The Great Outdoors

TGO Magazine is your essential guide to hillwalking and backpacking in the UK and overseas. Get out more! We provide all the inspiration you need to plan your next trip, plus expert reviews and tips. The Great Outdoors is for anyone who loves walking in the hills, mountains and wild places. With information on the latest gear, in-depth features and stunning photography, The Great Outdoors will help you access the high peaks and long trails of Britain and beyond. Our enhanced digital addition includes even more great photos and interactive content.

Small budgets? Big adventures!

Contributors & contacts • Meet some of the folk that made this magazine…

The Great Outdoors

APRIL in the mountains

Cave Dale, Peak District

THE ORANGE-TIP BUTTERFLY • Nadia Shaikh goes synaesthetic for the start of spring, almost tasting the orange tang of an early butterfly

Readers’ page • Share your views, your experiences and your favourite photos tgo.ed@kelsey.co.uk

H is for Hawk • (Lionsgate, in cinemas from 23 January)

The Spine Race’s rule change sets a dangerous precedent for women • The Spine Race – a 268-mile slog from the Peak District to the Scottish Borders – bills itself as Britain’s most brutal race. Tough as it was this winter, director Phil Hayday-Brown is reducing the time runners have to complete the race by 12 hours, citing safety concerns. But for some, this decision demonstrates lack of respect for back-of-the-pack runners, the majority of whom are women

Y BERWYN • Jim Perrin revisits an old haunt to reveal the real high point of the ‘White Barrier’ viaWales’ highest waterfall, a pair of ponies, pubs and ring ouzels thrown in for good measure

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE

50 TIPS FOR HILLWALKING on a budget • From DIY pot cosies to learning to love noodles, these cost-cutting ideas can make your bank account great again

Lonely MOUNTAINS • JB Smith goes searching for solitude in the forested folds of the Rhinogs – and finds himself falling under the spell of Eryri/Snowdonia’s quieter side

WALKING IN THE RHINOGS

PILGRIM’S PROGRESS • St Patrick’s Way winds through the mercurial scenery of Northern Ireland, visiting the places linked to Ireland’s patron saint. Ailsa Sheldon sets out to explore its highlights by foot, bike and canoe

WALK ST PATRICK’S WAY

Passing THROUGH • David Myers tests his sanity (and calf muscles) on the Alpenpässe-Weg – a journey of 40 cols and nearly 700km – to discover how the Swiss Alps were lived in and connected long before the combustion engine

TAKE THE ALPENPÄSSE-WEG

SKILLS: MAKE DO AND MEND • Eking out the life of your gear can save you £££. Here’s how to approach choosing, maintaining and fixing outdoor clothing for longevity

WORTH WEARING – WORTH REPAIRING • TGO contributors share repair jobs that have extended their favourite items of kit…

THE REPAIR SHOP • Independent kit repairer Anna Chapman shares her expert tips on the gear repairs you can make at home – and when you might need professional assistance.

GEAR • Kit reviews from Britain’s most experienced gear-testing team. Here, Steph Wetherell and Francesca Donovann focus on two innovative new outdoor products

Berghaus Farren

FUN FOR A TON • Is it possible to buy everything* you need for a hill day for under £100? TGO reviewer, wildlife ranger and Glasgow’s premier purple fleece fan Peter Macfarlane learns you needn’t be minted to kit yourself out on Vinted

How low CAN YOU GO? • Backpack on a budget with TGO’s pick of value kit

HIKING SHIRTS • Planning an international trip to beat those winter blues? Gear guru Chris Townsend and Mountain Leader Fiona Russell test the best shirts designed for hiking...