Falke Naima baselayer top

This is one of Falke’s “ergonomic sport system” products. Ergonomic means a design that fits the shape and movement of the body as closely as possible. This is generally achieved through the choice of fabrics and by utilising a construction that is as seamless as possible

The Naima is a snug fit. But it doesn’t feel overly tight like some tops made with high contents of Lycra can feel. It doesn’t constrict and it does seem to move with the body.

The combination of different knits and fabrics magically help with the overall design of the baselayer. I can’t really describe why it does this, except to say that my Naima fits beautifully yet doesn’t fell over-stretched. A number of friends have commented on how nice the baselayer looks.

I have a Small size and being a size 10 if feels brilliantly. Even the arms are long enough for my Miss Tickle-length arms! The cuffs just about slot into gloves on colder days and this is a huge bonus for someone with extra long arms! Most of my other tops have cuffs that stop above the wrist!

Looks good but what about performance?

But looks aren’t everything. The baselayers needs to function well, too, and across a range of activities. I have mainly worn it on cooler days, either as a baselayer on its own or with a Gore-Tex breathable waterproof jacket over the top. And I really like it.

It is called a “midweight baselayer “and I’d say this is a perfect description. It is better suited to mild-ish winter days on its own or cool-ish summer days.

There are different panels of material in the areas where you’re most likely to sweat, and it does a pretty good job of getting rid of sweat. I don’t think the top wicks sweat away quite as efficiently as other lighter weight tops but then I guess this is a hard thing to do.

Other nice details include reflective logos on the logo at the rear and on the front, which are good for safety on darker evening runs.

Weirdly, though, and I still can’t work out why, there is an L and an R on the sleeves. Presumably this is for Left and for Right. But why would this be needed when the top obviously faces one way because of the front zip? Anyone have the answer?

The Falke Naima comes in XS to L and a range of colours. It costs around £70, which seems pricey but so far it has washed and worn very well.

There will be two route options:

* Running 7.5km on forest trails and then mountain biking 60km on the north side of Loch Ness (including 1700m of climbing)

* Running 7.5km on forest trails and then road cycling 56km with 1050m of climb on the south side of Loch Ness, followed by a 5km run on tarmac.

The duathlon will take place on August 25, from Inverness.

The British Heart Foundation uses the vital funds raised by events such as the Loch Ness Duathlon to fight against one of the UK’s biggest killers, heart disease.

For more information, see Loch Ness Duathlon, call 0800 169 3672 or send an e-mail to scotlandevents@bhf.org.uk

* Handsonevents is the organisation behind such classic events as the Cairngorm Sportive, the Skye Sportive and the epic Bealach Mor.

Halcyon in the Hebrides

by Bob Orrell

After 60 years of sailing in Scotland, Bob Orrell decided to single handedly sail his boat Halcyon 1000 miles around stunning islands and seas lochs of Western Scotland. He set sail, from Fairlie on the Clyde, around the Mull of Kintyre via numerous inner islands to Barra in the Outer Hebrides and to the Atlantic side of the islands. In total he anchored at 50 different places.

Along the way, the author rejoiced and grimaced through Scotland’s changeable weather; met fascinating people and visited places with fabulous stories, enjoyed adventures and described Scotland’s amazing western coastline through a sailor’s eyes.

Bob is a lovely writer and brings to life the atmosphere and sights of his intrepid expedition around one of the most stunning coastal areas of Scotland. Part descriptive and part informative, the book offers as much to the armchair reader as to the sailor who fancies setting off to follow his route.

I would have loved to have seen more photographs and to have had the pictures dispersed liberally through the book but  it is still easy enough to find yourself lost in Bob’s words and descriptions, so little is lost in so many pages of text.

The Halcyon in the Hebrides is published by Whittles Publishing, priced £16.99.

Scotland

by Peter Friend

This is an enlightening book looking at many of the famous landscapes of Scotland. As Peter writes: “The pleasure of enjoying a landscape is greatly increased and deepened by developing some feeling for the events in the history of the Earth that may have caused it.”

