Last weekend I went to Wales to join my brother on an organised walk with a difference. The Real Ale Ramble is an annual event which attracts thousands of hikers to the heart of the Brecon Beacons for an extra special walking route. The Real Ale Ramble in Llantrwyd Wells is a 10-mile or 25-mile hike with stops at beer stations for a selection of real ales. Part group walk and part beer festival, the Real Ale Amble was a real eye-opener.

Before I was talked into joining the walking route, I couldn’t work out why anyone would pay to join a walk around open access land in return for just a few beers. Most regular walkers would stop for a drink in a pub during or after a long hike anyway. Why stand in a marquee in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of strangers drinking bizarrely named brown liquid?

Having done the Real Ale Ramble I can say that I am one of the converted. Not only did it attract me to an area of outstanding natural beauty that I’d never been before. But it also turned a day hike into a social event – a walk where we all had a common purpose that was fun, friendly and not at all competitive. The event also allowed us to sample some tasty ales and walk around the woods in a lightly inebriated state, which is an trail enhancing experience. The walking routes were well mapped out and sign-posted – it was all fun, safe and entertaining. I’d thoroughly recommend it to walkers and/or beer drinkers.

Most hikers hook up with other people when they go out for a walk. But some prefer to go it alone and head out to the hills in search of solace and solitude. I fall somewhere between the two. I usually hit the hiking trails with my family or friends but every so often I like to stride out on my own. Going solo is great for exercise as you can go at your own pace; it’s also great for covering long distances as you don’t have to stop while group members rest, take photos or change layers. You’re your own man; you can go where you want, when you want.

However, long distance walking alone can be a lonely experience. Without a companion to talk to or share experiences with, you really do feel the sensation of isolation. A lot of people enjoy this freedom and independence, which is why they go it alone in the first place. I too like the solitude of a going solo sometimes. But sometimes I need something to fill the vacuum left by the absence of a hiking companion.

Just recently I’ve taken to carrying an MP3 player on the trail with me. Not only does it fill the void of loneliness, it creates an interesting soundtrack to a walk. Instead of quashing the sensations of back-country walking, good music seems to awaken the senses. I actually seem to notice more with music pumping in my ears – it’s as if the trees, birds, cows, clouds and grass are playing along with the tunes or participating in a live music video. Of course, the choice of music can make or break the atmosphere of a walk but for combating loneliness music is a great tool.

The River Dart Trail is a lovely walking route. As well as being surrounded by the stunning Devon countryside, it’s also quite an educational trip too taking you through various sites of historic interest. The whole walking route is 27 miles in total which you can do several days or you can choose sections to tackle for a day trip. The most popular starting point if you are doing the whole trip is Torbay, finishing up in Dartmouth. The walk itself is moderate to easy, with some gradients to climb, but nothing too difficult.

The River Thames has a whole raft of walking routes. Being a very long river, it’s easy to start on a section anywhere you fancy really. However, if you really had to pick a special spot, Radcot Bridge in the Cotswolds is a good place to hike. Named as one of the most beautiful parts of the upper Thames, it takes you from Radcot, walking upstream to Grafton Lock. There’s plenty of wildlife as well as stunning English countryside. For hikers who like a bit of history, a walking route along the Thames through Abingdon is a must as it takes in Roman ruins and historic buildings along the way.

Another great riverside walking route is a hike along the River Tyne. At 62 miles long, I don’t suggest you walk the entire length of it. I’m not even sure that it’s possible. You can however, walk the 10 miles from Newcastle city centre upstream to Heddon-on-the-Wall. This walk could be more of a cultural hike really as you’ll spend most of the day walking through the city. The regenerated Quayside is interesting to look at as well as the famous Tyne and Millennium Bridges. The biggest plus for me is reaching Heddon-on-the-Wall, which is the starting point of Hadrian’s Wall. By continuing to Chollerford, you start to get more entrenched in Roman history, passing turrets and mile-castles as you walk.

