Wednesday 24 April 2019
Tuesday 23 April 2019
Monday 22 April 2019
Saturday 13 April 2019
Thursday 11 April 2019
Tuesday 2 April 2019
Monday 1 April 2019
GEAR | Thule Upslope Snowsports Backpack 20L in Lime Punch – Review
What is it?
Thule Upslope Backpack £105.00
Buy it here
Features
- Access gear in the main compartment without removing the backpack through a zipper that coils around the entire pack
- Three ways to access your gear – traditional top load, sling style side access and main compartment access while pack is on your back
- Incredibly comfortable and stable ride from side pockets that wrap around and hug the body
- Easily clip a helmet or additional items to dedicated lash points
- Securely attach skis with diagonal carry or a snowboard with vertical carry
- Fit a variety of ski and board widths with adjustable carry loop that also stows to prevent snagging
- Prevent goggles or sunglasses from getting crushed on the ski lift with quick access side pocket storage
- Stay hydrated and help prevent hose freeze with an insulated hydration sleeve (hydration reservoir sold separately)
- Store a mountain tool in the stowable ice axe loop that can tuck away to prevent snagging
- Prevent gear from shifting inside pack by cinching internal compression
The Verdict
The first thing to say is that Isimply love the colour of this backpack. I can’t stand bland and boring colours and if something comes in acid bright pink, purple or lime, that’s what I’ll choose. For those not quite so keen on the bright colour, the Thule Upslope is also available in dark blue and there are 3 different size packs to choose from.
The smallest, which I tested at 20L, then there’s a 25L and a 35L option too, and it’s also worth noting that the larger backpacks can be used with a Mammut avalanche airbag.
When it comes to boarding I’m strictly one for staying on-piste, so you won’t find me hiking up an inaccessible mountain and snowboarding down a crazy-looking vertical, so whilst the straps on the bag can be used for holding skis or a snowboard, I didn’t use it for that purpose.
I always ride with a backpack on, but usually like to keep my pack small as if it’s too big, sitting on chairlifts can be a pain, so at 20L it’s bigger than I’d usually tuse when snowboarding, but of course thanks to its size, It meant I could fit heaps more stuff in my pack which was useful.
Due to the size of the pack and my style of riding, I only took the Upslope onto the mountain with me on one day, as for a day on the slopes it’s just too big for my needs, but I did use it as my hand luggage whilst traveling and it was ideal.
As I was traveling alone, I also had a huge snowboard bag and a 20kg suitcase to lug around with me, so I really appreciated how spacious and comfort the Upslope was to wear. It has a heavily padded back and thick padded straps and it’s highly adjustable too, and it’s extremely comfortable to wear.
There are straps and clips on the outside of the backpack which allow it to hold skis or a snowboard securely, making it ideal for off-piste adventures and mountain hikes. To wear on the mountain day to day however, I found it too big, and preferred to stick to the much smaller Thule UpTake hydration pack which at 8litres is the ideal size for me to ride with.
What I liked most
- Heavily padded back and straps which make the backpack very comfortable to wear
- Zipped hip pockets for quick easy access and one pocket which contained a clip that was ideal for securing my phone
- Really generous size, making it ideal for regular hiking as well as snowsports
- Two large pouches inside the backpack that were the ideal size to carry my laptop and tablet securely
- I love the colour and styling of this bag and it’s excellent quality
If you’re looking for a great quality backpack for mountain hikes and snowsports, then then Thule Upslope is well worth considering. It’s well padded and very comfortable to wear and is a great size for hardcore off-piste hikes.
Thank you to Thule who supplied the featured product. We were not paid to write this review.
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Thursday 28 March 2019
CAMPING | 6 Easy Tips For Camping On A Tight Budget
When it comes to getting away from it all, a cheap weekend under canvas, especially during the warmer months, can be appealing. Turns out though that camping isn’t always as cheap as you might think, and it can be surprisingly easy for costs to spiral, but with our budget camping tips, they don’t need to!
