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CheapTents.com Outdoor Gear Blog

…not just tents…a camping equipment blog too!

Extreme Sports Map LogoHave you ever been climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, skateboarding and found a great new place for some exciting action? Perhaps you’ve found a place that’s not the best but its close to home and offers the opportunity to get a bit of practice in, just to help keep your skills up to speed? Or maybe you’re going somewhere new and looking for the best place for some extreme sport action? If you want to share your favourite places or find something new then one place to look is Extreme Sports Map!

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There are plenty of excellent countryside walking routes in the UK. Source: Flickr by eamoncurry123.

There are plenty of excellent countryside walking routes in the UK. Source: Flickr by eamoncurry123.

When you fancy going for a hike or walk there are plenty of route planner websites on the internet that can provide help and inspiration. Whether you are going to a particular part of the country for the first time or looking for a hidden gem in your own backyard, there are plenty of on-line walks to chose from. But which is the best walking route planner to use? The amount of detail, advice and number of walks in a particular region vary from website to website. Here at CheapTents.com we have been examining the various walking route planner websites to find out which are worthy of being your walking guide and which you would not rely upon to give you directions to the house next door.

There are several criteria by which the walking guide websites have been judged, as follows:

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With plenty of walking events in September, dont give your boots a rest yet! Source Flickr By Dave Masters

With plenty of walking events in September, don't give your boots a rest yet! Source Flickr By Dave Masters

It may seem strange to be writing about Walking Festivals in September, but with a number of events being held nationwide this month, its not quite time for you put your boots away just yet!

Walking Festivals are an excellent way for people to get involved in walking, test equipment, meet fellow walkers and build up life long friendships.

Walking Festivals differ in size and duration and will offer a range of walks and tours for differing levels of walkers, all festivals should offer guided walks or walking tours, so they are ideal for inexperienced walkers and will allow you to practice your navigation skills in the care of experienced group leaders. For the more adventurous some festivals offer unguided walks. Please note different events have different booking procedures, some are turn up on the day others are book in advance so I have included links to organisers.

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The new Snowdon Summit Cafe under contruction, on a miserable day.

The new Snowdon Summit Cafe under contruction, on a miserable day. Source: Flickr by Haversack.

Anyone who has made it to the top of Snowdon, either by foot or by the Snowdon mountain train, will know about the existence of the Snowdon Summit Cafe. The original cafe was designed by the architect who designed Portmeirion: Sir Bertram Clough Williams-Ellis. The cafe was built in 1935, with modifications made in the 1960s. Described by Prince Charles as

the highest slum in Wales

to some its demolition in 2006 must have come as a relief.

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There are many opportunities for mountain biking in Wales. If you’re looking for some inspiration, one place to start looking is “mountainbikingWales“. This website provides links to 6 purpose built mountain bike centres and 7 mountain bike trail bases, including Coed y Brenin.

Mountain Biking in Wales.

Mountain Biking in Wales. Source Flickr by Leon Wilson.

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You Can’t Have Our Mud!

You may remember seeing Welsh Tourist Board adverts on television during the summer. The adverts featured a man extolling the many virtues of taking a holiday in Wales, he finished up by telling us that under no circumstances were we to take away any Welsh mud. Its “good mud” he proclaimed.

You Can Keep Your Mud!

Sheep droppings in mud makes mountain bikers ill

Guilty! Source: Flickr by foxypar4

On Monday the BBC reported that “mud contaminated with sheep droppings may have caused 161 mountain bikers to fall ill”, according to a report by The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHSW).

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There’s some exciting news as a new mountain has been discovered by three walkers in Wales.

I’m not sure about you but there are lots of hills where I am convinced they are actually mountains in hiding…anyway the BBC reports:

Mynydd Graig Goch in Snowdonia was originally put at 1,998ft (609m), just short of the magic 2,000ft (609.6m) that qualifies as a mountain.

But the walkers found its true height is six inches over 2,000ft (609.75m).

This is exciting stuff for those hill baggers, who get a free mountain thrown into their mountain bag for free! Wales now has 190 mountains, and the Ordnance Survey will now be updating it’s data right away.

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