As a map addict I love pouring over these things and obviously have a ton of OS maps in a box under my bed.

I’ve gone through countless Yorkshire Dales OS maps on my travels and even the active maps – designed to be used in harsh conditions – are showing signs of wear.

I’ve also tried Harvey maps, BMC’s mountain maps and a route guide to Everest base camp when I was thinking of bigger things.

Strumpshaw, Singleton and Giggleswick’s maps are hardly designed to be used on the hill – as a route finder they’re pretty much pointless – but that’s the point. This epically, well-researched sheet, is packed with information about adventure across the country giving lots of  scrumptious ideas for itchy feet!

Yes, it would be way too easy to say it’s bit of a gimmick; I guess it is in a way,  but it’s absolutely stuffed full of ideas for adventure all over this Isle.

The map is a hubris nudger and would be great for kids looking to find out more about the UK.

The post Marvellous Maps appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

It’s a collection of ‘gear’ that works for me and my recommendations for a comfortable night on the hill.

Ideally, I’d like to go a little bit more lightweight and perhaps look at what I wear more closely but I’ve no complaints yet.

That’s a lie of course … the one thing I struggle with on a bivvy is keeping my legs warm! I’ve been in my bag with thermals on, and my day clothes, socks to the knee etc, but still not found something that works!

Bivvying is pretty simple. Turn up late with a  stove, sleeping bag, bivvy bag, sleeping mat and off you go.

Throughout these pages you will have seen  Alpkit  mentioned a lot in my posts and there is a reason for that. They are a UK brand, some of their gear is made here, and they seem to understand the practicalities of being outdoors. Their stuff isn’t flashy; it is designed for a job and ideal for what I want.

They are a superb starting point if you want to go and bivvy – and offer great bundle prices too.

The majority of my gear is from them as the price range is ideal for my budget and it matches my needs perfectly.

The Numo is a lightweight sleep mat  that rolls up and fits in the bottom of my pack. It weighs in at 400g and is ideal for two-season use. I reckon if you wrap up well, it covers everything other than winter. A sleep mat is important as if you don’t have one, you’re asleep on the ground and no matter what the weather, you’ll get cold. Trust me. It’s also a lot more comfortable!

I also use a  Hunka XL for my bivvy bag. Yes, a tent would make more sense at times – or a tarp at least – but you simply get in, flip yourself over, tighten the draw string and don’t worry about the weather. It’s withstood a fair amount of rain this bit of gear has and, as you can see from the pics below, a Yorkshire Dales frost too. It comes in at 500g too, which is next to nothing.

The only downside for me would be that once inside it, it can get a little sweaty as the condensation from your breath has a tendency to linger. I’m sure there’s a way around that though. Perhaps I shouldn’t consume as much whisky before sleep as a do.

With that in mind, Glenmorangie, Talisker or Tobermory are must haves.

Inside the bivvy, I use a Vango Ultralite 600 – it’s discontinued now and a bit heavy at 1.2 kg if I’m being truthful. The mummy design doesn’t quite work for me too so I will be looking to replace it soon.

It all packs into a Berghaus Torridon 65 backpack;  a cracking pack for backpackers but probably a little too big for single overnighters.

Cooking wise, I use Alpkit’s  Brukit (my version is now discontinued), Kraku and  Kelvin, as they are  light, practical and affordable. I only ever tend to cook packet meals like Mugshots anyway with extra tuna so they are great alongside a ‘spork’ of some kind.

I want to get into cooking my own meals from scratch using the Brukit – recipes appreciated!

There are other things I carry too – water in a Nalgene Bottle (great to use as a hot water bottle on a cold night), Sawyer water filter, Rab Mummy Silk Sleeping Bag Liner for my sleeping bag, inflatable pillow, Alpkit head torch (plus spare), a first aid kit and some  SealSkinz  socks.

Then, I have all my photography gear including Manfrotto light tripod and GoPro.

It probably is way above the weight I should be carrying but it works for me and I do look before each trip at shaving a bit of weight off.

On your first trip I guarantee you’ll have the works and be stooping on the way to your bivvy site. I did just that but I’m sure I’ve lost a quarter of that weight now!

It’s worth it … just check out the image at the top of this page.

So what do you use and what would you recommend? Get in touch here.

Sign-up to the Mascarandy Newsletter here.

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It’s amazing how a change in circumstances can kick start a love affair with something that is in your very core.