A typical campsite can cost anything from around £8 per night for a basic grass pitch, up to around £40 a night for a pitch with an electric hookup in the height of the summer. If you’ve got a big tent or an awning, you could well get stung again and have to pay extra. If you’re taking the dog with you, need space to park 2 cars or even if you just want a hot shower, plenty of campsites will all charge extra. Add to this the cost of fuel, the purchase of extra camping supplies like gas for the camp stove and costs can quickly escalate.
So how can you ensure the cheap camping break you’re hoping for, really can be done on a tight budget? We list 5 things that will have a big impact on the overall cost of your camping trip, helping you to keep the cost of your break as low as possible.
1. Save On Pitch Fees
Whilst some love getting back to basics when camping or even wild camping, some families prefer the convenience and facilities that larger holiday parks can provide. Whatever your usual preference, pitching at a holiday park is generally far more expensive than pitching up in a farmers field with minimal facilities, so if you want to bring the cost of camping down, consider your campsite choice carefully.
The trade-off is that low prices can often mean fewer facilities; we’ve even camped at a surprisingly large campsite once that had no facilities at all apart from a stand pipe! Of course if you want to camp even more cheaply, you could give wild camping a try, though do make sure you’ve done your research and have the land owners permission.
You can find inspiration in the book Tiny Campsites by Dixe Wills or if you’re keen to give wild camping a go, check out Wild Camping: Exploring and Sleeping in the Wilds of the UK and Ireland.
2. Don’t Camp In A Tourist Hot Spot
Many campsites will have different prices depending on the time of year. During the high season prices, along with demand will peak. You can keep costs down by avoiding camping in the main season where possible of course, but for many that’s just not practical, especially if you’ve got kids and can only take holidays during peak times. So if you’re tied into camping during the high season, then simple head for less touristy, cheaper destination.
The Lake District for example continues to offer some of the most expensive camping options we’ve come across, whereas we’ve found much more reasonable prices, even in high season, at some lovely little campsites tucked away in rural Wales and in certain parts of the Peak District.
Find out How To Choose The Perfect Campsite.
3. Take Extras With You
Plan carefully what you need to take before you go as this makes it much less likely you;ll forget or run out of any essentials. If you’re staying at a campsite with its own shop, you may find that buying on site will be more expensive.
Things like replacement batteries, gas bottles, logs for a campfire and so on, will all command a premium at most campsite shops, so you can save money by making sure you bring everything you’ll need, including extras with you. Always take extra batteries and an extra gas bottle, even if you think you won’t need them!
4. Plan Food & Drink In Advance
Although dehydrated food pouches can look appealing, they are expensive and buying food from the campsite shop can often be pricey too (although we’ve camped at a few sites that provide some great value local produce), so make sure you’ve planned your meals in advance and take what you need with you to cook your own meals.
Bringing your own soft drinks and booze and cooking your own meals means you avoid the expense of having to eat out all the time and won’t need to pay a premium at the campsite shop. Eating well when camping is surprisingly easy with a bit of planning, and things like omelettes, casseroles, curries and spag bol all make great, easy camping meals.
Check out the Go Outdoors 2018 Camp Cook Book for inspiration.
5. Buy Your Camping Gear Out Of Season
When the weather improves and thoughts turn to camping, it’s all to easy to remember that your trusty old tent that finally failed last year, or that sleeping bag that just wasn’t up to scratch or that you could do with a better lantern/camping chairs/furniture… with so much amazing camping gear to tempt us it can be tough to resist the lure.
Just as the weather starts to improve and campsites begin to get busier though, that’s just when new season camping gear is commanding the higest prices! Don’t be tempted, as from around May to August, you’ll be paying a premium and there will generally be less bargains around, so always buy your camping gear out of season where possible.
6. Borrow Camping Gear
If you don’t camp often, or perhaps if this is your first camping trip, getting all the necessary gear can be costly. As well as buying out of season, to bring the cost down even more, consider borrowing from friends or family.
Most avid campers will have old sleeping bags and even tents they no longer use sitting at the back of their garage, and more generous family members might even be happy to lend you their current camping gear, but you never know unless you ask!
Where to next?
