4 greatest peaks to climb, ramble and hike

A UK hiking holiday could encompass climbing the highest peaks of all four countries in the United Kingdom, giving you an overall view of the area, and a knowledge of the geography and environment in each region. All four countries are popular destinations for holiday-makers interested in hiking and the outdoors, and reaching their peaks is well worth the effort.

Reaching the UK's Highest Peak in Scotland

Ben Nevis is the highest peak both in Scotland and in the UK, with its highest point being 1344m. Of the eight UK peaks over 1200m, this mountain range is home to three, with Ben Nevis' neighbours, Aonach Mor and Aonach Beag both falling into this group. This makes the whole region great for a UK hiking holiday, with beautiful mountain ranges covering the area.

Home to the longest and steepest hill in the whole of the UK, Ben Nevis' western and southern flanks rise about 1200m in 2km. This makes for challenging United Kingdom hiking, if you attempt to ascend the mountain from this angle. The northern side of Ben Nevis sees cliffs dropping 600m, to a corrie containing the Charles Inglis Memorial Hut, a private hut often used as a base for many of the climbing routes.

This igneous mountain range is probably the best place in Scotland if it's a walking holiday in the UK you're after, with beautiful scenery as well as challenging peaks for those looking for a more active holiday.

Welsh Walking

Wales is an enchanting area for a UK walking holiday, with many interesting birds and plants populating the country. Wales' highest peak, Snowdon, is 1085m high, and is known for being one of the most beautiful mountains in the world. Shaped like a starfish, Snowdon has six ridges, each with their own characteristics and geological build.

The mountain boasts some of the most spectacular views you will see on your United Kingdom hiking experience, with a number of different scenery types. If you're willing to engage in some complicated scrambling, you have the opportunity to see glaciated valleys high up near Snowdon's peak. When standing on the actual summit, you will see ancient fossils, and interesting volcanic rock formations can be found all over the mountain.

Your UK hiking holiday will be even better, with a number of rare species of flowers and insects being found in this region. One of the most fascinating plants is the insectivorous Sundew, which traps its prey on sticky droplets before devouring them. The beautiful and rare yellow four-petalled Tormentil can also be found here, and ravens and white-bottomed wheatears soar through the skies.

Scaling Scafell Pike

England's highest peak is Scafell Pike, being 978m tall. It is situated in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, an area known for being one of the best UK walking holiday destinations. Being in such a beautiful destination, this mountain can only be great for United Kingdom hiking.

It is a very popular hiking destination on weekends, with a relatively easy route available from Wasdale Head. For a more taxing hike with exceptional scenery, the route from Seathwaite Farm is know for its beauty, and is one of the best trails for United Kingdom hiking.

Northern Ireland's Mourne Mountains

The Mourne Mountain range is home to Northern Ireland's highest peak, Slieve Donard (849m). Situated in the southeastern region of Northern Ireland, this is among the most famous mountains in the country, and an ideal place for a UK hiking holiday.

The Mournes consist of 35km of dry-stone wall, crossing a total of fifteen summits. The area is scenically very beautiful, and heather, bog cotton, harebell, heath spotted orchids and Marsh St John's wort are all found in the area. Sheep graze high in the mountain tops, and ravens, buzzards and peregrine falcons patrol the skies. With so much wildlife in the area, it is the perfect place for United Kingdom hiking.

Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing for Ramblers Countrywide Holidays. They are dedicated to providing the very finest United Kingdom hiking holidays at the best value prices.

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How to pack a rucksack for hiking and rambling

10 top Day Hiking Essentials - how to pack a rucksack

Taking a day hike on your own or with the kids can be great fun for everyone. Nothing beats getting out into the wilderness to soak up all that nature has to offer. Whether you spend the entire day in scenic splendour or just a few hours in the woods, be sure you know what to put in your backpack for a safe hike.

If you don't know how to pack a backpack for a day hike, try carrying these basic items that prevent disaster when the weather turns ugly or a trail mishap occurs. It's always best to prepare for the worst and take simple precautions for a safe outing every time.

