thing. However the above main 4 points are the points to consider when buying women’s rucksacks.

So I hope you buy the right rucksack whatever your gender. More importantly hope you have a really great hike and ramble wherever this may be

Some Really Lovely Ullswater Walks in the Lake District, UK

The Lake District in the UK really has some great walks. I go there quite regularly as it has some great views and super scenery. Lots of hikers and ramblers climb the highest mountains. However some people get just as much enjoyment from a nice leisurely walk in some more lowland areas. Some great lowland walks are Ullswater walks. These are nice walks which have the Ullswater Lake and the Helvellyn mountain range for super scenery

Now a bit about Ullswater to show why is offer great Ullswater walks. Ullswater Lake is the second largest lake in the Lake District with the first being of course Lake Windermere. Ullswater Lake and can offer some lovely lowland walks. So why not stay around Ullswater and I have provided 6 of the best Ullswater walks listed below.

1. Glenridding to Howtown.
In my view the top lowland Ullswater walk as its the most beautiful of the Ullswater walks with stunning views of the Ullswater Valley and Helvellyn range. It is 7 miles long and will take you about 3-4 hours to complete. This particular Ullswater walk has a wavy path and is a bit hilly but is a nice one to do. I would say the difficulty is moderate to easy. Have a go!

2. Aira force circular walk
This is a short walk and was actually developed in Victorian times. This walk quite woody and leads to a wonderful waterfall. This is the sort of place you can walk for a picnic at lunchtime. This is a walk to take your mum as its only 1 mile long and only takes an hour. Nice and easy.

3. Howtown to Pooley bridge Walk
This has great views across the Ullswater lake and is moderately easy but a longer 6 miles long and will take you 3 hours to complete – again taking it nice and easy. Some parts are a little more uphill and you need to watch out for boggy areas so take some good hiking or waterproof boots. One of the nicer Ullswater Walks

4. Lantys Tarn circular walk
This again is a nice short walk with great views of the Ullswater Valley. It is a 3 mile easy walk taking 1-2 hours. Also this one includes a boat trip which is an added extra in my book!

5. Hallin Fell Circular Walk
This one is very similar in format to Lantys Tarn. This one is a very nice rewarding walk with great Ullswater Lake views and is 3 miles long with a 2 hour timeline. This may take a little longer if you want to climb and visit the local churches.

6. Howtown to Glenridding
This is another lovely walk with great views of the Ullswater Valley and Helvellyn range. This is 7 miles taking roughly 4 hours in total. This walk has up and down hill stretches and some slightly rocky parts – again walking boots recommended on this one.

So some lovely gentle Ullswater walks. You can easily search them on the Internet for the finer details of parking and step by step routes etc. So why not travel to the Lake District, head over to Ullswater and enjoy some lovely Ullswater Walks.

What type of travel rucksack should you buy?

OK so you need to buy a travel rucksack but there are some considerations when buying a travel rucksack. The important point is the question - what are you going to use it for? At this point it can get detailed and it is nice not to get bogged down in this sort of detail and therefore I have some tips in this article. Hope it is useful

Your travel rucksack needs to be fit for purpose. Is it going to be used for hiking and rambling or travelling? You need to know as you need to understand how waterproof and strong it needs to be especially if you are going hiking with your travel rucksack. Taking a travel rucksack on holidays and just using it for travelling is not so much an issue

Make sure that the travel rucksack is nice and comfortable. Nowadays most travel rucksacks are very comfortable compared to rucksacks years ago. The good travel rucksacks now have a breathing system to allow some air to your back and help to stop you sweating. In addition the straps are now adjustable to fit not only your shoulders but adjustable so you can wear the travel rucksack high or low on your back. This is quite useful.

Most travel rucksacks which are large (not a day sack) now come with the all important belt. Your hips should take more of the weight instead of your shoulders as this is the strongest part of your body. So make sure that a belt is included. Take a look at the picture here

Get a good waterproof travel rucksack. A good feature is a rain cover complete with a zip away bag cover. So that when it does start to rain (which you need to be prepared for) then you unzip your rucksack rain cover and cover the rucksack for rain protection. Again a useful feature. However some hikers do say that a handy top pocket is wasted by the rain cover. I suppose it is a personal trade off – pocket or cover? What is your choice?

What I do is keep my contents of the travel rucksack dry by using a plastic bag in the travel rucksack. Therefore I use this for waterproofing and shy away from the waterproof cover. However some people like it so I have included it.
Another great feature is a unique movable bio system which means as you bend or twist, the pack remains upright. This means that the centre of gravity remains the same reducing the risk of falling or loosing your balance – good feature.