I was thrown a massive curveball recently; feeling you’re invincible is checked somewhat as you hit 40-years-old but in my head I was always in my mid 20s anyway and I thought my body was too.

People who know me would be surprised to read that – I have an odd taste in music (alternative country…) and like whisky for one.

But things change, road blocks and potholes (hmmm, potholes) come from nowhere and every set back is a chance to reflect and think about what lies ahead.

I know these are clichés but I’m working through some alterations in how I perceive myself and readdressing my values going forward.

Getting outside is always a chance to reconnect and when I sleep under the stars, I feel very privileged to be part of something that is bigger than day to day life.

Tarn Hows was the ‘venue’ of choice this time round – it’s near Ambleside in the Lakes (check it out for yourself). After having a couple of beers in the Drunken Duck Inn, myself and my mate Johnny headed down to the Tarn and went around 400 metres (anti-clockwise) until a spot was found near the ‘shore’.

Eerily quiet, camp was set up under the trees and food cooked on my trusty Alpkit Brukit – finished off using the ultra-lite Kraku.

Bats circled overhead as ducks and other wildfowl serenely crossed the water in front of us. We then spent probably 20 minutes or so, in silence, just watching the light fade and taking in the scene. Meditation.

It’s probably the most relaxed I have been on a bivvy and had a superb night’s sleep as a result. I’d inhaled the landscape and it had peacefully brought me back down to base and soil. The perfect medicine.

Next morning was warm and after packing up we took a walk around the tarn before Johnny indulged himself in a bit of wild swimming.

I’d not seen Mr Hartnell do this before and I have to admit I was jealous. I’m not a swimmer, and far to self-conscious to get my gigs off in public, but watching him off his in own world brought home just what nature can do for you.

Privileged.

I used some of his footage in the video below to give you a flavour of what it is all about.

Back in the car we were both pretty quiet – very unusual for Johnny as it happens – but it seemed that this was the perfect bivvy and we were both trying to digest it.

A reset button for the soul.

Next…

People ask me why I bivvy, walk mountains and go caving… it’s probably pretty obvious from my blog posts.

I’ve had some shocking nights under the stars – this Silverdale trip for one – but the walk back from that camp was worth the pain alone.

Caving takes you to places not many people go… and it’s NEW. On each trip you feel you are the first person to scramble along those passages. It’s exploration in its purest sense. Off the map, off the grid.

Bivvying is all about travelling light. Getting set up and then getting away in the morning. It is also closer to the earth, water and air. Tents are great but you cannot get the connection to the land as you do with a bivvy.

Kit…

Kit is simpler too. A stove, sleeping bag, bivvy bag, sleeping mat and off you go.

I talk about Alpkit  a lot in my posts too and they are an ideal starting point if you want to go and bivvy.

Most of my gear is from them – the Numo, Brukit (my version is now discontinued), Kraku, Kelvin, Hunka XL are superb additions to my kit list.

They are light, practical and affordable.

My sleeping bag is a Vango Ultralite and it all packs into a Berghaus Torridon backpack.

I’m aiming to upgrade my bag at some point but for now it does the trick.

There’s other things I carry too – water in a Nalgene Bottle (great for hot water to use as a water bottle on a cold night), Sawyer water filter, Rab Silk Liner for my sleeping bag, inflatable pillow, various pieces of clothing, Alpkit head torch, hip-flask and a first aid kit.

Food wise it’s simple. Can of Tuna and some Pasta Mug Shots. Coffee sachet and porridge for the morning.

Then I have all my photography gear including Manfrotto tripod and GoPro.

Some of the above will be overkill for true ultralite specialists, other bits are essential…

I’ll blog further about my gear in future articles.

Gallery

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Heading out of Ingleton late in the evening, we arrived in Windermere with plenty of time to find a car parking spot in what is notoriously a busy place… and to get to the pub.

The Crafty Baa was the drinking establishment  of choice and we herded in as soon as we could.  On entry ewe’re hit by how small the gaff is, no bigger or wider than a terraced house and it has two floors. Heading to the bar you choose from a menu on the left for various craft beers (too much choice for me!) and a small number of ‘taps’ on the right.

The craft beers went down pretty quickly – you can see the pictures below – and after finishing off four the plan was made to head up Orrest Head to find a good spot. The idea was to catch the stunning views from the top and a starry sky.