Mick Jagger crooned the following lyrics in the Rolling Stones song Gimme Shelter:
Oh, a storm is threatening
My very life today
If I don’t get some shelter
Oh yeah, Im gonna fade away

The lyrics get even more foreboding in the subsequent verses, so I don’t think he was singing about camping. But if he’s serious about getting some shelter he could do worse than buying a canopy tent…
Still, the Rolling Stones would need a large tent to get all of them in it, plus their entourage of roadies and groupies. In fact, they would need the largest tent that they could find. I propose a yurt. You can find some enormous yurts now which you might even be able to have an intimate concert in. Or maybe a Tipi might be more appropriate. But if they didn’t want to go the whole hog with a Yurt or Tipi, there are some pretty large tents on the market. A family tent may not be suitable but a big expedition style tent might suit their wild, rolling ways.

In the camping world there are few brands as big and well-known as Coleman. Coleman has become a byword for camping reliability and affordability. The company’s quality and quantity of products is awesome, ranging from family camping tents with add on compartments, to lightweight hiking tents, backpacking tents and the versatile dome tent. Coleman tents have funky features like electrical access ports, adjustable ventilation and colour coded pole sleeves for easy set up. Each tent comes with its own Coleman Weathertec™ system which includes weather resistant fabric, protected and leak-proof seams, waterproof floors, zip protection and a wind-strong frame. Amazingly, they have a rain room and a wind tunnel in their factory which can simulate all kinds of weather conditions, like the extremes of a British Summer! Seriously, the tents have very rigorous testing before they are put out on the shelves. Their family camping tents are particularly popular, being spacious with a huge range of tents starting with a basic dome that can sleep five, all the way up to tent ‘cabins’ that have a cooking area, space to sit and read the paper and enough room to sleep six adults. At 100 years of age, this company is still going from strength to strength.

When I think of a camping light I imagine the gas powered lamp that I used to be terrified of lighting thanks to the loud whoomph when the gas caught the flame. It used to take a fair bit of grit not to drop the lantern at that point. Plus there was the fiddly mesh mantle that had a drawstring at the top and bottom which had to be carefully fitted around the burner. After a few burns, they used to crumble at the slightest touch and you’d be back at the beginning again trying to fit the damn mantle again.

The good news is there is now a vast range of camping lanterns to choose from. In these eco-conscious times you can even get wind up lanterns powered by dynamo or solar rechargeable lamps (obviously, you recharge in the day). There are LED camping lanterns, U-tube lanterns, spotlights, gas lanterns (of course), battery powered camping lanterns - the list goes on. So where do you start to look for the camping lantern that will suit you and your needs?

Let’s say, you were heading off on a long camping trip and needed to travel light. Something electric would be the best bet, with a rechargeable option like wind-up or solar powered.

How about heading off with the family? You can take something bigger, heavier and maybe multi-fuel. If you’re not as nervous as me about gas camping lanterns, they burn pretty well and very bright. An ‘area-lantern’ is a good option as it lights up larger spaces; ideal for family camping tents.

After a quick web search, I found out that gas and multi-fuel camping lanterns are still pretty popular, but the rechargeables are storming up from behind as you don’t need to worry about carrying extra batteries or power for them. The infiltration of power-saving light bulbs has also had its effect on the camping lantern market, with a range of products that are battery powered. With the energy saving bulb, the lantern can work for up to eight hours continuously. We really are spoilt for choice now. At the end of the day, it’ll be down to you as an individual to decide what your preference would be.

Camping brands come and go. Some have been with us for decades; others spring up season on season. But who’s who in the world of tents? Which are the most popular tent manufacturers? In the interests of camping knowledge, I take a look at some best known tent manufacturers.

Vango
Vango is 40 years old, although the company behind the brand has been associated with tent making for a century and a half. With the emphasis on comfort, safety and reliability, Vango designers create tents that are built to last. With a series of innovations under its belt, the company still produces quality tents for a variety of uses. Its Force Ten range is built for harsh conditions experienced by mountaineers and winter campers.

Terra Nova

Terra Nova is another great British tent manufacturer famed for tents ‘built for expedition and adventure’. The company aims to extend and improve its range, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in tent design and production. They once famously held the Guinness World Record for the world’s lightest tent – its Lazer Competition which weighed just 890g.

North Face
The North Face is an international brand with an impeccable reputation. As a tent manufacturer, it has produced tents for camping expeditions across the globe. Supported by many extreme athletes, The North Face emphasises quality products for harsh environments.

Coleman
Coleman is at the less technical end of the spectrum of tent manufacturers. Nonetheless it uses quality materials and trusted designs to create great tents for less extreme camping trips – those with family and friends on a campsite as opposed to the side of a mountain.

