GLENTREK

Fame for Angus Glens Walking Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 10:15:00 +0000

Have you seen that the Angus Glens Walking Festival gets a name check in this VisitScotland Walking video. We are famous!

Fabulous Scottish winter walks

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 10:42:00 +0000

With a covering of snow on the peaks of Scotland's hills and mountains and a clear, bright day there can be few better times for a walk. While spring and summer are alive with nature and autumn is a bounty of colour, winter reveals its own spectacular scenery and tranquillity.

Here we bring you five great walks to try this festive season. Remember, too, that Glentrek offers a wealth of expertise on walking in Scotland and will be only too happy to offer guidance to a fabulous walk or trek.

Cateran Trail: Cutting a superb 64-mile walking route through Angus and Perthshire, the Cateran Trail is one of Glentrek's favourite walks. Choose one of five lovely stages and set off to explore the countryside that was renowned for caterans (or rustlers). The second stage is from Kirkmichael via Enochdhu to Spittal of Glenshee and offers a refreshing eight-mile route.

Den of Alyth: Woodlands are stunning at any time of year and we particularly enjoy the stark features during the winter months. Head to the wooded valley near Alyth, by Kirriemuir, to walk a short but delightful route close to the tumbling Burn of Alyth.

Drummond Hill walk: Follow a waymarked walking route at Drummond Hill, near Kenmore, Perthshire. The straight up and back walk of about 3.5 miles takes your gently to Black Rock viewpoint with splendid views over Loch Tay.

Strathdon ridge walk: An eight-mile hike takes you along the fab Glenbuchat ridge, near Strathdon. The walk starts from the ruins of Glenbuchat Castle with the route taking you along the ridge high above the glen. On a winter’s day, the chances are you will meet no-one else!

Winter Munro: If you have been walking Munros in summer, why not walk one in winter, too? Meall Chuaich, near Drumochter, will take you off the beaten track for around five hours and reveals lovely views over Badenoch and Strathspey.

Cairngorms listed in top 50 greatest places on Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 09:56:00 +0000

Of course, here at Glentrek, we already rate the Cairngorms very, very highly. With the national park on our doorstep, we’re intimately familiar with its beautiful and magnificent landscape. And now leading worldwide publication, the National Geographic, has ranked the Cairngorms among the last great places on Earth

The list includes other such places as unspoiled beauty, such as Madagascar, the Gobi Desert and the Galapagos Islands.

The US magazine has included the Cairngorms in its 50 of the World’s Last Great Places, describing it as a “destination of a lifetime”.

And Scottish promoters could not be more thrilled. VisitScotland chairman Mike Cantlay is reported as saying: “Our country boasts some of the most stunning landscapes in the world, so it’s no surprise the Cairngorms has been named as a must-visit destination by National Geographic.”

And Duncan Bryden, convener of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, added: “We are absolutely delighted with this accolade and to be the only UK entry is simply fantastic.”

In a press release, a spokesman for National Geographic said: “Our spirits are refreshed by such pristine locations as the Cairngorms.”

If you’re looking for a great Christmas present for someone special why not treat them to a guided walking trip to the Cairngorms (Glentrek can help!)? You can also buy them “50 of the World’s Last Great Places” published by National Geographic for £6.99.

New Scottish national walking trail

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 11:47:00 +0000

Scotland’s amazing stable of long-distance walks has been given another boost with the launch of its longest ever walk. The Gore-Tex Scottish National Trail stretches an amazing 470 miles from the south of Scotland to the far north west.

Launched earlier this week in Edinburgh – where the walking route passes through – it is hoped that the new walking route will put Scotland firmly on the radars of even more overseas visitors.

The trail is the brainchild of writer and broadcaster, Cameron McNeish. Reported in Scotland’s national newspaper The Herald, Cameron said: “I wanted to re-discover my country for myself, especially those areas I wasn't so familiar with, and in doing so walked a route I believe can stand comparison with the best routes anywhere in the world."

His website adds: The Gore-Tex Scottish National Trail will become “one of the iconic walking routes of the world” thanks to a combination of variety and quality of walking through the Scottish landscape.”

Starting in Kirk Yetholm the route heads first for Scotland’s capital Edinburgh before walkers take canal paths west towards Milngavie, near Glasgow. The route then goes north towards Aviemore.

The final section of the walk stretches almost 120 miles from Badenoch to Cape Wrath, much of it following the existing Cape Wrath Trail.

Other trails followed as part of this longer route include the Rob Roy Way from Drymen to Pitlochry in Perthshire. This is an area that Glentrek knows really well!

