guides

14 articles

guides

How to Navigate with Map and Compass: A Beginner's Guide

Navigation is the foundation skill of hillwalking. Everything else, choice of route, decision-making in bad weather, getting home safely, depends on knowing where you are and being able to work out how to get where you’re going. The good news is that map and compass navigation is not complicated. The principles are simple and can be learned by anyone. What takes time is practice, the ability to read terrain quickly and navigate fluently comes from time spent on the hill with a map in your hand.

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Best Day Hikes in Snowdonia for Beginners (2025 Guide)

Snowdonia, or Eryri as it’s now officially named, packs an extraordinary amount into a relatively compact national park. From the jagged ridges above the Ogwen Valley to the wooded valleys of southern Snowdonia, the variety is remarkable. Every walk here feels distinctly Welsh: the light is different, the rock is different, and the names are unlike anywhere else in Britain. If you’re new to the area, it’s easy to feel drawn straight to Snowdon.

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What to Wear Hiking in Scotland: A Practical Kit Guide

Scotland is spectacular. It’s also frequently wet, windy, cold, and unpredictable in ways that catch underprepared walkers off guard. Every year, mountain rescue teams in Scotland respond to callouts involving walkers who underestimated how fast conditions deteriorate above 600 metres. This isn’t a reason to avoid the Scottish hills, it’s a reason to go prepared. The right kit makes the difference between a memorable day and a dangerous one, and the system isn’t complicated once you understand it.

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guides

10 Best Day Hikes in the Lake District for Beginners

The Lake District needs no introduction. England’s largest national park draws millions of visitors a year, and it’s not hard to see why, every ridge reveals another valley, every valley leads to another lake, and on a clear day the views stretch further than you’d believe a country this small could offer. But if you’re new to hill walking, the Lakes can feel intimidating. The peaks are serious mountains, Scafell Pike, Helvellyn, and Blencathra all demand proper experience and equipment.

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