Britain's Three Peaks

 I’m no spring chicken anymore. Set in that middle age ache stage where in the morning my knees and back let me know they’re still there I have no doubts that for me poles will be a good idea. I’ve never used poles before planning the three peaks and like everything I’m finding there are endless options out there.  Some seem really affordable and others run to insane prices. So what’s the big deal and should everyone use poles? I don’t envisage needing to use poles on the ascent, the descent is another matter entirely.  Walking down any of the peaks will jar the knees, ankles and back.  The idea of poles is to take some of that pressure away and give a better purchase.  Not only that they will give you support to stop you twisting an ankle or tweaking a knee.  The latter is my main concern. My ankles are well supported in my walking boots but my knee has been playing me up for years.  As a side note, never move a sofa until you are sure the other end i...

 Taking on any hiking challenge starts with finding the right footwear! It is so obvious yet so easily and often overlooked.  No-one wants to finish a long days hiking with blisters and with a challenge like the three peaks the last thing you want is to miss out on the views because you are in agony. The three peaks needs proper good hiking boots but if you are starting off looking for hiking boots you might like me find that initially you are at a loss.  I mean trainers, I know, hiking boots, not a clue. Well, that had to change.  I explored the different hiking boots far and wide really considering what was needed. So, what follow is an attempt to share what I found and save you many long hours of trying to select the right pair of boots. The things that I found were important in boots were: support, waterproofness and breathability.  Over the course of the three peaks you might find yourself moving from rain to boiling hot, from steady ground to rocky and une...