The route will not have its own waymarkers, except for new plaques at Kirk Yetholm, the Water of Leith Visitor Centre in Edinburgh and Cape Wrath.

10-year-old twin girls bag a full Munro round

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:33:00 +0000

If you are struggling to find the energy or motivation to go walking, perhaps this heart-warming tale will give you a push. For 10-year-old twin girls Cliona and Nuala McCheyne recently finished a full round of Scotland’s 282 Munros.

The girls, from Dunoon, have been walking Munros sine they were aged only four and with their parents Diane and Neil they have spent many weekends enjoying themselves on Scotland mountains.

What are the Munros?

The Munros are mountains with a summit of at least 3,000ft (914.4m) and are located across Scotland. The were first identified by Sir Hugh Munro in the early 19^th century and since then several thousand people have walked the full round of 282 Munros.

But many people take decades to walk all the Munros, and never have the Munros been completed by children so young. For mum and dad, it has taken 26 years to finish the full round, while the family dog, West Highland terrier, Aonach, is still on 224 Munros.

One of the twins, Cliona is reported as saying: “It’s been great fun doing them. We’ve never found them scary. Our mum is a bit scared of heights so we always have to encourage her.”

Of course, no one is saying that you need to go out and embark on the full Munro round challenge. You could simply try bagging a few Munros for starters. In fact, in Angus and the surrounding there are some of the easiest Munros.

As with any hike in the countryside, it is important that you know how to navigate yourself safely by map and compass before setting out, especially if the weather forecast is poor. Glentrek offer hill walking navigation courses, should you be interested.

The twin girls were able to learn map reading skills as part of their family Munro bagging trips. Mum Diane is reported as saying: “The girls have learnt so much doing the Munros, like how to map-read. It’s been a huge learning curve for them.

“We’re so proud. It’s a remarkable achievement for anyone. We didn’t set out to break a record. We just did it so we could spend time together and we’ve loved every minute of it."

Easier Munros to bag

The Cairnwell and Carn Aosda

Dreish and Mayar

Schiehallion

Mount Keen

Ben Chonzie

If you would like any information about bagging Munros, or would like some guiding assistance do please get in touch.

Learn to navigate in the hills

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:53:00 +0000

How are your navigational skills? Would you like to brush up on your compass reading ability? Perhaps you are a new-comer to the hills and would like to feel more confident about leading the way yourself? Whatever your reasons for wanting to learn more about navigation, it is definitely a good idea to know how to read a map and compass.

Glentrek is an official provider of the National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS). This scheme is a personal performance, non-competitive, incentive programme for all ages of people, who are keen to learn navigation skills and gain the confidence to get out and enjoy the countryside.

The National Navigation Award Scheme will:
Enhance your enjoyment of the countryside
Develop sound navigation skills and practice including planning your own walking routes?
Improve your confidence at map reading, whether the weather is clear or misty.
Give you a personal performance award in navigation at the NNAS Bronze, Silver or Gold Levels, validated to a national standard.

On Saturday September 29nand 30, Glentrek is running a two-day Bronze National Navigation Award course in Glen Doll/Glen Clova, Angus.

The cost is £90 per person for both days or £50 if you just want to come on the first day.

To find out more and to book email: admin@glentrek.com

Walk to a mountain peak for a breakfast sunrise!

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 11:56:00 +0000

What will you be doing this Saturday? Siting on the sofa watching a bland TV programme? Drinking too many beers or wine? Wondering why you’re bored – when everyone else seems to be out having fun? So, do something different!

We’re off to walk overnight from Ballater to take the sunrise views from the Munro, Lochnagar. The outing is sure to be great fun and we can promise you camaraderie and a Champagne and strawberries breakfast at the summit.

Of course, there is no guarantee of a view but we’ll have our fingers and toes crossed.

Lochnagar (also called Beinn Chìochan) is a mountain in the Grampians, situated about five miles south of the River Dee, near Balmoral. Technically, the English name is a misunderstanding because Lochnagar was named after Lochan na Gaire – the “little loch of the noisy sound” – which is in fact a loch that is found in the mountain's northeast corrie. The mountain is also known Beinn Chìochan, which means mountain of breasts in Gaelic.

If you fancy the Glentrek sunrise walk, please contact us. We’ll be setting off at 11pm on Friday July 14 from Ballater. The guided mountain walking takes place in darkness and we’re hoping for a magnificent sunrise on the Sunday morning. The price per person is £30, which includes a 25% discount.

Email admin@glentrek.com to book or call us on 07934443557 for more info.

