Lake District Bank Holiday Weekend

For the early May bank holiday we visited The Lake District. It was a fun weekend with good weather Saturday but heavy rain Sunday and early Monday morning. I guess it’s not called The Lake District for nothing, all that water has to come from somewhere!

We left London Friday evening for the long and busy journey to the Lake District. Our accommodation was Grasmere Independent Hostel, somewhere we have used a few times before. There is a lot to like about this hostel, it’s good quality accommodation though at only 24 beds it’s smaller than we would normally like for a bank holiday. Grasmere is also a great base since it’s so centrally located, allowing you to tackle any of the mountain ranges without long drive times.

Before we had even left for the Lake District our planned walks had already been modified. During the winter storms a landslide had closed the road between Ambleside and Keswick, just north of our accommodation. The road was not to to open until later in May and the diversions would have made a couple of walks impractical.

On Saturday the weather was on our side as we headed to our start point. The disused quarry just outside Coniston was already fairly busy with cars as we parked up and began our walk. Earlier that week the area had received a late dumping of snow which was gave the mountain tops a lovely appearance. The snow however would mean we would have to change our route as progress would be slow and there were warnings about conditions on some of the ridges.

As we neared Levers Water we could see some fell runners hurtling down the hill in front of us and heading our way. Our group shouted lots of encouragement but this had definitely slowed our progress down. We then began to ascend towards the peak of Wetherlam.

Looking back towards Levers Water

Photograph by Gary Box

As is often the case the steep uphill section and a couple of boggy sections underfoot caused the group to slow down. Finally though we were at the summit of Wetherlam and fortunate enough to have great views into the distance. It might only be 762 metres high but with good visibility and a dusting of snow it was still an enjoyable place to be.

Group photo at Wetherlam

Photograph by Gary Box

Since it had taken us longer than expected to reach this far we decided it would be unwise to attempt the whole series of peaks including the Old Man of Coniston. We would instead make a leisurely descent back towards the cars. The quality of light if anything got better with a more golden quality about it.

Descending back to the valley

Photograph by Gary Box

On Sunday we had hoped to do another high level route but the whole day was a washout with heavy rain. Some in the group decided to head into Ambleside rather than get soaked to the skin. Most however did undertake a lower level valley walk that included the village of Grasmere, Grasmere Lake and the Rydal area. Since we finished this walk by mid afternoon most of us then decided to head into Ambleside and visit Zeffirellis cinema where we watched Jungle Book.

Monday was to be our departure day. The original plan was to do a high level but short route in the Langdale Pikes area. With more heavy rain there was little appetite for the hike so some took the chance to head back to London early in the hope of missing most of the bank holiday traffic.

Some of us though decided to head to Grasmere village to the famous gingerbread shop. I then headed to Bowness on Windermere where ironically the clouds parted and blue sky appeared. After an hour in Bowness it was time to think about leaving. Hopefully we would have better luck with the weather on our next visit to The Lake District.

South Pennines YHA Haworth Weekend

A couple of great walks in the South Pennines with good weather and great company. Our accommodation was the impressive Gothic mansion, YHA Haworth. Read on for the full trip report!

For this South Pennines weekend we had booked 16 beds at the grand looking YHA Haworth. As it turned out we also booked a nearby dog friendly cottage for an extra 4 of us as we decided to bring Archie, our new border collie along for the first time. Due to a slight injury I was unable to lead the walks, so Ewelina stepped in.

Saturday’s walk was a long 25km (16 mile) route that would leave from the hostel door. It passed through Haworth village with its pretty buildings and cobbled streets. Indeed it’s a regular destination for filming period dramas and also hosts a popular annual 1940’s weekend. The route then conveniently passed the cottage where 4 of us were staying before heading across the moors towards Withins Top. This is very much Bronte Country. The ruins of Withins Top were the inspiration for the Earnshaw family home in the novel Wuthering Heights. It also happens to be on the Pennine Way, one of the classic long distance paths we have in the UK.