Top 10 Day Hiking Essentials:

Backpack Choice - It may seem obvious, but choosing the right backpack for the day can make or break your trip. A comfortable pack hugs your back, feels light and does not become a distraction or a reason for a foul mood. Size also matters. A daypack that is too small cannot carry the essential items needed and a pack too big becomes an annoyance.

Water Supply - Even if you don't drink much or have access to water, always take your own supply. Never rely on other sources. Make sure everyone stays hydrated and keep tabs on who's running low. Start off with a 2 or 3 liter bladder and drink it down during the trip.

First Aid Kit - For scrapes, bites and bleeding, a small first aid kit with the basic supplies prevents a minor incident from turning into a major hassle. Either purchase an emergency kit (e.g. Ouch Pouch) or make up your own kit with band-aids, ointments, sterile pads and fever and headache medicines.

Headlamp or Flashlight - Always carry a light source, even in broad daylight. When a hike takes longer than you think or dark clouds appear overhead, that's when you really need a flashlight to get back safe. A headlamp is easy to use and keeps your hands free to help out kids or read a map.

Sunscreen - A few hours on the trail under a hot sun and your skin begins to turn red before you realize it. Apply sunscreen before your hike and make sure kids are well greased up too.

Hand Sanitizer - Things get dirty on the trail, so keep it clean with a good hand sanitizer for added protection when eating or after using the toilet. This also allows you to save your water for drinking.

Cell Phone - Going hiking is a chance to leave technology behind, but a cell phone is too valuable for emergencies and for keeping people informed of late arrivals. Even if you're not sure to get a signal, take it just in case.

Snack Food - Packing snacks and energy bars keeps your body churning for a long day on the trail. It's a good idea to carry extra food for yourself and others in case you get lost or hunker down to wait out bad weather.

Map and Compass - Take a map of the area or specific trail to avoid losing your way or spending hours on the wrong trail. Even a highway map is better than none at all. A compass helps you find the basic directions - north, south, east, west - to follow if the trail gets confusing.

Rain Jacket - Clear skies turn into dark monsters in a minute. There are several good reasons to pack rain gear, including keeping dry, staying warm and using it as an emergency shelter.

One more extra essential:

Dry Shirt - A wet or sweaty shirt is very uncomfortable and very cold in windy and rainy conditions, especially for kids. A bit of extra weight, pack a dry shirt to keep your upper body warm and out of the chill zone.

For More Backpacking Basics and Tips:

Discover more information on how to pack a backpack for overnight hiking, overseas travel and other outdoor adventures at http://www.best-backpack-guide.com, the premier site for backpack reviews and research.

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How to set adventures in Alsace

How and why Families hike in Alsace

The Alsace is a region with half-timbered houses, gabled roofs and chimneys. Its majestic forests and peaceful lakes are favorite spots for the hiker and the mountain-bike rider. France rentals are very popular in the Alsace region. The culture and heritage of the region can be seen in its food, clothing and products prepared by the local craftsmen.

The largest city of the Alsace region is Strasbourg, the region borders with Germany and Switzerland, there are very many German influences here and is on the eastern border of France on the west bank of the upper Rhine.

The castles offer a spectacular view across the Alsatian plain and the Vosges. These castles offer a great view on the hilltops over the vineyards and the Black Forest. Some castles are important due to their strategic location that controls the routes running between Alsace and Lorraine.

A large number of events are held in castles throughout the year. Exploring these castles gives the tourist a great experience of life in the centuries gone by. There is a lot of Roman history in the Alsace region as they occupied this region. Visitors can enjoy the waterways and outstanding sites here. The memorial sites can be visited by the tourists so as to see the architecture of the monuments and learn about its history.

The museums in the towns are the center for the collection of arts and culture where one can see the history of Alsace. The wine centers and vineyards of the region are favorites of the wine loving tourists. There are specific grapes grown in this region which result in different wines being made that are then enjoyed by the visitors. The tourists can enjoy the food of the region during their holiday trip and sip the region specific wines.

The activity holidays of the region are very entertaining and liked by visitors of all ages. The hiking & rambling in the mountains add thrill and adventure among visitors.