Great guided walking trips in Scotland

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:37:00 +0000

Midsummer's Day walk

Why not make the most of the longest day – and shortest night – of summer with a special walk and a chance to see an amazing sunrise? On Midsummer’s Day on June 23, Glentrek is leading a walk on the Munro Lochnagar in the Cairngorms.

Lochnagar is a fabulous mountain and offers amazing views, including one of Scotland’s most beautiful corries. The mountain was also featured in a poem by Lord Byron.

Our Glentrek walk meets in Ballatar at 11pm. We will be walking in darkness but at this time of year it is not dark for long. And imagine the rewards as the sun rises… It is always stunning.

The price of this unusual walk is £40 per person.

Munro bagging weekend

And if walking Lochnagar has given you a taste for Munro bagging, join us on the weekend of July 7 and 8. We’ll be bagging a few Munros in the Tyndrum/Bridge of Orchy area during our guided adventure. The price is £35 per person per day

Bike and hike on Ben Alder

On Sat August 4 a Ben Alder Bike ’n’ Hike trip offers the opportunity to climb this remote Munro in a day without the need to camp. You’ll have a guide for the day and the use of our quality mountain bikes. This trip is £55 per person.

To find out more and to book your place, please contact us

Summer is the time for walking in Angus

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:30:00 +0000

We love this time of year – and especially when the sun is out. With long days of light, extended hikes are possible and the summer is a great opportunity for multi-day walks. Whether you like to get away from it all and camp overnight (that does mean you need to carry your tent on your back!) or walking with overnights in B&Bs (Glentrek can arrange to carry your luggage for you!), there are just so many different routes to choose from.

Lock Muick... Just one of the fabulous views on offer at the walking fest

If you’re not sure about where to go or the best walks in the Angus and Perthshire areas, please give us a call at Glentrek. We know pretty much all there is to know about walking in this area and we love to share our passion and knowledge.

This weekend, we’re enjoying the Angus Glens Walking Festival. Twenty eight guided walks over four days! Need we say more? Well, we’re going to! The festival is celebrating its 10^th year in 2012, which has given the organisers another reason to expand the number and range of walks on offer.

Glentrek assists this festival every year and we’ll be walking a number of routes over the weekend.

To find out about the walks there’s a handy Angus Glens Walking Festival PDF link

The weather forecast is looking good for much of the weekend so why not head up and join a guided walk?

If you don’t have the time, there are still months of summer to enjoy walking. Angus is a fabulous area for seeing Scotland’s natural landscape and wildlife at its very best. The area also boasts some of the easiest Munros (mountains with a summit of more than 3,000ft) and several waymarked walking routes.

Give Glentrek a call to find out more.

Parents catch on to cost-effective outdoors play

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:34:00 +0000

Well, we never thought we’d read this, especially given the number of studies that have been telling us that kids just don’t get outdoors to play nearly enough.

Finally, it seems, outdoor play is making a comeback! But why? It’s to do with cash-strapped parents swapping the cost of buying DVDs and the cinema for free days playing in the park.

A poll of 1,250 UK parents of school-age children reveals that 44% of children are now spending more time playing outside than they did two years ago.

And the parents says that this is because trips to local parks or walks in the countryside are cheap days out.

We have been banging on about the cost-effectiveness of walking for years, but it’s great to see that people are now realising this!

Of course, there are still a few obstacles to more outdoors activity, including time and the weather.

The research was carried out on behalf of food manufacturer Arla's Kids Closer to Nature campaign.

Tim Gill, author and a play campaigner, is reported as saying: “The good news is that families are realising that fresh air costs nothing.”

The survey said:

• Three-quarters of parents believe they can have a cheap day out visiting parks and green spaces.

• Four out of 10 opted for a budget trip to the seaside.

Tim added: “Times are hard, so parents have to make savings. But the good news is that families are realising that fresh air costs nothing.

“Getting under the open sky - whether in a local park or the great British countryside - is the perfect way for kids to explore, have adventures and feed their curiosity and imagination."

We really like this survey. If you’re looking for great value ideas for walking with the family please do get in contact.

Join a Glentrek guided weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:25:00 +0000

What will you be doing this summer? If you're keen to get outdoors a bit more, check out the great weekends that Glentrek has on offer.

Sat June 9 - Women Only day walk... Girls this one's for you! Walking with your fellow ladies, enjoying the chat and taking in the views is hard to beat. And Ben Vrackie in Highland Perthshire promises fantastic panoramic views from its summit. Price £30 per person.

Sat June 23 - Midsummer's Day Sunrise on Lochnagar. Try something new and different on this special night. The guided mountain walk begins at 11pm on the Friday in Ballater and takes in a stunning sunrise. Price £40 per person.

