Author Archives

Jools

UK backpacker, striving for lightweight while body gets increasingly heavyweight. Completed all of the UK national trails while fitting in local day hikes and other multi-day trails both in the UK and overseas. Walked across mainland UK on five month 2500 mile 'Three Points of the Compass' hike in 2018

Trail talk

Trail talk: National Outdoor Expo, 2025. Birmingham NEC

The National Outdoor Expo took place at Birmingham NEC over the weekend of 22/23 March 2025. Having taken a break from it last year, Three Points of the Compass went along to see what was new.

National Trail

England Coast Path: ‘champing’ at Cooling

The Iwade to Grain section of the England Coast Path has recently been officially signed off. I walked it last summer when I completed a circuit of the Isle of Grain, enjoying an unusual overnighter on the way.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Navigation resources for hiking in Gran Canaria

Three Points of the Compass takes a glance at some of the best maps, guidebooks and online resources there are for those hiking on Gran Canaria

map measurer

Map measure of the month: the Corriere dei Piccoli chilometrometro

This months measure was a gift with one of the most successful of Italian comics. It is cheap, is simple to make and, most importantly, introduced children to the wonderful world of maps and working with them.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Camino de Santiago de Gran Canaria- the finish

Three Points of the Compass travelled to the Canary Islands to walk a little known Camino. The first day had not gone well, how would it end?

Gear

Trail talk: Camino de Santiago de Gran Canaria- day one

Three Points of the Compass travels to the Canary Islands to walk a little known Camino: "the way of St. James among volcanoes"

ditty bag

Gear talk: what I took on the Arctic Circle Trail

Three Points of the Compass takes a glance at what he wore and carried on an eight day 100 mile summer backpack across Greenland's Arctic tundra.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: Ecobra pocket dividers

This month's map measure is from a German firm that manufactured almost exclusively for one of the largest US importers of drawing and surveying instruments.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Arctic Circle Trail: Eqalugaarniarfik to Sisimiut

Three Points of the Compass continues his trek through West Greenland on the Arctic Circle Trail, heading to the coast

Gear

Gear talk: Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case

Three Points of the Compass takes a glance at a lightweight soap case with 'dry through' technology. Spoiler- it's expensive, but good!

Gear

Gear talk: five favourite pieces of gear in 2024

As 2024 rolls to an end, it is time for the Three Points of the Compass annual retrospective of five items of gear that were especially appreciated on longer trails.

Gear

Gear talk: Bach 60 litre Cargo Bag Lite

Three Points of the Compass recently travelled to Patagonia to hike a couple of trails. The journey there and back entailed seven flights and the backpack was protected in transit by a useful 'travel protection bag' from Bach.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: ‘Wanderer’ Route Marker No. 1114, with compass.

This months map measure is an uncommon combination instrument that brings together various functions, but ultimately fails as a collective.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Arctic Circle Trail- hunter cairns

Many of the paths crossing the West Greenland tundra have cairns to guide the way. These have often been adorned by the skulls and antlers of reindeer.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Arctic Circle Trail: Kangerlussuaq to Eqalugaarniarfik

Three Points of the Compass hiked the Arctic Circle Trail during the brief Greenland summer. The first four days took me into the mountains and arctic tundra, to the tidal head of the Maligiaq fjord.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: Roulette métrique brevetée S.G.D.G

This month's measure is a French made opisometer capable of measuring centimetres and lines on kilometre scale maps

Gear

Gear talk: Pure Clear have improved their water filter mouthpiece

Pure Clear have introduced a small but welcome improvement to their squeeze type water filters.

National Trail

Trail talk: LDWA National Trails Register

Three Points of the Compass has a glance at the National Trails Register maintained by the Long Distance Walkers Association, giving himself a pat on the back at the same time.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: Henri Chatelain’s twenty-five inch to one mile measure

This month's measure is a bit of an oddity. It is made specifically for large scale maps and measures at 25.344" scale, also known as twenty-five inch to one mile. It was primarily used by governmental organisations, landowners, estate agents, solicitors, and those engaged in land management.

Trail talk

Trail talk: finally opening my mail

Three Points of the Compass finally gets round to opening a package received in the post over five years ago

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