Don’t worry, as you do not have to be a qualified geologist or an expert on landscape and nature to understand this book. This is a revealing guide that offers a wealth of insight for the average person, who IS interested in Scotland’s landscapes. Equally, it would offer a huge amount of info for the expert, or perhaps even a geography student.

The book is logically split in different areas of Scotland and explains why, for example, Glencoe has its magnificent mountains, while the Scottish Borders are rolling. And why the islands in the north west differ from those in the south west of Scotland.

Famous landmark landscapes are also explored. For example, there is the columnar jointing on the isle of Staffa (Fingal’s Cave) has long fascinated all those who visit. If you haven’t been to Staffa, then perhaps you have seen a similar rock formation at the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.  But do you know why the rocks are formed as they are or why the same formations are seen at Staff and in Northern Ireland? Peter describes how this rock formation has been created here, and in other places, and making it simple to understand the forces of nature on the land.

Photographs, digital displays and graphics greatly enhance the book and make it easier to show how the landscape has changed over many millions of years.

I am not sure I would pick up this book and read it from start to finish but I have been interested enough to dip into it and find out more about some of my favourite areas of Scotland, and also to discover why some places look as they do.

This would be a recommended coffee table book, especially as so many of us turn to reading books on Kindle and iPads.

Scotland is Published by Collins, priced £65 for the signed hardback version and £30 for paperback.

The Natural Explorer: Understanding Your Landscape

by Tristan Gooley

Although this book might sound similar to Peter Friend’s Scotland it isn’t! Tristan’s is a more contemplative book and his approach sees the reader exploring the landscape as people would from generations ago,  by sun, moon, stars and natural phenomena. Inspiration is also taken from past travellers and there are entertaining anecdotes thrown in among Tristan’s own travels.

He aims to reveal why “some travel experiences thrill us while others leave us cold”. Tristan reckons that it’s possible to enrich every journey through the landscape simply by increased awareness of our surroundings and understanding the “subtle connections between the land, sky and landscape”.

Tristan has organised the book, not in regions (it covers the whole of the UK) but Senses, Plants, Mountains, Coast, Valleys of ice, Animals, Light, Sky, Weather, Colour etc.

Readers will easily lose themselves in the reverie, but I might have liked a few more pictures. Perhaps I’m a bit shallow but I always enjoy a few pictures to accompany a book that talks so vividly about nature and the landscape.

The Natural Explorer  is published by Hodder, priced £16.99

About a year ago, my life was a mess. I was a depressed, severely overweight insomniac who was camping out in a friend’s spare room after my long-term relationship had fallen apart.

As I lay in the bottom bunk of a set of children’s bunk beds (I’m six foot two; imagine it) I thought: “You know what? I think it’s time to change my life; after all, things can’t get any worse.”

Unlike every other time I’d decided to change my life, lose some weight and get happy again, this time I actually did something about it. My friend had an exercise bike that had was unused – so I took the opportunity to commandeer it for my own purposes.

From that day, the small Welsh village of Cefn-y-Bedd sang with the sound of a fat man pushing pedals for 90 minutes a week. I dread to think how much sweat was shed in that room, and I’m not afraid to admit that the first couple of 30 minute sessions I would struggle to walk the few steps to the shower cubicle. I wasn’t in good shape, but the endorphins the workout provided made it all worthwhile (and it also gave me an opportunity to check out new bands. I love music so spending half an hour pedalling was a great opportunity to whack my headphones in and check out some new music).

Summer rolled round and I finally moved into a place I could sort of call my own – I was sharing with three other guys, but at least I wasn’t sleeping in someone’s spare room any more. Anyway, this place had a shed, and it wasn’t on the third floor, which meant one thing: I could get my mountain bike back.

I’d bought the bike for one of those bike-to-work schemes and then shamefully never used it. It had seen about 2 miles worth of use that had left me a wreck, and then it had been left in the shed where it did nothing but collect dust. However, I was now ready to get out there and ride. By the time I got it back I was four stone (nearly 60lbs) lighter than the last time we’d crossed paths, and I was absolutely raring to go.

The first time I went out for a bike ride planned to do a mile or two, and I ended up doing eight. Feeling my lungs and calves burn while the July air whipped against me was incredible. How had I let this feeling pass me by for so long?