- CAMPING | The Ultimate List Of Camping Tips – 63 Camping Hacks & Tips
- CAMPING | Most Wanted New Tents & Camping Gear For 2019
- CAMPING | Fall In Love With Camping – Tips For People Who Hate Camping!
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Saturday 23 March 2019
CAMPING | Vango Launches New Technical Product Range
Vango, the Scottish manufacturer of outdoor equipment and official suppliers of Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Scout association kit, has just launched its brand new technical range of products for 2019, read on for some of our highlights from the new collection.
After 53 years leading the way in the design and manufacture of outdoor and camping equipment, the new range has been specifically designed to be lightweight, portable and to endure extreme weather conditions and temperatures. Using the latest technology and fabric developments, Vango has cleverly designed kit that will perform with you, whatever your next adventure may be!
Highlights from the new collection include
Vango F10 XPD 3 Tent RRP: £695.00
Having supplied shelter to countless expeditions over the past 50 years, from pioneering Everest trips to Himalaya expeditions, Vango has poured all of their experience and athlete feedback into their latest expedition tent; the F10 XPD.
This 3 person, fully geodesic tent has an inner first pitch and double vestibules with snow skirt at sub 4.5kg weight. The XPD sets the standard for expedition tents and is ideal for those embarking on more extreme adventures.
Find out more about the Vango F10 XPD 3 Tent.
Vango Cuillin 300 Tent RRP: £330
Strong and unwavering like its namesake, the Cuillin 300 sits at the top of Vango’s Trek Pro range and boasts a classic geodesic construction. Incredibly stable and freestanding, Vango’s Cuillin 300 will shelter you from even the roughest elements found in the exposed, rocky landscape of the Cuillin mountain range.
Welded windows on both porches let you assess your environment from the shelter of your tent while the sizeable inner has plenty of head height for a more comfortable expedition, even if you have to sit out a storm.
Find out more about the Vango Cuillin 300 tent.
Vango Heritage Trail Pack RRP: £55
Classic in style with fixed side pockets and a rich Heritage Green colour, Vango’s new Trail pack takes the brand’s illustrious outdoor heritage and channels it into modern aesthetics and functional design.
Crafted from premium fabrics and components, the Heritage range of day bags embodies the quality and craftsmanship from Vango’s Classic A-frame tents that are still going strong 50 years later.
Find out more about the Vango Heritage Trail Pack.
See the full Vango range.
The post CAMPING | Vango Launches New Technical Product Range appeared first on Camping Blog Camping with Style | Active, Outdoors & Glamping Blog.
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Friday 22 March 2019
NEWS | Stargazing Pods Mean You Can Now Go Glamping At Alton Towers
Love the great outdoors but keen for some adrenaline thrills at the same time? The new Stargazing Pods at Alton Towers in Staffordshire could be just what you’re looking for.
Image credit: towerstimes.co.uk
The new Alton Towers Stargazing Pods are located close to the main theme park, located right next to The Enchanted Village. All 102 of the new pods are all are set around a “village green” area that’s just perfect for outdoor play, and of course for a spot of stargazing.
The minimal glamping pods sleeps a maximum of 4 with 1 double bed and 2 single beds inside. This quirky glamping accommodation is in a camping style with the toilet, shower and accessibility facilities all located in a facilities block in the Pod camp.
Image credit: towerstimes.co.uk
The new Alton Towers Stargazing Pods open on 12th April 2019 and cost £61 per person, find out more.
The post NEWS | Stargazing Pods Mean You Can Now Go Glamping At Alton Towers appeared first on Camping Blog Camping with Style | Active, Outdoors & Glamping Blog.
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Wednesday 13 March 2019
GEAR | Adventure Accessories Handmade Brimless Slouchy Beanie & Hiking Mitts
What is it?
Brimless Slouchy Beanie £12.50
Hiking Mitts £10
The verdict
As well as being thoroughly obsessed with backpacks and boots, my other obsession is hats. I’ve got beanie hats in an array of different styles and colours, but I’d been after something a bit more muted compared to my usual preferred bright pink and purple. Great for snowboarding and when out hill walking, not so great for pairing with my work wear though!
