National Trail

Trail talk: A-Z Adventure Series ‘for walkers’ maps

For those that like to venture out on a long distance path in the UK, be it National Trail or some other route, a physical map, with the trail highlighted through it's centre, is a useful resource. And if that resource comes with Ordnance Survey mapping, it is a match made in heaven, well, almost!

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.

Gear talk: the Pembrokeshire Coast Path- post-hike gear review

Three Points of the Compass has just returned from backpacking the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Two September weeks in Wales threw at me varied weather conditions- from strong wind and horizontal rain, to hot sunny days and cold nights. This is a post-hike look at the lightweight backpacking gear I carried.

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: 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: 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: 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: dry stone walls on the Pennine Bridleway

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

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: Maps and guidebooks for the Pennine Bridleway

The Pennine Bridleway is a peculiar trail. Not only is it multi-user, it has a couple of add-on loops and link routes, and... years after it opened, it still isn't complete! Finding maps and guidebooks for both planning and use on trail can be a challenge in itself. I know, as I searched them down in advance of my own hike in summer 2022

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

Shillingford/Warborough to Goring, 12.5 miles (20km) The day started hot. […]

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

Abingdon to Shillingford/Warborough, 10 miles The weather forecast was for […]

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

Osney Bridge, Oxford to Abingdon, 10 miles Having slept well, […]

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

Despite today being a day off from the Thames Path, […]

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

Bablock Hythe to Osney Bridge, Oxford, 10 miles We had […]

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

Tadpole Bridge to Bablock Hythe, 10 miles The Lamb had […]

Trail talk: The Thames Path- Lechlade to Tadpole Bridge

Lechlade to Tadpole Bridge, 10 miles With the hope of […]

Trail talk: The Thames Path- Cricklade to Lechlade

Cricklade to Lechlade, 11 miles I was up early to […]

Trail talk: The Thames Path- Kemble to Cricklade

Kemble to Cricklade, 11 miles Breakfast was at 08.00 as […]

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.