Trail talk

Trail talk: National Outdoor Expo, 2023. Birmingham NEC

The National Outdoor Expo took place at Birmingham NEC over the weekend of 18/19 March 2023. Three Points of the Compass went along to see what it had to offer this year.

Trail talk

Trail talk: our enjoyment of wild spaces and wildcamping is under threat (as always)

Few UK backpackers and wildcampers will be unaware of the recent furore surrounding the incredible, unfathomable, decision in the courts that wildcamping is not recreation, so should be banned on Dartmoor. Three Points of the Compass had hoped we might slowly be moving toward increased access to, and enjoyment of, outdoor spaces. Instead, we are headed in the opposite direction. Protest, action, share, fund, or at least talk about it

Trail talk

Trail talk: Marche Européenne du Souvenir et de l’Amitié ‘Commemorative Medal for Army Marches’

A look at the medal awarded to successful participants in the Marche Européenne du Souvenir et de l'Amitié (MESA), an annual four-day international 'march' that remembers war time operations in the Ardennes region during World War II.

Trail talk

Trail talk: choosing a loupe

The study of many aspects of natural history, both indoors and in the field, can often be aided by the use of a magnifying lens, also called a hand lens, or loupe. There are cheap loupes and there are expensive loupes. There are really poor loupes and there are excellent loupes. What there isn't, is a really good cheap loupe. But it is possible to buy one that isn't too scarily expensive.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Lego Backpacker (2022)

Lego backpacker is not confining herself to life on just one trail. She stopped off in Lego Boutique Hotel in 2022 prior to continuing her world travels.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Lego ‘Creator’ Boy Camper (2016)

This little Lego minifigure is a young character released in 2016 as part of a remarkably well designed 'Creator' set that could be used to construct three very different builds. Add a backpack to our Boy Camper and he is ready for the hills.

Planning

Trail talk: the Pembrokeshire Coast Path: a backpacking itinerary

There are many ways to tackle the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Section-hike, thru-hike, bed & breakfast or backpacking. If camping, which to choose- campsites or wildcamping? What follows is simply how Three Points of the Compass tackled it in September 2022.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Pennine Bridleway. Settle to The Street, Ravenstonedale

My final days on the Pennine Bridleway. The walking steadily improved but the rain continued to laugh at the concept of summer. However, I had Kirkby Stephen in my sights, and nothing was going to stop me

Trail talk

Trail talk: Pennine Bridleway. The Settle Loop

The 205 mile long Pennine Bridleway has two included loops. The first is the 47 mile Mary Towneley Loop that I completed on my way up from Middleton Top. The second is the ten mile Settle Loop. My plan was to traipse round it in a few hours and call the remainder a day off in Settle. But first I had the aftermath of a night of torrential rain to contend with.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Pennine Bridleway. The Mary Towneley Loop to Settle

My Pennine Bridleway continued. I had walked the 72 miles from Middleton Top in Derbyshire to the Mary Towneley Loop. Having walked all of that 47 mile loop, I was now continuing to trail's end in Cumbria. But before then, I had to get to Settle for yet another optional loop.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Pennine Bridleway. The Mary Towneley Loop

Three Points of the Compass walked the 205 mile Pennine Bridleway during the summer of 2022. Hot weather had given way to frequent days of rain. I had already walked some seventy miles from the start of the trail at Middleton Top. I now had the forty-seven mile Mary Towneley Loop to complete before I could continue my trail northward.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Wainwright’s Coast to Coast- a new National Trail

Three Points of the Compass recently walked the Pennine Bridleway. My last night was spent at the Pennine View Campsite at Kirkby Stephen. This is also a popular halt for those walking the Coast to Coast and I spent some time chatting with a handful of backpackers following that route. What was all too apparent was the daftness of my having just completed a National Trail that (in my opinion) shouldn't be one, while they were following an 'unofficial' trail that should be a National Trail. Well, at least part of that is to change.

Trail talk

Trail talk: dry stone walls on the Pennine Bridleway

An image heavy look at dry stone walls of the Pennine Bridleway

Trail talk

Trail talk: Pennine Bridleway. Middleton Top to the Mary Towneley Loop

The Pennine Bridleway doesn't get a lot of attention from backpackers. Cyclists will tackle much of it over a couple of days, horse-riders will go out for a day's hack along parts of it, however few people walk the complete path. Three Points of the Compass ventured out in the summer of 2022 to walk the 205 mile National Trail from south to north.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Lego Mountain Climber (2013)

We have previously glanced at some of the little backpacking and hiking minifigures released by Lego over the years. The company has also produced quite a few climbing characters. Three Points of the Compass looks at one of the best of these- Mountain Climber, released in 2013.

Trail talk

Trail talk: The first Lego ‘Creator’ backpacker (2011)

The Lego Creator theme started in 2001 and building sets are normally based around buildings, vehicles and animals. They focus more on the creative building element of the plastic bricks rather than the playability. The first minifigure to be included was 'Log Cabin Guy', a canoeing and backpacking log cabin dweller and we take a closer look at him here.

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