I have a good friend who is an extremely talented weaver and knitter and she makes some amazing things. As a knitter myself, who after several years of dabbling, can still only manage straight lines which limits me to pretty much scarves, the skill needed to knit anything with an actual shape completely eludes me, so I have a lot of respect for anyone that can follow a pattern and knit with consistent tension and without dropping stiches!
A few of my friends also crochet and I consider crochet to be some kind of dark art, requiring skills I don’t possess and frankly can’t fathom, so when I came across Adventure Accessories who make handcrafted goodies like beanie hats, hiking mitts and gorgeous campfire lap blankets, I was keen to know more.
My slouchy beanie and hiking mitts arrived a few days ago, just as the early spring weather morphed back into winter and just as I was due to spend a weekend outdoors in Derbyshire.
Since they arrived I’ve worn the beanie hat and mitts to work every day and love them! They are both beautifully well-made and I love the grey colour which goes with pretty much anything. The hiking mitts are great too, they cover quite a lot of my fingers so keep my hands nice and warm whilst still providing a high degree of manual dexterity.
If you’re looking for a gift for a friend or loved one, then the handcrafted collection from Adventure Accessories has some great options including this gorgeous rainbow campfire lap blanket.
You can get 10% off at Adventure Accessories and you can find out more on the Adventure Accessories website.
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Monday 11 March 2019
WELLBEING | Managing Anxiety When Living Outside of Your Comfort Zone
This isn’t an article featuring tips on handling anxiety, more a personal musing on my own anxiety and fair warning too, it’s pretty long, though I hope not too rambling!
Although I’m fairly adventurous I have an exaggerated anxiety response, even to seemingly mild stressors. Things I’m good at, things I enjoy, things I’ve done over and over again, often still fill me with anxiety.
Just over 20 years ago, as well as suffering from depression, I was also diagnosed with Free Floating Anxiety. Rather than the diagnostic labels empowering me, however, I felt like they trapped me.
After a few years of living a much smaller life, I realised I had a choice to make and that diagnoses or not, my mental health was pretty much up to me to take control of and that there were no magic cures (though at that time medication did offer me some relief, but I never saw it as a long-term solution) so that’s when I started on my long journey back to taking control of my mental health and getting off meds for good.
Although I’m now medication-free and largely stable and well, I do still have that extremely exaggerated anxiety response, and sometimes it can overwhelm me.
What Anxiety Is Like for Me
Nerves before doing things that we perceive as stressful are of course normal, but for one reason or another (perhaps by now, the well-worn neural pathways I’ve created over more than 2 decades aren’t helping), I still feel that I have an unusually excessive anxiety response, though my GP has been highly dismissive.
Unable to concentrate, my stomach churning and in knots, shaking, irritable, unable to eat, sleep or even go to the loo – symptoms I’m sure many with anxiety will be able to identify with.
Instead of mild nervous excitement and butterflies, I can find myself feeling wired and jittery as cortisol courses through me. Unable to concentrate, my stomach churning and in knots, shaking, irritable, unable to eat, sleep or even go to the loo – symptoms I’m sure many with anxiety will be able to identify with.
The tricks I learned during CBT combined with meditation help me a little, but only to a point. I’m now able to identify how I’m feeling at least, which can stop me spiralling into a full-on meltdown, but it doesn’t really ease the anxiety and no amount of rationalising or logical self-talk seems to stop that unwelcome jittery cortisol rush and churning sick feeling of dread that for me, can last for days or even weeks on end.
You might think then that knowing I react this way to certain things that I’d attempt to minimise my exposure to the situations I know can make me anxious. Quite the opposite is true though.
I’m not sure I ever truly left behind my teenage rebellious phase, but my natural desire to disrupt and live life in full colour, combined with my stubborn streak compels me towards anxiety-inducing situations like a moth to a flame.
Avoidance As A Coping Mechanism Isn’t For Me
I truly believe that avoidance isn’t a particularly healthy or ultimately rewarding coping mechanism, Indeed I seem to ascribe to a “feel the crippling, gut-wrenching fear but like a massive idiot, go and do it anyway” type of thinking, so I persist in doing things that I know are likely to cause me anxiety, as conquering them feels like a little personal victory, despite the days of hell I go through beforehand.