The group continued on towards Walshaw Dean reservoir before crossing Wadsworth Moor. Great views to Calderdale and Hebden Bridge can be had from this section. By the time the route returned to our cottage a couple of the group decided to end their walk for a lift back to the hostel. A couple more took the chance to refill water bottles before the last stretch back to YHA Haworth.

The group were glad to be back and get the hiking boots off. After everyone had a shower and a sneaky pre dinner drink we headed into the village for our evening meal at a local pub.

South Pennines – Hebden Bridge Circular

On Sunday we had a shorter walk planned. The start place was Hebden Bridge, a popular location but one which had been badly flooded a few months earlier. Everyone had recovered well from the walk yesterday as they purposefully left the car park behind them.

Some of the group in front of Stoodley Pike Memorial

Photograph by Ewelina Kisiel

One of the main sights of the route was Stoodley Pike Monument. At 121 ft (37m) high it dominates the surrounding area. It was designed in 1854 and completed 2 years later at the end of the Crimean War. It actually replaced an earlier structure which marked the defeat of Napoleon. This earlier monument was finished in 1815 after the Battle of Waterloo but collapsed in 1854 due to both the harsh general weather but also lightning strikes.

Much of the return route was to be alongside the Rochdale canal but due to a path closure (probably due to the earlier flooding) Ewelina had to take the group on a slight diversion. Back at the car park in good time and with blue skies and a cool crisp temperature we said goodbye to each other and headed back to London.

Snowdonia National Park Hiking Weekend

For our Easter long weekend we visited both Snowdonia National Park & Anglesey. We experienced the full range of UK weather but still enjoyed some great hiking and some lovely local food in the pubs we dined in. Read on for the full trip report.

We left London on Thursday evening headed for Snowdonia North Wales. Snowdonia was the first Welsh National Park, designated in 1951. We had booked Snowdon Lodge in Tremadog which just happens to be the birthplace of one Thomas Edward Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia.

SNOWDONIA NATIONAL PARK – SNOWDON FROM RHYD DDU

On good Friday morning our walk was to the summit of Snowdon. We parked at the Rhyd Ddu station car park. This train track is used by steam trains which is another great way you can experience Snowdonia National Park. Our route would take us up the Ryhd Ddu path and down the Snowdon Ranger path. Being late March most of us were dressed in winter coats but at least it was dry with some great visibility.

Looking back as we ascend from Rhyd Ddu path

Photograph by Gary Box

SOME SNOW CLOSER TO THE SUMMIT

As we gained height we encountered a tiny amount of snow on the ground. It was certainly no more than you would expect for this time of year and nothing to concern us. We were a large group of over 30 people, some attending a trip for the very first time. As is often the case with large groups some were making quicker progress to the summit than others.

I was keeping with those at the rear of the group and taking the opportunity to take photographs of the views around me.

Snowdon from Rhyd Ddu path

Photograph by Gary Box

The Rhyd Ddu path is not only one of the most stunning routes to the top of Snowdon, it’s also one of the quietest. As we neared the summit though we encountered lots more people. It was still too early for the train to be operating and as such the cafe at the top was closed. I’m not really a fan of large buildings on the tops of mountains but had it been open I’m sure many in the group would have taken the opportunity to use the toilets.

After we finished our lunch it was time to descend. The Snowdon Ranger path was clearly marked on the ground, visibility all the way back to our start point. On the way back to the hostel some of us stopped in Beddgelert for a cheeky ice cream at Glaslyn Ices.

Unfortunately the Friday was to be the highlight of the trip weather wise. On Saturday there was heavy rain which led us to do a low level beach walk in Anglesey. This also gave us the chance to visit the town with the longest name in the UK, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

On Sunday we hoped to do Tryfan and the Glyders but again the rain was torrential. In the end we did a low level walk from Betws-y-Coed, far less dramatic but scenic nonetheless. In the evenings we had bookings at local pubs. I was particularly impressed by the food and service at The Union Inn on Market Square in Tremadog.

Monday some drivers and their passengers decided to head off early back to London. The weather Monday was actually pretty good so some of us visited Portmeirion before heading back to London.

