Something for the weekend: Mountain biking in Cannock Chase
Written by Bryn Davies
Thursday, 25 March 2010
So the weekend is approaching once again and with predictions of heavy rain, what could be more fun than tearing around a mountain bike trail and getting caked in mud? Whatever your experience level, Cannock Chase offers routes which will suit everyone, and with it located only 40 minutes outside of Birmingham, it's easily accessible.
The Follow the Dog trail is 7 miles long and is aimed at intermediate bikers, however, after experiencing it for myself, I would say all you need is a decent bit of fitness. If you find the trail too heavy going for yourself, there are numerous marked leisure trails around Cannock which should keep you occupied. The Follow the Dog trail is open year round and features some very tasty downhill sections and the odd up-hill pull, so if your looking to go and have fun while working out, you can't really beat a bit of mountain biking.
If you are reading this and thinking to yourself 'I would love to do this Bryn, but I don't have my own mountain bike', then don't fret. The trail starts and finishes at the Birches Valley Cycle Centre, where you can hire mountain bikes for a fee of £30 for adults, and £6 for children.
Something for the weekend: Via ferrata in the Lake District
Written by Bryn Davies
Thursday, 18 March 2010
If you fancy climbing a via ferrata this weekend but can't be bothered to fly out to the Alps, don't worry. You can experience the thrill of a fully protected climb in the Lake District. The Honister Via Ferrata was originally used by miners at the Honister Slate mine as a quick way home, and it ascends 2,126 ft of Fleetwith Pike a hill 9 miles from Keswick. While the via ferrata isn't technically difficult, the guys at the Honister mine insist on a mandatory safety briefing before you begin the climb.
Unlike in Europe where you can turn up and do your own thing, when you want to, and how you want to, you will have to pay £25 for adults and £20 for kids to do this route. Honister will provide all safety equipment, and you will climb in groups of 12, which unfortunately can move quite slowly, but once you finish the via ferrata you are free to explore the old slate mines.
It appears as though this via ferrata isn't best suited to the experienced climber and is more of a family day out, but if you want to experience your first 'iron way', the Honister via ferrata is a good taster to get you started. If you're really craving hardcore ferrata action, it looks as though you will have to fork out the airfare to the Alps.
If you would like to know more about the Honister via ferrata click here
It’s sunny, inexpensive, easy to get to, has a varied array of skiing
and boarding options, and in your down time you can indulge in some
tax-free retail therapy. Tom Hutton travels to Andorra for a long
weekend of snow, blue skies and fine dining, in the belief that good
life just doesn’t get any better than this.
Andorra used to struggle to be taken seriously as a ski destination.
Now it’s impossible to ignore. In just a few short years, this tiny
principality, wedged tightly into a mountainous void in the heart of
the Pyrenees, has invested big-time; and the result is outstanding.
Andorra as a winter sports resort has truly come of age. It’s still
incredibly sunny, what else would you expect from somewhere jammed
between southern France and northern Spain? It’s still inexpensive to
both ski and shop, with a three-day lift pass coming in at less than 50
smackers and tax free designer gear that makes you feel like you’ve
made a profit from your trip. It’s a lot higher than most people
realise – well over 2,500m in places. And it’s all really easy to get
to, with five easily reachable airports right on its doorstep. On top
of that, it’s also damn good; with a recent snow record that matches
this excellent infrastructure.
Twelve of the finest mountains, can you climb them all in one weekend?
They may only just nudge the 700m mark, but Tom Hutton reckons that what Connemara’s Twelve Bens lack in altitude, they more than make up for in attitude. Join him in a frenzy of Ben bagging on Ireland’s west coast. Just be sure to steer clear of too much Guinness and Craic if you want to manage the lot.
If you like to get away from it all and trek far from the madding crowd, make sure that if anything unplanned and unpleasant happens to you or
your trek mates you’re prepared for it. Lara Dunn takes a lesson from
the experts on a ‘Surviving Adventure’ first aid course.
Most people signing up for a first aid course imagine themselves
breathing into a pink plastic torso lying on the floor of a draughty
village hall, under the watchful eye of a worthy individual with a mild
bandage fetish. The difficulty is translating the information learnt on
this kind of course into something useful when you’re out on the hill
or away somewhere wild and woolly. If you’re taught that an ambulance
will be along in a few minutes, how best to tackle keeping someone
alive 40 miles from the nearest road in a forced ten gale? This is
where wilderness/adventure/remote area first aid courses step in.
It’s sunny, inexpensive, easy to get to, has a varied array of skiing
and boarding options, and in your down time you can indulge in some
tax-free retail therapy. Tom Hutton travels to Andorra for a long
weekend of snow, blue skies and fine dining, in the belief that good
life just doesn’t get any better than this.
Twelve of the finest mountains, can you climb them all in one weekend? 
Bandages, broken bones and bangs in Herefordshire