Trail talk: Cotswold Way- day four. Dowdeswell to Birdlip
Today we have the steady climb to one of the most important hill forts in the country. But there are a few dips and ascents to contend with first.
View ArticleTrail talk: Cotswold Way- day five. Birdlip to Painswick
We continue along the Cotswold escarpment, taking in woodlands, hill forts and views, passing a Roman villa and the place that people throw themselves off in pursuit of a round of Double Gloucester...
View ArticleTrail talk: Cotswold Way- day six. Painswick to King’s Stanley
A day of farmland meadows, ancient woodlands, lonely villages and views
View ArticleTrail talk: Cotswold Way- day seven. King’s Stanley to Dursley
Further climbing today, crossing hills separated from the main escarpment. A neolithic long barrow and ancient hill fort awaited us, but would we have the energy for the off-trail diversions these...
View ArticleTrail talk: Cotswold Way- day eight. Dursley to Wotton-under-Edge
We continue to follow the western edge of the Cotswold escarpment, with expansive views over the River Severn and Forest of Dean. Another hill fort to visit, and a monument to the man who translated...
View ArticleTrail talk: Cotswold Way- day nine. Wotton-under-Edge to Old Sodbury
Today took us first to one of the oldest houses in England, then on to the ramparts and ditches of the most impressive of hill forts on the Cotswold Way. Later, we would pass through parkland...
View ArticleTrail talk: Cotswold Way- day ten. Old Sodbury to Cold Ashton (Pennsylvania)
Easier walking today with few hills. Crossing busy roads, a deer park, ancient strip lynchets and passing a hill fort where English history was redrawn by the establishment of new political and...
View ArticleTrail talk: Cotswold Way- day eleven. Cold Ashton to Bath
Our final day- a walk through pastoral England, wide views, ancient battlefields and a racecourse ahead, before a final descent into an historic city, with it's Roman Baths and the architectural...
View ArticleGear talk: a visit to Atom Packs
Three Points of the Compass was driving to Scotland to tackle the Skye Trail. An ideal opportunity to stop by the Atom Packs workshop deep in the Cumbrian fells, both to see what was going on, and get...
View ArticleMap measure of the month: Morris’s ‘Patent Cartomètrè’
The Cartomètrè is a miniaturised metric version of the innovative mechanical measures invented by Englishman Edward Morris. Despite its modest dimensions, it had remarkable capability for its time.
View ArticleTrail talk: Skye Trail- the Storr to Broadford
After a tough day on the Trotternish Ridge, Three Points of the Compass continues his hike on the Isle of Skye. Missing one of the most magical of natural phenomenon in the process!
View ArticleTrail talk: Ordnance Survey’s original Outdoor Leisure 33 and 34 maps
These now hard to find sheets were specially designed strip maps for Wainwright's famous Coast to Coast Walk.
View ArticleMap measure of the month: a mystery opisometer
This is a simple and easy to use little instrument capable of just one thing- measuring a line. But who made it?
View ArticleTrail talk: the Coast to Coast- the Lakes
Three Points of the Compass sets off on the Coast to Coast Path- backpacking across northern England from the Irish Sea to the North Sea, taking in three National Parks en-route.
View ArticleTrail talk: the Coast to Coast- the Dales
Three Points of the Compass continues his Coast to Coast. Leaving the Lake District behind to enter the Yorkshire Dales, the second of three National Parks on this two-hundred mile walk across northern...
View ArticleTrail talk: the Coast to Coast- the Vale of Mowbray, the ‘flat bit’
Three Points of the Compass heads toward the least demanding part of the trail- a couple of day's hike across low lying agricultural farmland, prior to a final National Park on this two-hundred mile...
View ArticleTrail talk: the Coast to Coast- the Moors
Three Points of the Compass enters the final part of a walk across northern England. The Coast to Coast climbs back up into the hills of the North York Moors, heading to Robin Hood's Bay.
View ArticleTrail talk: the Coast to Coast- my gear
Three Points of the Compass takes a glance at the gear he carried on a recent walk across northern England on the Coast to Coast Path
View ArticleTrail talk: finally opening my mail
Three Points of the Compass finally gets round to opening a package received in the post over five years ago
View ArticleMap measure of the month: Henri Chatelain’s twenty-five inch to one mile measure
This month's measure is a bit of an oddity. It is made specifically for large scale maps and measures at 25.344" scale, also known as twenty-five inch to one mile. It was primarily used by governmental...