The horse riding can be enjoyed after taking lessons from the instructor and in some cases the instructor can accompany the rider. The cycle touring and mountain biking are liked by the people while exploring the region by themselves. The winter sports including skiing are specially organized for the tourists. The airborne sports like bungee jumping, paragliding are offered by different activity centers. The adventure parks are specially liked by the kids as they can play different games and entertain themselves there.

The wildlife parks can be walked around by the family so as a way of getting to know about the wild life of the region. The spa and fitness centers in the region help the tensed out individuals to get relieved from the hustle and bustle of the daily life. The casinos and cabarets are hot spots for the people who love gambling and dancing.

Families and couples come to the Alsace region of France to rent self catering accommodation and use it as a base to explore this beautiful region, its food, culture and historic sites.

Andrew Gibson is M.D of Compareaway.com. France gites are popular with families staying in self catering holiday gites in Alsace. They also have a great selection of self catering apartments to rent in Alsace as holiday rentals.

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Fawn filmed while hiking Thunder Ridge Nature Trail at Lake Perry

The journey - nature trail hiking

Do you like to hike through beautiful and pristine countryside? Who doesn't, right? But as soon as the thought comes to mind, we immediately dismiss it. Who has the time? Northwest Florida is known for its abundant nature preserves, state forests, canoeing, and yes, hiking trails. However, one of the newer trails often overlooked is the Garcon Point Nature Trail. Many local people have never even heard of it. The trail consists of two legs that are short enough to easily cover in just a couple of hours. Perfect for the weekend adventurer who just doesn't have the time for a day long outing. While this trail may be short, don't underestimate its ability to pack a punch!

The Garcon Point Trail is located south of Milton, in Santa Rosa County Florida. To get there, head south on Avalon Boulevard. About a mile before reaching the Garcon Point Toll Booth, you'll see the sign on the left hand side of the highway. You'll find a small parking lot and information booth. You can take a look at the large map of the trail at the booth, and also pick up a brochure. As I said before, there are two legs of this trail. You start out on the main trail on a mainly eastern heading. The first leg branches off to the north, and is actually a spur. This leg is approximately 1.5 miles and leads to the North Trailhead. If you decide not to take the spur, you'll follow a loop of about 1.2 miles that brings you back to where you started, at the South Trailhead.

My daughter and I hiked the loop last year. She was 6 at the time and I try to get her as excited about nature, hiking, and camping as I am. I chose the smaller leg of the trail since I had to take into consideration my daughter's age. Immediately, I discovered one of the most exciting benefits of this trail - it really is a "trail" in the truest sense of the word. Forget about finding a well worn path. The trail is often slightly overgrown in parts. But, not to worry, tree markers ensure you know where you're going.

We began our hike rambling through large and beautiful oaks and pines. Soon, this scenery gave way to shrub trees and brush. About a half mile or so into it, we wandered into a panorama deserving of a National Geographic cover. Before us, spreading outward all the way to Blackwater Bay, was the most breathtaking prairie and wetlands. Technically, this area is referred to as a wet prairie system. It was a wonderful view of untouched earth. One could easily imagine that they had traveled back in time to an era before modern men had etched their mark on the land.

Scattered across this scene were numerous pitcher plants, and other flora. The atmosphere was hushed; perhaps any wildlife heard our coming. I'm sure of this. While we didn't see much in the way of animal life, bird watchers take note! There were numerous species of birds flitting about, tending to their daily life, singing their songs. If you were to take away from this setting just one word, I would describe it as: Peace!

Our journey finished, my daughter and I climbed back into the car and headed back to the hubbub of daily life, taking with us the memories of a short adventure into another time and place. Sometimes, that's all it takes to refresh yourself and come home with a rejuvenated sense of our planet. I highly recommend taking an hour or two out of your busy schedule to visit the Garcon Point Trail. Just remember, leave nothing behind but your footprints!

J.C. Haynes is a camping and hiking enthusiast in Northwest Florida. Find out more at http://www.themodernexplorer.net

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