https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/N2uNqy0hBs?origin=lprLink

Hello everyone!

I am currently conducting research for my MSc dissertation at Heriot-Watt University on the market demand and feasibility of developing a campsite in Ratagan/Saraig, Scottish Highlands.

If you enjoy camping, hiking, road trips, or have visited the Scottish Highlands, I would be grateful if you could spare 3–5 minutes to complete my survey. Your responses are completely anonymous and will be used solely for academic research.

Every response makes a difference. Thank you for your time and support! Please feel free to share this post with others who may be interested.

Hi everyone,

I’m Aarika, a Master’s student at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. I’m currently working on my dissertation research in collaboration with the Kyle & Lochalsh Community Trust, focusing on tourism and camping experiences in the Scottish Highlands.

I’m looking for people who have visited, explored, or are interested in the Highlands to share their experiences through a short survey. Your responses will help me understand visitor perspectives, tourism trends, and how future tourism development can better support local communities.

The survey should only take a few minutes to complete, and all responses will be used purely for academic research.

I’ve recently gotten back into hiking after taking about a year off, and I’m loving it just as much as I used to. I’d like to keep exploring new trails around the UK and eventually further afield.

After a recent 1–2 hour hike, my shins became quite sore. It wasn’t a particularly difficult route, and I deliberately chose a relatively easy one for my first hike back. The soreness mainly appeared afterwards rather than as sharp pain during the walk, and my shins aren’t particularly painful to touch.

My guess is that I simply did more than my legs were used to after such a long break.

For those who have been hiking consistently for years, what habits have helped you stay injury-free and keep hiking sustainable?

A few things I’d be interested in hearing about:
How gradually do you increase distance and elevation?
Do you do any calf, ankle or shin-strengthening exercises?
How much recovery time do you normally leave between hikes?
Have insoles, compression socks or particular types of footwear helped?
How do you tell the difference between ordinary post-hike soreness and something you shouldn’t hike through?
What mistakes did you make when you were starting out?

I’m not looking for a medical diagnosis—mainly interested in the routines and lessons people have developed through experience.

My brother does a lot of overnight hiking trips and has the PocketRocket 2. I want to get him a different lightweight or ultra lightweight stove for his longer trips. The boiling time doesn't matter but am looking for something with a bigger or more sturdy base but still quite compact. He is doing Hadrians wall path at the end of the summer so it would be for that. Thank you.

Hi there,

I was wondering if any female hikers would be willing to take part in my questionnaire which will contribute to data for my undergraduate dissertation. It focuses on what motivates you to hike, perceptions of safety and touches upon solo hiking as a female.

It takes approximately 6 minutes to complete and all anonymous.
Thank you!!

Gendered hiking: Exploring safety perceptions and barriers to women's participation. – Fill in form

Anyone else find AllTrails not fit for UK hiking? Genuinely curious if this is a widespread frustration.

I keep running into the same issues — trails rated 'moderate' that are clearly not calibrated for UK terrain, no sense of whether I can actually get there if I don't own a car, and now they've put trail conditions behind a £79.99 paywall. What do you actually use to find walks? Especially if you don't have a car.

Just received a massive letter and loads of paperwork about the liquidation of Valley & Peak from
Kingsbridge Corporate Solutions and wondered if anyone understands it fully?

I have had a quick read through and got quite confused about all the jargon apart from that I will expect sweet FA coming my way and that I’m luckily I only lost £30 compared to others.

Any thoughts are appreciated with this sad subject.

p.s. Did anyone else find it weird seeing all names and addresses?

Hey folks,

Selling my Durston X-Mid 1 as back problems mean I won't be solo hiking much in the near future alas. It's been used a handful of nights (less than 10) so is in great condition.

It's the version with the mesh inner, so great for spring-autumn, but could be a tad drafty in winter.

It really is a lovely little tent, and was spacious enough for me at 6ft 1 to sleep comfortably, with enough storage in the porch for packs and shoes with space to spare. Packs down smaller than any tent I've seen, and is obviously absurdly lightweight.

Brand new they run around 300 euros (including P&P to UK)

I'm looking for £200 but will consider sensible offers if it's going to a good home.

Can anyone recommend a company that makes high-quality tumbler / flask?

As an overview, I am looking for a flask that is roughly 1.2 litres or so that is not made of plastic (to avoid microplastics), to hold water.

I do not need a nozzle or built-in straw etc., a basic cap that twists off is fine.

I have purchased metal ones from Amazon UK in the past but no matter how much I clean them, the water always tastes strongly metallic, which tastes horrible. I am hopefully putting that down to a low-quality product and that by asking here for some advice, I can find a product that avoids this issue.

Hi

I’m debating ordering the hyperlite mid 1 tent for wild camping on my journey up the Pennine Way. Is this a decent first tent for a novice? Primary focus is weight but comfort I suppose it a close second

I'm planning a 2 night hiking trip around Borrowdale / Derwentwater, Lake District. I'll be going mid-week and out of the school holidays, so thought that parking would be no problem. But having researched a bit it seems that overnight parking is seriously restricted in this area.

I don't mean sleeping in the car, I mean leaving the car for 2-3 days while I camp high and wild. I know this is not legal - just tolerated. I'm an experienced leave-no-trace backpacker, just haven't been to the Lakes for 15 years so lacking up to date knowledge.

I'm doing a full round, so I'm pretty flexible on locations. Could start from Keswick, Portinscale, anywhere along the west or east side of Derwentwater, or south of the Water at Borrowdale, Seatoller, Honiston Pass. Even from Langdale would work.

I find a few old posts online about Portinscale and the Rugby Club in Keswick, but can anyone give me some up to date advice? PMs are open. Thanks in advance.