July 7-8 - Munro Weekend. If you don't already know a Munro is a Scottish mountain with a summit of at least 3,000ft (914m). There are 283 of them and this is your chance to "bag" a few of these lofty hills. You will benefit from the knowledge and leadership of a guide on this trip. Come along for one or both days. We'll be walking in the Tyndrum/Bridge of Orchy area. Price £35 per person per day.

Sat Aug 4 - Ben Alder Bike 'n' Hike. Climb this remote Munro in a day without the need to camp. You'll benefit from an experienced guide and hire of our quality mountain bikes. The trip takes place in the Dalwhinnie area. Price £55 per person.

The best mother's day gift you can buy

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 10:41:00 +0000

You could treat your mum to a big bunch of flowers or a box of chocolates on Mother's Day. And, of course, she would be delighted. But how much more cherished will she feel if you book her in for a hills navigation day?

Glentrek runs Women-only Hill Navigation courses that are the perfect environment in which to learn about the vital skills of using a map and compass in the hills and mountains. The days are also a lot of fun and your mum will make new friends.

Your mum doesn't even need to be that fit and country-mad to enjoy a navigation day. The emphasis is about enjoying your surroundings and discovering new skills, which all mums will relish.

A Glentrek navigation hill day or weekend also offers the chance for mum to get away on her own or with a friend to enjoy some quality time without the family. Yes, she loves you all a great deal but she also loves her me-time.

The women-only navigation courses are led by a qualified mountain leader and will teach mum such skills as reading the terrain, using a map and compass, locating grid references, making accurate estimates of walking distances and how to get from A to B on a hill even when mist is all around you.

You never know what new hobby this course might spark for your treasured mum!

Glentrek is running a Women-only Navigation Course on May 12 and 13.

Training tips for hill walking

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:26:00 +0000

Chris Highcock has a simply theory. If you want to enjoy hill walking you’d best do a bit of training. But how many of us bother to do any training before hitting the hills? What Chris is suggesting that a little bit of strength building twice a week will increase ability and pleasure when you actually get to the hills. No doubt it will also improve your speed and efficiency when walking and also your recovery time.

So Chris has written a new downloadable book Hillfit: Strength. There are no big surprises in the book. He simply advocates using basic strength training techniques in the comfort of your own home, using mostly your own body weight, or the odd towel or door frame as extras, to become fitter for hill walking.

The explanations of sports physiology are easily understood and the strength-conditioning programme is very straightforward. It fits into just two 15-minute slots per week. Chris reckons that 15 minutes of simple strength training twice a week will create stronger, more efficient muscles that will lead to far better and more enjoyable days walking in the hills.

Basic equipment required includes: Your bodyweight, a towel, a door and occasionally a rucksack and a few bottles of water.

The aim is one set of each exercise following Chris’s guidelines and for a total of only 15 minutes. Twice in a week. Five basic patterns – two upper body (pushing and pulling), two lower body (squatting and hip-hinging), and one whole body (running/hiking) add up to a programme that can be done indoors in your own home without any shop-bought equipment – and all with the aim of building strength step by step.

They exercises are the usual kind, including wall-sits, planks, squats and lunges. So there is nothing complicated to understand or remember. Adding in a weighted rucksack adds extra weight as you become stronger. It’s as simple as that!

The most ingenious part of the programme was utilising an ordinary towel and door to create a “modified row” exercise.

The main emphasis of the book – and something we agree with – is that exercise itself is not the point. Living and enjoying life are the point… and exercise is your biggest aid to this goal.

To download the book costs £10. More details at www.hillfit.com.

We're wild for the wild map of Scotland!

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:56:00 +0000

We have always known that the Angus Glens and the Eastern Glens were special. And beautifully wild and remote. And now their “wildness” has been captured on a new “wild land” map.

Scottish Natural Heritage has come up with a Wild Map that’s a first in Europe and is aimed at protecting Scotland’s stunning wild places and landscapes.

According to SNH project: “Wildness is a quality experienced by people when visiting places of a certain character. Measuring wildness is inherently difficult.... However, we consider wildness depends on a number of physical attributes that can be measured…”

These include: The perceived naturalness of the land cover; the ruggedness of the terrain; remoteness from public roads or ferries; and a visible lack of buildings, roads, pylons and other modern artefacts.

The Wild Map will assist local authorities and other planning bodies to make decisions about development and land use change. And it’s hoped the maps will also help the tourism industry to promote Scotland’s wild landscapes to visitors and walkers.

We’re already doing that and we will certainly be using the wild map to make more of the wonderful wildness of the Angus Glens and Eastern Cairngorms.