View ArticleTrail talk: LDWA National Trails Register
Three Points of the Compass has a glance at the National Trails Register maintained by the Long Distance Walkers Association, giving himself a pat on the back at the same time.
View ArticleGear talk: Pure Clear have improved their water filter mouthpiece
Pure Clear have introduced a small but welcome improvement to their squeeze type water filters.
View ArticleMap measure of the month: Roulette métrique brevetée S.G.D.G
This month's measure is a French made opisometer capable of measuring centimetres and lines on kilometre scale maps
View ArticleTrail talk: Arctic Circle Trail: Kangerlussuaq to Eqalugaarniarfik
Three Points of the Compass hiked the Arctic Circle Trail during the brief Greenland summer. The first four days took me into the mountains and arctic tundra, to the tidal head of the Maligiaq fjord.
View ArticleTrail talk: Arctic Circle Trail- hunter cairns
Many of the paths crossing the West Greenland tundra have cairns to guide the way. These have often been adorned by the skulls and antlers of reindeer.
View ArticleMap measure of the month: ‘Wanderer’ Route Marker No. 1114, with compass.
This months map measure is an uncommon combination instrument that brings together various functions, but ultimately fails as a collective.
View ArticleGear talk: Bach 60 litre Cargo Bag Lite
Three Points of the Compass recently travelled to Patagonia to hike a couple of trails. The journey there and back entailed seven flights and the backpack was protected in transit by a useful 'travel...
View ArticleGear talk: five favourite pieces of gear in 2024
As 2024 rolls to an end, it is time for the Three Points of the Compass annual retrospective of five items of gear that were especially appreciated on longer trails.
View ArticleGear talk: Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case
Three Points of the Compass takes a glance at a lightweight soap case with 'dry through' technology. Spoiler- it's expensive, but good!
View ArticleTrail talk: Arctic Circle Trail: Eqalugaarniarfik to Sisimiut
Three Points of the Compass continues his trek through West Greenland on the Arctic Circle Trail, heading to the coast
View ArticleMap measure of the month: Ecobra pocket dividers
This month's map measure is from a German firm that manufactured almost exclusively for one of the largest US importers of drawing and surveying instruments.
View ArticleGear talk: what I took on the Arctic Circle Trail
Three Points of the Compass takes a glance at what he wore and carried on an eight day 100 mile summer backpack across Greenland's Arctic tundra.
View ArticleTrail talk: Camino de Santiago de Gran Canaria- day one
Three Points of the Compass travels to the Canary Islands to walk a little known Camino: "the way of St. James among volcanoes"
View ArticleTrail talk: Camino de Santiago de Gran Canaria- the finish
Three Points of the Compass travelled to the Canary Islands to walk a little known Camino. The first day had not gone well, how would it end?
View ArticleMap measure of the month: the Corriere dei Piccoli chilometrometro
This months measure was a gift with one of the most successful of Italian comics. It is cheap, is simple to make and, most importantly, introduced children to the wonderful world of maps and working...
View ArticleTrail talk: Navigation resources for hiking in Gran Canaria
Three Points of the Compass takes a glance at some of the best maps, guidebooks and online resources there are for those hiking on Gran Canaria
View ArticleEngland Coast Path: ‘champing’ at Cooling
The Iwade to Grain section of the England Coast Path has recently been officially signed off. I walked it last summer when I completed a circuit of the Isle of Grain, enjoying an unusual overnighter on...
View ArticleTrail talk: National Outdoor Expo, 2025. Birmingham NEC
The National Outdoor Expo took place at Birmingham NEC over the weekend of 22/23 March 2025. Having taken a break from it last year, Three Points of the Compass went along to see what was new.
View ArticleMap measure of the month: Carl Brenske’s Marsch-Zirkel
Invented by a German army officer, the Marsch-Zirkel dividers could be used to calculate how long infantry and cavalry would take to cover a measured distance on a map.
View ArticleTrail talk: Fjällräven Classic Chile 2024- check-in.
Three Points of the Compass travelled to Chile to join four hundred other hikers on Fjällräven's first multi-day Classic hike in Patagonia, following their concept testing the previous year.
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