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Articles

173 articles found

A mountain, a ridgeline, and a man in a red jacket – 'unoriginal and lacking spark' but just right for a guidebook. Stob Ghabhar

Feature · 27 May 2020

How to write a guidebook: Jack or Jill of all trades – and master of... guidebook writing

Ronald Turnbull explains how writing is a rather small part of being a guidebook writer as well as dismissing once and for all some popular misconceptions about his chosen career.

Heather moorlands. Taken from Terry's guidebook to the Coast to Coast

Feature · 6 May 2020

The beginning of a long walking career

Theresa May famously gave Angela Merkel a copy of one of Terry Marsh's guidebooks. Terry is one of Cicerone's longest-running authors and here he looks back at where his love of walking came from.

24 TH

Feature · 11 Mar 2020

A walk through history on The Vanguard Way

Ali Rowsell follows in the footsteps of The Vanguards to discover an easily accessible, high-quality route through open countryside and woodland. With far-reaching views across...

The Cuillin Ridge Light

Feature · 15 Feb 2020

The Cuillin Ridge Light – what you need to know

Imagine seeing the distant jagged skyline of Skye's Cuillin Ridge from Elgol, seeing the first peak Gars-bheinn, then tracing the route along to the finish on Sgurr nan Gillean...

Where seabirds land: walking on Orkney

Article · 26 Jan 2020

Where Seabirds Land: Walking on Orkney

When Cicerone author Alex Kendall travelled to Orkney to walk among its world-famous ancient sites, he experienced Scottish coastal walking at its best and the company of its ever-present wildlife. Read about his experience here.

Sgurr Dubh Mo

Feature · 12 Jan 2020

Successfully traversing Skye's Cuillin Ridge in winter

A climb of alpine proportions, epic scenery, and mile after mile of ridge make the Cuillin Ridge an adventurous and highly sought-after route that, says Adrian Trendall, should...

TH Using a built in clinometer a trekking pole helps provide a straight edge on which to measure the slope angle

Article · 11 Dec 2019

Winter mountain skills: techniques to measure slope angle

In summer the angle of a slope is of interest to the walker only in as far as how difficult it is to walk up, but in winter it can be a matter of life and death. International...

Checking the map

Article · 20 Nov 2019

Skills sessions – where am I?

In a series of five features, Cicerone author and walking guide Pete Hawkins shares his knowledge and experience on how to successfully and safely navigate at home and abroad. Here, he explains how to work out where you are.

Nc500

Article · 6 Oct 2019

Cycling the North Coast 500: everything you need to know

The North Coast 500 cycle route (NC500) is a 500-mile lap of Scotland starting and finishing in Inverness, Cyclists will be treated to mile upon mile of unspoilt wilderness with a...

Beinn Shiantaidh

Feature · 18 Aug 2019

Walking in Jura's geological wonderland

Cicerone author Peter Edwards rarely used to take the time to appreciate the environment around him when out on the hills, but a trip to the Isle of Jura in the Southern Hebrides prompted a change in his attitude.

Big rounds

Article · 11 Aug 2019

What are the Big Rounds?

The Bob Graham Round, the Paddy Buckley Round and the Charlie Ramsay Round are known to mountain runners as three of the most difficult 24-hour challenges in the world. But whether you run or walk, each round is a long-distance classic.

Blooming Heather In Moel Y Ci With The Glyderau Rising In The Distance

Feature · 3 Jul 2019

6 of the best valley walks to get to know Snowdonia

North Wales is a landscape that has been hundreds of millions of years in the making. Through volcanoes, moving continents, Ice Ages and the industrialisation and use of the...

My route used part of the spectacular Affric Kintail Way, here with the ridges rising to Mam Sodhail as backdrop

Feature · 22 Jun 2019

The Great Outdoors Challenge: A first-timer reflects

In the second of his two articles, Peter Aylmer looks back on his first TGO Challenge experience. Would the landscape, the camaraderie and the weather live up to expectations?

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Article · 15 Jun 2019

Classic Galloway: from Loch Trool over Merrick and Craignaw

If you like your wild landscapes really wild, if you like your lakes to have whooper swans in the middle and no ice-cream vans around the edge, if you like to have one foot on...

Hurst spit

Article · 12 May 2019

Hidden Gem – the southernmost tip of the New Forest is not what you might expect

Dipping a long sinuous finger into the Solent, the southernmost tip of the New Forest National Park forms part of the Solent Way, with Hurst Spit, an impressive shingle spit with...

Full of beans on the way up Loughrigg

Article · 13 Apr 2019

The first fells for children – six of the best Lakeland summits for all the family

​Rachel Crolla and Carl McKeating are co-authors of Cicerone’s Outdoor Adventures with Children – Lake District. Here, they describe a selection of their favourite routes to...

The Essex Way

Feature · 6 Apr 2019

Walking the Essex Way: from Epping to the coast

It’s a land of tranquil river valleys, ancient green lanes, an undiscovered coastline and some of the prettiest villages in the nation. It can only be, says author Peter Aylmer,...

Walk 1 06 The Giants' Causeway with tourists

Feature · 27 Oct 2018

Walking among legends in Northern Ireland

A wise man once said you should never let the truth get in the way of a good story – and who should know better than those master storytellers the Irish. Cicerone’s Natalie...

Fastpacking

Article · 17 Oct 2018

Welcome to the world of fastpacking

Put simply, fastpacking is the hybrid of running, hiking and lightweight backpacking. It’s a multi-day running trip carrying the bare essentials. Underpinning the activity is the principle of ‘fast and light’ – taking only the kit you need...

Preparing to begin Ben Nevis' Carn Mor Dearg arete

Feature · 15 Sept 2018

Conquering my fear on the Aonach Eagach ridge

Alice Stearn decided to face her fear of scrambling by attempting to conquer the infamous Aonach Eagach ridge.