Living in Europe

Ever thought about a weekend in Berlin? We did and we went. What an amazing city. I feel very lucky that I live in Europe where you can just hop on a plane and within a couple of hours you can be at any of the wonderful, historical European cities. Read the Walk and Travel Berlin Travel Review.

I do keep thinking how lovely it would be to live in Australia or New Zealand, where there is a lot less people, much more open space, warmer weather, but you just can't hop on a plane and literally within a hour you are experiencing something totally new. A new culture, a new way of life, new, food, new language and at the moment new money!

Some people have their favourite European city, but I find this very hard to decide upon. There are so many of them and they are so beautiful in their own ways. Each one giving you something different at each turn. I managed to see a fair number of them on that age old tradition for young people called Inter Railing, where you get a month long train permit and cram in as much adventure as you possible can - seeing as many of the 30 countries that you can now visit and for only £145.

I can't remember how many we visited, but it was full of fun and adventure, from being robbed and locked up in Morocco to being thrown off a train in Baden Baden (we didn't know it's historical significance back then) to standing up on an overnight train to Amsterdam - and still managing to fall asleep!

Not sure what the next European destination will be - there are so many to choose from and we now have a little baby in tow. Good job we now have a baby backpack. Having just watched Vicky Christina Barcelona, Barcelona is high up on the list, but hey, I'm sure it will be a fantastic trip where ever we go.

Child Carriers and Devils Dyke

What a glorious day, the sun was shining and some friends had just moved to Poynings. For those of you who don't know Poynings, it nestles in the lee of the fine hills that forms the South Downs National Park. Putting two and two together we gave them a ring and headed down to look at their new house and get a stroll on the South Downs.

There was another opportunity here as well. Jack, our baby was now just over 6 months old, and ready for his first trip up the hills in his baby backpack. The baby backpack of choice was a Vaude Swing Child Carrier. I'd not used one before, nor had I actually adjusted it, before we went out, to fit me -not to worry though, this can be done on the hoof. Jack is a very patient baby when it comes to his fathers inability to organise things.

Our friends Mark and Liz have a cute little cottage in the middle of the village, about a 2 minute walk from the Royal Oak pub, which suits them well. I would like to say that within a 2 minute walk you are out their front door and up on the South Downs, but I really do think it is quicker than that.

It was time for Jack to saddle up and for us to get our walking boots on. The baby backpack was quick and easy to adjust, a simple tweak of the buckle that holds the seat in place and Jack could get perfect views of the back of my head. A quick tug on the straps of the rucksack back system and the baby backpack was perfectly fitted. Sadly jack wasn't too keen on being put in, hoisted up, hoisted down taken out, and going through this three times. Patient he his but I think I was pushing my luck. On the last attempt all was well and we off we went, Jack as happy as a happy baby can be. It was new and exciting for him, he was 6ft tall and loving it!

We walked round the back of their house and across a very muddy field taking pictures of chickens and old tractors and followed the path up through the chasm that the Devil dug out in his bid to flood the Sussex Weald. Mark was already genning up on his local history and informed me that this used to be a play ground for the Victorians. In all my years of coming to the South Downs and walking in this area I didn't know. It is great the things you find out about your local area when you are doorstep travelling.

Across the chasm the Victorians strung a wire bridge and the ladies that dared to cross would drop stones 80m to the valley floor below. You can still see the brick remains of the pillars that held the bridge up. The baby backpack was comfy and we traipsed up to the Devils Dyke pub. Now if you have been there, you may agree that this is a little bit of a sight for sore eyes -but a welcome stop off point for a hot pudding and a pint of Ale. I'm sure the Victorians would have had something a little better up here.

Fed and watered (well, aled) we headed off for the return walk. The views across the Weald were amazing, you could easily see the Hogs Back and Leith Hill way across in the Surrey Hills. This has to be one of my favourite views - across the Weald and along the steep wavy escarpment that makes up the northern slopes of the South Downs.

On the walk back down we passed the point where the old Victorian Railway climbed up the South Downs reducing the need for walking. Apparently the railway didn't make any money and within 10 years it had been dismantled, which is a shame, it would have been fun having a railway taking people to the top of Devils Dyke.

Back down and Jack out the baby backpack, we had a lovely few hours strolling around the delightful South Downs. The baby backpack was a success, Jack had about 30 minutes sleep in it on the way back (must have been the pudding and Ale in the pub!) and I found it perfectly comfortable for a three hour walk. And the history of Devils Dyke? Well, I only knew the legend of the Devil, it was great to find out some of the history of places on your doorstep.

Scout training at Lodge Hill

A cold but sunny morning awaited me when I awoke - far too early for a weekend, even though I was running late (not the best night - baby wasn't really on sleeping form, ignored the alarm clock).

It was a quick drive down to Lodge Hill Outdoor Activity centre in the heart of rural West Sussex, for two days of intense training sessions to become a fully fledged Explorer Scout Leader. The last weekend of training and that is almost it, just need to organise a camp to get my nights away permit and the hallowed wood badge, which, incidentally is now plastic. Or so I've been told. The original wooden beads on the wood badge were carved from a fallen tree at the home of Scouting, Gillwell Park, because of the massive interest that Scouting attracts from Adult Volunteers and the fact that the tree fell a very long time ago the wood is no more. Hence the plastic. Sign of the times?

I digress, but a little history of Scouting here and there doesn't hurt. One of today's modules was programmes, balanced and wholesome. We were even given a programme checker to make sure they were indeed balanced and wholesome. I wonder if Microsoft have a programme checker? The session was facilitated by the affable Tim, offering his words of wisdom from years of experience on what a balanced Scout programme should be. The Scout Association help with this, by giving you a list of zones to work to and also methods of delivery, such as talks, technology, outdoor adventure & visits.

Our small group decided to build a programme with the aim of going on a lightweight expedition. Starting with this at the centre of a spider diagram, we spidered our way out spinning the web and covering areas such as gear talks (if you want one contact Walk and Travel - Sussex and South Surrey only!), food tasting, a visit to the gym to get a fitness programme planned, first aid training, night hikes, practice backpacking weekends and using technology in the outdoors, Garmin GPS, digital mapping and laptops - after a session on traditional navigating, so compare and look at the routes we were going to hiking along.

Then more detailed planning followed and night based on food tasting was arranged. Here is our programme for a Scout evening:

• 8pm Flag break and inspection
• 8.10pm Talk on nutrition, calories need for hiking (2500 for sustenance and 2500 for the hike - though I wasn't too sure on the numbers, more research may be needed) and an interactive looking up of calories in food on the Internet.
• 8.30 Game
• 8.45 Food for backpacking laid out on a table, to include dehydrated backpacking food, wet backpacking food, supermarket food for backpacking and supermarket food unsuitable for backpacking. Scouts to put together a 24hr menu choosing the right food stuff for the expedition.
• 9.00 Preparation of the food and a tasting session and food evaluated on a score chart
• 9.30 Clear up
• 9.45 Feedback on what types of food were the most yummy and gave enough calories for the expedition.
• 10.00 Flag down.

