Hiking, Scrambling, Mountaineering, and Climbing

I’m trying to find out where all the local bridleways and foot paths are. Is there a specific website or app?

Slow Ways is your friend.

https://beta.slowways.org/

OS app is very good too. You can get a seven day free trial.

Thanks for the suggestions. I went for a big walk today with a mate some of the way I knew already but there were some points where we detoured and I didn’t have a clue.

There was a lot of cows. I wouldn’t say I was scared of cows, but very aware that a tonne of beef is still a tonne of beef.

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I tend to use:
https://www.plotaroute.com/routeplanner

Set it to trails map and it is reasonable

I also like the Backcountry app which has an unlimited free trial mode, that has full OS mapping. After about 5 years I felt guilty and bought the paid-for app

Open street map can be pretty good. I use OSMand on Android

OsmAnd is a great app, 7 free downloadable areas that you can delete and replace with others. Led me up and over kinder scout during a monsoon without fail.

Good Lakes article in the Granuad today.

can-the-british-countryside-cope-this-summer?

Really enjoy James Rebanks writing and thoughts

Didn't realise he was a regular contributor. Will put on Follow.

Does anyone have experience of these shoes

https://www.blacks.co.uk/16072693/sprayway-men-s-oxna-hydrodry-walking-shoe-16072693

I’m trying to find a pair of shoes, but trying stuff on is a bit of a nightmare.

Anyone been to Portland this summer? Wondering how rammed it is. Planning a climbing weekend early August. Other suggestions welcome.

To walk in countries with freedom to roam, are there any suggestions for route plotting software/web pages that allows free-hand route planning to generate a GPX file? i.e., without the software limiting the route to a defined path. For example, if I want to take in an extra peak at the end of the Five Sisters of Kintail ridge.

Was there a few months ago and it was busy but not rammed. Best to get down to the crag early ish tho if you want to get on the more classic lines.

Can you not just read and follow the map?

plotaroute.com

plotaroute.com

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

My feet have grown a size and a half which has probably contributed to the blisters I thought I had solved previously with different socks. Unfortunately that was a fluke and I'm back with enormous blisters. So, any recommendations for a Scottish munro capable boot which comes in a size 49?

Salomon all seem to come in that size, and the salomon quest seems to get recommended frequently?

any recommendations for a Scottish munro capable boot which comes in a size 49?

The Scarpa SL Active goes up to size 50 and is a classic year-round walking boot suitable for the Scottish mountains. I like this as it is leather and without a Goretex membrane (rare nowadays)
https://www.scarpa.co.uk/walk/sl-active

We might coincide. I’ll drop you a line when our plans are finalised.

Had good fun, weather and views crossing some of Vercors North to South on the GR91. The Hauts Plateaux are something else!

Now going West in Drôme Provençale on the GR95.

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Just booked some flights to Switzerland.

Planning on really mixing it up for these two weeks. Bit of trad (prob some easy stuff on Riffelhorn), bit of glacier ice, bit of via ferrata and a half traverse of Breithorn.

I've been training to get fit enough for a crack at the Breithorn north face for a year or so but its most likely too late in the season unless we really luck out with a cold storm cycle. I doubt it will happen sadly.

On the last day of a thought but enjoyable 10-day coast to coast. My feet ballooned in the heat today and I’ve got awful blisters on the outside of the ball of my foot.

They were already blistered and are straining at the compeed. I’m don’t think I’ll get boots on tomorrow and don’t want to walk in the v lightweight trainers I’ve brought.

Should I drain them and let them dry overnight and recover with compeed? We’ve only got 15 miles to do so I can tough out some pain. Are they likely to naturally reduce overnight?

If it was me I'd leave them alone as much as possible. I always find that blisters become much more uncomfortable once drained. That liquid is keeping your boots from pressing on at least some raw nerve endings!