Stacey MacNaught

Stacey’s a hiking enthusiast and mother of 3. She’s obsessed with bagging munros and crossing ridges. She also runs a recreational women’s football team, has been involved in coaching junior football.
Steall Falls from distance
Hiking Blog

Steall Falls Hike, Glen Nevis

I took a cold, rainy November day hike out to Steall Falls, Glen Nevis, just a short distance from Fort William. Here’s how this gorgeous short waterfall walk went.

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Popular routes up Snowdon map
Hiking Blog

Routes Up Snowdon: Guide to the Most Popular Paths

So you want to hike Snowdon? Well, you have plenty of choice. There are 5 potential starting points for your hike up Snowdon, each offering different paths and scenery along the way. Here’s the key information about them all.

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how to reproof a waterproof jacket
Hiking Blog

How to Reproof Your Waterproof Jacket

Even the best waterproof jacket in the world is going to need reproofing eventually. And if you want to get more life out of your waterproof jacket investment, then reproofing it properly is the key. After 6 years of reproofing jackets (sometimes well, sometimes not) this is now my go to as the best method of reproofing.

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is osprey a good hiking bag brand
Hiking Blog

Is Osprey a Good Brand for Hiking Bags?

Osprey hiking bags are certainly are the higher end of the price scale when compared with other options on the market. But are they worth it? And is Osprey a good hiking brand? Here’s my honest take after just about 3 years of hiking exclusively with Osprey bags.

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osprey sirrus 36 review
Hiking Blog

Osprey Sirrus 36 Review – After Almost 3 Years of Use

It has been so long since I got the Osprey Sirrus 36 that it has since been replaced with the Sirrus 34! Nonetheless, having spent almost 3 years hiking with this backpack, I now feel qualified to review it properly. So here’s what you need to know.

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is merrell a good hiking brand
Hiking Blog

Is Merrell a Good Hiking Brand?

I fell in love with Merrell a few years ago when I got a pair of hiking boots I just LOVED. But it’s been all downhill since then unfortunately with consistent quality issues and absolutely awful “waterproofing”. So, is Merrell a good hiking brand? Well, in my opinion, largely not. But let’s talk about it in more detail.

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crib goch snowdonia
Hiking Blog

Welsh 3000s List and Route

I’m planning the Welsh 3000s in 24 hours challenge for next summer. Having done most of them individually, I already know how tough a challenge this will be. Here’s the list and the route I’ll be taking

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rab cirrus alpine jacket womens (1)
Hiking Blog

Rab Cirrus Alpine Synthetic Insulated Jacket Review

After much deliberation, I opted for the Rab Cirrus Alpine synthetic insulated jacket to see me through my winter hiking season. After a couple of weeks of testing on some cold weather walks and in some rainy conditions, here’s my review.

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Sunset from Yr Elen 2
Hiking Blog

Cloud Inversion Forecasting – How to Predict a Cloud Inversion

There’s something utterly magical about a cloud inversion from a pretty mountain summit. But how do you increase your chances of getting one? Well, I’m no meteorologist, that’s for sure. But I’ve spent plenty of time trying to figure it out and I’ve had a lot of success over the last year. So here’s what I’ve learned about forecasting cloud inversions.

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sunrise winnats pass
Hiking Blog

Sunrise Hiking on Winnat’s Pass, Peak District

With a pretty positive forecast suggesting the possibility of cloud inversions in the Hope Valley at the weekend, I set a 5am alarm and headed off in the hope that I could enjoy my morning coffee on Winnat’s Pass with beautiful skies and cloud inversions. I was NOT disappointed.

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Looking back towards Conival in the snow
Hiking Blog

Hypothermia when Hiking Mountains in the UK: What You Need to Know

Hypothermia kills hikers in the UK’s mountains every single year. That’s just a fact. Despite our relatively mild climate, the cold combined with the wet here means people are at risk of hypothermia when hiking mountains if not properly equipped. In this guide, we talk about what hypothermia is, how it happens, how to prevent it and how to spot the signs when hiking in the UK’s mountains.

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Hiking Blog

Top Tips for Hiking with Kids

Hiking with your kids can be so incredibly rewarding for both them and you. It’s so wonderful when you can both share a passion. But as hiking can be mentally and physically challenging, it’s not always the easiest thing to get your children involved in. And of course, their enjoyment is paramount. So here are some top tips learned from hiking hundreds of miles with my children.

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winter hiking jacket
Hiking Blog

Winter Jackets: Synthetic Insulation vs Down – What’s Best?

So you’re shopping for a new winter hiking jacket? Chances are you’ve got 101 different decisions to make (brand, colour, style, size, breathability, pack-away-a-bility… the list goes on). And one such decision is going to be about whether to go for a synthetic insultation jacket or a down jacket. So just what is best? Let’s take a look at the facts.

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black diamond crag gloves (1)
Hiking Blog

The Best Gloves for Scrambling and Climbing

Cold hands do NOT make for good scrambling hands. But how do you keep those fingers comfortable with winter scrambling without sacrificing on grip and mobility? And even in summer, sometimes a pair of gloves is essential to stop your hands being torn to pieces. So let’s take a look at the best scrambling gloves.

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Heat Performance Gloves and Socks
Hiking Blog

Heat Performance Gloves and Socks Review

Winter hiking is on its way again. But for those of us hiking mountains, Autumn on the ground means wintery temperatures up top already. So as I prep my winter hiking kit, I’ve put some battery powered heated socks and gloves from HeatPerformance to the test. Here’s what I think.

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hiker looking at dovestone from above
Active Family Adventures

Hiking at Dovestone – Routes, Paths and Guide

Dovestone is a beautiful place in the Peak District’s Dark peak, nestled amongst the Saddleworth Hills. But there’s far more for hikers here than reservoir walks. Here’s a hiker’s guide to Dovestone Reservoir and the surrounding hills.

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rugby league vs rugby union
Rugby League

The Key Differences Between Rugby Union and Rugby League – The Beginner Edition

I’m new to rugby. I’ve watched a bit but just took up playing (union) and I’ve had to give myself a total crash course on the rules and mechanics of game play. League is a bigger game local to me than Union, so I’ve probably watched more rugby league than union. As such, my first job was to figure out the differences. So for anyone who is as confused as me, here’s what I figured out.

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blister when hiking
Hiking Blog

How to Prevent Blisters When Hiking

Nothing ruins a hike quite like blisters. How can something so small cause so much pain and discomfort? So, if you’re anything like me and you’re practically phobic of getting them on your hiking days, here’s a few tips to help you prevent them.

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striding edge helvellyn
Hiking Blog

Quieter Alternatives to the National 3 Peaks Challenge

The National 3 Peaks challenge encompasses Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon – the highest peaks in each of Scotland, England and Wales respectively. To add to this challenge, participants attempt to complete them all in 24 hours – which also involves a lot of driving. It’s a fun challenge and very tough but my least favourite thing about it is the amount of people on each of those summits. So here’s a few alternative challenges.

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Proud Sponsors

We're delighted to sponsor the playing kit for the Saddleworth 3Ds U9s Whites who'll be playing in the East Manchester Junior Football League in the 2023/24 season.
portable power banks for charging while hiking
Hiking Blog
Stacey MacNaught

Best Portable Charging Banks for Hiking

Traditionalists may not like it! But personally, I don’t like to risk being stuck on a hill or mountain with a dead phone or head torch battery. So I like to carry a portable charging device (or 2, or 3) with me. Here are the best portable charging banks for hiking that I’ve used. (And I’ve used a lot, by the way).

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