I found this to be one of the better Scout training sessions as a balanced programme really is key to retaining the young people, developing them as people and really just plain old enjoying themselves. Think I will be using this one with my Explorer Scouts.

Take your mum travelling!

Interesting turn of events! I had heard that more and ore older people were taking Gap Year - well, I think if you are taking time out from your job or career, it is called a sabbatical. But going with you kids. . . honestly, what is the worked coming to.

Perhaps you like the idea of your Mum and Dad joining you at a full moon party on the beaches of Thailand? Perhaps they could share your dorm room in a hostel and come and get totally inebriated at some down at heel backpackers bar where you can get lots of rather strange local liqueurs or beer at rock bottom prices. . .

It would be interesting. There you are sidling over to a rather attractive fellow backpacker and she retorts, 'Is that your Mum over there?'

There are some plus points - Mum can do your ironing and cook your dinner, Dad can deal the dosh for some posh nosh. Hmm, it could work.

Fair enough, cynical look at it over. I think it can be a great idea, though, in my humble opinion, travelling is a right of passage, time to lose the apron strings and let fly your mind, body and soul, meet fantastic people, see amazing places and absorb yourself in something like never before and likely never to be again.

Some friends of mine when they they went travelling, had their parents out for a holiday, which is a great way of involving them. They get an excuse for an exotic holiday and you get some respite from a shoddy dorm and pasta again. Let's face it, if they haven't seen you for 6 months, the chances are they'll spoil you.

I'm not sure how well it will work travelling with them, but by all means have them over for a holiday, everyone's a winner.

Are you going traveling on your own? Check out Walk and Travel's top tips for keeping safe when travelling solo.

Walk and Travel: Who is Dan Mazur?

Walk and Travel: Who is Dan Mazur?

Who is Dan Mazur?

I came across Dan Mazur a number of years ago when two intrepid explorers, Rob Gauntlet and James Gauntlet were hatching their plans to scale the mightiest peak of all - Everest.

At the time, Rob and James were pupils at Christs Hospital School in the leafy depths of West Sussex. They invited Dan Mazur to a fund raising presentation evening and there he was - one of America's foremost Himalayan Mountaineers and as he said, more akin to an accountant than a mountaineer. However, I am are when you planning an expedition accountancy skills are important.

Dan was up on stage, dressed, as far as I can remember in brogues, cords, shirt and tank top - topped off with glasses. When I go to lectures by mountaineers they are usually in something at least 'outdoorsy', but with Dan it was a different image.

However this didn't detract from an wonderful evening of him talking about his exploits in the Himalaya and other greater ranges, the tales of mind over matter, body against nature to achieve his dreams and to help other achieve theirs, through work for a number of charities and taking commercial clients to the mountains.

Dan Mazur runs a commercial climbing company called Summit Climb and even has a fairly good entry in Wikipedia, something that one day, someone will do for me!

I' like to think I'm not obsessed with the man, but he does shine out - I am kept up to date with his and Summit Climb's adventures through his amazing and itchy feet inducing (and sometimes vertigo inducing) pictures on his facebook pages.

One day I'd like to think I'll be out there climbing with Dan or Summit Climb, being in the pictures, rather than just watching them from the comfort of my little office in Horsham.

What is travelling?

What is travelling?

I often wonder this. Putting a your first tentative steps together when you are a year old, going on summer camp when you are a cub, going on your Queen Scout Expedition when you an Explorer Scout, heading off on your gap year, rucksack slung over your back. Taking a year out to work abroad when you are on a career break?

Could it be something as simple as taking a drive to your local coast? Could it be a road trip around the UK? Could it be your work, taking you to different corners of the county, allowing you to drive along some incredibly beautiful road, through chocolate box villages in Sussex and allowing you to meet interesting people where ever you go?

All the national papers have a section called ‘Travel’ or at the very least offering something that could be deemed as travel. The red tops are tempting you out to the resort destinations, beaches to top up your tan, to have a drink and socialise with friends and locals. The broadsheets are offering voyages, safaris and other independent trips, asking you to consider the culture, the local people and their cuisine whilst admiring the breathtaking beauty of the desert or mountain or fjord.

I’m at a stage in life where exotic independent adventure travel is now slightly limited by babies, mortgages and a restriction on annual leave. But I still like to think I travel. I drive for my job – that’s travelling. Literally. I also have the opportunity to go to different places around the UK. Today, I’m in Alum Bay on the Isle of Wight, for a week last month I was in the Peak District, the month before delighting in the craggy, rocky environment of North Wales.

It is all travelling. To me travel is about different place, different experiences, different cultures they can be local they can be far flung. The important thing is to travel. If only on your doorstep. Become a doorstep traveller. Explore what is on your doorstep, what is in your county and what ever else your local area has to offer. You are still travelling. I’m still a traveller, even with a baby, a mortgage, 4 weeks off a year not really any money – from my first few tentative steps 36 years ago, I am still a traveller. Pack you rucksack or travel bag and always Love the Adventure.

What bag to take travelling?

Question from a customer on Travel Bags:

I've been researching backpacks for travelling around Australia and S.E. Asia, and have seen the one above (Vaude Module 40 liter) which i think may be ok?

But i need advice on this product as im not sure 40L is big enough? Do you recommend this backpack for comfort? I'm 5ft so i'm not sure if 60L would look too big, I don't want to be a walking target for muggers!

I am after one with wheels so I dont have to carry it around everywhere, but want the option of shoulder and waist straps if I go trekking. (Is this the general consensus of most people going backpacking?) I'm in two minds about this! Any advice or info you can give me on this product would be much appreciated.

Answer:

Thank you for your email and for looking at www.walkandtravel.com.

It is always difficult deciding what type of travel bag you need to take travelling - I often think the smaller the better, meaning you take less and it is lighter to carry!

Choosing the right type of travel bag is important and you need to consider carefully what you may need it for before you buy. You have said that you are travelling around South East Asia and Australia but also said that you may go trekking. If there is a chance you are going trekking and need to take a large pack with you (and all your stuff) then you need to get a proper rucksack, with a proper back system, that is padded and flexible enough to be fitted to you or you may risk damaging your back or at the very least have a an uncomfortable trek.

The Vaude Module 40 is really a wheeled travel bag and I have sold quite a number of them to people who are going travelling but won't need to take that bag trekking, usually they have a day bag that is 'hand luggage' though the module 40 should fit as hand luggage as well. The Vaude Module 40 has a very basic back system that would be fine to carry on short distances when you can't use the wheels. It is surprising how many people go travelling and you can easily use a wheeled travel bag, because you are generally in towns and cities and going from the bus or train to the hostel, usually along footpaths.

The 40 liter bag may be a little small unless you are planning on travelling very light, I would recommend a 60 liter bag as you said, but not any bigger, as you will fill it up and it will be too heavy to carry! Don't worry about looking like a target for muggers, mugging is very rare is SE Asia, it is more scamming that happens, violent crime is very minimal. And besides, you will look like a tourist no matter what bag you take! You just need to think sensibly about your security.

My summary would be:

-Think carefully about what you are likely to do - if you go trekking you will leave most gear at a hostel or base and only take a small day pack
-Think about how much stuff you want to take (you can always post souvenirs home or buy a bigger holdall if you are near the end of your trip)
-Don't worry about looking like a target - unless you are really off the beaten track, there will be plenty of other people looking like targets as well!

