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Trail talk: Skye Trail- Rubha Hunish to the Storr

Three Points of the Compass walked Scotland's Skye Trail over six days in May. The first two days were wet and windy. But would I get blown off the Trotternish Ridge?

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Trail talk: Cotswold Way- day one. Chipping Campden to Stanton

Mr and Mrs Three Points of the Compass set out for our annual saunter along a longer trail, enjoying comfortable accommodation and good food on the 102 mile long Cotswold Way.

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Trail talk: Cotswold Way- day two. Stanton to Winchcombe

Our second day on trail and another climb in front. Today we have a hill fort, ruined abbey and a fruit farm to visit.

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Trail talk: Cotswold Way- day three. Winchcombe to Dowdeswell

Our walk to Bath continues- today brings us a neolithic burial site, a dramatic hill fort, a butterfly reserve and the highest point on the Cotswold Way.

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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.

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Trail 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...

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Trail talk: Cotswold Way- day six. Painswick to King’s Stanley

A day of farmland meadows, ancient woodlands, lonely villages and views

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Trail 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...

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Trail 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...

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Trail 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...

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Trail 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...

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Trail 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...

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Gear 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...

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Map 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.

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Trail 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!

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Trail 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.

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Map 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?

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Trail 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.

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Trail 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...

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Trail 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...

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Trail 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.

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Trail 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

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Trail 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

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Map 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...

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Trail 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.

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Gear talk: Pure Clear have improved their water filter mouthpiece

Pure Clear have introduced a small but welcome improvement to their squeeze type water filters.

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Map 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

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Trail 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.

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Trail 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.

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Map 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.

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Gear 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...

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Gear 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.

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Gear 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!

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Trail 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

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Map 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.

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Gear 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.

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Trail 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"

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Trail 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?

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Map 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...

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Trail 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

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