The town I had moved to is on top of a hill – it’s impossible to leave it without going down a pretty steep incline, and as such rides normally involved an incredible, speedy first half coupled by an agonising, slow crawl back up, but I loved every second.

The amazing results

I’ve stopped losing weight now (I’ve lost over 100lbs altogether) but I’ve kept the cycling up. I’m no endurance rider (my average ride length is around 10 miles), but I love every second – even more so now that I’ve got my new girlfriend interested in cycling and we can hit the roads together If you think we sound like that annoying couple who exercise together, you’re probably right; we also go to Yoga together, too.

It’s worth pointing out that I’m still very much an ordinary guy. I’m not a Lycra warrior and I’ve no idea what it is that squeaks at the moment (I’m not even sure if it’s me or the bike) – but I wouldn’t go back to where I used to be for the world.

Cycling really did change my life for the better, and I’d urge anyone who’s thinking about getting on a bike to do it right away. You don’t have to spend thousands on gear, just pick up a bike, throw on a helmet and get outside!

Chris writes for Moneysupermarket.com’s life cover team.

Happy walkers: Debbie and Ellen

After long negotiations on Facebook and email, the final count included seven of us. Only one, Jill, had walked Ben Nevis before. Two had never even walked a Munro. One was on the biggest keep-fit drive of her life, after giving up a long-term addiction to cigarettes and a decade of somewhat unhealthy eating and sitting around-itis. Another woman had given birth to her second son only three months previously.

I had no idea what to expect on Ben Nevis but I was anticipating much laughter and great female chat, plus the usual dose of outrageous four-seasons-in-one-day Scottish weather.

The walk up Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis is not a particularly tough hike but it is long (some 10 miles) and the route does head from sea level to an impressive 1344m (4409ft). The “tourist path” is well trodden and I have never before seen so many walkers on one Scottish hill. Nor have I encountered such a breadth of walkers from four-year-olds to people in their 70s, and from those sporting jeans and trainers (silly people) to those in full-on mountaineering kit. There were also a great number of dogs!

Despite a dismal weather forecast (I have no idea why we even consult the forecasts) we set out in great spirits – and under a sunny and blue sky. To start with the trail quickly steepened and for the first couple of miles many walkers would be forgiven for thinking they will never make the top. With newbie walkers with us, we took our time, stopped frequently for snacks (yes please, more Soreen!) and to drink water.

Then, just when required, the trail flattened out a little and offered a straightforward upwards march. This is not to belittle Ben Nevis, but because of a well-laid and well-worn trail that zig-zags efficiently uphill, the hiking is some of the easiest I have encountered on a Munro. Still, it’s a long, long walk.

Ellen was blog-testing Soreen. We were all force fed!

I confess that I did, at times, find it hard to walk at the right pace for the group. I am more used to the G-Force’s quick-fast trotting pace. One of the group did suggest that next time they will have a t-shirt printed for me saying: “I don’t normally walk this slow, but I am being kind to by friends”!  Mostly, however, I was very content to chat with different members of the group and catch up on gossip, some going back years.

Some three-quarters of the way up, we began to encounter snow. In fact, one walker who had already been to the summit and who we exchanged a few words with, reported that “although tricky because of snow, the summit was possible”. This made me think of Everest, and I felt some relief to be carrying a map and compass, and with the sure knowledge of being able to use them. Some 10 years ago a friend lost his life descending Ben Nevis in snowy conditions and I knew there was a tricky section near the summit that can demand good navigation skills to avoid two severe drops.

But still, with so many people on the Ben and such clear skies, I found it hard to believe that the route would not be easy to find. In the event, it was! I wonder now whether the descending walker was a little inexperienced or if she had summited shrouded by early cloud but our walk to the top was very straightforward. Indeed, thanks to the snow, it was easy to pick out a route marked by thousands of footprints!

Approaching the top of Ben Nevis

Reaching the summit of Ben Nevis

I know, after speaking to a few of our group, that they were extremely relieved to see the top. Walking up hill for four or five hours is hard, especially if you have never done so before. Even SuperMum Kat, who this year summited Kilimanjaro, revealed she had tired leg muscles!