I personally like a large number of pockets. Pockets make it easy to store and retrieve the smaller but things like map, compass, emergency whistle, pocket knife etc.

Have a great hike or travel well and enjoy your travel rucksack as its all part of the fun.

Which Route to Choose to Climb Mountain Snowdon

Mountain Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales with a height of 1085m (3560ft) is. I live in the UK am a keen hiker and rambler I have climbed Mountain Snowdon a number of times. Each time has been great as Snowdon offers superb dramatic views.

Now there is a problem when you climb up Mountain Snowdon. The problem is that there are a number of routes up Mountain Snowdon and the question is always is which route is the best to take? The right answer for you depends on your personal circumstances and hiking experience. However to help you find the right route for you here are a few routes listed and the hiking suitability up Mountain Snowdon

Route 1. The 5 mile Llanberis path. The path follows a lot of the railway going up Mountain Snowdon. This route is the flattest but longest route with a slow but steady climb. So this maybe for the beginner hiker and could be the route for you. However being a beginner hiker, do not forget to learn what gear to take and wear etc especially navigational aids such as map and compass.

Route 2. The Crib Goch ridge route. This is the most challenging and to be honest dangerous route. Crib Goch is a peak next to Mountain Snowdon and has very sharp rocky sections across to the Snowdon peak with very steep drops either side. This route is for the thrill seeker and not for the faint hearted or beginner hiker. I have travelled this once and once only. Be careful on this one!

Route 3. The Miners Pyg track route. This route starts at Pen-Y-Pass. This route is quite flat until you get to some sharp and steeper sections later on. The route is really the best compromise between a challenging and starter route (between route 1 and route 3)

Route 4. The Mountain Snowdon Train ride. Yes - the option for the people who do not want to hike but still want to get some scenary in. There may be some hikers who don’t approve but I cant not see the problem by taking the train. For the mechanically minded the train however is quite an impressive piece of engineering.

In terms of safety there is a local mountain rescue team close by.
So Mountain Snowdon has a lot to offer with a lot of choice. Snowdonia is a very impressive area. By choosing the right routes will suite your needs (including the train option) it is possible to reach the summit and have a great time doing it but at your pace and with your preferred route.

5 Great Ways To Avoid Blisters On Ramblers Holidays

You can really do some great hiking on ramblers holidays. You know the positive points are that it is great you feel the sun on your cheek, out of the city you can feel the fresh air flowing through your lungs, you can see the wonderful scenery.

Trouble is your feet are aching like mad because of a painful horrid blister. Blisters that help spoil ramblers holidays!

OK so the good news is that this can and should be avoided. You can actually enjoy ramblers holidays and hike for miles without that blister problem by following a few simple steps.

The first thing to remember is the importance of your footwear - walking boots and socks. If you are going to spend lots of cash make sure that you have the quality walking boots and socks you can take away on ramblers holidays. I may sound like an old man but modern day hiking boots and socks are much better quality than they were some 10-20 years ago due to the modern advances – I am impressed.
However if you have read my articles before you will know that I advise that it is not always wise to buy directly on-line. You need to go to a store and ask for really expert advice and even try your hiking gear (boots and socks) on so you can make sure your boots and socks are comfortable and fit well. All good preparation for ramblers holidays

The second point is not to wear brand new hiking boots before you go on ramblers holidays. Your new walking boots will need to mould to your foot. The best way that you can do this is to wear your walking boots a number of times before going on ramblers holidays. This way your feet will be a great mould for your walking boots and therefore help restrict movement in the boot and prevent blisters on ramblers holidays.

The third point is that you must look after your feet whilst you are hiking with ramblers holidays. When I first started hiking I made it a rule not to look at my feet. Very wrong. Make sure your feet are dry and have sufficient some air. You know when a blister is about to form when you feel a slight pain or irritation when you are walking on ramblers holidays. The best thing here is to tell your team you need a stop and give your feet some air by removing your hiking boots for a minute or two. So don’t by shy. Other people will be doing the same.

The fourth point is don’t get your feet wet. Thick socks will keep your feet wet and after a while you will have a blister. You can buy some hiking gaiters. These are great and will keep you feet dry.
The fifth point is wear 2 pairs of socks that will rub together when walking rather than your bare feet. One pair should be thin and be worn first. The second should be thick and should be your outer hiking sock on Ramblers Holidays

So enjoy your hike. Enjoy each element. However avoid any blisters and have a fantastic hike during ramblers holidays.