Snowdonia National Park is rightfully a popular destination for the group. We always visit on one of the bank holiday weekends and it’s not unusual for us to visit at least once more each year. If it’s a location that interests you keep an eye out for our next adventure there.

Our first event of 2016 was a weekend away walking the Dorset Jurassic Coast. We had booked sole use of YHA Litton Cheney on their Exclusive Hire scheme. Due to much lower occupancy rates in the low season many of their hostels are only open to groups wishing to book the entire property on this basis. For a London based group Dorset makes a great destination as it’s less than 3 hours drive.

Dorset Jurassic Coast – Our Walks

On the Saturday our walk started in the attractive fishing port of Lyme Regis. Being a linear walk most of the group had some time to check out the town whilst another driver and myself headed to the end point of the walk in Seatown to leave a vehicle there. The walk was a short distance of 12km but involved quite a few hills, including the highest point on the whole south coast at Golden Cap. It was largely an overcast day but the sun did break through the clouds from time to time, leaving some interesting light patterns on the sea.

Once we reached the finish I took the drivers back to Lyme Regis to collect the cars. Once back at Seatown, it was getting dark and most of the group were enjoying the hospitality of a lovely country pub. There was enough time to get back to the hostel and shower before heading to the local pub for our evening meal.

On the Sunday once we had packed the cars and cleaned the hostel it was time to drive to Lulworth Cove. Our 10km walk was a classic that not only takes in Lulworth Cove but also the popular natural arch of Durdle Door.

Dorset Jurassic Coast – Durdle Door

Again the weather was largely overcast but dry, not ideal for photographs but very pleasant conditions for walking. Once the walk was finished many of us ordered some food and drinks from one of the cafes before saying goodbye and heading back to London. To see more images from this weekend please visit the following Google + collection.

For our last event of 2015 we headed to the Shropshire Hills, staying at YHA Wildehope Manor. The hostel is a Grade I listed Elizabethan manor house with plenty of original period features. The stonework, staircases and general ambience are something special. Thankfully the showers and toilets are not from the 1500’s, looking quite modern.

On Saturday morning we had a short 20 minute drive to the pretty town of Much Wenlock where our walk would start. The weather forecast for the weekend looked pretty bleak but whilst it was overcast it was mostly dry, any rain being light and sporadic. The group consisted of the usual mix of regulars and first timers who were already beginning to get to know one another.

Our route would see us take the Shropshire Way towards the River Severn, which we would cross at Ironbridge. As it was around noon by the time we reach Ironbridge it seemed a logical place to stop for 20 minutes or so for lunch and the chance to use the toilets. The town gets its name from the famous Iron Bridge that crosses the river, the world’s first, completed in 1779 and formally opened in 1781. Being such a grey, overcast day the camera did not really see much action but I did take a quick photo of the bridge, converting it to black and white which seemed to suit the conditions.

The Iron Bridge

After the short lunch stop we continued to follow the riverbank heading west. We passed very close to Buildwas Abbey but could not see it since it is situated deep among trees, obscuring the view. Just before Sheinton we headed south on quiet tarmac roads back towards Much Wenlock. We arrived back at the cars in good time and headed back to the hostel for showers.

Our evening meal was at The Fox Inn, back in Much Wenlock at 6pm. Service was pretty prompt and people seemed to enjoy the food. We could not loiter all evening though as the table was booked later that evening and so we headed back to the hostel so that drivers could also enjoy a drink. Most of the group settled in the lounge close to the fireplace for a drink or two and conversation.

On Sunday we again aimed to leave at 9am. With the cars all packed we headed to Church Stretton for the start of our Long Mynd walk. The Long Mynd is one of the most popular walks in The Shropshire Hills. We parked in the lower Carding Mill Valley car park which was acting like a wind tunnel with hills both sides of the valley. Despite the windy conditions it was at least dry, though like Saturday overcast again. Unlike Saturday though this walk would be on much firmer and less muddy paths. Following the Carding Mill Valley we passed the upper car park and inviting looking National Trust tea shop where someone warned us of the high winds on the ridge where we were headed. With the ridge reached we turned left, battling the gusting winds as we headed for the trig point at Pole Bank. Conditions dictated that there would be no group photo at the summit as we continued to battle the elements until just beyond Pole Cottage where we turned left and began our descent towards Little Stretton. Had the lighting been more interesting I would have take lots of photographs on this section but I did at least take this one looking north east from just above Little Stretton.