Gelert
Tent manufacturer Gelert is a relative newcomer on the camping scene. They have emerged with a series of lightweight, simple and easy to pitch tents for the masses. They are aimed at first time campers who want the ease of a pop-up tent, with product lines geared for small families and festival goers.

1. The South Downs Way
This is a great seven day hike through some of southern England’s most beautiful scenery. This ridge of hills between London and the South Coast is steep at times but not overly challenging, so it’s a good trail for novice long distance walkers who have never donned a backpack. Many people put on their waterproof hiking boots to tackle parts of the trails at weekends but the 100-mile walk from Eastbourne to Winchester, or vice versa, is well worth the hike.

2. The South West Coast Path
This is a mammoth trek around the spectacular coastline of South West England. Starting in Minehead in Somerset and ending just short of Poole in Doreset, this 630-mile walk is a serious undertaking that can take up to seven weeks to complete in one go. It is very strenuous in places but the views of cliffs, beaches, harbours and ever-present sea make it an extremely popular trail.

3. The Pennine Way
Britain’s oldest long-distance hiking trail passes through the remote, upland areas of northern England. Crossing the Pennine and Cheviot ranges of hills, the 250-mile trail demands respect ad should only be undertaken by experienced hikers with navigation skills. But the rewards are access to great wilderness areas, historic landmarks and scenery that hasn’t changed for millennia. A good backpack and sturdy waterproof hiking boots are needed for this one.

4. The Great Glenn Way

This is a coast to coast walk in the Scottish Highlands. This is a relatively easy, well-marked trail so it’s a good one for those who have never walked with a backpack before. The 70-mile trail follows the banks of three lochs and the Caledonian Canal in a deep-cut valley between Fort William and Inverness. It rains a lot in this part of Scotland so waterproof hiking boots are essential.

5. Hadrian’s Wall Path
This is another coast-to-coast trail, following the line of one of this country’s most important Roman monuments. It is an 85- mile walk from Wallsend near Newcastle to Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria. While sections through the city suburbs and close to Hadrian’s Wall hill forts are easy, a good backpack, waterproof hiking boots and map reading skills are required for some of the more remote parts of the trail.

I’m lucky enough to have walked in some great places all around the world – France, Morocco, Chile, Canada, USA, New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia, as well as the UK of course. I can truly say that I’ve experienced some of the world’s best walking routes. However, I have never topped out on any serious mountaineering treks. Whether it’s the danger, the expense or lack of time that’s put me off, I’m yet to reach the top of any great mountains.

Whether or not I will ever leave my comfortable walking routes and rise to the challenge of bagging a major peak, I’ve started compiling a list of mountains I’d like to conquer before I die. Some of them might be achievable; others are way out of my league. But a man has to have dreams and when I think of a more hardcore version of myself, there are five major peaks that I would like to climb.

Here is my Mountain Peak Wish List:
Mont Blanc, France
Mt Kilimanjaro, Kenya
Mt Washington, USA
Mt Aconcagua, Argentina
Mt Everest, Nepal

With so much emphasis on point to point walks, circular walks often get overlooked. There’s the Coast to Coast, the Pennine Way and the Offa’s Dyke trails, which are all long distance, linear walks. But I couldn’t – off the top of my head - think of any circular walks of note in this country.

It’s a different story in other countries where circular walks seem to be de rigeur. In the Alps there’s the Tour de Mont Blanc; in the Andes there’s the Torres del Paine circuit; and in the Himalayas is the Annapurna Circuit. But there doesn’t seem to be any great, British, long distance walks that go round in circles. At least there aren’t any famous ones that spring to mind.

I did do a little digging and found a few fantastic, short distance circular walks. But they are all half-day hikes at the most and not great national trails that would inspire multi-day adventures. Surely someone could map together some multi-day circular trails around the Lakes, the Scottish Highlands or Snowdonia National Park.

After a lot of hunting around, I finally found an exciting circular walk - the Isle of Arran Coastal Way. It’s a bit of a cheat because it is a walk around the edge of an island, which is circular by nature. But being in Scotland, the 100km route does take you through some classic mountainous landscapes, as well along forest trails, rugged coastlines and deserted beaches. It’s not famous yet but the novelty of a long-distance circular walk means it deserves to be in the category of great British walks.