Of course I would say buy the bag from me, but consider the above and if you do want one with wheels, the Vaude in my opinion is one of the best. Excellent quality and stylish, I've had great feed back from other girls travelling with it telling me how jealous other people were with a rucksack or travel bag on their back!

If you do buy a bag from me it comes with a 'Be Delighted' guarantee, if you are not delighted with the bag, return it in the same condition you received it for a full refund of your purchase costs.

I really hope that helps, if you have anymore questions please let me know - I love chatting about people's travels and advising them on travel gear - running the business online doesn't generate enough questions!

Walking boot review

An interesting article (is that the right word for a feature on a TV show?) Feature, sounds better...

An interesting feature on the Gadget Show on channel 5 this evening (21 September 2009), comparing 3 pairs of walking boots.

The gruelling test comprised of a pair of Meindl Vakuum GTX, Hi Tec V-Lite Altitude Ultra WPI, along a footpath on Chobham Common - my none other than Brian Blessed. Booted up, Brian and the presenter, mooched along the footpath discussing how good the fit was etc of the boots, whilst discussing the molecular build of the leather to stop water ingression. They even went so far as to explain how the memory foam works in the Meindl Boot.

This interesting test of walking boots was topped off with a squirt of water from a water pistol thing, quite a drenching I'm sure, but really a good way to test a walking boot?

I know the Gadget Show is probably some harmless fun, but they really do need to think about how they test things, especially boots that are, in reality, in different classes of use and build quality - easily reflected by their price point.

The Salamon boot came out on top, followed by the Hi Tec, followed by the slated Meindl Boot. I hope that Bramwell International, the importers of Meindl boots will follow this up... and to be honest I'm surprised they went in for this kind of test!

May trade my Meindl walking boots in for some Hi Tecs...

Cycle touring tent

thanks for dropping by please click through for the blog post on choosing a cycle touring tent.

Rab Down Sleeping Bags - 2010 Range

Rab down sleeping bags – 2010 range

OK, so it is a little way off yet before these bags are available, but I just felt I needed to share with you how incredible they are.

Rab have been on a journey, just like most of their sleeping bags probably have been. Notching up thousands if not millions of miles around the world. From their Rab Explorer travel sleeping bags, through their Rab Neutrino sleeping bags to their range of ultimate top end bags, the Rab Expedition series. Designed to keep you alive when the temperature around you is as low as –67c, at the extreme.

Rab were taken over by Equip outdoor technology about 5 years ago and it appears that a lot of investment has been in their clothing range. Making the brand more robust, but still one of the best technical, outdoor clothing brands, never losing sight that they are probably the best designer and maker of down clothing and equipment.

The down sleeping bags speak for themselves. I’ve been using them for over 15 years now – a Rab Ladakh 600 and a Rab Premium 200. Both of which have morphed over the years. The sleeping bags have been holding their own over the years and now Rab have invested their time and money into the range.

Has anyone really worked out the ultimate angle a trapezoidal baffle should be? Rab have. With the help of Leeds University. The result? The new range of Rab Down Sleeping bags – coming to you next year. The ultimate angle means you get the ultimate loft from the down, getting the ultimate loft, means using the optimum amount of down. Not too much, not too little. Keeping the weight down and keeping the warmth up. They have even researched down migration within the construction of the bag. The result of this? Vertical baffles across the chest on some of the range to stop the weight of the down pulling it to the sides – reducing the potential for cold spots.

Not only have they optimised the construction and the fill they have added in some great features too. I think the best of these is the draw cord neck baffle, simple but ingenious. (A little like those compare the meerkat folk). The cord is placed behind the down, so tug on the cord grips and you end up with a cosy, snugly down collar. Why hasn’t this be done before? So simple…

Finally they have added a small pocket, just inside for keys, money or whatever else you deem small and valuable and can’t sleep without. Perhaps ear plugs if you have a noisy tent partner?

All this design, all these little new features, great new colours – red and orange, very mountain if I do say so and bright blue for travel bags means you need to look out for these when they arrive in the shops. Save your pennies and treat yourself to one of these long lasting beauties, keeping you warm, snug and feeling secure, whether you are on an 8000’er in Nepal or an overly air conditioned bus in Asia.

Choosing a down sleeping bag.

Choosing a down sleeping bag.

I've been looking to replace my down sleeping bag as my current Karrimor one has never kept me particularly warm. I camp in the north of England anytime from mid March to early November. Last year November was frosty at night so it can be fairly cold.

Having talked to a salesman in the lake district he advised that sleeping bag ratings are based on an average man, and don't necessarily apply to women. For women it is better to add on a few degrees. I have gone round and round in circles looking at different sleeping bags, but I seem to have settled on RAB - particularly because they are made in the UK!

I know that sleeping bags efficiency are based on body size - I am 5'7" and weigh abut 10stone, so I am not a big build and I do feel the cold. Would the RAB Atlas 750 Women's sleeping bag be suitable for the type of use I would make of it? I have also been looking at the Quantum 600, but I think this is probably over specced for what I need? Or would you suggest anything else. Any help would be gratefully received!

Many thanks, Sue

Dear Sue

Thank you for looking at www.walkandtravel.com and for your email.

It can be hard choosing a sleeping bag there is an element of confusion out there as to what warmth you should go for. From my experience Rab tend to be more accurate than others when they measure the rating of their sleeping bag. But you are right, they are based on an average male wearing a t shirt and shorts.

Women usually fell the cold more and if you have a high metabolism this can make you feel the cold a little more as well as many other factors such as how fatigued you are are, how much you had to eat, your size (if you are very petite there can be a lot of space in a sleeping bag for you to warm up!) and of course what you are wearing.

If you are buying the bag to use mainly in the summer and there is an odd chance that you will use it when it is colder you can always wear more clothes or add a silk sleeping bag liner. Silk sleeping bag liners can add warmth to the bag because of their thermal properties, but silk is also good at wicking away moisture from the body again reducing any potential cold spots that this may cause. A cotton liner on the other hand will adsorb moisture, but hold it next to your body which can create cold spots and draw the heat away from you.

The other really important aspect when choosing a sleeping bag, is thinking about the sleeping mat you are using. You can lose a lot of heat through the ground, more so that you lose though the air, through conduction. A good highly rated sleeping mat can also help with the efficiency of your sleeping bag.

One last consideration is the number of people in a tent! If you are in a three man tent on your own there is again, a lot more cold air sloshing around. If there are three of you in the same tent the air temperature will warm up considerably.

I think your choice of sleeping bag, the Rab Atlas 750 would be ideal, based on the info you have given, Rab class it as 3+ season with a comfortable temp rating of down to -12C.

If you are feeling chilly at the end of March or start of November you can always add an extra layer to sleep in. I would recommend the silk liner anyway as it will help keep your sleeping bag cleaner and you should only need to air it.