Half-price winter skills courses

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:44:00 +0000

What does £25 buy these days? Your half of a cheap meal out with your partner? A Big Mac meal for the family, if you only have a couple of kids. A pair of winter cycling gloves? Four bottles of mediocre wine... And a full day's winter skills tuition in the mountains with Glentrek!

We have cut the price of our day winter skills courses by 50% and it's proving hard for people to resist. Our Glentrek winter skills courses are the perfect introduction to walking in Scotland's winter mountains.

While summer walking still requires a lot of attention to detail, including navigation and weather, when you add in a blanket of snow and below-freezing temperatures in winter, walkers need to know a wider skill set.

Many more people are enjoying the winter mountains

As walking in general grows in popularity, so more people are extending their walking activities into the colder months. But there are obvious dangers and walkers should think about joining a winter skills course, such as the ones run by Glentrek, before setting off for the snow-covered hills.

Winter skills courses with Glentrek

The £25 day course includes skills tuition by a qualified winter mountain leader, as well as all the equipment, including boots, crampons and ice axes, that you might need for a day in the Scottish winter mountains.

These courses are ideal for the walker who has some experience of summer walking but is taking their first steps into the winter mountains. You'll cover such skills as avalanche awareness, crampon use, ice axe arrest and navigation.

The winter skills days take place in the mountains near Glenshee and also offer some fantastic scenic treats. To find out more see Glentrek winter skills

Festive family fun outdoors

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:24:00 +0000

With the festive holidays now here, many families will be looking forward to some quality time together. Heading outdoors for a walk or cycle gives adult and kids a chance to burn off some excess Christmas calories and get some much needed exercise. If you sit at home watching films and playing computer games for a fortnight you'll all go stir crazy.

But so many people are put off going into Scotland's great outdoors by poor weather. We're not saying you should be forced to go outside and into the hills when it's blowing a gale or stormy but during the winter months you'll find that Scotland boasts some truly lovely days.

There is no reason to miss out on outside fun, especially when Scotland does enjoy cold days with bright blue skies, or mild days with a little rain or snow, of full-on snowy days.

Dress to suit the weather

If you're wearing the right outdoor clothing then most days during the festive holidays offer an opportunity to go outdoors for a family adventure. This doesn't just mean buying the right kit for the grown-ups. Children tend to get colder faster and in wet, snowy or chilly weather, it's youngsters that need to be wrapped up warm and dry.

You'll find a host of practical outdoor clothes for children these days. Here's a checklist of outdoor clothing for children:

Walking boots or wellies are required. Shoes or trainers will let water or snow in over the top and that means the kids will have wet - and cold – feet before you know it. You don't need to spend a fortune but do look for waterproof boots. Something like these Regatta Guideway boots for kids.

A waterproof jacket is a must. There is a huge choice in shops and on-line. See Regatta and Go Outdoors. For youngsters how about this all-in-one Regatta Splosh suit? (See left) Waterproof and cosy, this suit keeps little ones warm from neck to ankles.

Waterproof over trousers make wet or snowy days that bit drier and warmer. Kids can wear their choice of comfy trousers and simply pop the roomy and waterproof trousers over the top.

Baselayers are for children, too. Most adults know about the advantages of wearing a number of thinner baselayers to keep heat in. A baselayer followed by a fleece and then a waterproof jacket works as well for children as for grown-ups.

Cold hands, feet or head will lead to moany children so make sure you have a bundle of hats, gloves and thick socks in a range of sizes.

Pick up top tips for winter walking

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:10:00 +0000

Safety is important in the mountains – especially in winter. At Glentrek we run a programme of winter skills and navigation courses offering practical and informative advice about how to enjoy the mountains safely and what to do in situations where you are caught out by bad weather.

Winter skills courses with Glentrek

You can never learn enough about winter safety, however, so we're delighted to hear about the The Mountaineering Council of Scotland's Winter Safety Lectures. This season's lectures are taking place in a range of locations across Scotland.

The aim of the lectures is to entertain and educate, and the main theme is skills for the mountains in winter. In order to deliver this, an inspiring array of speakers has been chosen to present the 2012 lecture series and an entertaining evening out is guaranteed.

The MCofS lectures take place in popular venues including the Clachaig Inn in Glencoe and the Mountain Café, Aviemore. Others will take place at Tiso stores in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Perth and Inverness.

Heather Morning, the MCofS Mountain Safety Adviser, says: “The MCofS winter safety lectures have something to offer everyone who enjoys the Scottish mountains in winter. Whether you are a seasoned mountaineer or heading to the mountains for the first time, you are guaranteed to pick up some useful 'top tips' from the experts.”

