Stackpole and Beyond, Wanders and Wonder in Pembrokeshire

Easter often marks a time for new starts, although for us it’s also become a season of gentle returns. Two years ago, we explored a different stretch of the Pembrokeshire, tracing sea cliffs and coves further north. This year, we returned to Pembrokeshire southern coastline, a place I hadn’t visited in nearly two decades. The …

Walking the Peaks from Edale to Chesterfield

With some big walking trips on the horizon, we were keen to get a long hike under our belts. Something to get the legs moving and the feet re-acquainted with distance. I’d had a linear walk in mind for a while and there’s something especially satisfying about linking landscapes with public transport, letting the route …

Crowden Clough, a Bivvy and Grindsbrook Clough Microadventure

An evening escape from everyday life can be every bit as rejuvenating as a full weekend away, if you know where to find it. For me, that meant a post-work dash to catch the train to Edale, then scrambling up Crowden Clough on Kinder Scout beneath a sky that would soon fill with stars. I …

Taming the Moelwyns: A Winter Wild-Camp with Dad

21–22 February 1998: It’s a trip I’ll never forget. My first true foray into winter wild camping. I was nineteen, fresh from the routines of university life, feeling equal parts eager and apprehensive. My father, always keen to explore Snowdonia’s quieter corners, chose the Moelwyn range. A region steeped in industrial heritage and overshadowed by …

Eclipse and Towpaths. Finding Magic in the Everyday

Sometimes, the best days begin with a simple intention and unfold into something quietly magical. Yesterday was one of those days. The plan was straightforward: start with a peaceful morning yoga session and see where the day might take us. What followed was a beautiful mix of cosmic spectacle and local heritage with a partial …

National Outdoor Expo 2025

Our Weekend Adventure at the NEC in Birmingham. A Friendly Warning and an Early Start I should probably begin with a friendly heads-up: brew yourself a good cup of tea or coffee before you dive in, as this turned into quite a long tale! Like all memorable adventures, my weekend at the National Outdoor Expo …

Wild Camping, Freedom and Access Panel at the National Outdoor Expo

A panel discussion at the BMC Stand at the National Outdoor Expo 2025 On a packed Sunday afternoon at the National Outdoor Expo, a group of us gathered at the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) stand for a panel discussion on one of the most hotly debated topics in the outdoor world, and one that is …

First WUMC Trip: A Fresher’s Baptism of Fire

When I signed up for my first trip with Warwick University Mountaineering Club (WUMC) in the autumn of ’97, I pictured a weekend of peaceful cragging, fresh air and a chance to make new friends. What I got instead was a chaotic convoy, boisterous hut games and a Land Rover painted like an ambulance. Back …