Trail

Trail Magazine is aimed hikers and country walkers of all levels, more recently it has been leaning towards scrambling and wild camping. I used to read Trail every month, and bought many of the highly rated products only to find that they were either massively over specified or nowhere near as good as described. In particular the gear review sections are skewed heavily in favour of certain manufacturers, i.e. the big ones, the smaller more specialist manufacturers rarely get a look in. In terms of clothing basically if it's not gore-tex it's useless, as an example I've never seen a review of Buffalo or Mardale gear, although Paramo is starting to get ...  Read the complete review

Trail is a superb magazine for all outdoor enthusiasts. Having read it for the past 8 years I can safel say that if you enjoy walking, cycling, scrambling or climbing then there will be something in each issue of Trail for you. Each issue is packed full of features, some of which are described below: Routes - 15 different routes are included every month. The majority of these are walking routes however there are always at least one or two routes for mountain bikers and scramblers. some also feature some climbing. Routes usually take a page or a double-page spread each with useful OS references and a map. This is where Trail differs from other ...  Read the complete review

I first bought Trail about 3 years ago, and since then I have been hooked, and have subscribed to it since. Having also since bought other outdoor magazines, I can sincerely recommend it, whatever outdoor sport you are interested in. The thing which I like most is the 15 routes that are given each month. Unlike other outdoor magazines, these routes are given in much detail, so that you get the impression that the journalist has actually walked the route rather than just traced it out on an OS map. In addition, useful information such as timing, local accommodation, local pubs, public transport and guidebooks on the area, as well as stalking ...  Read the complete review

Trail magazine is aimed mainly at walkers. But there is also plenty in there for climbers etc... This magazine comes out once a month. Has plenty of regular features such as gear guides, letters from readers, missions, and various other articles. Have been reading Trail for about 3 years now, is fantastic as it inspires you to take to the hills and have a go. There are always practical tips on the do's and don'ts of walking. There are specialists who instuct you on what gear you need for what walk, there are always some cracking pictures that really make you want to go exploriing. Each month there are about 15 routes at the back of the ...  Read the complete review

I've read Trail now for several years and the back-issues are beginning to take up a fair bit of space under my bed. I don't want to bin them because they have so much useful info. This magazine is from the same EMAP stable as the likes of practical photography (also taking up a lot of space!) so if you read the latter you know what to expect. It has an excellent range of walks each month and has regular in-depth guides to particular areas / mountains. Trail, unlike other rivals, is focussed on the UK and on hillwalking, although it had a guide recently to the Austrian Tyrol which made me wish I'd kept up my German. If you're ...  Read the complete review