Source Widepac hydration bladders, easy to use and easy to clean!

gr8trails have used a variety of Source hydration bladders whilst guiding, believing Source to be the most affordable and easiest to use bladder reservoirs available.

Offered in a variety of sizes, 1.5l, 2l & 3l, Source Widepac hydration bladders can be used in packs available across the UK market, whether that be hillwalking packs, daysacks or lightweight action packs.

The Widepac version offers the enhanced benefit of an easy fill, wide top opening and slide closure. This opening makes it very easy to empty, fill, clean and dry, and yet has an airtight seal when the bladder top is sealed, by use of the simple slider. Remove the slider, drain the contents and leave to dry stood open, upside down, very simple too!

 The almost glass like appearance of the bladder is also a unique self cleaning design feature, preventing the build up of any biofilm. Furthermore, the liner technology has an anti microbial grunge guard treatment to block the growth of bacteria, with no plastic after taste found in some bladders.

The same anti microbial technology is used in the durable tube that connects the reservoir to the mouthpiece. This has a lock off valve at the base of the reservoir, very convenient when you may not wish to remove the tube from your pack, simply release, refill and reconnect….with no leakage! Much better than other systems available with similar technology, which may leak whilst in your pack.

As well as having the expected bite valve mechanism, the mouthpiece also features a twist ‘on and off’. Again, better than some alternatives, preventing the valve from being accidentally opened whilst in the back of a well packed car perhaps!

Source offer a broader range of hydration reservoirs and accessories to suit any budget, available at our preferred retail partner Ellis Brigham, Mountain Sports stores.

Enjoy your walk or ride! Don’t forget the rest of your essentials on our recommended kit list.

gr8trails supports Plush Hill Cycles, Church Stretton.

Plush Hill Cycles celebrated its first full year of trading earlier this summer. The gr8trails team joins up to give its support and promote mountain biking in Church Stretton and across the UK.

‘Plush’ is a combination of enthusiasm and mountain biking experience from around the world. A shop that is dedicated to all that is biking. Big on service, Al & Kate ask you to visit, chill out, have a brew, whilst watching the Tour on the big TV or flick through some bike mags, whilst sharing stories of trails ridden.

Now in its second year, Al & Kate offer a wide choice of well known brands; commencal, genesis, norco, yeti, ridgeback, Saracen, ragley, ghost, sram, blackburn, giro, fox, shimano, avid, troy lee designs, park tool, Madison & continental to name a few. As well as fixing and upgrading your bike, they offer a bike demo and hire service too.

In partnership with plushhillcycles, gr8trails can offer guided mountain biking around the Church Stretton and Long Mynd area. As well as guided mountain biking and walking in North Wales and around the UK.

gr8trails founders, Rick and Adrian are passionate about the outdoors, with over 10 years of successful group guiding in the UK. Wishing to bring ‘adventure to everyone’, no matter what your age, experience or ability. 

Your gr8trails experience includes food and accommodation, transport during your short break, fully organized and guided activities, all tailor made to your own requirements.

Whatever your inspiration, your ability or experience, contact gr8trails to tailor make your perfect break.

Plushhillcycles is based in Church Stretton, 1 hours drive from Birmingham, 1hr45mins from Nottingham & under 3 hours from London. Church Stretton is also on the main Manchester to Cardiff line, within 2hrs of Manchester and 3hrs of London.

On behalf of gr8trails and plushhillcycles we look forward to welcoming you to the stunning Long Mynd area.

Gregory packs, Meindl footwear and Source hydration join up to support gr8trails.

Using innovative products such as Gore-Tex, Vibram and Memory Foam. Meindl have been producing quality handmade, durable, comfortable and award winning walking boots, hiking boots and shoes for over 300 years, from their factory in Bavaria, Germany. This shoemaking tradition is now in its 11th generation, managed by Lars and Lukas Meindl, who continue Meindl’s promise to produce high quality footwear. Every pair of boots are hand crafted, so we know you will feel the difference as soon as you try on a pair of Meindl boots.