My kit list contained the usual – but I’d attempted to lighten up a little.

Sleep system was the Vango Ultralite 600 sleeping bag  with Rab Mummy Silk Sleeping Bag Liner. I set this on an Alpkit Numo Sleeping Mat and slotted the whole lot into their wonderful Hunka XL.

Food wise I’ve found these great packet Mac and Cheese Mug Shots that I’m a little too obsessed with and added some Tuna. All cooked in my Alpkit Brukit. Sadly, Alpkit don’t make my version of the stove now. I did have their little Kraku stove just in case too.

Oh and after the scalding water incident on my list trip, I got the Brukit a stand too… oh and put some SealSkinz socks on too.

The whole lot slotted into a Berghaus Torridon 65 alongside the usual camera gear, GoPro and various warm clothes.

The evening was pretty decent; the moon was out and you didn’t need a head torch to walk up the trail and pitch a spot.

But that’s as good as it got as around 3am the hail came in leaving a very uncomfortable sleep until the morning.

The Hunka is waterproof but with the hood over my head, the condensation of my breath made the inside a little damp. I suppose the moral of the tale is not to breathe.

6am came and it made sense to get up and take in the view. It was grey, wet, incredibly windy but blooming superb!

Bivvies may not be perfect… mine never are really, something always seems to happen, but that view, that solitude in the morning, is worth every suffering.

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When a text message says: “It could be wild” as you’re prepping for an impromptu bivvy, a wise man would type back: “Let’s give it a miss and watch Euro 2016 instead.”

Yes, clearly I didn’t heed that advice as this would have been  a poor blog but  even in hindsight, typing this with a cold and still finding bits of damp clothing, it was the correct decision.

The plan was to head to the Lancashire coast, near Silverdale and pitch up near Jenny Brown’s Point to take in the sunset.

The trip up should have set alarm bells ringing. The M6 was at a standstill at 33 and it took more than an hour to shift.

In the end myself and Johnny Hartnell arrived  in Silverdale just as the Euro final started.

The Silverdale Hotel is a nice boozer; spacious  throughout and a really hospitable landlady. She had only been at the pub for three months but you could tell she loved the area, even though she’d not had a chance to explore it yet.

However.

Two hours later torrential rain was still smashing into the conservatory but we’d gone past the stage of no return (too many beers to drive home –   see Ribblehead bivvy) and we had to set out into the wild.

The road down to the beachside was peaceful; the shore glistening on the right hand side and even though the weather was bad, you could see the lights from Morecambe and beyond.

Once the road and path came to a halt, we continued  to walk along that coast, trying to avoid the slippery limestone (I didn’t – ouch) before reaching grass banking for easier movement.

We then threw a left up to Heald Brow and took the path up the hill. This was more akin to  a waterfall but whether it was the Guinness talking up my bravado it was negotiated with ease and in little time.

By the time it  got close to midnight we realised we’d have to pitch somewhere. We’d been searching for the perfect spot, but bivvying never is that exact.

Tarp attached to a tree looked good, but the rainwater ran into where our sleeping bags would be.

Johnny had also left his walking poles by his car which made  erecting said shelter more difficult. It was a dire situation really… until…

“Stay there, I’ll be back in a second,” was Hartnell’s  shout.

Now, I’m used to stuff like this from him … normally followed with a “marvellous” or a “fantastic” afterwards.

In fact, Johnny has the ability to be over enthusiastic when faced with any task. It’s bloody annoying as it happens. But useful when you’re wet and fed up.

Five minutes later, he informed me he’d spotted a “five post” gate and we could attach the tarp to it.  Result.

The groundsheet then went down, my Vango Trek 5 sleeping mat came out and it was a case of trying to make the best of what was a grim situation.

Thankfully, my Rab silk sleeping bag liner and Vango Ultralite  600 did the trick, alongside my trusty Alpkit Hunka.

Sleep came quickly, as did the slugs that decided to take up residence on my face and inflatable pillow. Enough said.

In the morning, the rain still fell. My Alpkit Brukit was fired up (still sounds like a jet engine) and porridge forced down before we decamped and headed back the way we came.

The walk back to the pub was superb. Although it was raining, the mist created an almost gothic background to proceedings and gave the coastline more character. Like most bivvies, I felt like I was the only man alive as I made my way back.

