Coast & Fell
Trail guides
Free guides

Printable guides for the trail

Honest, no-nonsense guides you can download, print and take with you. The same advice from the site, boiled down to a page you can keep in the top of your pack.

More guides on the way. Grab one above and you'll be the first to know when the next lands.

Latest articles

All reviews →
ThruDark Pinnacle 28 review: a seriously built hiking backpack, tested
daypacks

ThruDark Pinnacle 28 review: a seriously built hiking backpack, tested

The ThruDark Pinnacle 28 hiking backpack, tested on the Old Harry Rocks and Ballard Down circular. Early impressions: really comfortable, well ventilated and seriously built.

Read more
Old Harry Rocks and Ballard Down circular: the complete Purbeck walk

Old Harry Rocks and Ballard Down circular: the complete Purbeck walk

The Old Harry Rocks and Ballard Down circular from Studland: the famous chalk stacks, the Pinnacles, a wartime detour to Fort Henry, and the long climb up Ballard Down for the view over Swanage. A short walk with a big payoff, written by a local.

Read more
Hiking & Outdoor Gifts for Her 2026: 18 Christmas Picks She'll Actually Use
for-her

Hiking & Outdoor Gifts for Her 2026: 18 Christmas Picks She'll Actually Use

18 Christmas gifts for the outdoorsy woman in your life, from under-£10 stocking fillers to a premium ThruDark fleece, banded by budget so you can shop by what you want to spend. The things we actually own and use are flagged, the rest chosen on merit and written straight.

Read more
Arc'teryx Cerium: Which to Buy (Hoody, Jacket, SL & Vest)
jackets

Arc'teryx Cerium: Which to Buy (Hoody, Jacket, SL & Vest)

The Arc'teryx Cerium down range decoded: the do-everything standard Cerium against the ultralight Cerium SL, plus the hoody, jacket and vest forms and the full women's line, so you know which down jacket to buy.

Read more
Arc'teryx Cerium vs Thorium: Which Down Jacket to Buy
jackets

Arc'teryx Cerium vs Thorium: Which Down Jacket to Buy

Arc'teryx makes two down jackets that people cross-shop: the light Cerium and the rugged Thorium. Here is exactly how they differ on fill, shell, weight and price, and which to buy for the way you walk.

Read more
Anker SOLIX F3000 vs Jackery Explorer 3000 v2 (2026)

Anker SOLIX F3000 vs Jackery Explorer 3000 v2 (2026)

Two 3,072Wh home-backup stations with the same 3,600W output and the same price bracket. The split comes down to one question: will you ever need more than 3kWh? The full comparison and both sets of buying options.

Read more

Follow along

Facebook

Articles, trail updates and gear

Instagram

Trail photos and Maple updates

AllTrails

Every walk I've logged

Editor's picks

Hiking in the Rain: How to Stay Dry on the Trail
Editor’s pick
advice

Hiking in the Rain: How to Stay Dry on the Trail

Staying dry in the rain is as much about what you do on the trail as what you wear. When to get your waterproofs on, keeping your pack and phone dry, managing wet feet, and staying safe on slippery ground.

Read more
How to Reproof a Waterproof Jacket (and Why It Wets Out)
Editor’s pick
advice

How to Reproof a Waterproof Jacket (and Why It Wets Out)

When a waterproof stops beading and starts soaking through, it usually isn't broken, it just needs cleaning and reproofing. A plain-English guide to washing, wash-in vs spray-on proofers, reactivating the DWR, and knowing when a jacket is beyond saving.

Read more
Osprey Daylite Plus review: the do-everything 20L daypack
Editor’s pick
daypacks★ 5/5

Osprey Daylite Plus review: the do-everything 20L daypack

The Osprey Daylite Plus 20L is the best-selling sub-£60 daypack on Amazon UK for a reason: it does dog walks, days out, commuting, travel and light trails without fuss. Here is who it suits and who should size up.

Buy on Amazon Read more
Salomon X Ultra 360 Leather Mid GTX review: the waterproof boot for British winters
Editor’s pick
boots★ 4.6/5

Salomon X Ultra 360 Leather Mid GTX review: the waterproof boot for British winters

I bought these when the Speedcross 6 started to feel inadequate in winter conditions. Lightweight, GTX waterproofed and comfortable from day one. Here's what they're like after a season of use on UK trails.

Buy on Amazon Read more
Best base layers for hiking UK 2026: merino and wool-free, every weight band
Editor’s pick
baselayers

Best base layers for hiking UK 2026: merino and wool-free, every weight band

The base layer is the piece of kit that touches your skin all day, and getting it right matters more than most people think. Here are the best base layers for UK hiking in 2026, merino and wool-free, sorted by weight band and by who they actually suit, from the light top I live in to the heavy stuff for standing still in the cold.