Wayne Gregory designed his first backpack in 1977 to provide comfort and stability. This philosophy still holds true today. Gregory is committed to making the most comfortable outdoor backpacks available and know that a properly fitting pack will carry weight better, be more comfortable and improve performance whilst out on the trail. Designed to fit different back lengths and torso shapes, Gregory Backpacks are dedicated to offer superior comfort, fit and stability across their whole backpack range.

Source’s unique technology represents a quantum leap in hydration systems. Their care free antimicrobial hydration products provide a clean, healthy and easily accessible solution for clean water on the move.

Also, Source’s handcrafted adventure sandals achieve the perfect balance between comfort and performance. The innovative combination of patented technologies provide unmatched performance and durability.

In partnership with Gregory packs, Source hydration and Meindl footwear, gr8trails can offer guided mountain biking, walking and other activities in various parts of the UK.

gr8trails founders, Rick and Adrian are passionate about the outdoors, with over 10 years of successful group guiding in the UK. Wishing to bring ‘adventure to everyone’, no matter what your age, experience or ability. Your gr8trails experience includes food and accommodation, transport during your short break, fully organized and guided activities, all tailor made to your own requirements.

Whatever your inspiration, your ability or experience, contact gr8trails to tailor make your perfect break.

On behalf of gr8trails, Gregory packs, Meindl footwear and Source hydration we all look forward to creating a gr8 outdoor experience you’ll never forget & one that you will wish to share in years to come.

Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports, the UK’s favourite Mountain, Trek & Travel store partners with gr8trails.

With over 3 quarters of a century of expertise, Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports are an established and trusted name when it comes to offering the very best advice and latest equipment suitable for your next adventure.

Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports’ 23 stores stock the world’s best brands and amazing products that will make your time spent in the mountains with gr8trails even more rewarding.   Across the UK they have fantastic shops with friendly, knowledgeable staff who are all enthusiastic about the outdoors and understand implicitly your needs. Ellis Brigham’s shops really do bring the spirit of the mountains to the high street so check them out, they have mountains of experience!

gr8trails founders, Rick and Adrian are passionate about the outdoors, with over 10 years of successful group guiding in the UK. Wishing to bring ‘adventure to everyone’, no matter what your age, experience or ability. Your gr8trails experience includes food and accommodation, transport during your short break, fully organized and guided activities, all tailor made to your own requirements.

Whatever your inspiration, your ability or experience, contact gr8trails to tailor make your perfect break.

On behalf of gr8trails and ellisbrigham we all look forward to creating a gr8 outdoor experience you’ll never forget & one that you will wish to share in years to come.

Gregory Miwok18, a lightweight pack with abundant versatility!

From off the shelf, this pack is impressive. Loading it with gear from my old hydration pack before heading out on the trail, it still had loads of room to spare, without looking in any way big & unwieldy on my back. Access to the hydration pouch is a full length zip down the left side of the back of the pack, giving direct access for inserting & removing your hydration bladder – genius!

I didn’t even need to use the myriad of stretch mesh pockets this pack includes or the zipped extension to the centre front pocket to allow you to carry your helmet when not riding.  Inside, you have 2 medium sized mesh organizing pockets with key loop, always useful! in the front zipped pocket with dual zip access. In the main dual zipped compartment, there is cavernous storage space and a zipped mesh pocket for all those small essentials that you always loose. Furthermore, on the pack top there is direct, zipped access to a large fleece lined mp3/phone pocket (but no port?).

There’s also all the normal things you’d expect to see on a pack of this quality; haul loop, high vis hits back and front, hydration port on either shoulder strap, adjustable chest strap, high wicking mesh on all contact areas, mesh side bottle pockets etc, etc. Not sure of the purpose of the Velcro, elastic cord combo on the left shoulder strap – using it to guide my hydration hose through at the moment?!

Whilst out biking, the straps & unique BioSync ATS compression mechanism keep the pack close to your back. In fact, without any formed structure in the back system (keeping it lightweight), this pack seriously hugs your back! The Miwok moves with you, ensuring if any sudden movements, it doesn’t knock you off balance.

Loved the off centre waist buckle, so it doesn’t sit over your shorts buckle & it reduces the number of webbing straps you have wafting around! The integral zipped waist compartments on both! waist fins, allow easy access to snacks on the move too.