It feels like I’m wresting back control, telling my brain to shut up, confirming to myself that if I want to do something, I jolly well will, regardless of the anxiety it will inevitably cause me. I seem to actively seek out situations that cause me to feel this way, like some kind of twisted masochist.
Is this constant battle a ‘healthy’ way of handling anxiety? Is it good for helping me build confidence that will hopefully lead to less anxiety in the future? That I really don’t know, but the other option of not doing stuff because my anxiety tells me not to doesn’t really feel like an option at all to me.
I don’t want fear to hold me back, I want my life to be as big and rich as possible and for that to happen, instead of retreating and waving a white flag, I simply have to face my anxiety head on.
Our Comfort Zones Are All Very Different
Take for example when I started this blog almost 5 years ago, and I made a pledge to say “yes” to things my anxiety repeatedly tells me to say a big resounding “no” to, which has lead to me being in countless situations that have left me with insomnia, feeling sick, physically shaking, unable to think straight and with horrendous IBS flares.
I know a diverse range of people and am lucky to have a large group of friends. Some of whom also suffer from anxiety and other related disorders. Some are medicated, some are not. Some grab it by the horns and do the scary things anyway, others don’t and instead let the anxiety stop them living the lives they want to live.
Nerves and apprehension, of course, are normal and natural, a physical and psychological response to something perceived as a stressor. So now, rather than running through endless worst-case scenarios and dwelling on them, I try not to look at things in terms of success or failure.
I’m OK with simply ‘doing’ and I try not to focus on the potential outcomes. I’ve stopped running endless nightmare scenarios through my head and now reason with an internal shrug that whatever I’m facing “It’ll be fine” and I often think about “what’s the worst that can happen?” too, which can have an instantly calming effect when I realise actually, it’s really no big deal and this kind of rationalisation really does help.
Instead of trying to totally ignore the thoughts that cause my anxiety to spike, I sit with them and to some extent accept that I feel that way.
This acceptance seems to rob the anxious thoughts of their potency and I can sometimes let the anxious ‘what if’ scenarios float away from me. My forthcoming solo snowboarding holiday is making me feel anxious in a way that’s threatening to engulf the usual pre-holiday excitement I usually feel though and that’s because my usual “what’s the worst that can happen?” way of thinking is actually making things worse rather than better.
What’s The Worst That Can Happen?
If you’re anxious about say a job interview, when you apply that logical reasoning to the situation the answer is “I might not get the job” or “I might say something stupid”, neither of which are likely to have any lasting impact other than you feeling a bit frustrated, or a bit stupid for a while. But given my previous experience of being in the mountains and having had medical emergencies, “what’s the worst that can happen?” takes on a far scarier life of its own.
I’m lucky to be part of a wonderful community of outdoor bloggers; some like strolling around and exploring cities and parks, some are triathletes or run marathons, some like long distance hikes and some are full-on adventure fiends, taking part in jungle expeditions and even scaling the heights of some serious mountains like Kathmandu.
As someone who camps, does a bit of walking, kayaking, snowboarding and likes the odd adrenaline rush, imposter syndrome can often be strong when I compare myself to those I regard as hardcore adventurers. But then I have other friends who think I’m crazy/brave/stupid for doing some of the things that I do, and would never consider doing anything like that themselves.
There’s an Art to Not Letting Fear Hold You Back
This leads me to my forthcoming solo snowboarding holiday and how it’s very much taking me out of my comfort zone.
Now in my early forties, I’ve been snowboarding since my mid-twenties and have snowboarded in places like Morzine, La Thuille, Cervinia, Sestriere, Fernie and my favourite, Whistler in Canada.
I’m actually a pretty decent snowboarder, just not great. I still get flummoxed by dreaded flat bits and still occasionally get off chair lifts and fall into a heap. Despite this, I’m proficient on black runs and even breaking my back snowboarding a few years ago hasn’t put me off, though it has slowed me down a little.