The Rab Quantum 600 is slightly warmer, going to -17c due to the better quality down that they use which also really helps to keep the weight down, weighing 1050g compared to 1500g for the Rab Atlas 750 Women's. The Quantum also uses Pertex Quantum fabric, which is much lighter. If you want a lightweight bag for back packing I then recommend the Rab Quantum 600, but for more general purpose use the Rab Quantum 750 would be better.

I hope this helps and if you have any further questions please let me know.

Sleeping Bag for the OMM Original Mountain Marathon

I am looking for a bag for omm in October , I was thinking Rab 250 endurance whats the view on need for this water resistant protection?
Also I am 5'6 tall so would I be better off with a shorter bag?

Regards, Jon

Dear Jon

Firstly sincere apologies for the late reply of the email, for some reason I missed it.

The Rab Quantum 250 Endurance is designed with mountain marathons in mind, along with the Rab AR (adventure racing) top bag.

The Endurance coating on the fabric does add another 50g to the weight of the Rab Quantum 250, taking it from 650g to 700g so if weight needs to be kept to an absolute minimum, then you may want to consider this. The Endurance coating makes the fabric waterproof, but the bag is not as they do not tape any of the seams. It make the bag ideal for things such as the OMM where there may be two of you squeezed into a very small tent such as a Terra Nova Laser Lite, where you can get condensation on your bag, making it heavier to carry the next day - then you have to make sure it gets dried out properly after the event.

The Rab Quantum series of sleeping bags is smaller all round than, for example, the Summit or the Atlas series, at 210 by 75cm, compared to 220 by 85cm. Sadly they don't do a shorter length in the Q250.

I hope this helps, if there is anything else you need to know, please feel free to ask.

The Rab Quantum 250 Endurance is now back in stock if you are still interested. It will be dispatched to you the next day after you order by Royal Mail Special Delivery, so it will be with you before 1pm the following working day.

Natures Playground

I've just had a great conversation with one of my customers about natures playground. Why do you need to take your kids to the 'offical' playgrounds with swings and slides?


Get out there, and have a little adventure that they will love.


Just go over to the woods and see what you can see. The woods are full of the weird and wonderful. Do some reading up on what flowers are out, show them some toadstalls (but remember to point out that they mustn't eat them!!), lift some rotting wood and show them the insects that are running around.


And as they get older and bolder there is so much more fun and games to be had. My customer that I spoke to had just taken her 7 and 9 year olds to Cornwall and took them walking up on the moors - they grumbled a little about the walk, but what was at the end of it? A stone outcrop - and so begins two hours of scrambling and climbing over the rocks... allowing Mum and Dad to get them thinking about re-igniting their passion for rock climbing.


I've just had my little baby and already I'm thinking about the little adventures we are going have in natures playground.

Making business worthwhile!

This is what makes it all so worthwhile...


Hi Gareth just thought I would email to say we purchased from your site because of your "about us" page. I went to the last UK World Jamboree and am just about to go to Malawi with my Explorer Unit on 25/7/09. This is my last trip with the Unit as I will be 19 and off to Uni soon. I have had some great times with them - even if my dad is the leader. Your information made a really nice personal touch to online shopping and I would probably have purchased locally had it not been for that!!
Laura


Many thanks Laura and enjoy your trip to Malawi.

New Down Sleeping Bags

Just taken delivery of the awesome Rab Summit 700 Down Sleeping Bag - great for trekking holidays and mountaineering. This fully specced down sleeping bag will keep you warm down to -17c and weighs in at only 1600g. Perfect for trekking the Annapurna Circuit and trips to the alps.

Not only that also now have the incredible Rab Quantum AR Top Bag. Is this the ultimate sleeping bag for adventure racing and mountain marathons? 200g of down on the top half and a Pertex Quantum sleeve on the bottom to slip your sleeping mat in, keeping you warm and keeping your bag very lightweight when you are out running over the fells.

Going to see how well the Rab Summit sells and may start to increase the range of them.

Have you used one? Let me know your thoughts on the Rab Summit Down Sleeping Bags, would be great to get a review of the Rab Summit 700 or any others in the range.

I want one, but have a Rab Ladakh 600 which is still going strong...

Sleeping bag for Kilimanjaro

Sleeping bag for Kilimanjaro

Hi
I'm due to climb Kilimanjaro in the next few months and need a 3-4 season sleeping bag. Ideally, I'd like one that's light, doesn't take up much space and keeps me nice and warm. I intend to use the bag on my return for camping trips on my bike so again size and weight is important, but i don't want to freeze. Any advice gratefully received.

Thank you very much


Thank you very much for your email and for looking at www.walkandtravel.com.

It sounds like a great trip - some friends of mine went up Kilimanjaro last year and thoroughly enjoyed the walk.

The bag that I would recommend would be the Rab Quantum 600 Womens. This sleeping bag is one of the lightest and because it is down filled, with some of the best down available, it is highly compressible, therefore taking up minimal space. It comes with it's own stuff sack, but the sleeping bag can easily be crammed into a smaller stuff sack when needed. The sleeping bag is made from Pertex Quantum fabric which is one of the lightest available and also very high wicking, taking any sweat you produce in your sleep away from your body, helping to reduce chill from being damp in the sleeping bag.

Rab comfort rate this bag down to -12c which is 3+ season usage. Rab are usually pretty good at rating their bags for an 'average' person, but it is always worth remembering that different people feel warmer or colder in their sleep.

I would recommend getting a silk sleeping bag liner to go with the Rab sleeping bag. This will help to keep it clean as you can wash the liner rather than the bag. I recommend a silk liner as this won't impair the wicking abilities of the lining fabric as silk helps to transport moisture out to the liner fabric, whereas cotton will not and can leave you feeling cold and clammy and may reduce the warmth rating on the sleeping bag. A silk liner may add up to a half season of extra warmth to the sleeping bag.

Another great plus with a down sleeping bag is that they last a lot longer than a synthetic sleeping bag and with occasional use could last up to 20 years before you notice any great reduction in their performance. For a synthetic sleeping bag this can be as low as 7-10 years.

If price is a consideration that I would recommend the synthetic 3 to 4 season sleeping bag, Snugpak Softie Chrysalis Autumn - however it's pack size and weight to warmth ratio is not as good as the down sleeping bag.

Rab Sleeping Bags

The first tranche of new Rab Sleeping bags now available on line.

Rab Quantum 250 Endurance Lightweight, highly water repellent down sleeping bag

Rab Atlas 750 - excellent 3 season down sleeping bag, in women's version too - check out the lovely lupin colour.

And of course all at the best web prices with free delivery!Rab Summit 700 and Rab Quantum top bag coming soon...

I've been using Rab Down Sleeping bags for nearly 20 years now - still the same ones! I keep wanting to upgrade them to a sexy new Rab Quantum, but can't warrant it, because the ones that I have are still in fantastic condition. That is what I like about down, it lasts and lasts. The down still has it's loft, the fabric is still not worn and most importantly - it keeps me warm!

Many people will argue that Rab make some of the best down sleeping bags in the world - and I would tend to agree. It always makes me happy when I sell one, because I know that the customer will be very happy with their selection.