Overall, very impressed with not only the look and feel of the pack (fabrics feel ‘silk’ like, cool to the touch!), but more impressed by its feather weight and yet abundant versatility.

Enjoy your ride! Don’t forget the rest of your essentials on our recommended kit list.

The larger 22l Miwok is available from our retail partner Ellis Brigham, Mountain Sports. Click here to find out more about the broader Gregory pack range our recommended pack brand partner.

gr8trails has teamed up with 2 award winning, prestigious accommodation providers in the Peak District National Park.

For our short breaks and outdoor activities in the North Peak, Edale and surrounds, gr8trails recommends our guests stay at the award winning, 5 star B&B, Underleigh House or the only 4 star hotel within the Peak District National Park, Losehill House Hotel, both hidden along a leafy lane in the Vale of Edale.

The prestigious Losehill House hotel has 21 beautifully appointed 4 star contemporary en- suite bedrooms and suites. All with TV, DVD facilities and extensive views over the beautiful valley of Edale. After a day’s activity with gr8trails in the surrounding area, you will be able to relax in the hotels Drawing room and enjoy afternoon tea or drinks from the bar, whilst taking in the views. Alternatively, the hotel offers something unique to the area, an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna and hot tub on the terrace with those fabulous views and Spa treatment rooms for you to relax. 

Once you have freshened up from your day out, you can join us in the restaurant, offering a delightful table-d-hote menu, prepared by the Head Chef and his team. Using locally sourced produce, they create superb, genuinely home made, cuisine befitting of this lovely location.

Alternatively, the multi award winning, 5 star homely Underleigh House offers 5 ensuite bedrooms on a more personal and private scale, allowing you to relax and unwind in comfortable surroundings with your group of family or friends, after your days activities with gr8trails. Vivienne will ensure that you are made exceptionally welcome to her B&B, offering an award winning breakfast to get you ready for your day out.

Dinner out can be arranged for you by gr8trails at nearby Losehill House or at a variety of other local establishments (transport provided).

Whichever style of accommodation suits your pocket, we can guarantee that the owners of both our preferred accommodation partners will make you feel very welcome to this beautiful area and will ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay with them.

Post dinner, at either location, kick back and relax with your friends, family or group, as the sunsets in the beautiful valley around you and enjoy sharing your experiences of the day, whether that be guided mountain biking, walking or various other activities gr8trails can provide.

Both partners are located within 35 minutes drive from Sheffield, an hour from Manchester or 70 minutes from Leeds on the Hope to Edale road. Alternatively let the train take the strain, you are 3 hours from London to the local Edale station, where gr8trails will collect and transport you to both our preferred accommodation partners.

On behalf of gr8trails, Losehill House Hotel and Underleigh House B&B, we all look forward to welcoming you to the beautiful Valley of Edale.

Want to learn the skills to have a safe day out in the Great British Outdoors with your friends?

www.gr8trails.co.uk unravel the complexities of the nationally recognized Mountain Leader Award Scheme, and what process you would have to follow to ensure that you gain your qualification first time. Allowing you to safely enjoy the power and beauty of the Outdoors, with your friends and family.

The Great Outdoors has a meaning for everyone. Some like the challenge, some like the experiences shared, some like the unplanned surprise of lofty views or mist clad valleys, some like the sense of achievement gained, some enjoy something new, or discovering a whole new world is out there for them to experience and enjoy. There are rewards for everyone, young or old, experienced or inexperienced alike.

However, the mountains of the UK are remote, technical and exposed to harsh and unpredictable weather. This makes them a hazardous place for a group of novice mountain walkers unless they have the benefit of supervision by a well trained and experienced leader.

You may be interested in sharing these opportunities with others, allowing everyone who would like to achieve more, to see more, do more and meet more. Hence you could set out to earn the nationally recognized Mountain Leader qualification.

To attain the Mountain Leader (Summer) Award you have to complete 2 weeks of ‘Training’ and ‘Assessment’, where you will learn such skills as group management, navigation and gain an understanding of how to deal with mountain hazards, emergency procedures and equipment. You will also learn about access and conservation issues, increasing your awareness of environmental issues and learn about managing group security on steep ground as part of the expedition element during both your weeks.