Read more
Salomon Thernova Fleece Hoodie review: active insulation for the stop-start day
Editor’s pick
fleeces★ 5/5

Salomon Thernova Fleece Hoodie review: active insulation for the stop-start day

The Thernova is a PrimaLoft active-insulation hoodie built for the swing between working hard and standing still, and it is high on my shortlist for Finland. Here is the case for and against.

Buy on Salomon Read more
Best budget walking trousers UK 2026: six capable pairs under £70
Editor’s pick
trousers

Best budget walking trousers UK 2026: six capable pairs under £70

Cheap and functional has a real place in a UK walking wardrobe. Six budget walking trousers from £28 to £70, from a waterproof Regatta to fleece-lined winter pairs, judged as what they are.

Read more
Fenix HM65R V2 vs HM65R-T V2 review: the head torch I trust for serious nights
Editor’s pick
headtorches★ 4.9/5

Fenix HM65R V2 vs HM65R-T V2 review: the head torch I trust for serious nights

A serious performance head torch for real night use on UK coasts, mountains and forests: 2200 lumens, a 230m throw, a proper red mode and a cold-swappable battery. Two versions compared, and the one I chose for my whole family.

Buy on Amazon Read more
The Complete Mammut Insulated Jackets Guide (2026)
Editor’s pick
jackets

The Complete Mammut Insulated Jackets Guide (2026)

Eight insulated jackets from £210 to £680, and the names tell you nothing. The full Mammut range explained: down vs synthetic, every verified spec, and which one you should buy.

Read more
Best Men's Waterproof Trainers UK 2026: 26 GORE-TEX shoes tested and rated
Editor’s pick
waterproof-trainers

Best Men's Waterproof Trainers UK 2026: 26 GORE-TEX shoes tested and rated

The best men's waterproof trainers for UK hikers in 2026. 26 GORE-TEX and membrane shoes compared on grip, breathability, fit and weight, from trail runners to everyday crossovers.

Read more
How to Clean and Waterproof Walking Boots (Leather and Fabric)
Editor’s pick
advice

How to Clean and Waterproof Walking Boots (Leather and Fabric)

Muddy boots that have stopped beading water don't need replacing, they need cleaning and reproofing. A plain-English guide to caring for leather and fabric walking boots: what to use, what to never do, and how to dry them without wrecking them.

Read more
Winter hiking for beginners: staying safe on UK trails
Editor’s pick
advice

Winter hiking for beginners: staying safe on UK trails

Winter walking in the UK is colder, wetter and much darker than summer, and the mistakes are less forgiving. A beginner's guide to daylight, what to carry, why navigation matters more, and knowing when to turn back or step up to a skills course.

Read more
Mammut Lithium 25 review: a feature-rich Swiss 25L daypack
Editor’s pick
backpacks★ 4.6/5

Mammut Lithium 25 review: a feature-rich Swiss 25L daypack

Mammut's Lithium 25 packs more features and organisation into a 25-litre daypack than almost anything at the size: integrated rain cover, fold-out phone pocket, a ventilated back. It costs premium money, and it earns most of it.

Buy on Amazon Read more
adidas Terrex Anylander Mid review: the mid-tier sweet spot
Editor’s pick
boots★ 4.5/5

adidas Terrex Anylander Mid review: the mid-tier sweet spot

The adidas Terrex Anylander Mid is the taller version of our best value waterproof pick: RAIN.RDY membrane, gusseted tongue and Traxion grip at £75 to £85. Here is why it is the sweet spot between budget boots and the £120-plus tier.

Buy on Amazon Read more
Best non-merino base layers: wool-free options if merino makes you itch
Editor’s pick
baselayers

Best non-merino base layers: wool-free options if merino makes you itch

Merino makes some of us itch, and being told it is the only 'proper' base layer is how people end up wearing nothing, or worse, cotton. It is not the only option. Here are the wool-free base layers I would actually buy, why a synthetic top is nearly as good as the wool you cannot wear, and how to pick between polypropylene, polyester and bamboo.

Read more
ThruDark Phalanx Fleece review: the fleece I never hike without
Editor’s pick
fleeces★ 4.9/5

ThruDark Phalanx Fleece review: the fleece I never hike without

The ThruDark Phalanx is the mid-layer I never hike without. The version on sale now is the G2 in Polartec Alpha Direct, one of the warmest and most breathable fleeces you can buy, and this review of it is underpinned by years of living in the original, from a night-time coastal storm on the Jurassic Coast ultra to a January summit and minus 25 in Finland.