Here are my top 5 reasons for choosing a down sleeping bag:

1 - Down gives you long lasting warmth.
2 - Down has a better warmth to weight ratio than synthetic fillings.
3 - They can pack smaller.It is an all natural filling, making the bag feel more comfortable.
4 - They wick moisture better than synthetics - which can help keep you warmer in cold 5 - weather, cooler in warm weather and ultimately more comfortable.

Buy down, you won't regret it - and it comes in lupin colour too. You'll look great at the campsite.

The Doorstep Traveller

The Doorstep Traveller

We're in recession, we shouldn't fly because of our carbon footprint, we shouldn't do this and we shouldn't do that. But one thing you can do and that is become a Doorstep Traveller.

We have all probably been Doorstep Travellers at one point or another, but have you really travelled around what is on your doorstep? Have you got out the local guide book that a tourist would use and really had a good nose about?

Now I am with child this is something I intend to do a lot more. So what are the most common things you go and see when you are travelling? You go to:

• Museums
• Churches/Places of worship
• Galleries
• Buildings of Architectural Significance
• Parks
• Ruins
• History
• Woodland
• Beautiful countryside

My Doorstep has this in abundance - it even has a beach, one of those places to get away from it all and relax. Fair enough the beaches on my doorstep don't inspire the ads for suncream, nor have you racing to get a sunbed before the other tourists, but the pebbly beaches of Worthing and Lancing really can be interesting, if you know how to look at them.

What else if there on your doorstep? What else do you look for when you are travelling? Different cultures? Most cities and give you a great big dollop of different cultures.

So really, ask yourself, do you need to go to some far flung exotic location when you can be a Doorstep Traveller? Well, yes. We just don't get the weather here and lets face it, exploring Worthing isn't quite the same as exploring Rome.

But wait, I haven't mentioned the Churches in Worthing - Worthing Tabernacle Church, the first, 'in the round' church I have been into (Excluding the Font in Brighton which is now a pub). Most churches I have been usually stick to the cross style of layout. And to rival Rome, or the Sistine Chapel to be more precise is the wonderfully painted English Martyrs Church in Goring. A labour of love for artist Gary Bevans, who has reproduced the painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel on the 'aircraft hanger' 1960's roof. A transformation and on my doorstep.

I'm going to draw a circle around Horsham, roughly 25 miles travel and see what else may tickle my fancy for my doorstep travels. There must be a list as long as my arm, so watch out there will be more of my ramblings on what I find. So save money in the recession, save the planet and discover what is on your doorstep. Join me and become a Doorstep Traveller.

What is on your doorstep? What do you recommend? Fellow Doorstep Travellers, tell the world what we should be seeing!

Lightweight walking boots - part 3. The final reckoning.

Yes, I'm going to keep Meindle Lightweight Walking Boots - they are not destined for eBay!

They were given their full road test the other weekend, or should I say their full bridleway test the other weekend.

A quick yomp across the South Downs from Southwick to Wivelsfield Green following the Sussex Border path broke the boots in well. 15 miles of pure pleasure and I am sure my feet felt that little it lighter going up hill. Only one small complaint was the hotspot on my heel which was soon alleviated with some second skin dressing. To be expected really, they were new and I've got bony heels - prone to blisters from ill fitting boots in formative years.

So, recommended and I know people will say it isn't important - they look good on my feet as well. To me looking good on the hills is still important.

Gareth's five top tips for buying walking boots:

• Always go to a reputable (preferably independent) outdoor store.
• Get your feet measured - they change shape / size as you get older.
• Try on as many pairs of boots in the shop as possible, under the guidance of the qualified and experienced boot fitter.
• Always use a test slope to walk up and down in the shop to make sure you don't slip in the boots.
• Buy your boots later in the day when your feet are hot and slightly swollen from being used all day.
• Take the socks you expect to wear with the boots to ensure optimum fit and comfort.
• Get them home and wear them indoors for as long as possible to make sure they really are a good fit. Climb the stairs in them a few times.

Need any more advice or have any more questions about walking boots? Ping me an email.

Happy buying, happy feet - happy walking, love the adventure.

Carry on Camping - a cheaper alternive holiday.

Carry On Camping

What do I need to go camping?

Camping. It conjures up images of sunny days, green fields, meadows full of flowers. Peace and relaxation. Camping is a wonderful experience, for young and old alike. It is a great experience for children, fresh air, space to run around in and usually lots of friends to be made.

Camping is the green holiday alternative. You’ll be surprised how many great campsites there are within easy driving distance, in beautiful local areas which are well worth exploring. The other great thing about camping is that it doesn’t have to cost the earth. Camping means there is less travel and less use of hotels with all their wastefulness. Once you have bought your kit, it should last you for years. After the initial financial outlay, you will reap the rewards of your purchases for many years, making your holidays cheaper each time you go. You will not only be saving money but will be helping to save the planet too.

Camping can be very simple, you will only need a tent, a sleeping bag and a sleeping mat. There is a huge range of these three simple basics and a huge range of other camping accessories which will make your experience even more comfortable. Let’s talk a little about these three main items of kit you need to go camping:

Tents.

When you are buying a tent there are two main things to consider:

Space – Space is important in your tent if you are living in it for a holiday and equally important if you need a lightweight tent for backpacking. If you are holidaying and living in your tent, think about room to stand up, room to hang out and play cards in if it is raining, especially if you are taking your children, and room in which to store your kit.

Quality – think about what quality tent you want. The better the quality the longer it will last, but the more it will cost. If you are only camping in the summer or locally in the South East of England a basic 2 seasons tent will be fine. If you are going into the mountains or somewhere where you get high winds and heavy rain, you will need a better quality tent, one that is rated at 4 seasons.

Think about what quality and space you require and seek out an expert to help you choose the perfect tent for your holiday. Remember, this will be your home while you are on holiday and it is essential, for your comfort and enjoyment, that you make the right choice.

Sleeping Bags

Choosing a sleeping bag is simpler than choosing the tent. If you are travelling to your campsite by car, then size and weight do not matter. If you are carrying your kit then you need to think about the size and weight. A small, warm, lightweight sleeping bag is more costly, but better to carry. As with tents, the season rating is used with 2,3 and 4 season sleeping bags available.

Sleeping bags will have a temperature rating on them, showing what they will go down to. It is important to remember here, that there is no standard way of measuring this and when a bag states it is comfortable down to -5 degrees, this may be true for a fit and hardy person wearing thermals. The reality for somebody else could be that the bag is only warm down to 10 degrees. Bear this in mind when you are buying your bag and seek an expert opinion.

You can have the choice of a down filled sleeping bag or a synthetic sleeping bag. Down filled bags will last longer and have a much better weight to warmth ratio, but can be costly. A synthetic bag is heavier for the warmth you get, but they are much cheaper and can be carefully washed after use.

Sleeping mats:

These are an essential piece of kit to help keep you warm. Primarily they are designed to stop you getting cold from the ground. If you sleep directly on the ground it will draw the heat from your body quicker than you can go to sleep, leaving you shivering, even in summer. A ground mat can be a simple foam mat, which you can buy for around £5. A self inflating, super comfy, super luxury mat will set you back in the region of £100.