MCofS Chief Officer David Gibson said: “Winter mountains have much to offer in terms of physical challenge, superb views and memorable experiences. However, the margin for error is much less than at other times of the year due to the weather, conditions underfoot and limited daylight hours.

"These lectures could save lives by enabling you to learn from others’ experience and gain an understanding of the skills and equipment you need to be more self-reliant.”

Of course, at Glentrek we believe that the best way to learn about winter mountains and safety is to get out there with an experienced guide but for extra top tips the MCofS safety lectures will be a valuable addition to your winter skills knowledge.

How walkers should "layer" for comfort and joy

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:18:00 +0000

It's cold outside - and so you pull on t-shirt, a jumpers and a jacket. Good enough you think. But then you start walking and you become hot and sweaty. You remove the jumper, but you feel damp and chilly. That's because your cotton t-shirt is soaked with sweat, causing your body temperature to drop and really what you need is another slightly thinner layer, and not a jumper. You end up feeling so disgruntled and uncomfortable that you don't really enjoy your walk.

But it doesn't have to be like this!

The sensible walker will "layer". Layering is not just about throwing on a t-shirt and a jumper, it's about careful management of body temperature.

The steps for effective layering:

1) Choose thin layers that are made from sweat-wicking materials. These won't stop the sweating, because sweat is a natural body function when you become hot. These layers simply help to move the sweat from your skin to the outside. A few to choose include Helly Hansen baselayers, baselayers made from Merino wool, Skins.

2) Wear lots of thin layers. Start with a vest or t-shirt and then add long-sleeved layers according to the weather. Wearing thin and thin-ish layers allow you to take off and add on layers one at a time so as to better manage your core temperature.

3) Add a waterproof, windproof and breathable jacket on top. Gore-tex is the leader in waterproof and breathable jackets, although there are many other similar fabrics. A jacket that is breathable is one that allows sweat to pass through form the inside to the outside.

So, if you're layering correctly you'll have much less sweat on your skin, you'll be able to manage your temperature by adding and removing layers and you'll keep the wind and rain out with an outer jacket. This is the recipe for happy walking this winter!

Learn your winter walking skills

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:39:00 +0000

Scottish mountains are simply magical in winter. On a crisp, dry day when the sky is blue and the snow has transformed the landscape into a winter wonderland it’s difficult to imagine a more stunning location. But for walkers, the chillier months can bring a number of dangers, which is why many more people are now signing up to winter skills courses.

In winter weather conditions can vary suddenly and without warning. In a white out it is very difficult to navigate if you are not familiar with a map and compass. And if you’re caught in bad conditions would you know how to take care of yourself? Even just walking with the aid of crampons can be difficult without some know-how.

Glentrek is now gearing up for their Winter Skills Weekends. The weekends in the Glenshee area focus on a range of different winter walking skills such as moving safely through the mountains including the use of the boot, ice axe, crampon techniques, avalanche awareness and emergency skills. These skills are incorporated into a winter walking day so that they may be put to use as the day progresses.

Winter Skills Weekends are also a great place ot meet likeminded people. If might be that your summer walking pals have decided to stay indoors in the warm but you still have a desire to be out and about in the hills all winter. At a Skills Weekend you’ll work in groups and we’re sure you’ll meet people who are friendly and ken to keep up their winter walking.

Glentrek also has Winter Skills Days. These reveal to less experienced walkers all the basics required for being out in the hills when there’s ice and snow.

There is still availability for the January and February weekends and days. See here for details.

Fix-it hill walking kit

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 07:54:00 +0000

Being prepared is one of the mantras of outdoors experts. Of course, hill walkers and off-the-beaten track mountain bikers should always have the essential kit packed in their rucksack, and that includes a compass and map and the knowledge of how to use them. But still there are things that you may feel that you can't prepare for, such as a torn tent or rucksack or a zip that suddenly breaks on your waterproof jacket.

So we have come up with a walking, biking and camping fix-it kit. These items shouldn't take up too much extra space and you never know when they will come in handy. They could be the difference between having a usable tent or not, or a pair of walking boots that get you home.

Duct tape: This fantastic DIY item is strong and sticky enough to mends tears and hold things together when all else seems useless. We're used it to mend rucksacks, waterproof trousers, tents and even a sleeping bag zip.

Seam Grip: This is a super-strong seam sealer that acts like an outdoor superglue.

Foil: Buy the heaviest weight you can find and fold it up into a neat square to be stowed in the bottom of your rucksack. It can be used as a windbreak for your stove, as a way of signalling for help (like a mirror) or even fashioned into a makeshift cooking pot.

