Gear review: Rab Vapour Rise Pants

Posted on December 12, 2017 by Paul Webster

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…

Posted in Gear reviews, Magazine, Trousers

Gear review: Berghaus Ghlas softshell jacket

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Paul Webster

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…

Posted in Gear reviews, Jackets

Review: Mammut Broad Peak IN Hooded Jacket

Posted on November 25, 2017 by Paul Webster

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…

Posted in Gear reviews, Jackets, Magazine

Rockfall reported on Cruach Ardrain

Posted on November 4, 2017 by Paul Webster

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

Posted on October 28, 2017 by Paul Webster

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…

Posted in Magazine, News, Walkhighlands news

Clock change increases deer risk on roads

Posted on October 26, 2017 by Paul Webster

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…

Posted in News

Gear review: Hilleberg Nallo 2 GT tent

Posted on August 30, 2017 by Paul Webster

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

Posted on August 19, 2017 by Paul Webster

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…

Posted in Gear reviews, Magazine, Rucksacks

Our Pick: walks from the Snow Roads

Posted on July 15, 2017 by Paul Webster

The Snow Roads is a 90 mile scenic route from Blairgowrie in Perthshire to Grantown-on-Spey in the Highlands. It includes the highest public road in Britain as well as several other passes which may be familiar through their regular mentions in winter traffic reports – as this is the snowiest part of the UK. The Snow Roads can be used as a superb touring route in its own right, or as an approach to the incredibly popular NC500 route around the northern Highlands. Although the distance means that the Snow Roads can easily be driven in a day, to do…

Posted in Magazine, Our picks

Threat to new beaver family in the Highlands of Scotland

Posted on July 13, 2017 by Paul Webster

A family of beavers found living on a river in the Beauly area in the Scottish Highlands are to be trapped and put into captivity following a decision by Scottish Government Ministers. Trees for Life, the charity which discovered the group, says the family should either stay where they are or be relocated locally. Film from camera traps set by the conservation experts from the charity in mid-June clearly show the presence of a mother and at least two young kits swimming and playing with their mum. Trees for Life shared news of the discovery with Scottish Natural Heritage and…

Posted in Nature