Self inflating mats are regarded as the better option as they will also provide an element of comfort as well as the insulation. They start at around the £25 mark and can be a great investment. A self inflating mat was one of my best buys for camping, many years ago, when I had to spend three months in a tent, pure luxury compared to a standard foam mat.

There you have the three key ingredients for kit to get you out camping. There is a lot more you can learn about camping, but buying the right kit the first time is important. The rest you can learn as you go. Get out there, enjoy the fresh air, sunrises, moon lit nights and have an eco friendly holiday, saving you money and helping save the planet too.

Local Travel

More on the theme of exploring locally...


Love the adventure, love it locally!


The Great British Seaside

Way back when I was a small child I was taken to Worthing on the Sussex Coast to go shopping with my Grandma. I distinctly remember going for elevenses at BHS and going up the escalators to the café, very stylish, very 1970’s décor. Which considering it was the mid 70’s isn’t surprising. The part of the décor that fascinated me the most was the big glass block wall. I still haven’t managed to get one in my house, even though they are now ‘back in fashion’.

Anyway, I digress, I’m not here to talk about interior design, I’m here to talk about Worthing and the Great British Seaside. I was merely setting the scene. I’ve been to Worthing quite a number of times since those childhood jaunts. I’ve been there clubbing, I’ve been there to sit on the beach and I’ve been there to just look about.

Yesterday I was back in Worthing, working in an exhibition, suited and booted, talked to people about the joys of being self employed or having your own business and how they can access the raft of free government support. The exhibition finished and the sun was shining. I got in my car to go home and made it to Findon, when my phone rang and my girlfriend said that she and a couple of friends were heading south from Horsham for a walk along prom and a fish and chip supper. Great. I parked up, was scooped up and we headed back down to the coast.

In all my visits to Worthing I’ve never had a fish and chip supper. It sounded very English, very seaside and the sort of thing old folk did. We parked up, hopped out the car and braced ourselves again the wind for a stroll along the prom. The strolling was met with remises about coming to the pier in our childhoods and playing the shove tuppence games and as we grew older heading to the seedy salubriousness of Rutherford’s nightclub situated at the end of the pier. Strolling onto the pier, taking in the sea air, seeing the fishermen and listening to the crashing waves I felt rejuvenated, like a child once more on a visit to the seaside. The only thing to top it off was the half hour in the amusements plying the machines with 2p’s in the vain hope they would push some off the shelves down into the slot where I can collect my winnings. Needless to say I lost nearly £2. An expensive trip to the amusements.

The Fish and Chip supper was beckoning, I had only a rough old sandwich all day and the sea air was making me more and more peckish. My friends knew of a couple of chip shops so we sought them out. This was our first ‘gem’ of the evening. We stopped at the Blue Ocean Fish and Chip shop for our supper and was welcomed to a place where old meets new. Wonderfully refurbished, very clean with modern tables and chairs and a fancy ceiling with spot lights in it greeted us. The man behind the fryer also greeted us. WE grabbed a seat and ordered our supper. I went the whole hog and had mushy peas, curry sauce, pickled onion and of course a large cod and chips. The food was delicious. All cooked exactly how I like it, chips spot on and the batter not too greasy. The chip shop curry sauce is a thing of its own. Who came up with such a sublime recipe?

Wandering back to the car we walked past Worthing Dome Cinema another memory of my childhood. But I remember it always looking down at heel, a faded piece of English Seaside resort forever doomed to be like this, just waiting for the developers to move in and make it into luxury flats. AS we strolled passed we saw it was open with the latest releases. The old world charm that the cinema now exuded drew us in, and we were welcomed by an old wooden ticked office and a very polite young man who was very enthusiastic about the old cinema. Quite different to people you get working in Cineword, Crawley. He filled us in a little on the history, saying that it was the second oldest cinema in the UK and that the ticket machine still worked, but they couldn’t get hold of the old fashioned tickets anymore. We bought tickets to see 21 at 7.30pm – from the new computer and fancy printer – and wandered in to a magnificent hall. The hall was like a throw back in time, sumptuous red carpet, wood panelled walls and stained glass windows telling us where we could put our cloaks or find refreshments.

The refreshments beckoned as we had some time to wait before the film so we wandered in to the bar, to be greeted by a lovely aroma of the lilies, sitting there in a vase on the bar top. The room was full of old projectors, comfy sofa’s and film set seats with your position in the crew printed on the back, such as Best Grip, giving us much source of amusement. The film was great too. Finished off the evening perfectly. The Worthing Dome Cinema is another gem.

The Great British Seaside, an institution and one full of wonderful things, little gems that you need to experience. Go down there, wander along the front, stroll out to the pier and play on the amusements. Then get your fish and chip supper at the Blue Ocean and top it off with a trip to the purportedly second oldest cinema in the UK for some wonderful old seaside resort charm.

Who is Simon Calder?

Who is Simon Calder?

OK OK, so I've got a business that sell travel related items, I've worked in this industry for quite a number of years - I'm sure you are saying 'You should know who Simon Calder is'.

Well, I didn't - until the other day. His name was just popping up all over the place, I think he was on Radio 4 commentating on local travel (Which I think is extremely important - check out earlier blogs). I got home and promptly forgot about him. Then he popped up in his very easy going, engaging way - not sure what he was talking about this time, but the presenter mentioned him as the foremost commentator on travel in the UK.

So I googled him. Sounds painful when you put it like that. 350,000 results - result!

Turns out he is local to me. From Crawley, West Sussex - and now in London. May get him to open my store, if ever I get one!

Have a read of his website, its interesting. I particularly like the pictures - I wish I could say his writing too, as he is now an important journalist, but you need to buy publications to do this - which I don't mind doing, the Independent Travel Section is quite good. I have even advertised in it, relatively successfully. I'm sure if I went through the google search a little more I will be able to find some of his articles for a read.

Got some great travel tips and fave places on his biog page - best of which is 'Smile' couldn't agree more with him - a smile opens lots of doors and goes a million miles.

Smile, Travel and Love the Adventure.

Till next time...

Lightweight Outdoor Gear

Lightweight or even Ultralight Outdoor Gear.

Am I foolish, traditional or a fantasist?

Foolish because most of my outdoor gear errs on the heavy side? Am I traditional because I want rugged gear, three layer Gore Tex waterproof jackets, leather boots, backpacks with lots of buckles and clips? Or a fantasist because I buy rugged gear so it will last me a season mountaineering in the alps or at the very least a couple of years of walking and scrambling every weekend in Snowdonia or the Lake District National Park?

The reality is, I go walking a few times each month, mostly local, mostly on the South Downs. Now rugged they me be in their own hilly way, it's not quite as demanding as a mountain. I get to the mountains a few times each year, and as for the Alps - perhaps once every two years and likely that is for skiing.

My kit consists of a Berghaus three layer Gare Tex jacket, Han Wag Lima Gore full grain leather walking boots, Vaude Triset 35+8 daypack, Craghopper Kiwi Cargo walking trousers, Source Widepack 3 litre and arious other items of outdoor paraphernalia, almost forgot to mention my nod towards lightweight items, Berghaus Paclite over trousers and my new walking boots - see previous blogs. Pretty much all of this is available in a pared down version. I can get a paclite jacket, a Vaude Triset Ultralight daypack, lightweight walking boots - if I was really going for it, I could get carbon fibre trekking poles.

