Latest Trail

is it worth reading?

Latest Posts | New Discussions | Hot Threads | Forum Topics
Help | Settings | Followed Threads
reply
1 to 20 of 310 messages
Page:
Lloyd Bower
12/06/2002 at 13:00
Not ventured to the newsagents yet, but I guess the latest Trail should be out now.

After buying the last edition and being dissapointed again, I said it would be my last. But is the latest edition worth getting?
Big Kev
12/06/2002 at 13:57
There's an interesting article on Mountain Rescue, a bit about scrambling and a "guide" to Schiehallion. All of which you could easily read without leaving the shop. To summarise, no, it's not. As a current subscriber, I live in hope that things may yet improve.

Trouble no one about their religion;

respect others in their view and demand that they respect yours.

~Chief Tecumseh~

chris. r....
12/06/2002 at 13:57
it is never worth buying and i have loads of them..
Hedgehope Aztec
12/06/2002 at 16:21
TGO seemed better. The Trail 'scrambing guide' was crap, much more info on this site.
Orange Alex Ford
12/06/2002 at 17:45
I found this months Trail a really good read when relaxing in the bath. (Something that you can't do with a Web-site).

It's worth a buy this month IMO.
joan collins
12/06/2002 at 18:41
I agree with Kev, as usual it's one to read in the shop. There was an unusually informative piece on South Korea, which would be worth buying it for if you were headed in that direction.

Otherwise the usual fluff and filler combined with potentially dangerous inaccuracy - according to Trail, cycling-style climbing helmets are not as strong as the full type, carrying a rope ensures safety and rock provides better grip on warm days. Given the inexperience of many readers, they really ought to leave scrambling alone or get their articles checked by someone who knows what they're doing.

The Routes section looks good as usual. I have a stack of old Trails and keep meaning to try one of their suggestions. Has anyone done any of Trail's routes? Is the information given as helpful as it looks?
Orange Alex Ford
12/06/2002 at 19:59
I have done ONE of Trails routes...ages ago in the Lake district around High Street and Harter Fell. It wasn't bad, in fact it was a good trip out. The route was fairly straight forward and easy to follow without the directions in the mag. But it was still a good day.

I thought the South Korea piece was very good and the article on SAR brilliant. I'd like to think that the scrambling article was more of an inspiration than a definitive guide.
Dave Moseley
12/06/2002 at 20:44
did it say that "carrying a rope ensures safety"?, interesting thought, bit like a lucky charm then?, you don't have to know what you're doing with it, or use it even, just carry it!, now it all becomes clear!!!, I do think they try, but as with a lot of the magazines, I think they re-hash a lot of stuff to fill each issue, I've tried some of the routes but to be honest, I think they're good for the first time you visit an area etc, but at £2.40 an issue (or thereabouts......... haven't bought it for a while) it might be better to go buy a book
Tim Potts
12/06/2002 at 21:36
I've always enjoyed reading Trail and although I don't go out specifically to buy it, in the past six months I think I have ended up buying every issue. I don't consider £2.40 to be too expensive for a couple of hours entertainment and I certainly don't get the ripped off feeling I used to get when I bought mountain bike mags. If it does start to repeat itself though I will probably look elsewhere. Is TGO any better since it's relaunch?

I have done a couple of the routes, the Cumbria two dayer from the feb issue was great. Alston-Cross Fell-Alston with an overnight at Greg's Hut on the Pennine Way although I ended up bivvying on a ridge on the side of the fell as the bothy was jammed. A group of us from work did the Upper Coquetdale route that they printed a while back and had a good day of it. As has been pointed out the information given is handy for a first visit to an area, overall I find the routes work well as inspiration to visit and get to know new places.
Drew
12/06/2002 at 22:49
I bought it, and I reckon it is worth it, but they could do with putting ni some new stuff. It is kind of like a poor pub. get the undrunk stuff and put it back in the barrel, when it comes out hope no-one notices.

I quite like it tho. It can sometimes be a break from the norm. Bit like Sandy climbing his way to freedom!
neil rich
13/06/2002 at 08:11
used to buy it but not anymore
I found with the routes that they would mention points that didn't appear on the sketch maps and vice versa, annoying if you didn't have the OS map for the area
Hedgehope Aztec
13/06/2002 at 09:44
It's actually £2.95 I also notice that they are going to produce a CD-ROM of 200 of the best routes, for wait for it.. FORTY QUID! Now at 3 pounds for a magazine I would expect that sort of CD to come free with the magazine. I've done a couple of the routes and they're fine, especially if you've not been to the area before. Mind route 14 in this month's edition has a deliberate mistake, anyone spotted it?

The Korean piece was good and I also enjoyed the 'Chopper Squad' article. However 'How to lift a rucksack', 'Base layer basics'? Perhaps more suited to the Ladybird book of walking?

I always like the letters page. This month's high is the guy who put grid references into his GPS down to a thousands of an inch, now that's what I call accuracy! Talking of the OSGB British Grid, how come the sheet letters for all of the routes are 'GR' where's that then? :-)
Ninja Marmot
13/06/2002 at 17:01
Yeah, Mikey. I won't be paying £40 for a CD-ROM full of routes from Dorset etc...they would have more luck with area-specific ones.

Still like go4awalk.com for routes. They make a good starting point for your own adaptations and have good suggestions in new areas. And it ain't £40!!!
Orange Alex Ford
13/06/2002 at 17:36
Yeah the price for the CD Rom was rather, erm, hidden wasn't it!
Drew
13/06/2002 at 23:10
What's the mistake with walk 14 then?
Lloyd Bower
14/06/2002 at 20:11
I've done a few of their routes over the years. They're particularly good as an introduction and for ideas for areas you haven't visited before.

Overall though I think the quality of the mag is not what it was and though I continued to purchase it until recently I tended to spend less time reading it.

I think it's moved to a different area of the market. I had quick browse through the latest in Smiths today but decided not to bother.

The 40 quid CD with 200 routes is certainly a ripoff.
Orange Alex Ford
14/06/2002 at 20:23
Yes I think you are right Lloyd...But what's left in the sector that it has moved out from...?
Lloyd Bower
14/06/2002 at 20:41
True Alex there's little else on the market, despite its recent re-image I didn't see too much in TGO either.

As mentioned elsewhere Adventure Travel is usually worth a read, but by its nature it doesn't really cover the home market.

Still I'll go without, its not a great problem as I now get alot more info from the net and particularly this site.
Orange Alex Ford
14/06/2002 at 20:46
But as it says on the Virtual MAg Rack...you can't read a web site on the train or in the bath!
Ben Hedley
14/06/2002 at 23:04
cant read trail in the bath anyway, the pages turn to pulp even in light rain.


i tell ya, magazines these days, pah

only really buy mbr now...and that only for all the shiney bits. read the rest in smiths
1 to 20 of 310 messages
Page:
Forum Jump  
Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Shopping

Most popular

Competitions

View all competitions
Sign up to our twitter feed

Promotions

View all promotions