Buy on ThruDark Read more
Best hiking fleeces UK 2026: grid, midweight, warm fleece and technical picks
Editor’s pick
fleeces

Best hiking fleeces UK 2026: grid, midweight, warm fleece and technical picks

The fleece is the layer that does the quiet work between your base layer and your shell, and the right one changes how a whole day feels. Here are the best hiking fleeces for the UK in 2026, sorted by type, from light grid fleeces you wear moving to the high-loft warm fleece you pull on when you stop.

Read more
Best winter hiking trousers UK 2026: lined softshells, fleece linings and what to actually buy
Editor’s pick
trousers

Best winter hiking trousers UK 2026: lined softshells, fleece linings and what to actually buy

True fleece lined winter hiking trousers barely exist at quality level. Here is what the big brands actually make instead, the budget fleece linings that do exist, and the layering system that beats both.

Read more
The Complete Rab Insulated Jackets Guide (2026)
Editor’s pick
jackets

The Complete Rab Insulated Jackets Guide (2026)

Nine jackets, from the entry-point Cirrus to the paradox that is the Mythic G. Here is how to work out which one is actually right for your hiking.

Read more
Salomon XT-4 OG GORE-TEX Review: A Seriously Capable All-Round Waterproof Shoe
Editor’s pick
waterproof-trainers★ 4.9/5

Salomon XT-4 OG GORE-TEX Review: A Seriously Capable All-Round Waterproof Shoe

The XT-4 OG GORE-TEX pairs a seam-sealed membrane with an aggressive Mud Contagrip outsole and the Agile Chassis platform. A capable all-round shoe for wet British walking.

Buy on Salomon Read more
Osprey Talon 33 review: the day pack I didn't know I needed
Editor’s pick
daypacks★ 4.8/5

Osprey Talon 33 review: the day pack I didn't know I needed

I upgraded from the Osprey Daylite Plus when my kit started outgrowing it. The Talon 33 changed how I hike, hydration bladder, hip pockets full of Haribo, dry bags inside, Fire Maple in the main compartment. Here's why I wouldn't go back.

Buy on Amazon Read more
NORTIV 8 waterproof hiking boots review: the £45 entry point that actually works
Editor’s pick
boots★ 4.3/5

NORTIV 8 waterproof hiking boots review: the £45 entry point that actually works

The NORTIV 8 waterproof hiking boots cost £40 to £50 and carry nearly 25,000 Amazon reviews. As a first pair they are an outstanding entry point. Here is what the feedback says, where the limits are, and when to upgrade.

Buy on Amazon Read more
Best women's walking trousers UK 2026: seven pairs from £35 to £185
Editor’s pick
trousers

Best women's walking trousers UK 2026: seven pairs from £35 to £185

A women's walking trouser is not a men's pair in a smaller size. Seven pairs worth buying in 2026, from a £35 Peter Storm to the Fjallraven Keb Agile, with the fit details that actually differ.

Read more
Best waterproof jackets UK 2026: cheap and capable to premium
Editor’s pick
jackets

Best waterproof jackets UK 2026: cheap and capable to premium

The best waterproof jackets for the UK in three clear tiers: cheap and capable packables from £20, more serious mid-level shells, and premium brands with premium materials. Honest picks for everything from dog walks to mountain days.

Read more
Salomon Speedcross 6 GORE-TEX 20 Years Review: The Mud Shoe Turns 20
Editor’s pick
waterproof-trainers★ 4.9/5

Salomon Speedcross 6 GORE-TEX 20 Years Review: The Mud Shoe Turns 20

A pre-launch look at the special-edition Speedcross 6 GORE-TEX 20 Years: the same 5mm Mud Contagrip chevron lugs and waterproof membrane that built the Speedcross name, in an anniversary colourway.

Buy on Salomon Read more
Salomon Genesis 2 GORE-TEX (Women's) Review
Editor’s pick
waterproof-trainers★ 4.8/5

Salomon Genesis 2 GORE-TEX (Women's) Review

The Salomon Genesis 2 GORE-TEX is our top women's waterproof trainer for 2026: a women's-last fit, a full GORE-TEX membrane and Contagrip that grips wet British chalk and mud.

Buy on Salomon Read more
Black Diamond Trail Explorer 3 trekking poles review: the reliable all-terrain workhorse
Editor’s pick
poles★ 4.5/5

Black Diamond Trail Explorer 3 trekking poles review: the reliable all-terrain workhorse

Three-section aluminium, FlickLock adjustability and Black Diamond build quality at a price that makes sense for most UK hikers. Here is the honest picture on the Trail Explorer 3 after real use on demanding terrain.

Buy on Amazon Read more