I’ve been overseas to places like Morocco, Egypt and to Europe on my own, and I’ve also frequently spent time in places like Scotland and Cornwall alone, but snowboarding on my own is totally new and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hugely apprehensive about it.
I’m not one to take risks in the mountains, but despite this, I’ve found myself in a few sticky situations where I was hugely grateful not to be on my own at the time.
Despite my best efforts I’m not brilliant at mountain navigation, which is one of the reasons why in the past I’ve tended to return multiple times to the same ski resorts as I’ve got to know the mountains there, Whistler in Canada for example I know extremely well, and know all my favourite runs, which other runs lead off them, which chair lifts to get back up and so on.
Flow is that lovely, often elusive state you can find yourself in when doing something completely absorbing and/or pleasurable.
I’ve pondered over why my mountain navigation skills aren’t great and believe the reason in part at least, is that when I’m snowboarding I’m experiencing that wonderful feeling of flow.
Flow is that lovely, often elusive state you can find yourself in when doing something completely absorbing and/or pleasurable. We are immersed there in the present moment, fully enjoying it without any of the usual thoughts and worries of a busy mind that can so easily distract us.
When I’m in this state, totally absorbed by the physicality of snowboarding, the sheer joy of being in the mountains, it’s like part of my conscious brain switches off, I’m on a high, and having to engage my logical brain to figure out what to do when I suddenly find the run I’m on is about to split into 3 and I can’t see any clear signs or piste markers, isn’t something I’m great at.
The Reassuring Safety Net Of Other People & The Role of Our Peer Group
In a group, this isn’t an issue. There’s always one of us that knows where we’re going, or someone to reassure me that yes, this is the ‘right’ way down, but the realisation that mountain navigation will be just down to me this time fills me with an anxiety I can’t seem to shake, and despite my best efforts I seem to be fixating on the fear of taking a wrong turn and getting myself in a pickle.
When I mentioned this in a Facebook post, a friend pointed out that as long as I head down the slope, it’s all good. Of course, thinking purely logically that’s absolutely true, but framed within some of the sketchy experiences I’ve had, it’s not quite as simple as that.
Snowboarding in Cervinia once with my sister and best friend, about 2/3 of the way down the mountain we suddenly came to an abrupt stop in front of 2 huge signs as the run split into 2. In one direction there was a big red sign that said “CLOSED” in the other direction a big red sign said “DANGER”. We stood baffled, totally alone on the run, trying to work out what the hell to do.
There were no chair lifts in sight, from the piste map we couldn’t work out where we were and taking off our boards and walking back up a slope we’d already spent a good 20 minutes boarding down wasn’t an option. We decided “CLOSED” was our best bet and took off our boards and spent nearly an hour walking down the closed almost snowless piste to reach the bottom.
Another time whilst snowboarding in the most insane powder I’ve ever come across in Sestriere in Italy, we were in full white-out conditions. The kind of conditions that are totally and utterly disorientating.
I veered very slightly off piste on the way down (without realising as I couldn’t see), and found myself, just a metre or 2 away from the marked piste but unable to move, up to my waist in snow. It was frankly terrifying, but thankfully my daughter who was boarding close behind me came to a stop on the edge of the piste, took off her board and edged her way towards me. Lying flat and reaching out to help me dig and compact snow around me so I could heave myself out, It took us a good 20 minutes of hard work to get me out and we were both shattered by the end of it.
Add to this a broken back and breaking several ribs multiple times whilst boarding and having to be stretchered off the mountain, a huge fear of drag lifts as with my back injury they are seriously painful for me to use, and I guess it’s understandable why I might be a little anxious about snowboarding alone on a mountain I don’t know in a country where I can only cobble together enough of the language to buy a meal in a restaurant.
Before booking, I asked fellow outdoors bloggers whether they thought snowboarding alone was dangerous or not, and the general consensus was no, as long as I was careful to go for it. It was interesting however when I asked close friends and family the same question, most of their responses were the exact opposite, telling me they thought I was crazy to do it alone.
