Rab Ascent Jacket Review

5 out of 5 stars.

The Ascent down jacket from Rab has been one of those items of clothing that I can't imagine being without on a cold winters hike. It is a well made and light weight down jacket that, is able to pack away into a stuffsac that is supplied with it, making getting it into your rucksack nice and easy. The filling is 330 grams of European duck down giving you 650 fill power - meaning this is a particularly warm down jacket, ideal for winter hiking, taking in the views on a cold mountain summit, or just for putting on when going into town on cold days.

The cut of the jacket is quite long. I bought mine in a medium and in all honesty I probably could have got away with a small, but I was concerned I wouldn't be able to get winter clothing underneath it when backpacking. 

The jacket has a fleece lined collar, with a chin protector over the end of the zip for comfort. The hood unit is down filled and is completely detachable from the jacket, and the cuffs have Velcro attachments as you would expect from a mountain jacket...

The hood unit has a wired peak, hem drawcords and is really warm. Not the most stylish in looks - probably not one for putting up when your in town, but out on the hill this is fantastic...

The fleece lined hand warmer pockets are situated at a nice height and have zips. There is also one internal pocket that I use to put the stuff sac in for ease of find, but you can get a GPS or a regular size camera inside it quite easily too.

 Another good thing about this down jacket is the outer material, Pertex Endurance 50 Denier Shell - a highly water resistant material, that can also take abuse from rucksack straps, or the odd scrape on rocks or trees, giving you reassurance when hiking in harsh conditions.

The only part to this jacket that I can be critical of is the zip, this can be a bit tricky to operate sometimes, however it does have a baffle preventing the elements entering the jacket.

 The Rab Ascent is a good choice of down jacket that will allow you to enjoy the hills and mountains that little bit more. I have used it on many winter walks and it has become something I couldn't possibly leave at home when taking on that mountain or camping overnight. 

Overall an all round quality down jacket that wont let you down.

 Available now at E-Outdoor http://www.e-outdoor.co.uk/450/rab_insulated_jackets_and_vests.aspx

 You can also view their full Rab range here http://www.e-outdoor.co.uk/brands/rab.aspx

Winder, Arant Haw, Calders, Bram Rigg Top, The Calf and Cautley Spout - Howgill Fells 1.12.12

A circular walk, 11.5 miles.

A walk in the Howgill Fells that passes England's highest waterfall above ground and gives stunning views of both the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District fells.

The Howgills Fells are a range of rounded grassy fells that are smack between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales. You pass these beautiful fells north bound on the M6 when heading towards Penrith, or just before you reach Shap Summit on the West Coast main Line.
 Wainwright described the Howgill Fells as looking like a herd of sleeping elephants, and I can see what he meant. To me they're not dissimilar in their appearance to the hills of the Long Mynd in Shropshire, but of a slightly higher proportions. These fells amazingly don't seem to receive the volumes of hikers that the Yorkshire Dales, and of course The Lake District seem to attract, so this really is a place you can get away from it all.
 This would be my first explore of these fantastic fells, I have noticed them on many occasion when in the surrounding Yorkshire Dales, so I wanted to create a route that would incorporate The Calf - the highest point of The Howgill's, whilst also bagging other notable high points en-route, that I could incorporate into a circular walk back to Sedbergh.

 It had been a fairly cold night, the temperature had not really got above -2 and I was a bit concerned the mini bus would not make it up the icy looking steep lane to the station car park at Dent. But it was there when the train arrived, and seemingly there was only me and one other hiker taking the bus towards Sedbergh, which I found surprising for a Saturday.
 I was going to be pushed for time on this walk as I wouldn't be arriving into Sedbergh until 11:10am, and the last bus back to Dent station was at 3pm! This was all put to the back of my mind by perfect hiking weather, cold, sunny and clear.

 The mini bus was driven skilfully along the narrow lane that runs along Dentdale towards Sedbergh, passing the pretty village of Dent first before entering into Sedbergh bang on time. My walk started by taking a lane out of the village towards the edge of the first climb, Winder.
 Here walking the very icy lane that runs the edge of the fell...

After a good mile of walking the slippery lane, this well walked track allows you out onto the fells...

Overnight rain had frozen leaving a sheet of ice in amongst the grassy fell side, making it tricky to get a good walking pace on. Here approaching the summit of the fell...

Winder summit Trig Point and Toposcope at 473 metres...

The wind was particularly harsh on the frozen top of Winder, but the views were fantastic...

Continuing now towards the next fell, Arant Haw...

The summit of Arant Haw is marked by a cairn at 605 metres. Here looking north west from the summit towards the distant snow capped Lake District fells...

No time to hang around, I was quickly on towards higher Calders, which is part of a mass known as Brant Fell...

