Trail talk

Three Points of the Compass is taking a sedate summer wander along the west section of the Thames Path. This is no frenetic high level backpacking trip. Instead, it is […]

Trail talk

Trail talk: Southern Upland Way: Part three- Moffat to Cockburnspath

I was past the half-way point of the Southern Upland Way and had the east coast of Scotland (almost) in my sights. The bigger climbs were now behind me and the paths became easier underfoot. While there was rain ahead, I cared not as I was just about recovered from illness and enjoying the trail immensely.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Southern Upland Way: Part two- the Glenkens to Moffat

My time on the Southern Upland Way continued. I was enjoying the trail immensely and was heading toward a day off at the midway point. However a problem was about to be encountered...

Trail talk

Trail talk: Southern Upland Way: Part one- Portpatrick to the Glenkens

Three Points of the Compass walked the 215 mile Southern Upland Way in April/May 2022. Part One follows me from the Irish Sea at Portpatrick to the Glenkens

Trail talk

Trail talk: Lego Hiker (2018)

Three Points of the Compass has a glance at a trekking pole carrying minifigure released by Lego in 2018

navigation

Trail talk: maps, don’t be afraid to write on them!

While many have made the change to exclusive use of digital mapping, Three Points of the Compass is still using paper maps backed up by digital maps on the phone when on trail. Before I even leave home, there will be annotations on my paper map- phone numbers, arrows, circles, 'tent' symbols and drawings. These are invariably added to on trail. Anathema to some, but maps are a tool to be used and abused.

Trail talk

Trail talk: the Gritstone Trail

Backpacking along the edge of the Peak District, with hills to my left and the Cheshire Plain stretching far off to my right. It snowed, rained and (occasionally) shone brightly for this three day February trip. The Gritstone Trail went up, it went down, very rarely was it flat. Regardless of the gradient, mud was a frequent companion.

Trail talk

Trail talk: the Miner’s Way

The Miner's Way is a now largely forgotten trail that loops around the East Kent countryside, visiting the former collieries of the short lived Kent Coalfield. Once heralded as a fitting tribute to the miners who came to toil, live and die in brutal working conditions, local authorities now seem to be doing their best to ignore this trail.

books

Three Points of the Compass

Long Distance Trails, lightweight backpacking and gear, map measures and anything outdoorsy

Trail talk

Trail talk: The Thames Path- Abingdon to Shillingford/Warborough

Trail talk: The Thames Path- Osney Bridge, Oxford to Abingdon

Trail talk: The Thames Path- a day off in Oxford

Trail talk: The Thames Path- Bablock Hythe to Osney Bridge, Oxford

Trail talk: The Thames Path- Tadpole Bridge to Bablock Hythe

Trail talk: The Thames Path- Lechlade to Tadpole Bridge

Trail talk: The Thames Path- Cricklade to Lechlade

Trail talk: The Thames Path- Kemble to Cricklade

Trail talk: The Thames Path

Trail talk: Southern Upland Way: Part three- Moffat to Cockburnspath

Trail talk: Southern Upland Way: Part two- the Glenkens to Moffat

Trail talk: Southern Upland Way: Part one- Portpatrick to the Glenkens

Trail talk: Lego Hiker (2018)

Trail talk: maps, don’t be afraid to write on them!

Trail talk: the Gritstone Trail

Trail talk: the Miner’s Way

Trail talk: Harvey maps

Trail talk: the ‘one in every village’ wall box scheme

Trail talk: Facilities on the Great Glen Way

Trail talk: Slighe a’ Ghlinne Mhòir- six days in November. Part two