As I age gracefully on the hills (37 is graceful), I feel my knees aching and I see 70 year olds striding off into the distance, I want to be like them. I need to start getting serious about lightweight gear, just to allow to keep aging gracefully on the hills and not end up retiring to walking around the Lake District Villages and Lakes. It is time to embrace the lightweight way.

The lightweight way has becoming much much stronger over the last ten years or so, quality gear, not too bad prices and even an element of style (though some would argue if this is needed on the hills - traditionalists?). A moment I feel started by Ray Jardin and his company Go Lite. So, more lightweight outdoor gear is a must, Walk and Travel are stocking more and more each season. I'll keep those knees in shape and not load them too much.

What am I then? Fool, Traditionalist or Fantasist? A little bit of all I think. Time to move on. Embrace the new lightweight outdoor gear culture.

New Boots - part two.

The Meindle Softline GTX so far have proved a success. The toe box became more comfy and there is a good feeling of room around the boot, especially in the heel cup, though not too much. Next week will be the main warm up event for them. I'm walking a section of the Sussex Border Path, from Shoreham to Wivelsfield Green.

We're doing the walk to raise fund for the Scout Group, in order to buy a replace our old rattly LDV minibus. Arguably the most important piece of kit that the Scout Group owns. Without it the Scouting activities that we can offer the young people of Roffey would be severely limited. I hope the boots hold up and give me comfortable, blister free miles on this walk. Will let you know how it goes.

Walking Boots

Have decided to plump for a pair of lightweight walking boots - well lighter than my old ones anyway, as a nod towards old age and achy knees.

Have gone for the Meindl Softline Goretex Ultra, felt very comfortable straight out the box, perhaps a little narrow on the toe box on the right foot for me, which was a surprise as they are supposed to be a wide - ish fit my feet I always thought were narrow - ish.

Scout training today, (core modules 1 and 3), exciting stuff, but necessary (?). So it is a gentle break in for the boots. No walking them out, but may try and sneak them in for St Georges day parade tomorrow. Will let you know how I get on with them. First thoughts are comfort, lightweight and to be honest, for a walking boot, I think they look pretty good. As if that is important? Yes.

Walking in the Lake District

Lake District Easter 2009

Why don’t I live closer to this beautiful place? I always have to battle through the M25, M6 (the M40 isn’t usually too bad) event at midnight. It’s ridiculous - we live in a country full of people wanting to go places. Hmmm…. I was one of them. Shouldn’t complain really.

We are staying at Ennerdale YHA Barn, basic, rustic, but lovely. I sometimes wish I could live with such simple pleasures. Why do I need a plasma TV? Paved driveway? Ensuite bathroom and fitted kitchen? Lots of questions, but that it what beautiful places do to you. Get you thinking about life.

Today’s walk was wet. It was bound to be it’s the Lake District. Wettest part of the country. Out the barn down the track and up, up, up. So steep, past the lowing black cattle that looked like labradoodles and were subsequently named cowadoodles. Hard work up the steep hill and out onto the ridge along to Haycock. The wind was howling around us as the clouds closed in, bringing the cold and rain in as we followed the undulating ridge across Scoat Fell towards the high point of Pillar at 892m.

Summit was gained and we split into two teams one fitter than the other who went on to tackle Kirk Fell, skirt around the Gables and up to Haystacks. Me being a rather unfit walker who suffers with knee ache decided to drop down with the old folk to the Ennerdale Plantations, past Black Sail Hut for the long slow slog on the metalled track back to the barn for a much needed cup of tea and seaweed crackers. Seaweed crackers? Don’t ask.

The next day saw the sun breaking in through the windows, past the cracks in the towels that were masquerading as curtains. Porridge and tea down us we were ready to head out for a glorious day in the hills. Rucksack packed and off we went, back up the metalled track, only to come back down it again later. Not a great start to the day.

Off to the east of the track and straight up, up , up to the ridge line. Now this was a way to get the lungs working first thing in the morning and stretch out the un-exercised legs after yesterdays six hours. A 600 meter climb to the top of Red Pike. Then a rest. Well deserved and well needed to allow my heart rate to return to normal. The views, as ever, in the Lake District on a sunny day, were tremendous, one way down into Buttermere, (which I think is the most beautiful view in the Lake District), the other way the view was showing us the wet and windy ridge of yesterdays walk.

Our ridge was to the South, towards the towering cliff face of Great Gable, the summit glowing in the sunshine, waiting for us to tread it’s flanks and peak. The route to the summit was up and down much more than we anticipated, across High Stile to High Crag and down to rugged tops of Haystacks, past Innominate Tarn, the final resting place of Alfred Wainwright, perhaps the most famous of the Lake District writers and fell walkers.

With the sun still beaming down on us, we skirted under the peaks of Brandreth and Green Gable and took the path up to Windy Gap on the eastern flank of Great Gable. Another fifteen minutes and we topped out on goal of the walk, as the sun was slowly dipping toward the west. Dropping off the North West flank, back down into the valley, following the streams that lead into the River Liza, we took a very leisurely stroll under the watchful eye of the two ridge lines we just walked. Back past the Black Sail Hut, back down the metalled track, back to the single shower on the barn at Ennerdale, closely followed by a well deserved curry in Cockermouth.

The Lakes in the rain, the Lakes in the sun, the Lakes at Easter. Where is there a more beautiful place in England?

How is a Swiss Army Knife Made?

Have just watched an interesting short documentary on Discovery Channel. How to make stuff. This evenings stuff? A Swiss Army Knife.

Wow! This really amazed me. I can't believe how manual the process is for making a Swiss Army Knife.

They have machines to stamp out the blades and other associated tools you get on a knife, 20,000 per hour! But, this is then moved around the factory in metal boxes to the next machine, then poured into a tumbler to polish off the burrs, then carried to the heat treatment machine to harden them off, where they are laid out by hand to go through the furnace, then off to the polisher, again laid out by hand!

They wouldn't show us how they they sharpened the knives, but I'm sure there was a little army of Swiss Children all armed with little ceramic sharpening stones....

Finally the whole thing is assembled, yes, that's right. By hand. This lady is so skilled that she can put together 60+ components in 2 minutes. I'm very impressed.

So when you buy your next Swiss Army Knife, just think how many people have handled it. Almost, almost, hand crafted. But they don't seem expensive.

Have they heard of lean manufacturing?

The Source of the Thames

Who knows where the source of the River Thames is? I had no idea until a few moments ago when I looked it up on t'internet. One of my valued regular customers has just sent me an email saying that she found the source of the Thames and is now has another 179 miles to go. The Thames is (according to web research 210 miles long).

I've never really thought about the source of a river. I wonder where the source for the River Arun is that runs through Horsham? Finding the source of a river always sounds like it is going to be a swash bucking adventure. The sort of things that Harrison Ford (in actor mode) of Ranulph Fiennes would do. Fighting your way up river, against all the odds, the boat getting holes and nearly sinking while the crocs watch from the riverbank, waiting for you to go under.