A steep part of the walk here taking you up towards the summit...

The summit of Calders at 674 metres marked by a mini cairn...

From Calders the easy to follow path continues north west on ground that doesn't drop below 2000 feet, this is a great bit of beautiful fell walking here... 

The main path towards The Calf by-passes the edge of another high point of the Howgill Fells, Bram Rigg Top. I certainly had no intention of missing this one, here branching left from the track out onto the fell...

The summit of Bram Rigg Top at 672 metres, with some great views towards Morcambe Bay...

After cutting across the rough heathland of Bram Rigg Top, I was soon back onto the main drag towards The Calf. Also a rare sight on this day, other hikers...

And to the summit of The Calf, the highest point in The Howgill Fells at 676 metres. The view was outstanding, here to the north west the Lake District mountains on full display with The Old Man of Coniston, the Scafell Range, Helvellyn, Skiddaw and Blencathra all clearly visible...

And thanks to one of the other hikers which had assembled on the summit of The Calf, for this photo. After some questions from them on what a certain hill was sticking up on the horizon, I gave a them a 'point out' of each peak that was visible on this fine day... 

Cross Fell seemed to have received a significant amount of snow fall over the last few days - making it look fairly massive on the horizon to the north. Here the mighty Wild Boar Fell on the left and neighbouring Swarth Fell on the right in Mallerstang, also looking good snow capped...

The summit of The Calf has a seemingly unnamed tarn that was well frozen over. I passed this by over some rough ground heading north east towards this well walked pathway that allows you to descend the fell...

The impressive looking Yarlside from the steep descent of The Calf...

Cutting directly off the fell side here down into this impressive valley...

Here Cautley Spout, England's highest waterfall above ground, brokenly falls some 198 metres from the side of The Calf. Cautley Crag looking high beyond the waterfall with a light dusting of snow...

Baugh Fell also looking impressive on this day...

Looking back up the valley towards a snowy Cautley Crag and the edge of The Calf...

The path crosses the Cautley Holme Beck here via this well made footbridge, beneath the profile of Great Dummacks...

The pathway continues now across much lower ground...

Heading back towards Sedbergh here. I was well pushed for time at this point, and in order to get back to the bus I needed to pick up the pace a bit!..

I did make back in time for the bus, just. By the skin of my teeth just, but I did! Overall though a magnificent walk taking in some great fell walking across these, for me, newly charted fells. I would strongly recommend walking in this area. I certainly mean to return, perhaps when the bus isn't on a winter time table and you can relax a bit more in regards to time. Sedbergh itself is a pretty little village, well worth a look at, if anything for the pubs that are dotted amongst its old streets. 

 There is something about walking in wintry conditions that makes a fell walk so much more appealing and this walk will have me drawing new routes up in the area for a while now. I have a fondness for the Howgill Fells and I cant wait to return! Thanks for reading :)

The North Face Men's Polartec 100 Glacier Full Zip Fleece Review

5 out of 5 stars.

The 100 Glacier Full Zip Fleece from The North Face has been a great companion on many cold days in the hills. It is a very light weight fleece making it nice and comfy to wear under a hard shell jacket, but at the same time keeping you warm. It is is also designed with a high neck for protection from the wind and cold air.

The jacket has a stylish look to it, whilst giving a professional image at the same time, making it good for the shops as well as the hills. There are two draw cords on the hem of the fleece as standard, allowing you to adjust the fleece to your liking at the waist.

 There are two zipped hand warmer pockets on the jacket and the front zip is the full length of the jacket for ease of wear...

 The Polartec material is resistant to pilling and is quick drying too...

Overall a good fleece jacket that will keep you warm on those winter hikes, whether wearing it as your outer layer, or wearing it under a hard shell jacket, The North Face Men's Polartec 100 Glacier Full Zip Fleece won't let you down. Available now at Cotswold Outdoors.
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=products.list&group=5224&level=3&id_brand=-1&code=&searchvalue=&id_pp_buyandget=-1&id_pp_set=-1&id_pp_linediscount=-1&rowstart=1&action=add&feature=31&feature_option=The+North+Face&tab=162&colours=

Inchfield Moor, Rushy Hill and Watergrove Hill 11.11.12

A circular walk, 13.3 miles.

It was cold, November and a mixed forecast - perfect for a stroll on the moors! In particular a stroll across Inchfield Moor, which I had seen on the local news recently regarding moorland that is being managed purposely for Grouse shooting and some damage it was causing to the land itself. But aside from that it looked like a fantastic place for a quick walk and with it being a short walk from the town of Walsden, I drew a route up.  

