walkhighlands



Gear review: Berghaus Fast Hike Trousers

Recommended Price: £95 Weight: 320g I’ve been testing these lightweight trousers over the last three months. Whilst they are not the lightest I’ve worn, they seem extremely robust – showing not even the slightest signs of wear so far; the very lightest trousers are likely to wear out much faster. The Fast Hike Trousers are well tailored and not cut as baggy as many walking trousers – so do try them on to ensure you don’t end up with a pair too tight on the thighs; they are available in mens and womens and a variety of lengths as well

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Posted in Gear reviews, Magazine, Trousers

Gear review: Keen Wanderer Low WP walking shoes

Recommended Price: £109.99 Weight: 1280g pair (size 10.5) I’ve been a fan of Keen Targhee walking boots for a few years now; my feet are wide across the toes and I’ve always found them extremely comfortable on the hill. So I was interested in trying out these trail walking shoes (which are also available as a boot). The first thing you notice is the weight – at size 10.5, a pair weighs 1.28kg, which is comparable to many boots. This helps make them feel very sturdy – almost clumpy; the uppers are suede and nubuck leather with a generous padded

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Posted in Footwear, Gear reviews

Gear review: Rab Vapour Rise Pants

Recommended Price: £105 Weight: 403g (large) We’ve been having a serious cold snap this last week or so – the perfect conditions to don a pair of softshell walking trousers. In the past I’ve often just worn a pair of slightly thicker standard walking trousers with thermals underneath and then overtrousers if things turned really cold and windy. These Vapor Rise trousers from Rab provide more luxurious warmth when the mercury really begins to fall. The outer fabric is Pertex Equilibrium, which provides good protection from the wind, whilst the insides are lined with a microfleece fabric. The design is

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Posted in Gear reviews, Magazine, Trousers

Gear review: Berghaus Ghlas softshell jacket

Recommended Price: £100 Weight: 525g Sizes: Small to XXL Softshell jackets are generally much more breathable than hard shell waterproofs, providing some warmth and wind resistance whilst also fending off light showers. This means you can leave your waterproof jacket in your rucksack ready to put on over the top when the rain really arrives, and wear your more comfortable soft shell for the rest of the time. The Berghaus Ghlas jacket fulfils this function admirably. With a fleecy fabric on the inside and a smooth outer, the jacket is a little stiffer and more substantial than some softshells but

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Posted in Gear reviews, Jackets

Review: Mammut Broad Peak IN Hooded Jacket

Recommended Price: £240 (widely available for less) Weight: 460g The Broad Peak IN Hooded Jacket from Mammut provides lightweight down insulation with a very small packsize. The jacket contains 125g of down – 10% of it goose down – but the high fill power of 750 cuin means that the Broad Peak provides a high level of insulation. The outer fabric is windproof Pertex Microlight with a water repellent finish, ensuring the jacket can be worn as an outer layer in dry conditions as well as as a mid layer. I’ve found very little down leakage through the outer, a

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Posted in Gear reviews, Jackets, Magazine

Rockfall reported on Cruach Ardrain

A large rockfall has been reported on Cruach Ardrain, with slope slippage and debris left on the path that descends towards Stob Garbh. Rab Anderson of the SMC has said that more unstable debris remains, and any walkers descending this route – or traversing across towards Stob Garbh from Beinn Tulaichean – would be passing through the line of fire. The Walkhighlands route on Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean does not traverse or descend this slope.

Posted in Access issues, News

Noup Head photo on Walkhighlands inspires new Dundee V&A

A photograph taken by Phil Turner for Walkhighlands has been revealed as helping to inspire the design of the new V&A building in Dundee. The photograph was originally taken by Phil when researching the Walkhighlands route at Noup Head on Westray in the Orkney Islands. The internationally renowned architect of V&A Dundee – Kengo Kuma – revealed that the photograph helped inspire the building during a short documentary. The photo can be seen in the video below at 2m19s. The new V&A building – costing £80.1 million – is the centrepiece of Dundee’s Waterfront and is set to open in

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Posted in Magazine, News, Walkhighlands news

Clock change increases deer risk on roads

As the clocks turn back this weekend, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is warning motorists that collisions between deer and vehicles peak at this time of year. With night falling earlier, the peak commuting time coincides with deer coming out to feed on grass verges near roadsides. Because of this, SNH – in conjunction with Transport Scotland and Traffic Scotland – are placing warning messages on electronic variable messaging signs (VMS). From Monday, 30 October to Monday, 20 November, the signs will warn motorists at key locations on the main trunk roads. These messages will be seen on signs on the

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Posted in News

Gear review: Hilleberg Nallo 2 GT tent

RRP: £835 (£695 for the Nallo 2 version with the smaller porch) Weight: 2.9kg including bag and pegs (2.4kg for the Nallo 2) Colours: As well as green (as pictured) the tent is available in red and sand. I’ve had long experience of the smaller Hilleberg Nallo. One of these tents was our home as we walked 4,000 miles across Europe for 11 months during 2003-4. Weighing in at around 2.4kg, the tent was of reasonable weight for the interior room it gave for 2 (more than 6 foot long inner tent) – whilst being stable and tough enough to

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Posted in Camping, Gear reviews, Magazine

Review: Mammut Lithium Zip 30l backpack

RRP Price: £85 Weight: 960g For days out in the Scottish hills this summer I’ve been testing this 30l pack from Mammut. Unlike most others I’ve used the Lithium Zip doesn’t have a lid, instead simply having a top zip opening, and I’ve found it very convenient enabling rapid access to the contents. Beside this main top zip is a zippered compartment lined with fleece; inside this there is a good rain-cover that ensures that a covering lid isn’t missed when the weather takes a turn for the worse. There’s also plenty of room in this top compartment for other

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Posted in Gear reviews, Magazine, Rucksacks


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You should always carry a backup means of navigation and not rely on a single phone, app or map. Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is every walker's responsibility to check it and to navigate safely.