We always encourage attendees on our Mountain Training qualification courses to join the Mountain Training Association. It is a very worthwhile membership organisation for all climbing, walking and mountain leaders and instructors in the UK and Ireland. It's designed for all candidates of any of our qualifications - walking leaders, climbing instructors, coaches and/or camping leaders including Climbing Wall Instructor, Rock Climbing Instructor, Lowland Leader, Hill and Moorland Leader, Mountain Leader and the new Camping Leader Qualification. And now Mountain Training have just announce ..read more

Here is a link to a beautiful short film about Benjamin Piovesan. At the age of 90 he still cycles between 400km and 600km per month. https://youtu.be/tgUC0zyu4p0?si=UJ4HXQe2QoCpkdv9 FROM THE DIRECTOR “This is a life portrait of my grandfather illustrated through his love of cycling. From his immigration to France from Italy as a teenager and the hardships that came with it, to his role and influence as the eldest brother in a loving and close-knit family. Cycling has been a major part of his later life, and has contributed to his good health and longevity. And is also a reflection of how I s ..read more

How to Buy a Down Jacket The longest night has now passed and we move slowly towards the Spring. In the remaining winter months we reach for our insulated jackets. We have two choices: down or synthetic. Both options have pro and cons. Synthetic is cheaper and more forgiving in wet conditions ie synthetic will still provide some insulation when wet and will dry quickly. However down is a lighter insulation with a greater warmth to weight ratio. And nothing beats the cosiness and instant warmth that a good quality down jacket provides. So how do you choose the best down jacket for your particu ..read more

A review of the Nortent Vern 1 Tent When I first saw the Nortent Vern 1 I was immediately intrigued, low and sleek, it just looked different. I've long been a fan of tents in which one sleeps side to the door. This design allows a bigger door and a better view of the outdoors beyond the tent. The Vern 1 takes this design a step further by allowing the two doors on either side of the central pole to be opened right out allowing a panoramic perspective of the landscape. The design is somewhat similar to well established designs such as the Terra Nova Laser or the Hilleberg Enan. A one person te ..read more

PHD The Worlds Lightest Down Clothing If you spend any time wandering around the worlds highest mountains you might see a flash of an unfamiliar logo or the same logo seen in a picture of someone stood atop a 8000m Himalayan mountain. In the deserts, hills and mountains the same logo is seen on those competing in the worlds toughest ultra races. At the extreme ends of physical endeavour PHD Designs is the logo seen on the clothing of those who need or want the lightest possible equipment to enable them to perform and to survive in the worlds harshest conditions. PHD makes unassuming ..read more

Top Ten Gear and Equipment Reviews of 2022 Our blog and equipment reviews have been very popular over the last few months. Everyone loves outdoor kit and we love reading about the best equipment. Looking through the stats these are our most popular kit blogs of the year and our top ten gear and equipment reviews of 2023. 1. Emergency Shelter Review Chris writes with authority about what might be our most important  item of equipment. Emergency Shelter Review 2. Gloves for Scottish Winter Walking and Mountaineering This new blog on how to choose gloves for snowy adventures ..read more

Hati's favourite gear of 2023 This was a year of attempted gear streamlining, which does not come naturally to my womble instincts. But alas, in a bid to minimise consuming, save a bit of money and instil some peace in my household, I have been most careful in what I acquire and where I acquire it from this year (especially when it comes to jackets; I have quite a lot of jackets). When you work outdoors, your kit is your uniform and it takes a right bashing. I did not necessarily buy all these bits of kit this year, but these have been some of my favourites: OMM Kamleika Waterproof Okay so th ..read more

The Sheffield Greenground Map There are many reasons why so many climbers, walkers, cyclists and runners live in Sheffield. As well as being a friendly place to live and work with plenty of great food and culture Sheffield has extraordinary access to green spaces. 61% of Sheffield is green space! Only Oslo has more green space. Sheffield has more than 800 managed green spaces across 4,000 hectares within the city boundary. We've got ancient woodland, public parks, peatland bogs and moors. One third of the city is situated within the Peak District National Park. Reminiscent of the London Unde ..read more

Rab Mythic Ultra Down Jacket First Impressions The timing of the arrival of this jacket couldn't have been better. The forecasters had been warning of arctic weather arriving throughout the UK and as the temperature plummeted the Mythic Ultra down jacket was delivered by a chilly looking postman. My first thoughts were how light the package was.  Once unpacked I popped it on and headed straight out into the below freezing Peak District weather. On that first outing I could see what a high quality garment this was. I've worn numerous Rab down jackets over the years and this is a step up i ..read more

New Course - Canine Outdoor First Aid We have an exciting new canine outdoor first aid course now live on our website. The 1st aid for dogs course is great for dog owners and professional dog walkers. It's perfect for anyone who takes their dog into the great outdoors. This is a practical course covering canine emergencies when away from help.  Delivered by a Registered Veterinary surgeon who also works in Mountain Rescue.     We cover all the basics using the same DrCABCDE format as in all pre-hospital emergency care. We use canine training manikins and fun realisti ..read more