 Now naturally I was on the hunt for any Trig Points in the area to bag, Inchfield Moor has one, but there are two others I have managed to incorporate into the route aswell, overall producing a 13.3 mile circle.

 It was the 11th of the 11th, which means Remembrance Day. Typically the train I was on was delayed by 10 minutes meaning arriving into Walsden at 11 am on the dot, and so I had to break the two minutes silence to ask the person sat next to me to excuse me so I could get off the train. This made no difference, as the train was absolutely packed out and no one seemed bothered about observing the silence anyway, or for that matter even aware of the tradition.

 Arriving at this time for a 13 mile plus hike meant I was pushing it for light, which was playing on my mind a little, it would be possible to do a hike of that mileage before it would be dark, but I'd have to get a move on!

 Here arriving into Walsden station, just as an express swooshed by on the other side...

Coming out of the station I turned right and headed along the edge of the A6033 road that cuts through the sleepy town. I then turned right again after about quarter of a mile up the steep Inchfield Road, following this I was soon high up above Walsden...

 The lane eventually brings you out onto the moors and it was quite windy here...

 After a good mile or so the lane becomes a track taking you past some farm houses. Rough Hill is the rise in the land on the left...

 The edge of Inchfield Moor ahead now. The path to get onto the moor itself passes under the pylon...

 Here looking back towards Walsden, with cloud making its way up the valley towards the town and across Blackstone Edge...

 The easy to follow path cuts across some expected very boggy ground towards Freeholds Top, the highest point of Inchfield Moor...

 Inchfield Moor summit Trig Point and the highest point on the walk, at 454 metres...

 Heading south along a substantial pathway now, here the cloud starting to roll in...

 Heading across bleak Hades Hill here, looking towards Middle Hill...

 Watergrove Reservoir and Middle Hill, with Brown Wardle Hill sticking up behind...

 Middle Hill has been quarried in a few places and it's seemingly still used, the path however is easy to follow across it.
 Here I'm descending from quarried Middle Hill towards Brown Wardle Hill...

 Approaching the summit of Brown Wardle Hill now, with its interesting way markers that are dotted about along the old pack horse trail that runs over the it. This hill has a summit cairn too, unusual for these parts. Apparently the cairn is in place of a vandalised Trig Point that once adorned the summit...

 It's a steep descent to get off Brown Wardle Hill, but the views were better now that the fog was lifting slightly.
 When studying a map, this part of the world is covered in paths, trails and bridleways. From here there was a group of 50 (yes I counted) horses being ridden along the Pennine Bridleway, a quite amazing site really, worth stopping to rest and watch...

 Heading towards the next rise in the land, Rushy Hill. The building high up on the right has something to do with a large golf course that is ahead...

 Onto the Pennine Bridleway now that runs next to the course, always a bit unnerving walking next to a golf course...

 Looking west towards Knowl Hill...

 Heading east directly across the moor from the Pennine Bridleway now towards the top of Rushy Hill. Here sheep keeping the fairway of the golf course nice and trim...

 And eventually to the summit of boggy Rushy Hill above Rochdale, at 315 metres...

Looking towards the village of Wardle on the left here on the descent from Rushy Hill...

The path got a bit confusing across various farms before getting into Wardle, but eventually I came to this substantial lane. Here looking towards Clay Pots Hill on the left and Watergrove Hill on the right above Wardle...

A brass band was playing as I strolled through the village, which was a nice moment on Remembrance Day, it was also a quick walk through the village and I was striding towards the next port of call, Watergrove Hill.
 Here looking across Watergrove Reservoir towards the now climbed Brown Wardle Hill on the left and Middle Hill on the right, from the marshy slopes of Watergrove Hill...

And to the Trig Point on the top of Watergrove Hill at 306 metres. The M62 was clearly visible from here, with Rishworth Moor and Blackstone Edge not looking to far away too. Hollingworth Lake is also visible in the below picture above Littleborough...

After scaling a few dry stone walls I was onto the Pennine Bridleway again, here heading towards the edges of Turn Slack Clough...

The track descends for a time, then climbs steeply uphill towards the 400 metre mark before you head onto the Rochdale Way which appears to have had quite a lot of work done to it recently, making it very muddy to walk along.
 After climbing back to this height, that means there is always going to have to be a steep descent at some point...

I headed down the very steep clough before heading along the embankment for a time at the side of the A6033. But after a while the path became indiscernible and I decided to walk the road instead...

Heading through Bottomley on the A6033 here...

And after a good mile of road walking I was back into Walsden...

And finally back to Walsden railway station completing the walk...

Overall a tough hike as the ground is so sodden, and with having to race against the dark. I also have to be honest, I wasn't expecting much from the scenery beyond Inchfield Moor, but I was surprised. A good walk in all.