Long Mynd Walk

Once at Little Stretton we followed the road until a footpath left took us through woods back towards our cars. It was unusual to be finishing on an uphill section and a couple of tired people did feel the pace. By now it was also beginning to rain constantly and the group were glad to see the cars parked below us. The car park was still acting like a wind tunnel, my drivers door slamming into my shin, leading to some choice expletives on my part. Margaret’s car decided to head home but the rest of us wanted to find a tea shop since we wanted a ‘reward’ for the effort of the day. Once we found somewhere open we had the chance to dry off and choose something from the extensive menu. From the available options a hot chocolate and slice of Christmas cake spoke to me the most.

Treat over we then said our goodbyes and began the drive back to London where it seemed to rain almost constantly. It had been an enjoyable weekend in the Shropshire Hills despite the dull weather but I was looking forward to getting home and changed into some fresh warm clothes.

In early November we headed to the Isle of Wight for the weekend. It’s not a location we visit regularly, in part because of the added complication of the ferry and not knowing who will be able to drive. In the end 4 cars and 19 people made the trip, leaving Southampton on the 9pm ferry which saw us arrive in Cowes at 10pm.

Upon our arrival it was a short 15 minute drive to our accommodation at Woodside Lodge Retreat, via a quick stop at a small Tesco for some supplies. We had rented 3 lodges in total, 2 of which had their own hot tub. The standard of the lodges were very high and made for an enjoyable place to stay.

Woodside Coastal Retreat

Our walk on Saturday began at Freshwater Bay. Our recent good luck with weather on trips seemed to have left us as we were faced with a little rain and strong winds. We took the coastal path towards the Needles, passing the Tennyson Memorial on the way. At the Old Battery some of us took a short break for a snack. The National Trust tea shop was even open for those that wanted a hot drink. The Old Battery is an interesting place, as well as the views towards the Needles you’ll find old cannons, revealing its history as a Victorian coastal defence location. It was also once a secret rocket testing site.

Our route continued along the coast past Alum Bay with the characteristic coloured rock, though in truth in such dull lighting it was not looking its best. Another break was taken at Colway Bay in front of the colourful beach huts. The rain had stopped quite early on the walk and by now there were even signs of the sun making an appearance. Sure enough as we left the coastal path to head inland patches of blue appeared and the temperature even seemed to climb. leading many of us to remove a layer.

We arrived back at Freshwater Bay a little after 3pm to a scene so different to when we had arrived. The sun was shining and we relaxed, watching the sea and taking a few photos before driving back to our accommodation.

Freshwater Bay

After showering we headed to the local pub for an early evening meal. We had placed our orders in the morning so service was quick. We had planned to head to Sandown to watch the fireworks from the pier but once people started to order desserts it was clear that we would not make it in time for the 8pm start. After leaving the pub we headed back to the lodges to relax and enjoy the hot tubs.

On Sunday our walk would see us walk the coastal path between Ventnor and Sandown. Ewelina led the group off as Di and I headed to the end point to drop my car. We eventually caught up with them in Shanklin just as they were eating their packed lunches. It was largely a dry day Sunday but again overcast with flat lighting. Most of the car drivers had decided to try and catch the 4:30pm ferry rather than the 6:00pm one we had originally booked. Once we arrived in Sandown most passengers had the chance to visit cafes as I took drivers to collect their cars back at Ventnor. Those on the earlier ferries made it in time. My passengers however returned to the lodges to get changed out of hiking clothes and tidy up the lodges before returning the keys and catching the 6pm ferry back to Southampton.

Despite the dull weather it had been an enjoyable weekend with good company, fresh air and top class accommodation. The hot tubs were the added touch of luxury and I’m already looking forward to our Norfolk / Suffolk trip in early February where we have another hot tub. If anything the accommodation we have booked there looks even more luxurious!