The summit of Ben Nevis was crowded! Think Sainsbury’s on a Saturday morning and you’ll get the picture! If you turned your back to the crowds, however, and surveyed the magnificent landscape all around, looking across mountains, moors and lochs, the sense of height and wildness was more achievable.

The girls on Ben Nevis summit

The summit picture of our group reveals the delight of reaching the highest place in the UK!

Descending Ben Nevis

If you’ve walked mountains before, you’ll know that the descent can be more exhausting and challenging than the ascent. Certainly, we all suffered sore knees, thighs and calves to a greater or lesser extent. There were a few snow flurries. And it felt as though the walk was longer going back than going up (why is it always like that?!). But there was very little moaning. Women are great for keeping spirits and morale high.

Fabulous views from Ben Nevis

I am delighted that I have now summited Ben Nevis (and I no longer feel embarrassed!) – and I am so proud of all the girls. What a fantastic day out.

And a special mention for Super Ben Nevis Walker Debbie

Just a year ago, Debbie smoked 20 a day, was overweight and lacked energy. She couldn’t believe that she would enjoy any kind of fitness activity. Then she bought a bike (with my help) and started cycling, took up walking and then running, gave up smoking, replaced fags with an exercise addiction and lost lots of weight. It was truly uplifting to see her delight at walking Ben Nevis.

PS Thanks to Ellen for her photos. I forgot my camera!

Mollie the Collie

Alongside owner Anne Butler, the five-year-old dog is set to hike Garbh Bheinn, Ardgour, with her canine pals and human companions.

The tradition of uncorking a bottle of champagne on the summit will be replaced by a generous helping of summit sausages!

Mollie on a Corbett summit

Molly is taking her own lunch and will be in responsible company. In late spring and early summer, it’s vital that dogs are kept under control while there are young lambs and ground nesting birds around. The MCofS recommends that those heading out into the hills with their canine companions to heed the following advice on the Scottish Natural Heritage website.

This week, Peter Willimott, Vice Chair of the Munro Society, said: “Dogged determination!  Congratulations to Molly and Anne.”

Mike Dales, of the MCofS, added: “This dug is a fraction of my age, but she has beaten me to that elusive last Corbett.  Well done Molly – give that dug a bone!”

For those wondering about Munros and dogs, you’ll be delighted to know that  Kitchy the Shetland Collie was the first recorded canine completionist of the Munros in the 1960s, with his owner Hamish Brown.

Hill walkers tackling the Munros and Corbetts will find a source of invaluable information on the MCofS website

I’ve done one or two unexpected things in my life after a glass or two of wine, but signing myself up as a possible volunteer casualty for the Lomond Mountain Rescue Team at the Banff Mountain Film Festival was a new one.

I blame my friend Christine for cajoling me into the bizarre episode. While she recommended me as a “perfect volunteer” I recommended her, too, with the now legendary words: “Petite nurse, will be very light for stretcher practice…” I felt sure she would get the call.

But several weeks later, when I had forgotten all about the signature on the dotted line, I suddenly received an email asking for volunteers to “go up to the Queen’s View on the road to Loch Lomond.” It seems I’d been selected. And so had Petite Nurse Christine!

The sun was shining, the Queen’s View was a short drive down the road, so how could we refuse?

That evening, the Mountain Rescue Team had three casualties to locate, assess and rescue. The scenario was a university hill race that had gone slightly awry. Christine was lost. I was facing a medical emergency having suffered an asthma attack, which left me unable to walk off the hill.

I had no idea what was happening with the Petite Nurse, but my nightmare worsened as my signals for help were halted when the batteries in my torch gave up. I wasn’t allowed to shout for help because of the asthma attack.

From my position on the hill I could see the recue being organised and launched. After triangulating my approximate coordinates, a team had set off to find me. They systematically swept down the hill and gradually drew close enough to hear my simulated wheezes and quiet calls for help.

I can easily imagine how grateful people in real emergency situations are to see the mountain rescue team arrive. I was quickly assessed, offered oxygen and snacks and somehow managed to be the one stretchered off the hill. All 5’10” of me!

Luckily there were eight rescuers to share the load and after a few minutes the exercise was ended, and I walked off with the team.