Zip ties: Small, lightweight and incredibly useful these are fantastic for joining things back together or carry items attached to your rucksack.

Swiss Army Knife or Juice Knife: No outdoors person should go anywhere without a knife that has a useful cutting blade and a saw.

Length of cord: It is lightweight and small to carry but a length of cord can get you out of trouble. Use it as a tent guy line replacement, to replace a snapped boot lace or as a belt for your trousers.

Dental floss: yes, this is a great product for cleaning your teeth but it is also a brilliant substitute fishing line and sewing thread.

Fisherfield Mountain Expedition Summer 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:22:00 +0000

The Fisherfield mountains, near Ullapool, are much revered in walking circles, especially among Munro baggers. Anyone who has hiked the epic tour of six of Scotland’s famous Munros will recount stories of a huge adventure and fabulous views.

While the latest news does suggest that one of the six Munros will be changed to Corbett after recent remeasuring, it is still kind of necessary to summit all six mountain tops to tick off the five (or possible six) Munros.

In any case, one Munro bagger, aka the G-Force, reckons that the Munro in question, Beinn a Chlaidheimh, is well worth summitting whatever its title. He said: “It doesn’t matter whether Beinn a Chlaidheimh is officially a Munro or a Corbett, it’s a fabulous peak and it is on the main route of the Fisherfield Munro circuit anyway. I can't imagine missing it out!”

But this Fisherfield trek is no easy undertaking. Walkers need to be fit and up for a challenge. Joing a guided trek takes away a lot of the worries about navigation and will lead to a much greater chance of walking all these summits in three days.

On Fri June 29 to Mon July 2, 2012, inclusive, Glentrek is offering a fantastic three-day walking package giving you the chance to “bag” all of the Fisherfield Munros in a single guided trip.

This is a strenuous walking trip with remote camping and will therefore incorporate a mountain training day three or four weeks prior to the expedition.

Departing from the Dundee area, all you will need to bring is a high level of fitness, full hillwalking gear and a sleeping bag.

The price of £375 for the expedition includes:

* One night B/B in a hotel

* Two nights of high-level camping

* One mountain training day with a Mountain Leader

* Guiding with a Mountain Leader

* Expedition rucksack, camping equipment and camping rations.

Book your place now and for more information please give Glentrek a call on: 01307 469536

Save money this summer - go walking

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:43:00 +0000

A new survey has revealed a staggering statistic – that parents are expected to spend a total of £8.6bn on childcare and entertainment this summer. That’s an average of £660 per child over the holidays, including £246 on childcare and £414 on entertainment.

Added to this, the Cost of a Child Report research by insurer LV= found that 55% of parents with children under 18 will not be taking a holiday abroad.

But even though parents are making cut backs this summer, they are finding more creative ways to entertain their children. Cash-clever parents are taking advantage of discount offers for museums and parks, while almost two-thirds of parents will be making doing at-home activities with their kids, such as cooking, drawing, painting and crafts.

If you’re keeping an eye on the pennies this summer why not book a short holiday or weekend in Scotland – and make the most of the great outdoors. Walking is a cheap and fun activity and is highly accessible to all the family.

In Angus, in particular, there’s a host of family-friendly walks through glens and even a couple of the easiest Munros you’ll find. Exploring woodlands, riverbanks and hillsides can lead to some great wildlife sightings and you might even discover a beautiful waterfall or a pool for splashing about in.

Glentrek can offer a wealth of advice on waling in the area and help you to book accommodation to suit your budget. There are many family-style hostels or campsites that won’t break the bank and if you’re enjoying the outdoors and walks every day you will keep the cost of the holiday to a minimum.

If you’re feeling a little more generous one day – and you want to treat the kids to a summer holiday day they won’t forget, why not check out the adventure activities being offered by locally based Highway2Adventure?

Scotland’s outdoors offers so much to do and for just a small outlay so you may not have to spend as much this summer as the research suggests.

Get on your bike to find a gem of a route in the Angus Glens

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:29:00 +0000

Scotland is renowned as a mountain biking destination. Across the country there are numerous mountain biking centres, and stretching for many, many miles in the countryside there’s a vast network of off-road trails that beckon the rider to grab a map and a picnic and head off for a few hours or a few days of remote-style cycling.

In the Angus Glens we are lucky enough to have our own piece of mountain biking paradise. Glen Isla boasts numerous miles of peaceful tracks though forestry and around beautiful lochs.

One of our favourite B&B providers, West Freuchies, is next door to some of the most fabulous of these routes. They’ll send you on your way with bike hire from Glentrek, a delicious packed lunch and a route to suit your fitness and aspirations. But make sure you ask them about Loch Shandra. If there's one place we recommend you cycle to it’s this stunning loch.