I first began to look at action cameras seriously towards the end of 2013. Earlier in 2013 I first started creating movies with a DSLR and was getting familiar with editing software. I could see that the POV (point of view) camera angle an action camera provides would add something to the videos we upload to our Youtube channel. Back when I first started looking a few models were top of my list of contenders. At the higher end there was the GoPro Hero 3 Black, Drift HD Ghost and the Sony HDR-AS30. Looking at the specifications the GoPro seemed overpriced and you sensed you were paying for the brand name and the expensive marketing behind it. The Ghost looked great, I particularly liked the fact it was somewhat waterproof without a case, had an LCD showing what the camera was recording and had very good battery life. The Sony model at the time was a great price from a big name and had image stabilisation which was something the others didn’t have. However I was not convinced enough by any of them to make a purchase immediately.   Then early in 2014 I saw reports of a new Sony model and after reading the specifications decided to wait until May when it was expected to be released.

Sony HDR-AS100VR – Impressive feature list

I purchased the Sony in a kit that came with the wrist mounted remote control RMLVR1 and the kit was still cheaper than the GoPro Hero 3+ Black edition. The body of the Sony had been improved and was now white and splash-proof. For hiking, mountain biking and most other outdoor activities I don’t need to use a case. One is supplied however in the kit which allows you to go up to 5 metres underwater which I have used for white-water rafting and sea kayaking. Another case that allows you to go much deeper is available if you happen to want to use this camera for diving.

Sony HDR-AS100VR kit

An adaptor is also supplied that screws into the bottom of the camera which allows you to connect it to any standard tripod. The pack also comes with a couple of sticky mounts one flat and one curved as well as a yellow mount adaptor which you will need to mount this camera to the various mounting accessories you can buy (more about these accessories later). Whilst the changes on the outside are welcome it’s the changes inside that really impress me. Sony action cameras have always had a steadyshot option but it’s been improved in the HDR-AS100VR. The camera can record in 170 degree view but if you want to use steadyshot it records in 120 degree view. I find the 120 degree view more than wide enough and so I leave the steadyshot on all the time. The difference in the final video using steadyshot is quite remarkable, avoiding the need to try and reduce shaky footage in video editing software afterwards. The lens on this action camera is of a very high quality, a f2.8 Zeiss lens! The sensor is an 18.9MP Exmor CMOS sensor which helps the camera produce amazingly high quality video and stills. The camera features WiFi and NFC to allow you to connect to other devices, useful if you don’t own the wrist remote and want to use your mobile phone to control the camera. It should also be noted at this time that the wrist remote controller can control up to 5 of these cameras at once if you happen to have more than one camera and want to record footage from more than one viewpoint. Connections include micro USB (used for charging the camera battery) and micro HDMI. The menu options are extensive, suffice to say that there is nothing this camera cannot do that the competition does. GoPro owners might point to the 4K recording mode of the Hero 3 Black but in truth this is a gimmick since it can only record at this resolution at 15 fps which is too slow for an action camera (I keep the Sony in 1080p at 50/60fps). One of the biggest improvements made to this model is the addition of a Pro mode which records in a new XAVC S format. This is considered to be broadcast standards and it uses a bit rate of 50Mbps. To use this Pro mode though you need to make sure you buy Micro SD XC memory cards and not Micro SD HC cards. The GoPro Hero 3+ Black records up to 45Mbps in H264 mode.

Sony HDR-AS100VR Accessories

The chances are when you buy this action camera you will quickly decide you want to buy a mount or two.  The sticky mounts supplied are perfect for mounting to things like helmets etc but once mounted you cannot really change the viewpoint. For this reason the chest mount and headmounts available will prove popular. In looking at videos on YouTube of the GoPro chest mount you see people advising to mount the camera upside down because of the lack of adjustment in the mount (if you lean forward the camera does not point forward). The Sony mount is well designed since it can be adjusted from side to side and up and down resulting in complete flexibility. Other accessories are similar to what you can buy from the competition and include a surfboard mount, float, handlebar mount and even a dog mount! If you happen to already have GoPro mounts there is an adaptor that allows you to go from GoPro to Sony. The only negative I have about this camera is how difficult it is to buy mounts in the UK (retailers and Sony always seem to show out of stock). This does not seem to be an issue in Europe where I have walked into a branch of Media Markt and found the complete range on the shelf.