This is a beautiful part of the north west and I watched birds wading in the mudflats with only their calls and the sound of the rain creating the acoustics. I was cold, wet and in pain but totally happy with my lot.

Myself and Jonny often joke about other people being locked away in their houses and tucked up in their beds when we are bivvying. It’s often tongue in cheek because of the poorness of our situation.

But you know what, at times like that it’s worth the dampness and the suffering alone.

Kit Wants / Update:

• The Vango sleeping mat needs to be upgraded to a lighter and smaller version. Looking at an  Alpkit Airo 120  or Alpkit Numo. Have you any thoughts?
• It’s time for my own tarp.
• I need some Sealskinz socks.
• When will someone make a better instant porridge?
• Aquapac would save my iPhone!
• For a comprehensive review of bivvy bags on the market, click this fantastic article here.

The post Wild Nights appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

After a great but uncomfortable bivvy  back in March I opted for a Vango Trek Standard  sleeping mat alongside a Sawyer Mini Filter so I wouldn’t have to carry as much water.

I also camped in a Vango Atlas 200 as well.

The VANGO TREK STANDARD  is self-inflating and offers great protection against the ground. It takes around 15 minutes to inflate, but I left mine for the afternoon when I first used it to make sure it was properly unfolded and inflated. It’s pretty light (860g) too making it ideal for backpacking on a budget.

Alongside my Vango Ultralite 600  it did a decent job of keeping the cold out, but to be fair this was Buttermere, in June. It would have been a godsend on that cold night in my Hunka in the Dales.

It’s just a shame it’s bright red though.

I’ve been looking at water filters for many years after carrying two Sigg litre bottles up Ben Nevis, alongside a full plastic bottle and an overflowing Platypus bladder. It was hard work up the peak, especially as I decided to break new boots in as well. Yes, I was that stupid.

I’d seen the SAWYER MINI FILTER  advertised by Terry Abraham  – they are one of his sponsors – and thought I’d give it a go. You can see the cheesy pic of me below with said filter testing it on the way up Haystacks.

As its name suggests, it’s a small filter (65g) which attaches to a pouch. You fill the pouch with water and suck, squeeze or pour it out of the filter. Simply find a mountain stream, or water that is at least moving, fill and sup.

Obviously, a stream up in the hills will have cleaner water than most…

The filter  has a 0.1 micron hollow fibre membrane. It lasts for 100,000 gallons too apparently and can even be attached to other bottles instead of the pouch.

The water I took from the  stream tasted great and to be honest I probably would have drunk it without using the filter. But to be sure I used it – especially as there are a lot of sheep about. It was clean, quick to use and the back washing process to clean is pretty simple. It’s a great piece of kit.

Finally, the last new piece of gear I had was the VANGO ATLAS 200  – a nice little birthday present!

It is designed for two people but with sleeping mats and bags, big backpacks  and boots etc  I have no idea how that would work and be practical – especially if you couldn’t get outside because of the weather.

It would certainly be cosy.

For one person it is ideal – but if there are two of you a triangular piece of groundsheet, on each side,  between the inner and flysheet  is ideal  for boots and things like that.

It’s heavy though at 3.25kg – but  I’m sure you wouldn’t feel that if it was packed correctly across your backpack.

As you can see from the pic, it has an unusual shape – more dome like – and perhaps more sturdy as a result under wind. It took a fair while to put up – as it was my first time – and the shape meant I wasn’t ever sure whether it was up correctly or not. It certainly kept the weather out though with no condensation inside.

It has plenty of ventilation too. In the ‘roof’ there are two adjustable ports to allow air into the tent and mesh at the top half of the ‘doors’  either side.

There’s plenty of guide ropes, hooks, loops and  velcro in and out to make sure it stays attached to the ground; and to make sure the  flysheet stays in contact with the tent itself.

And there’s four pockets – two ‘north and south’ of where you’re sleeping as well as one in each opposite corner – for your bits and bobs.

The pegs supplied were pretty poor though so I got some back ups and they did the trick. There also aren’t  enough to go round but don’t let that put you off this tent if    you see one online.

Vango says it is discontinued now but I’m sure Amazon and places like that will have a few.

It’s likely I’ll use this tent on my Mountain Leader training course  so I’ll be able to give you more of a detailed review once I’ve carted it about for a few days.

If anyone wants me to test their gear then please get in touch  – I’m particularly interested in walking boots that provide innovative cushion support for feet and good quality stoves.

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