I was immensely impressed with the professionalism of the team, how well they worked together and that everyone there was a volunteer.

As well as completing courses in mountaineering and first aid, members of the Lomond Mountain Rescue team train three times a month, two Thursday evenings and a Sunday, in addition to being on call for actual mountain rescues.

Funding of Lomond Mountain Rescue is entirely by charitable donations. At the moment the team are fundraising for a replacement rescue vehicle. If you would like to read more about the Lomond Mountain Rescue Team, volunteer as a casualty for a training session or make a donation follow this link to the Lomond Mountain Rescue website.

PS. Christine made it off the hill safely, too. But she got to walk!

The background to the event is poignant, as it pays tribute to Tour de France legend Robert Millar, who began his training as a teenager with the Glasgow Wheelers, based in the Campsies.

Millar, who was born in Glasgow in 1958, is acknowledged as Scotland’s greatest Tour cyclist. His fourth-placed finish in the 1984 Tour de France was a record for a British rider and has since been matched only by Bradley Wiggins in 2009. Millar also made a huge contribution to Scottish and British cycling.

The ride has been launched by Glasgow Wheelers captain David Lang, Brian Smith, the Endura racing team manager,  and former professional cyclist Billy Bilsland, who recalls the young Millar training on the very roads that the sportive will now follow. Millar was a pupil of Bilsland at his circuit training classes in Glasgow in the late 1970s.

The Robert Millar Sportive, which aims to raise money to develop young Scottish cycling talent, will take riders on the roads that helped to develop Robert into a world famous professional cyclist, including the renowned Tak me Doon (Kilsyth – Lennoxtown) and the notorious Crow Road.

Find out more at Robert Millar Sportive 2012

Many people had backpacks and looked to be setting out for a long-distance walk on the WHW. Others were walking dogs. Some were running – and a few of the runners were extremely fit looking older ladies. There were several groups of young teenagers from the Scouts, returning from a weekend away on the long-distance walkway, which reaches Fort William some 96 miles to the north. There were women-only groups, men-only running groups, families with younger children, as well as myself and Animal Magic.

Although it is always lovely to get a running route all to yourself, it was also uplifting to see so many people out enjoying the sunshine. While the rest of Britain seem to face cold and rain, Scotland actually had a god deal of sunshine and some occasionally warm moments!

A weekend of running

If you’ve been following my blog recently, you’ll know that I have been focusing on off-road running. It is hard work and at times I have wanted to give up entirely, but this weekend felt like a small breakthrough. While the G-Force was off climbing with a pal on Saturday, I decided to run a route on the Campsie Fells, north of Glasgow.

A couple of weekends before, the G-Force and I had vaguely discovered a route from Milton of Campsie to the top of the fells, along the tops, down to Campsie Glen and then back along the old railway line footpath to Milton of Campsie. I say “vaguely” because the route up had proved frustrating and long-winded. However, from the top of the fells, we reckoned we could see a a more straightforward route from the road – and this was what I bravely set off to find on my own on Saturday.

Not known for my navigation prowess (and more likely to be know for getting lost) I was a little nervous about finding my way. But thanks to intuition  - and a great chat with a van driver who happened to be coming out of the track that I planned to ascend – I found my way easily and without a wrong turn. The upward stretch is tough, however.

Once at the base of the Campsies, I found myself on a very steep, zigzagging trail. I aimed to run the whole route but with stops to catch my breath every so often. On the way up the stops happened a lot more than every so often, but I didn’t walk. Every time I stopped and looked back behind me I was taken aback by the fabulous views and clear skies.

Once on the top at the first cairn, Cort-Ma Law, I looked across to see a higher cairn in the distance (I believe this could be Lecket Hill) and proceeded to run to this, too. The Campsies were sodden after a sprinkling of snow the night before and I spent a lot of time running and wading through mushy grass and mud.

At the second cairn I looked over to Meikle Bin at the eastern end of the Campsies and close to Kilsyth. (One day soon I will start at the Meikle Bin and run the entire length of the Campsies to Dumgoyne at the far north-west). I then turned back and retraced my steps to the first cairn before diverting west and running along the top of the fells. It was very wet underfoot and the fells are more than a little undulating but I found myself smiling to myself. “FionaOutdoors actually navigates the Campsies herself!”