Sony HDR-AS100VR – Summary 

• Great wrist remote (which is waterproof)
• Good battery life (spares can also be purchased)
• Great Zeiss lens (amazing optical quality)
• Pro mode XAVC S at 50Mbps
• Good range of accessories

New videos will be added over the coming months to our YouTube channel but here are the first 2 films where we used this camera:

Black Sail Youth Hostel has gained legendary status among hikers within the UK. Much of the attraction of this place is the fact that it’s so remote, sitting deep within the Ennerdale Valley at the end of a dirt track meaning you have to park elsewhere and walk in. My last visit to this hostel was some years ago and following an expensive £250,000.00 refurbishment which included better insulation, double glazing and new power systems (generator and batteries) I booked a winter weekend for the group on the ‘Escape To’ sole use basis. The refurbishment promised to make the building more comfortable for winter stays without changing the general feel of the place, which is that of a basic mountain hut its main appeal!

We were told that we could park one car at YHA Ennerdale where one member of the group and belongings would be transported in by Land Rover. The passengers in this lead car would need to walk in. All other cars would have to park at Gatesgarth Farm and hike in at night over Scarth Gap Pass which was very much part of the adventure and appeal. When the warden from Ennerdale and I arrived at the building the apologies instantly started for the fact that doors were hard to open because they had started to bow, despite having only recently being fitted. It was explained that the drains at the back were not working properly either and rain water was making its way into the shower cubicle rather than soaking away. Whilst both of these points seemed strange considering the recent refurbishment they would not stop us from enjoying this much anticipated weekend. In the tour of the building I was shown the generator which started first time. It quickly became apparent however that there was no power into the building and that the bank of batteries were not charging. It was decided to leave the generator running for some time but something was clearly wrong and the warden eventually decided to return to Ennerdale to try and read the manual and get advice from a neighbour who used a similar backup system. By this time my passengers had arrived by foot. We built a fire with some wood to try and keep warm and used our head torches for light. Having not had anything to eat we decided to try and cook our pizzas in the gas oven. The LPG bottles clearly contained gas as the generator was powered by it and was running fine. However due to the way the power system has been designed, if there is any issue with the electrical side of the system the whole thing shuts down, gas cooker included.

Eventually the warden returned and it was clear that there would be no speedy solution. Luckily Ennerdale hostel was not booked that weekend so we would be able to stay there instead. This was not an ideal solution however as due to the time we were only able to contact 2 of the other vehicles to explain that they should alter destination. The other car had already parked at Gatesgarth Farm where there was no mobile signal. They would arrive at Black Sail only to find our note asking them to walk further to Ennerdale Hostel. The change in accommodation would also mean having to alter the planned walks. We also had a wasted evening on the Saturday recovering the car that had parked at Gatesgarth Farm. Luckily we did manage to complete some great mountain walks but it was clear that a number of the group were unhappy that they had not been able to stay at our chosen hostel.

Upon our return to London we complained to the YHA customer care team. All replies from the YHA were sent to the group who attended the weekend and the general feeling was that we were being ‘fobbed off’ and that there seemed to be a disconnect between the customer care team and those responsible for the hostel on the ground. Some questions raised had to be asked more than once before getting a response. It seems for example that in the event their other hostels had been full we would be expected to get back in our cars at midnight and drive another 5+ hours back to London, something that as a driver I would not feel safe doing. The final result was that the YHA offered us 25% discount off another escape to booking. Unfortunately trying to get a weekend that all those affected can make will be almost impossible and even with a small reduction in the accommodation rate, the cost of fuel from London means we are not likely to visit this hostel again soon. To be honest I’m not sure I would want to risk visiting Black Sail Youth Hostel until they had proved that they had ironed out all the problems.