However, before undertaking the Mountain Leader initial ‘Training’ course you need to have a minimum of 12 months mountain walking experience and have logged at least 20 quality mountain day walks. You will need to be registered with Mountain Leader Training England (MLTE) & the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) before attending your ‘Training’ course.

Not sure what qualifies as a ‘quality mountain day’? think about such things as the conditions you’ll experience both overhead and underfoot, difficulty of the terrain covered and the physical and mental challenge to you….go explore new areas! You would be expected to take part in the planning and leadership of each of your ‘quality mountain day’s’, be involved in the navigation (on or off waymarked paths), paying attention to group safety and being able to respond to changing weather changes. The expectation would be that your day would be 5 hours or more out ‘on the hill’.

‘Training’ courses are usually run over 6 days with a minimum of 60 hours contact time, but you can also do your training over weekends and evenings. The MLTE website gives contacts of providers running courses throughout the mountain areas of the UK at most times of year.

Some recommended reading for both your ‘Training’ and ‘Assessment’ would be ‘Hillwalking’ by Steve Long. A very easy to read book, giving you exactly the information you need to know in a great format – a great introduction to hillwalking and safe party management.

If you have an exceptionally high level of experience, you may be granted exemption from the ‘Training’ course and proceed directly to ‘Assessment’, check with the MLTE.

Once you have completed your weeks ‘Training’, and before you can attend your ‘Assessment’ week, you need to ‘consolidate’ your experience by logging a further 40 (minimum) quality mountain days, which should include additional leadership experience. Do not underestimate the importance of this, and believe you can do your ‘Assessment’ straight after completing your ‘Training’! You can learn so much in this consolidation period, which your assessors will be looking out for. The exact period of time, personal skill development and group supervision practice will be different for everyone. You just need to be comfortable with your skills and confidence before you go for ‘Assessment’.

It’s a good idea to get as many of your quality days across the various UK mountain Parks. This broadens your experience dealing with different terrain, rock types, micro climates and local issues. Its probably a good idea to go for ‘Assessment’ at a different centre and mountain area, broadening your experience again.

The assessor will ask to see your logbook when you book on the course to check you have completed the ML training course (or successfully gained exemption from training), satisfy the pre-assessment experience requirements and have a current First Aid certificate. ‘Assessments’ are 5-6 days long and either continuous or split into two three day elements. 

To give you an idea of costs, ‘Training’ courses cost around £400, ‘Assessment’ around £525 (depending on whether you need accommodation). A 2 day Rescue Emergency Care (REC) course at Thornbridge Outdoors for example would cost around £110 – remember your first aid qualification only lasts for 3 years.

Hopefully this gives you an insight into the simple process of attaining your Mountain Leader Qualification, allowing you to safely enjoy a day out in the Great Outdoors with your family and friends. If however the Mountain Leader Scheme sounds abit more than you wanted, then don’t forget there is a variety of other levels of awards available to you, eg ‘MLTE’ Walking Group Leader (WGL) and the ‘Sports Leaders’ Basic Expedition Leaders Scheme, for those of you who would want to know more about lowland party management, navigation & campcraft.

Once you have attained your Summer ML, there is the opportunity to attain Winter Mountain Leader, following the same approach as above ie a ‘Training’ course, followed by a period of consolidation, then ‘Assessment’. MIA & MIC are even higher qualifications that you can do if you so wish, it all depends on what you want to do, and what you want to get out of the experience, to give you and the groups that you manage a safe and memorable day out in the Great British Outdoors…..enjoy.

Adrian of gr8trails qualified as a Mountain Leader (Summer), building up over 140 quality mountain days between ‘Training’ and ‘Assessment’. I ended up doing my ‘Assessment’ 5 years after completing my ‘Training’ course and within those years I learnt so much, which I now know helped me with my ‘Assessment’. I passed my ‘Training’ week at White Hall Centre in the Peak District, with my expedition in North Wales and my ‘Assessment’ was at Plas-y-Brenin, also in North Wales.