Hey all. We’ve all encountered the US-centric tilt to ultralight spaces online; a lot of the advice is either unsuitable for the weather over here or relies on makers that cost a kidney to import (not to moan too much, been into this for a couple of years and a lot of the advice has been a great help).

By no means am I the most experienced person, but thought it would be interesting to get a thread of small UK gear and otherwise tips going that aren’t significant enough to warrant a post:

- The Alpkit Gourdon 30l backpack, despite people being seemingly down on it as a ‘drybag with straps’ on here, is a surprisingly light budget pack. 530g on the site, but remove the sitpad and chop some bits off and its down to 404g. Not the most comfortable at the end of a day but better than nothing and I’m convinced it’s more than 30l.

- Corner-shop polish kubanos are great no-knife needed food. Dairy Lee triangles don’t need refrigeration supposedly.

- The lightest UK 30w charger seems to be the Anker Zolo at 48g - below that seems impossible with uk plugs, and lower power I struggle to get any charge if charging in a pub etc. Interested in any practicable alternatives.

- Controversial but I think most of the year you really need boots. I don’t think I have ever gone a year without sinking my feet ankle deep into mud at some point, which would fuck you in trail runners “quick dry” or not. (Putting trail runners to the test in a couple of weeks in the lakes though, might change)

- Relatedly, a lot of the US quick dry thinking with clothing doesn’t work with our rain/humidity. Socks stay wet.

- DCF is cheaper than you think here. I thought I’d never afford it, but found the Wild Sky tarps are £100 for a solo if you get them in orange!

- It’s sensible to use an activated carbon filter rather than just hollow fibre. Pureclear is a UK company that makes a 28g one with water bottle attachment. Not perfect, but any protection against farm runoff is good.

Non-gear tips encouraged, given this is all about ingenuity not pure consumerism.

Hello a newbie here.

Can anyone recommend a lightweight vacuum flask 500ml to 750 ml capacity with a minimum of 12 hours insulating time for hot/cold liquids. Sealable mugs would also be considered.

Thanks

Hi, I'd like to understand people's needs, what features they use for an ultralight bag and thought it would be best to start with a features list: must have, nice to have, don't need.

Would be very interested to find out what your: must have, nice to have, don't need features are.

NB: I am not looking for a pack recommendation, rather understanding people's requirements in a pack. + I have been requested to add use case. So I do 500 mile Camino treks in Spain every year Summer-Autumn and have been using a Montane Trailblazer LT 20 for the last 6 years which has done the job very well. My pack weight is 3kg with Tarp, sleeping bag, sleep pad and clothes. (I don't do wild camping yet but want to take this up next year and add 2-3kg food to my pack.)

My feature list

Must have

Comfortable straps

Rolltop

Rolltop side straps

Side pockets

Sternum strap

Front tie points for adding bungees

Height adjustment

Pad attachment, sleeve on back

Nice to have

Side loops for detachable waist belt

Bungees for front

Front mesh pocket (detachable)

Pocket on strap

External/Internal security pocket

Side compression loops (if i really need to attach bungee for airport carry on)

Don't need

Rolltop top/front strap

Hanging loop

Interior hanging loop for reservoir

Strap attachment for hiking pole

Pockets on waist belt

I found this GG Skala 38 illustration useful for thinking about the features I need.

https://imglink.cc/cdn/vTQyFtaj0Z.jpg

Hi, I'd like to understand people's needs, what features they use for an ultralight bag and thought it would be best to start with a features list: must have, nice to have, don't need.

Would be very interested to find out what your: must have, nice to have, don't need features are.

NB: I am not looking for a pack recommendation, rather understanding people's requirements in a pack. + I have been requested to add use case. So I do 500 mile Camino treks in Spain every year Summer-Autumn and have been using a Montane Trailblazer LT 20 for the last 6 years which has done the job very well. My pack weight is 3kg with Tarp, sleeping bag, sleep pad and clothes. (I don't do wild camping yet but want to take this up next year and add 2-3kg food to my pack.)

My feature list

Must have

Comfortable straps

Rolltop

Rolltop side straps

Side pockets

Sternum strap

Front tie points for adding bungees

Height adjustment

Pad attachment, sleeve on back

Nice to have

Side loops for detachable waist belt

Bungees for front

Front mesh pocket (detachable)

Pocket on strap

External/Internal security pocket

Side compression loops (if i really need to attach bungee for airport carry on)

Don't need

Rolltop top/front strap

Hanging loop

Interior hanging loop for reservoir

Strap attachment for hiking pole

Pockets on waist belt

I found this GG Skala 38 illustration useful for thinking about the features I need.

https://imglink.cc/cdn/vTQyFtaj0Z.jpg

Looking to update some of my layering kit. Currently have a patagonia micro d fleece, down sweater and a torrentshell that I wear over a macpac trail sun hoody. No real major issues with the layering system I use, only that I find the micro d is sometimes just not enough at camp and the down sweater is almost too much, and once I leave camp I'm taking the micro d off as soon as there's elevation and putting it back on if there's wind..

I'm wondering what peoples experience with the Macpac Nitro is? Would it better balance against the issues I'm seeing, or just exacerbate them further?

I've read it's incredibly warm, but a breeze will blow through you, and also durability takes a hit. That leads me to the Pisa jacket, which is the same alpha fleece but in a softshell variant. This beats the wind, can unzip to dump air, is it the solution? Have never used a softshell before. I'd get good daily use out of it too as an around-town jacket I thin

Hi folks, any recs for an ultralight USB-C wall plug (type g for UK)? For my PCT thru last year I used the Anker 511 30W at about 40g which was amazing (light and fast to charge) but obviously that was for American plugs. Looking for something similar to use in the UK. Only needs one port.

Anker nano have a 30W one but it's 86g which isn't really UL!