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: Cotswold Way- day one. Chipping Campden to Stanton

Mr and Mrs Three Points of the Compass set out for our annual saunter along a longer trail, enjoying comfortable accommodation and good food on the 102 mile long Cotswold Way.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Skye Trail- Rubha Hunish to the Storr

Three Points of the Compass walked Scotland's Skye Trail over six days in May. The first two days were wet and windy. But would I get blown off the Trotternish Ridge?

Gear

Gear talk: Flextail Light Repel mosquito repellent

The Flextail Light Repel is a small lightweight portable heater element that takes less than a minute to activate mosquito repellent soaked pads. How useful is it to the backpacker and camper?

map measurer

Map measure of the month: “Made in Japan”- a Chadwick-Miller / Fedtro / Stesco combination map measure

These are almost identical Japanese made map measures sold by three companies, on opposite sides of the Atlantic.

Cooking

Gear talk: Fire Maple’s Petrel heat exchanger pot and stove compatibility

Fire Maple's Petrel cook pot was specifically designed to work with their Hornet II stove. However it is not confined to just that stove. Three Points of the Compass has a glance at this heat exchanger pot and dives into his gear locker to see what else might suit.

Trail talk

Trail talk: abandoned vehicles on the Corfu Trail

Walking the Corfu Trail it is impossible not to notice the profusion of abandoned vehicles- cars, motorcycles, vans, even a lone bus. The reason for their demise must be varied, beyond practical use, stolen, broken, forgotten or unloved. A selection of just some of those seen over this 150km trail.

Trail talk

Trail talk: the Corfu Trail- Liapades to Agios Spiridonas

Three Points of the Compass hiked the Corfu Trail in April 2024. Typically for so early in the year, weather had been variable, deteriorating from hot and dry, to firstly rain at night, then during the day too. Following a rest and resupply day at Liapades, it was time to get back on trail and continue northward for the remainder of this beautiful island trail.

Trail talk

Trail talk: the Corfu Trail- Kavos to Liapades

Three Points of the Compass hiked the Corfu Trail in April 2024. Visiting this Mediterranean island in advance of the tourist season meant a quieter trail but an increased chance of rain.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: Aristo 1323 Fächermaßstab

The handy Aristo 1323 fan scale can be used for many types of measurement, including maps. Sold for over half a century, it is still produced today in almost unaltered form.

Trail talk

Trail talk: post boxes on the London LOOP

Do you ever stop to look at street furniture on a walk? Three Points of the Compass explores the peculiarities of post boxes on a loop around London.

Trail talk

Trail talk: the Grand Union Canal Walk, part four

Three Points of the Compass completes his journey from London to Birmingham on the Grand Union Canal Walk.

Trail talk

Trail talk: a Lithuanian’s JOGLE

Three Points of the Compass met Modestas Lukauskas while camping at Hawick in 2023. The Lithuanian was just completing the Scotland leg of his John o' Groats to Land's End hike

map measurer

Map measure of the month: Henri Burnat No. 61 TP ‘Special Grand Modèle’

The model 61 measure from Henri Burnat has heft and balance. Not only is it solidly made and accurate, but has also squeezed in a surprising amount of measuring capability.

Trail talk

Trail talk: the Grand Union Canal Walk, part three

Three Points of the Compass continues up the towpath toward Birmingham, following what was once an essential trade route but is now almost exclusively a watery alternative for habitation or recreation.

Trail talk

Trail talk: the Grand Union Canal Walk, part two

Three Points of the Compass returns to his walk from London to Birmingham, along what was once the main artery of the country's transport system, but is now a much quieter experience.

books

A hiker’s library: Aurum Recreational Path Guides

'Recreational Paths' are a class of trail in the UK that have historically received scant attention from the larger publishers of guidebooks. Three Points of the Compass looks at one series of books that addressed this, if only in part.

Gear

Gear talk: evening foot care and sleep socks

Three Points of the Compass looks at end of day foot regime on trail. An important part of hygiene and sleep system, and something that keeps a quilt or sleeping bag cleaner, permitting a more comfortable sleep.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: Krasnogorsk Mechanical Works curvimeter

During World War II many a Russian officer would have been issued one of these map measures. Made at Krasnogorskiy Mechanicheskiy Zavod, production of the KMZ curvimeter continued into the Cold War era with little change in design

Gear

Gear talk: Pure Clear- a lightweight water filter that removes viruses

Pure Clear Filters make bond claims, Three Points of the Compass splashed the cash to have a better look at what may be a step-change in filter design, or may not.

National Trail

England Coast Path: Isle of Sheppey- day two

Despite the route of the England Coast Path on Kent's Isle of Sheppey not quite being signed off, Three Points of the Compass continues to knock off the coastline of the 'isle of sheep' on the second of two very different days.

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