Among the important items every hiker or trekker needs is a functioning compass for safety and security. The best type compass for most people is an analog compass, which is correctly calibrated and perfectly balanced. An expensive compass does not necessarily mean good quality. Analog compasses are in an encased round case. Sometimes the glass has beveled edges and under the glass is the compass needle.

Read the rest of this entry »

There are certain unpleasant things that can be ignored when on a long hike. The biting insects, the sweaty heat, or the heavy backpack weighing you down as you struggle up the hill are just a few things that can make a long hike feel even longer. The worst though is when you have wet feet. Not only is the big “F” words (Foot Fungus) an imminent threat, but the squishy, squeaky sound can reverberate throughout the wild like a belch in church. There are several perils to hiking with wet feet and any man or woman should be well prepared before making that decision to trek through the swampy marshes wearing nothing but ankle socks and running shoes.

Read the rest of this entry »

I always relish the idea of cooking for my family. You know, like our mums used to and their mums before that and so on and so on. However, the reality is somewhat different. Nowadays we are all so busy holding down jobs and juggling childcare that no-one really has the time to spend all day cooking a nice roast. The problem is that we also don’t want to live off frozen ready meals or pasta with stir through sauces. So where is the middle ground? Fresh food needn’t take all day to cook. There are several meats which can be cooked in a relatively short period of time and provide a win-win situation, you are eating proper nutritious foods, but it isn’t cutting into precious free time that is close to non-existent.

Read the rest of this entry »

Most people who like to spend time in the great outdoors own a pair of binoculars. They are a great way to see nature in all its glory. They give a clear, magnified view of objects that would not normally be seen very well with the naked eye.

Binoculars - only for looking at birds. And trees

Read the rest of this entry »

Read the rest of this entry »

Planning for a self-catering holiday is generally quite stress free. After all, most people are of the opinion that they can pick up whatever they need when they get to their chosen destination. Failing that, restaurants are always an option. However, self catering holidays are more complicated and require more planning when you are a vegetarian or vegan. You certainly cannot rely on the local stores to have everything that you require and the chances are that the local restaurants will only have one or two vegetarian dishes on the menu that may not meet your requirements. So, if you are vegetarian, what do you actually need to take on a self catering holiday?

Read the rest of this entry »

Picture the scene. You’ve left the cottage for the day, it’s lovely and hot, really hot. You don’t bother with water as your camera is so heavy…after a few hours your sweating and you feel terrible. You could be getting dehydrated. Be careful and look for the warning signs!!!

Read the rest of this entry »

Leading car hire price comparison site Carrentals.co.uk is expanding its affiliate offering for UK businesses - offering 5% commission and a market leading conversion rate of 4% - through a new agreement with Trade Doubler.

The announcement comes following the company’s launch of its affiliate programme earlier this year.  The new agreement with Trade Doubler - Europe’s most extensive and successful affiliate network – is designed to extend the reach of the Carrentals.co.uk affiliate programme further to a growing range of businesses looking for new revenue streams.

Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoy spending time in the countryside, it is always a good idea to understand the various foods that you can and can’t eat. You never know when you might find yourself in need of a bit of substance and your only available resources might be what you can forage. If by some chance you do find yourself in this situation, you want to be able to identify which foods are edible because so many wild plants can be quite poisonous.

Read the rest of this entry »

Self-catering units are great when travelling because they give you an opportunity to spread out so that everyone can have more space, and they are more economical because you can fix your own meals.  As you are probably aware, some locations are not necessarily the best locations for renting a self-catering unit. To help you out, here you’ll find the ten best self-catering locations in the world that will fit any budget and taste.

Read the rest of this entry »