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Great Glen Way prep & kit

Russell Anthony

Kit list for the Great Glen Way 29th April – 6th May 2022 All set for Friday! Somehow managed to get it all in my Exos 48L! Might still thin out a few items though, plenty of food stops on the trail and the weather forecast is improving so I might just go with a poncho rather than full waterproofs. Anyway a tad over 10kg isn’t too bad. Pitched the tent in the back garden just to make sure it’s good to go. Compared to my West Highland Way kit I’ve switched my rucksack from the Montane Trailblazer to the … Continue reading Great Glen Way prep & kit

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New additions…

Russell Anthony

Sierra Designs Cloud 800F 35°F Sleeping Bag I’ve recently upgraded my Alpkit Skyehigh bag to this Sierra Designs bag. I’m a side sleeper so find normal side zip sleeping bags quite restrictive, whereas the Sierra Designs bag is zipless with a duvet-like flag that is perfect for me. I especially like the ability to put my feet out of the bottom through a clever opening. I get really hot feet at night so this has been a marvel! This isn’t a 4 season bag and for me, someone who sleeps cold, I wouldn’t want to be using this under about … Continue reading New additions…

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South West Coast Path – Part 1

Russell Anthony

South Haven Point to Weymouth This is Part 1 of my South West Coast path walk, starting at South Haven point in Studland Bay. This is officially the ‘End’ of the SWCP but I’ve decided to follow the path in the other direction. The plan was to walk the 37 or so miles from South Haven to Weymouth over 3 days, albeit the first day shortened substantially after the travel to get there. I took a while to get to the start point, Train, Tube, Train, Taxi, Ferry but having got to the start point I was greeted with glorious … Continue reading South West Coast Path – Part 1

Long Distance Trails, Scotland, West Highland Way1 Comment

West Highland Way – Part 3 Kingshouse to Fort William

Russell Anthony

Day 7 – Kingshouse to Kinlochleven Woke up feeling slightly worse for wear so was slow going packing up my gear and getting moving this morning! It was a misty start which made a pleasant change from the stifling heat of the past few days. Who would have thought the heat would be my main concern in Scotland! The path was easy to follow along the line of the old military road to the start of the ‘Devil’s Staircase’. It was a difficult climb made even more so by the swarms of midges that gathered on me every time I … Continue reading West Highland Way – Part 3 Kingshouse to Fort William

Long Distance Trails, Scotland, West Highland Way1 Comment

West Highland Way – Part 2 Beinglas Farm to Kingshouse

Russell Anthony

Day 4 – Beinglas Farm to Tyndrum The shop at Beinglas opens at 0730hrs so I was first in the queue eager to get going with some supplies on board. I’d snapped one of my trekking poles on the tree roots section the previous day so as well as having a strangely lopsided trekking pole Lanshan tent the night before, I needed to source a replacement from Tyndrum. I’d not really used 2 trekking poles before this trip but after 3 days walking it now seemed alien without 1 of them. It was hot today, really hot and was due … Continue reading West Highland Way – Part 2 Beinglas Farm to Kingshouse

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West Highland Way – Part 1 Milngavie to Beinglas Farm

Russell Anthony

Day 1 – Milngavie to Conic Hill I’d been planning to walk the West Highland Way for some time, I’d watched countless YouTube videos, read the guide book, bought the map and set out my itinerary. To say I was excited is a massive understatement! I arrived into Glasgow late on Friday night, a day earlier than planned due to engineering works scheduled for the following day. This meant I was able to get an early start the following morning. A quick train from Glasgow Queen Street to Milngavie, followed by a swift coffee and bacon roll at Costa and … Continue reading West Highland Way – Part 1 Milngavie to Beinglas Farm

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West Highland Way load out

Russell Anthony

West Highland Way 2021. Kit for my West Highland Way walk during August 2021. Just got to get it all in a 44L pack! With food and water comes in at 10.5kg which I’m pretty happy with. Update: A few ‘on reflection’ comments regarding some of my kit choices: Montane Trailblazer 44L pack. I bought this to keep my kit to the minimum and took this instead of my normal Osprey Exos 48L pack. In hindsight I wish I’d taken my Osprey, don’t get me wrong the Montane is a decent pack, but it just didn’t sit comfortably on my … Continue reading West Highland Way load out

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Peak District – July 2021

Russell Anthony

First time in the Peak District and what a place! This was the second weekend away with my full pack in prep for the West Highland Way. Thought I’d try to replicate some of the landscapes, albeit on a smaller scale…! Spent day 1 at Ladybower reservoir doing a 11 mile loop around the main part. Odd to see the remains of villages that were flooded to make the reservoir back in the 1940s. Pretty easy walking and was back at the car by early afternoon which gave me time to pop to the Alpkit store in Hathersage before heading … Continue reading Peak District – July 2021

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Stow on the Wold – Boughton on the Water. 2 days in the Cotswolds

Russell Anthony

Managed to catch a break in the weather to spend a couple of days in the Cotswolds prepping for my West Highland Way hike in late August. Found a free 72hr Car Park in Stow so was able to park up and head off with no fumbling around for change for once! Headed out from Stow past John Entwhistle’s (The Who) old place on the outskirts of town through Lower and Upper Slaughter, stopping at the Black Horse at Naunton for lunch. Very muddy, very boggy – tough going with a full pack! After a cheeky couple of San Miguels, … Continue reading Stow on the Wold – Boughton on the Water. 2 days in the Cotswolds