On Saturday, there were fewer people walking than the previous outing but as I came closer to Crow Road (and the car park where many people start their walk from) and then down towards Clachan of Campsie, the number of people vastly increased.

But my run couldn’t finish here as I needed to get back to my car parked just before Milton of Campsie. Luckily there is an old railway footpath running alongside the busy A891 and I somehow found the energy to run another three miles on the flat.Hill running is exhausting and after a busy week of work (both days and evenings) plus a few training runs and commuter cycles over the previous seven days I was amazed that I found the reserves to keep going. A couple of bars of chocolate definitely helped!

This is the sort-of route that I ran, except I started from Glorat House and not Lennoxtown. The route is around 12kms and has a total ascent of almost 1,000m.

Sunday recovery run

I agreed before the Campsies run to go for run with Animal Magic on the Sunday. Since Animal Magic was off to cycle 70 miles in the Kinross Sportive, I was hoping she’d call on Saturday evening to say she was too tired to run. Instead, she announced she’d like to do one of our favourite long runs along the WHW and through Mugdock Park. Fortunately, we both had tired legs and we kept the running to a steady but fairly easy-going pace. Animal Magic and I have a similar pace, and we like a bit of a chat, so the running with her is perfect.

(Normally the G-Force would be invited but he’d gone off with Super-Duper Junior, another hill running friend, to run two Munros in Perthshire. He said he’ll take me there when I have more time on my hands!)

Animal Magic and I ran around 7 or 8 miles, and although tired by the end we felt pretty smug! (If I hadn’t agreed to run with Animal Magic I know I would have lazed around in bed all morning and managed precisely zero exercise!)

Other people run much further – and faster

Route of the Cort-Ma Law hill run race

When I compare my running to others, especially those taking part in the 53-mile Highland Fling on Saturday, I realise I am a total wimp. One day I might find the strength of mind and body to run such an amazing event. The Highland Fling is the precursor to the 95-mile West Highland Race in June. These girls and guys are utterly incredible and I can only dream of completing such tough long0-distance events.

Apparently there is also a Cort-Ma Law hill race. I love this, from the description of this race: “The highlight of this race is the section of man-eating emerald green bog between Cort-ma Law and Lecket Hill.” I was almost eaten up by this bog on Saturday! The awesome lady hill runner Angela Mudge holds the record for the race. Maybe one day I’ll pluck up the courage to run the race!

 Edinburgh folks should gather on the Meadows, Edinburgh, at 2pm . There will also be a “gentle” ride from Glasgow for those coming from the west.

Round-the-world record-breaking Scottish cyclist and adventurer Mark Beaumont will be there to offer his support. Other big names in support of the campaign are Sir Chris Hoy and Graeme Obree.

Dave Brennan, one of the Pedal for Parliament organisers, says: “We are delighted to have the support of three big Scottish names. There has also been two supportive motions in parliament already, however, as yet there are no concrete proposals, so we need as  strong a show of force  – although it will be a very gentle force as there will be kids there  – too as possible.

“If you can make it, brilliant. You don’t need a bike, just walk along with us! If you can’t make it, please sign the petition.

“We really do have an opportunity to make Scotland a cycle friendly nation.”

What do Pedal on Parliament want?

The campaign group has created an eight point manifesto to help Scotland’s government reach its target of 10% of journeys by bike by 2020, a target which is now also embedded in its low carbon and obesity strategies.

It’s claimed that the government’s present Cycling Action Plan [CAPS] is far too limited to achieve the target, while the proportion of the transport budget allocated to cycling remains wholly inadequate at under 1%.

The PoP manifesto covers:

1. Proper funding for cycling.
2. Design cycling into Scotland’s roads.
3. Slower speeds where people live, work and play
4. Integrate cycling into local transport strategies
5. Improved road traffic law and enforcement
6. Reduce the risk of HGVs to cyclists and pedestrians
7. A strategic and joined-up programme of road user training
8. Improved statistics supporting decision-making and policy.