A review of the Coleman Aravis 2-man tent, £84.95 from Outdoor World Direct, an affordable, lightweight wild camping tent that comes cat-approved.
Review: Coleman Aravis 2 tent from Outdoor World Direct
January 27, 2015 § Leave a reply
Author Archives: sian
Banff Film Festival 2015
January 23, 2015 § 5 Replies
My favourite outdoor film festival returns to British soil from this weekend. It’s the biggest adventure you can have without actually going anywhere.
Climbing at The Castle, Stoke Newington
January 20, 2015 § 3 Replies
An huge, eco-friendly climbing CASTLE in London, complete with coffee, community garden and dogs. Yes please.
Interview: Life in a log cabin
January 19, 2015 § Leave a reply
A chat with the fab Jenni of The Thrifty Magpie’s Nest about quitting the city to live in a cabin in the woods. Warning: you will feel a compulsive desire to up sticks and own some chickens after reading this.
The important message of #thisgirlcan
January 15, 2015 § 4 Replies
Why I love Sport England‘s new #thisgirlcan campaign, which comes with an empowering message for women who feel scared to try out new sports or venture into the outdoors.
How to film better sports video with your D-SLR
January 14, 2015 § 2 Replies
Think making movies takes time, experience or fancy software? Think again. If you own a DSLR, a tripod and a couple of lenses you already have everything you need to find your inner videographer. I headed to the Forest of Dean with mountain biker Jake Ireland to create this beginner-friendly guide for Digitalcameraworld.com
How to: conquer the winter blues
January 9, 2015 § 2 Replies
It’s cold and miserable outside. It’s dark by the time you get home. You ate whole herd of Lindt chocolate reindeers over the Christmas break. I feel your pain, but I also have five ways to help you get through the chilly winter and stay happy and healthy till spring.
Review: Karrimor 3 in 1 waterproof jacket
January 2, 2015 § 1 Reply
A review of Karrimor’s nifty 3 in 1 jacket, as modelled by the gorge Mary Spender. Currently reduced to just £27.99 from £99, it’s a bargain, but is it a decent choice for the cold and rain?
How to: look after climber’s hands
December 30, 2014 § Leave a reply
Bouldering, sport climbing and general scrabbling around on rock faces is great fun, but it’s not very kind on your mitts. You’ll have to say goodbye to nice fingernails, but you can still keep your hands in reasonable shape with a bit of care.
Stupendous snowsports kit for 2015
December 23, 2014 § Leave a reply
Keen to get kitted out for the slopes? Here’s my roundup of the best ski gear for 2015 that’s both snow and pocket-friendly. Now, if only the Alps had some decent powder…
Competition: WIN £100 to spend at Simply Hike
December 18, 2014 § 170 Replies
Look, I got you a little Christmas present! Win £100 to spend on outdoorsy goodies from the fantastic Simply Hike, ready for another year of adventure.
Interview: BBC Frozen Planet director Elizabeth White
Film maker Elizabeth White, who basically has the best job in the entire world, on dodging polar bears in the Arctic and meeting sea gypsies in Sulawesi.
Running the Endurancelife coastal trail series
On Saturday I ran my third Endurancelife coastal trail run, along the wonderful Dorset coast. Combining tough running with some of the UK’s most beautiful locations – these events are the trail runner’s mecca. Plus you get free jelly babies.
Hiking in the Scottish highlands
A two-day hike through glorious sunshine, driving rain and many a midge cloud in the stunning highlands of Glen Affric.
The great outdoorsy Christmas gift guide 2014
It has returned once more! My annual outdoorsy gift guide is stuffed with all my favourite things for all your favourite people, from camping lasses and cliff-jumping lads to adventurous little ones. Plus there’s a mini roundup of socks. Because it’s not Christmas if you don’t get socks and a satsuma.
Outdoor adventures in the Brecon Beacons with Merrell
November 26, 2014 § Leave a reply
Trail running, rock climbing and abseiling with Merrell in the Brecon Beacons. They know how to pack a lot of cool stuff into a weekend!
Places to stay: A little escape to Lyme Regis
Messing about on the Dorset coast with the lovely Lucy. Lyme Regis is a bit of a beauty, all pastel beach huts, glorious fossil-filled beaches and the epic Cobb snaking out to sea. And I successfully ate an oyster for the first time ever *proud*.
How to: make American s’mores by the campfire
November 21, 2014 § Leave a reply
My brilliant friend Bobby Downs taught me how to make all-American s’mores when we went hiking in the Catskills, so I asked him to write down this extreme(ly delicious) way of toasting marshmallows over a fire.
TGO Outdoor Blogger of the Year
November 21, 2014 § 3 Replies
I am very pleased indeed to be named The Great Outdoors Magazine’s Outdoors Blogger of the Year. It was wonderful even to find out I’d been nominated, let alone to hear I’d won. If you voted, thank you kindly!
I’ve been writing about the stuff I love to do (I think my first ever post was about cheese rolling!) for almost five years now and I’m so proud to have such a wonderful readership. Ta very much ducks!