Although snowboarding is fun, the mountains aren’t always friendly places. Finding yourself alone in bad weather with low visibility on a sketchy slope with daylight fading is a seriously sobering experience, one that requires you to swallow down fear, think logically and focus on getting yourself off the hill as quickly and as safely as possible.
Despite my fears, this will come as no great surprise, I went ahead and booked anyway. After missing the last 3 seasons in a row and with me not getting any younger, I was determined that no matter what, even if I ended up having to go alone, that I wouldn’t miss a fourth season.
I did a lot of research before choosing my accommodation and the location. I opted for a chalet reasoning that if something did happen to me, the chalet hosts and other guests would recognise my absence much faster than a hotel would.
To try and ease the anxiety I’ve told myself I only need to stick to some gentle runs low down the mountain, and that once I get to know a few runs, I’ll be fine.
Even so, I’ve genuinely never been this nervous about going away alone before, and with still over a week to go, the physical feelings that my anxiety is causing are pronounced and frankly exhausting.
I just keep thinking about finishing my very first run, the joyful rush of adrenaline mixed with relief, which is when I’m hoping all this anxiety will finally melt away and leave me alone so I can relax and enjoy the experience.
How Do You Handle Anxiety?
I’d love to know how you handle self-doubt and anxiety.
How do you feel about solo travel, have you ever done it, or would you do it given the chance? If not, why not? Would you ski or snowboard alone, or have you done it in the past? Perhaps you never seem to worry about anything much or you experience anxiety in a markedly different way? Leave a comment below!
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Sunday 10 March 2019
WALKS | Ever Fancied A Selfie With An Alpaca? Head To Charnwood Forest Alpacas!
My daughter is animal mad, so for Christmas last year I bought her a 90 minute Alpaca walking experience at Charnwood Forest Alpacas in Derbyshire. An hour and a half from home, I thought it would make a great day out for us, so opted for an experience for the 2 of us, which we went on yesterday.
Where did we go?
Charnwood Forest Alpacas
Scamhazel Farm
Ashby Road, Boundary
DE11 7BA
pukkapacas.com
With cold and rainy weather all week we both made sure we were suitably dressed, lots of warm layers, walking boots, waterproofs the lot. Whilst the weather stayed dry, it was very cold so we were glad we were prepared!
The centre was easy to find (though we did zoom past it initially thanks to my SatNav) and by 12:50 we’d arrived in the car park ready for our 1pm booking.
The Alpaca centre itself is set within the grounds of a working farm and it was lovely to see chickens wandering around, as well as a field of exotic looking pigs. On-site there are an incredible 160 alpacas and the 90 minute experience started with a briefing and a demo Alpaca was bought in as we learned about their beautiful fleeces, their natural habitat in Peru as well as how to safely handle them whilst out walking with them.
We were delighted to learn that we’d be taking out the ‘babies’, Alpacas born early last Autumn and before being taken to their holding pens. Lined up, we were each handed an Alpaca in turn. My daughter received a brown Alpaca called Chalk and Cheese and I was handed a white Alpaca called Snow in Summer.
As we set off for our walk, it was adorable to see them preferring to be close to one another, with some jostling for position and wanting to lead whilst others hung back preferring to head up the rear. The size of the group was spot on, about 12 of us in total, and as we walked our friendly, knowledgeable guide kept a watchful eye to ensure everyone was comfortable and happy leading their Alpaca.
The mud wasn’t too bad and the rain stayed away for the length of the walk, and about half way through we got a great opportunity to stop, take photos and even feed the Alpacas with food pellets we’d purchased at the shop on arrival.
After the walk, it was time to hand back our Alpacas and despite the next group being handed out their Alpacas to walk with, we didn’t feel at all rushed and were invited to hang around to pet the Alpacas in other pens.
After the walk we headed to the cafe for a bite to eat (the chocolate orange cheesecake was particularly good) before heading back to the car.
It was a great day out, and something that bit different and for anyone that loves Alpacas or just loves animals in general, a Charnwood Forest Alpaca walk is an experience I would thoroughly recommend! A 90 minute Alpaca experience costs £35pp.
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