When it comes to navigation on walks I’ve always been a fan of technology to support the traditional map and compass techniques. My first GPS was a Garmin Etrex Summit which did not have full mapping but did accept GPX route files and stated your current location as UK ordnance survey grid reference which you could refer back to on your paper map.

Later I owned a Garmin Dakota 20 which did support digital versions of the paper OS maps. Garmin called them discoverer maps and they were expensive, especially at the 1:25000 explorer scale. If you had already invested in some Memory Map maps or some other format from the likes of Quo, Tracklogs etc then the thought of spending yet more money for the same thing in a different format seemed nuts! The Garmin Dakota 20 was tough, waterproof and took simple AA batteries. It had an interesting feature that allowed you to create your own custom maps by scanning paper maps, calibrating them and then converting them to a format the Garmin could understand. It was time consuming and the quality of the digital map was not as good but it did work!

More time went by. I watched on as Sat-Map Active 10 was released. Decent reviews but again expensive and you needed to buy more expensive maps that you already owned in another format. Then Memory Map finally released GPS hardware in the form of the Adventurer 2800 and later the 3500. It seemed at last you might be able to use your old Memory Map maps but reviews of the GPS devices were not great.

Then with the smartphone explosion it seemed the answer might be on its way. Clever developers were creating apps that could read your old maps. IPhone was the first smartphone but I’ve never been an Apple fan. You could not replace the battery and their obsessive control of their market meant there were no apps that could read my maps. If one did surface like QCT Viewer it was quickly removed.

Google and Android came to the rescue. Smartphones at sensible prices started to appear. I purchased an Orange San Francisco for £100.00 and in combination with a £5.00 app called MM Tracker and 1 spare battery things were great. The only real downside to the San Francisco was that it was not waterproof. A Motorola Defy Plus followed, a waterproof phone that had a lot going for it apart from some buggy internals which resulted in it rebooting all the time after about 11 months of ownership.

And so to today and my Sony Xperia Go review.

Sony Xperia Go Review – What I like

The phone is water and dust resistant to IP67 specification. The screen is scratch resistant and it was the first phone I’ve seen that supports wet finger tracking. This is a great feature as previously rain drops would sometimes cause the screen of my old Motorola Defy to freak out, zoom in and out and generally make it hard to use. It would also not respond to very cold fingers, something that does not seem to be an issue for the Sony.

Sony Xperia Go Review – What I don’t like

Much like the iPhone this Sony has a sealed battery. If it runs low you cannot simply carry a spare and replace it on a hike. It’s not as if they installed a high power battery either, it’s 1350mAh which does not compare well to the Motorola Defy Plus which had a 1700mAh battery. So now I need to carry an external battery pack to boost the battery on longer walks. On my Sony Xperia Go the waterproof cover for the charging socket broke. Replacements are available but the design could be better. Finally the screen on the Sony is only 480 x 320 pixel resolution (165ppi) which does not compare well to the Motorola though in daily use is not a problem.

Sony Xperia Go Review – Summary

It’s not the perfect ‘outdoor’ phone but there are some things to like. If someone released a sub £200.00 sim free waterproof phone with wet finger tracking, swappable battery then I would be a customer. On a side note my favourite hiking app MM Tracker is no longer on the Google Play market following a complaint from Memory Map who released their own ‘much inferior’ app for Android. The Memory Map app is deliberately crippled to not work with older maps. You need to buy a ‘compatibility pack’ to allow you to use older maps which seems like they are trying to charge you twice. Look at the reviews of this app on both Google Play and iTunes and you will see that Memory Map don’t seem to be able to design a simple app. Luckily for Android users you have lots of choice. Alpine Quest will read older Memory Map QCT files and OruxMaps will allow you to download the OS map area you need over your home broadband for later ‘offline’ use.

I hope this Sony Xperia Go review has been helpful. Feel free to leave a comment if you have a question or if you would like to tell our readers about the apps you use when hiking, for any smartphone!