How to: pack for a ski season
November 20, 2014 § Leave a reply
Off on a ski season this winter? You don’t need warm pants, extra scarves or photos of your dog. Trust me, I’ve seen enough emergency care packages get delivered to Cadbury’s-starved seasonnaires to know that if you’re off to work a winter you require:
A cabin in the woods
November 20, 2014 § Leave a reply
My friend Matt has a little bit of woodland tucked away in the Wye valley, complete with tiny cabin kitted out with a stove and a sofa, a very sophisticated stick system for cooking over a campfire and lots of beer.
Review: Keen Durand WP mid boots
November 17, 2014 § 2 Replies
Testing out Keen’s new, all-American made Durand mid WP boots, £140, which they promise are good for a million steps. Sounds like a challenge.
Autumn/Winter 2014 outdoor lookbook lust
November 14, 2014 § Leave a reply
Get sartorially savvy in time for winter with these gorgeous lookbooks from my favourite outdoors brands. Looks like accessorising with Land Rovers and really great hair is big news this season.
Cheap and cheerful winter activities
November 13, 2014 § 2 Replies
Chilly weather and long dark nights can make you feel a bit tetchy, especially when you’re saving all your dosh for Christmas/just a little bit broke. Conquer your cold weather blues with these three seasonal ideas that’ll cost you very little indeed and you’ll have more money left for important stuff. Like chocolate santas.
Review: Berghaus Voltage GORE-TEX shell jacket
November 12, 2014 § Leave a reply
Testing Berghaus’ hardy waterproof Voltage GORE-TEX shell, £140, in wind and wet weather.
Interview: Freediving champion Rebecca Coales
November 6, 2014 § Leave a reply
Meet diver, yoga instructor and part mermaid Rebecca Coales, a freediving record holder who can swim 587ft under water on a single breath.
Video: Adidas #openallwinter
November 6, 2014 § Leave a reply
Get inspired for a winter of adventure with the awesome new Adidas #openallwinter trailer, featuring skiing, cold-weather trail running, ice climbing and the very brave Hayley Ashburn slacklining 3,000 metres up a Dolomites peak in Italy. Adidas are also launching their new insulated Climaheat winter range, designed to keep you warm in extreme conditions. Watch out for my review, coming soon.
How to: cycle safely in winter
November 5, 2014 § Leave a reply
Just because the clocks have gone back and storms are a-blowing doesn’t mean you can’t cycle happily and safely – just follow these tips on how to kit you and your bike out for winter.
Winter Skincare – my favourite products
November 3, 2014 § 3 Replies
It ain’t easy looking good in a blizzard, but help is at hand! These wonder products will help you ski, surf and have slightly blue hair all winter long, without the cracked lips and chapped face. All together now: “the cold never bothered me anyway!”.
Places to stay: Bluestone, Pembrokeshire
October 31, 2014 § 1 Reply
A weekend at the eco-friendly Bluestone National Park Resort, a luxurious base from which to explore Pembrokeshire.
Happy Halloween!
October 31, 2014 § Leave a reply
I’ll leave you with this INSANE Jack-o’lantern. If only I could surf as well as this pumpkin wave rider.
What to pack for technical scrambling
October 30, 2014 § Leave a reply
A great little video from the British Mountaineering Council on the right kit to pack for technical scrambling and climbing on the go.
Competition: Win tickets to the Adventure Travel Show 2015
October 28, 2014 § 8 Replies
In January the world’s most daring explorers, talented travel photographers and coolest tour companies (plus hundreds of fans of the road less travelled) are converging on The Adventure Travel Show 2015 in London. Fancy a day of inspiring talks (including Sir Ranulph Fiennes. Swoon.), workshops and seminars? I’ve got five pairs of tickets to give away.
How to cycle around Amsterdam
October 27, 2014 § Leave a reply
Hire a rusty fixie bike and explore the cobblestones, cafes and canals of Amsterdam. Pedal power is all you need to discover the city’s gems (well, that and this handy guide to cycling like a local).
Top eight extreme adventures in the world
October 25, 2014 § 2 Replies
Push your adrenaline levels to an all-time high with eight of the craziest extreme adventure experiences on the planet (I’ve ticked off three so far). There’s volcano bungee jumping, hair-raising cycling, antarctic running and cheese. Because all good lists include cheese.
Sponsored video: get it off your chest with #nigglefix!
October 23, 2014 § Leave a reply
Triumph believes that a problem shared is a problem halved, so they are encouraging women all over the UK to share their ‘niggles’ and get solutions to life’s little issues.
How To: get started with surf photography
October 20, 2014 § Leave a reply
On what was probably the Best Day at Work Ever I put together this beginner’s guide to surf photography for N-Photo magazine. It’s easier than you might think to get action- packed shots, promise!
Wrapping up for autumn
October 15, 2014 § Leave a reply
Keep warm and cosy against the winter chill in folky knits from Glamorous and Timberland leather boots from Get the Label. Fluffy dog optional.
#BestSummerEver part 6: hanging out in New York City
October 13, 2014 § 1 Reply
For my final Malibu #BestSummerEver adventure I learnt the death-defying art of flying trapeze in Manhattan. You know, just casually.
Wild swimming at the Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye
October 10, 2014 § 2 Replies
Take a dip somewhere a little bit magic – the Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye. Crystal clear icy water flows from the foot of the Cuillin mountains, forming lagoons and waterfalls that’ll both enchant you and give you serious brain freeze.