Word also has it that there are proposals to create a mountain bike centre in Glen Isla, close to the settlement of Kirkton of Glen Isla. The forest here would become home to blue and red trails and would offer a host of cycling opportunities for people of all ages and fitness levels. The registered charity Angus Mountain Bike Trails Association (AMBTA) is currently working on this project.

At Glentrek we're also keen to help more people to get on their bikes and out into the country. We can provide you with bike hire, routes or a guided day if you would like someone to show you a range of new routes or mountain bike trails.

Our mountain bikes for hire include good quality 18-speed, full-suspension mountain bikes, both child and adult sizes. Helmet and gloves are also provided.

Discover a few outdoors secrets in Angus

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Mon, 30 May 2011 14:26:00 +0000

At VisitScotland the campaign is "Surprise Yourself". With Scottish Natural Heritage, it's "Simple Pleasures". At Glentrek, we're loving the sentiments of both outdoors promotions. The VisitScotland goal is to get more people to discover more about Scotland.

It could be a beach you've never walked to or a hill view you have never experienced. Perhaps you have not ever travelled to Cape Wrath or taken a boat trip to see native dolphins in the Moray Firth.

There is so much to see and do and discover in Scotland that you could be finding new highlights for the rest of your life.

The SNH Simple Pleasures campaign is similar but aims for people to get outdoors more often to find the natural highlights and hotspots just a short walk or cycle from their own doorsteps. The SNH website reveals a wealth of walk and cycle routes close to the Scottish cities where people can find wildlife, skim stones, play Pooh sticks, identify a tree's age or splash in puddles. Lots of simple things that involve being outdoors and having fun.

In Angus, we reckon there is so much to discover in the great outdoors. We obviously recommend that you come for a visit but here we bring you a few highlights of our beautiful region for outdoors fans:

Walk an easier Munro: The Munros in Angus, including Mayar and Dreish, offer fabulous views and a fantastic walking trip but they are also among some of the easiest of the 283 Munros to walk across Scotland.

Famous birth place: The Angus town of Kirriemuir was home to the Peter Pan author J M Barrie and today his home is an interesting historical visitor attraction.

Gorgeous glens: Angus doesn't have just one beautiful glen but FIVE. The region might seem a little "glen greedy" but each glen boasts a beautiful range of walks and views.

Festival fun: We're just days away from the annual Angus Glens Walking Festival. It grows and grows and offers an ever wider range of walks for new comers and old-timers.

Trail of the Caterans: Angus was once a region inhabited by cattle thieves, the Caterans. The many trails and routes created by these lawless men have now become beautiful walking routes. The Cateran Trail is the UK's first long-distance circular waymarked walk.

Wonderful waterfall: The Reekie Linn waterfall (pictured above) is a spectacular waterfall located just a short walk from Craigisla Bridge on the B954. Sometimes the waterfall is two falls of 6m and 18m. But when in full spate it forms a single waterfall of 24m. Whatever time of year it's pretty awesome to view.

Does anyone else have any secret gems in Angus that they would like to share?

Your chance to tick off six epic Munros in 3 days

noreply@blogger.com (Glentrek) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 20:52:00 +0000

Whether you are ticking off Munros or simply fancy a trek into the beautiful wilderness of Scotland, Glentrek’s new Fisherfield Munro break is for you.

The Fisherfield Forest, near Ullapool, is home to some of the remotest Munros in Scotland, and in total there are six mountains over 3,000ft to climb.

These are not easy Munros and you’ll need to be prepared to carry wild camping kit, but the rewards for reaching the summits are almost indescribable.

The scenery is awesome, the route is tough but wildly fabulous and if you tell anyone in the know that you’ve done the Fisherfields they’ll be mightily impressed. "These Munros are the stuff of long-lasting memories," said a Munro bagger, who did the trip last year.

The Glentrek break offers walkers the chance to “bag" all six Munros in one guided trip.

As this is a strenuous three-day walking trip with remote camping, so you’ll need to be fit and healthy to join us.

The 3-day Fisherfields Munro trip:

When: Sunday July 10 to Wednesday July 13, 2011, inclusive.

Price: £280

Depart: From the Dundee area.

What you need: A high level of fitness, full hill-walking gear and a sleeping bag.

The price includes: One night B&B in hotel; two nights of high-level camping; guiding by an expert Mountain Leader; expedition rucksack; camping equipment and camping rations.

To book or for further information call: 01307 469536.

… And for something less strenuous

Glentrek still has places left on their guided Cateran Trail trip starting Aug 28, 2011.