OK, so I was getting a little carried away there, but Ran (as I fondly call him, having met him the once at a book signing and he signed my book to Gary) has actually done this finding the river source thing. He used hovercrafts to get to the source of the Nile. Now that must have been an adventure.

So here is your challenge, and you have a year to complete it in:

Find your local river, then find it's source.

I'm sure with modern technology like GPS and Internet sites you should be able to find it. I'm going to hunt down the source of the River Arun.

Keep it local, beat the credit crunch and reduce carbon emissions.

(But hey, you can't beat a good bit of travelling to somewhere exciting - source of the Amazon anyone?!)

Local Travel

There are lots of local places to go and visit right on your doorstep. Beat the credit crunch and get out and exlpore local. What is there around where you live? What is there an hours train journey away?

I took my Scouts out on a walk a month ago, just before the snows, on the Horsham Riverside Walk. The Horsham Riverside Walk is a fantastic 11 mile walk around Horsham in West Sussex, following bridlepaths, foot paths, and believe it or not the rivers of Horsham, the Arun or as some call it Red River.

The walk passes through housing estates, little cut through around the town, pass an old pill box, mott and bailey castle and an old water mill. You can learn quite a bit about the town and it's history as you walk along taking in the country side as well as the houses!

Going camping?

I got a great email from someone looking at www.walkandtravel.com today. They want to start taking the family camping! How exciting. I love camping and I think that more people should be doing it. Scroll down to see my reply.


Hi Gareth
I found your contact details on the website and need some advice. We are on a really tight budget this year and have decided to invest in a tent and equipment to take the family camping. There are 2 adults and 4 children (15,13,6 and 1). We will be starting from scratch and need everything from a tent to pots and pans! Can you tell us where to start? We have a Nissan Terrano (7 seater) so need to consider transporting the equipment too!!
Many Thanks

My answer:

Thank you for the email and for looking at www.walkandtravel.com.

How exciting! You will have immense fun camping and the other great things about it are that you only really need to buy the equipment once and you have it for many years of enjoyable holidays providing it is all well looked after. Camping is a great eco-friendly, wallet friendly and family friendly of enjoying holidays and the great outdoors! Even in the rain...!

Have you read the Walk and Travel Beginners Guide to Camping? This will take you through some of the basic things you need to think about, but I can cover some of them here.

The main things you will to get are:

Tent
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Mats
Stove or Cooker
Lighting

A lot of the other things such as pots, chopping boards, washing up bowls you can just raid from the kitchen cupboard to help keep the costs down.

When you are looking at tents you will need to consider the who will sleep where and who will want to share space with who. You also need to think about how you will pitch the tent, where you are using the tent and what weather.

If you are doing family camping, I am assuming that you will be camping late spring to early autumn when the weather should generally be fine. A lot of family campers go for a tent that has separate sleeping compartments - bedrooms, and it sounds like you will need 3. Look for a tent that has a central area that you can stand up in and hang out in if the weather isn't so great. Most tents with a central lounge will have a ground sheet so you can all drag your sleeping mats out to sit on, or you can invest in lightweight camping chairs. Some of the more well known brands are Khyam, Wynnester, Vango, Gelert and they all do quite a number of different models.

These tents, because of their size can all be quite heavy and quite hard to put up on your own, so a couple of adults will make things easier. However, 13 and 15 year old children will also be very useful for this. Always have a practice pitch in your garden or a local field before you take it away to make sure it all works and you have everything. This also helps to reduce the amount of time it will take to pitch the tent when you arrive at your camp site.

If you can, try and see the tents up before you buy as this will give you a good idea of what you are getting and how it would look when it is pitched correctly. This is not always possible with some shops due to the size so make sure you talk it through well with the shop owner or person that is selling you the tent.

It is imperative that the tent is totally dry before you put it away for storage or you will get mildew and rot, rendering the tent useless next time you want to go camping.


Sleeping bags come in a range of sizes and warmth and cost. As you are camping out of a car you don't need to get the lightest smallest bags, but you may need to consider this if your children are in the Scouts or going to do Duke of Edinburgh Award Expeditions. Brands to look for again are Vango, Wynnester and Gelert and Millets have their own brands such as Eurohike. For summer camping in the UK, you should look for a bag that is at least two season. If you feel the cold then opt for at least a 3 season bag. Some bags come in mummy shapes that taper with the body, other are square shaped. Most of them will have a full length zip for airing, getting in and out of and loosening off if you are warm. Mummy bags will be a little lighter for their amount of warmth because there is less space for you to warm up when you are snuggling down for the night. you may also get the choice of synthetic or down filled. Synthetic will be absolutely fine for you. (it is much cheaper!).

It may also be worth investing in sleeping bag liners, which are like sheets for a sleeping bag, these cost around £10 and will help to keep the sleeping bag clean and are easily washable. You can make your own from some old sheets sewn together to make a sack shape to sleep in.

Sleeping mats or camping mats or really important as this insulates you from the ground and most of your body heat is lost through the ground. A simple foam mat will suffice and these range from a few pounds upwards. Aim for something in the £10-15 bracket as they will last much longer and be warmer under you. Blow up mattresses are comfy, but can sometimes be cold under you as they do not have any insulation. Combine them with foam camping mats if you want to. You can also buy self inflating camping / sleeping mats which fit well between the two, but can be more expensive, heavy and possibly puncture, so make sure you take a repair kit.


For cooking you will need at least a double burner gas stove. Again, lots of people make these and any camping shop will sell them. Brands to look for are Camping Gaz, Coleman and I'm sure Gelert. You will need a hose and regulator to attach the stove to the gas bottle. Make sure it comes with these. The gas bottles are generally by Camping Gaz and can be a called things such as 901 (idea size). There are also larger blue ones with brass attachments on the top which I have completely forgotten their names, but easily available as a lot gas BBQ's run off them. These gas bottles can be expensive to buy so look in your local free ads, or on Yahoo Groups - Freecycle, to see if you can pick one up cheaply second hand. You can get them refilled at garages and garden centres.

You may also find a stove with a small grill under it, great for a slice of toast of bacon. When cooking take a wok and do big stir frys or any other type of dish such as spag bog and chilli where you can lob it all in to cook together, while pasta or rice bubbles away on the other burner. The only problem you may have is the space on the stove to fit the pots as the stoves can be fairly compact.

Invest in some lighting for the tent. This has moved on a lot in recent years and you can now get some great little led camping lanterns to light things up. It may also be worth investing in head torches for the children so they can find the way to the toilet at night if need be or read in their sleeping bags.

When you are camping always try and plan in advance what to do if it rains! It does happen and you will need things to keep you all occupied, possibly in the tent in the evenings.

There are many many more gadgets and things you can get to take camping, above is the basics. Other things include fold up tables, fold up chairs, solar panels, washing lines, radios, fridges and much more besides.

I hope you find the above useful, I don't sell the tents or stoves, but sleeping bags and sleeping mats I can help you with, along with small lanterns.

All of the gear I mentioned above will be available from a range of camping stores. Good luck, enjoy the camping, love the adventure and if there is anything else I can help you with please let me know.