Would love a beginners guide/video on map and compass skills, I love walking and hiking but don't know where to start with navigation! Love this video x

I love it when Oslo always seems to be contemplating life whenever you and harvey do stops on your hikes. Oslo appears to be a deep thinker, a philisopher, wondering why the heck his hoomans are eating lunch and he's not. LOL

Hey Athena! A video on nav skills would be soo helpful! Congrats on your ML :D

17:24 - "99.9% of people who you meet when you're out hiking are really lovely" SO true!!! I live in London and the contrast between random people in London and random people when hiking in the countryside is staggering. Hikers are just the best! 🙌

Excellent video with some great advice Athena. I love the challenge, experience and personal development I get from walking alone. Taking a camera along to vlog has been great to capture thoughts and experiences. I’m always at my happiest when I’m alone with my own thoughts in the hills and mountains 🙂

I got a bit nervous as well when I went out for my first hike this year in Snowdonia by myself because I was excited and it was a new route. It raises my heart rate a bit and makes me not enjoy it as much initially, but in the end it was one of the best hikes I've ever had. The dreamlike beauty of the Llyn Cwn lake brought a tear to my eye.

Maybe a good tip as well for when you are doing a long hike (and you have phone service) is to add points to your route and number them. Leave the same map with someone else and send them a message at each number. If something happens they know where you last have been.

Excellent advice Athena.It would make our life a little less busy in mountain rescue if only a little more listen to your words of wisdom👌

Another couple of items worth their carry are spare boot lace (have used it for a spare dog lead, boot sole tie on as well as just a bust lace) and one walking pole tied on the sac somewhere. The pole can help you "self rescue" if you pull a leg muscle etc. it is also useful on angled snow slopes you sometimes come across early in the season. Helps when crossing slippy stepping stones etc.as well.

Another great safety tip is to register your number with 999 for text messages. Just text "Register" to 999 and follow the messages they send back. Phone signal is usually poor in remote areas and it's much easier to send a txt then connect a phone call so texting 999 in an emergency with your location details is a great option if things take a turn for the worse

Athena, I can understand you being nervous in these strange times. I have been hillwalking in upland England, Scotland and Wales for thirty years. Yet the first time I went out after the end of the lockdown last year my route planning skills had got a bit rusty and it was a few weeks before I was fully confident again. But you just have to learn to walk solo. Once you have done it a few times and you are increasingly confident in your own ability it moves your hillwalking knowledge and skills to a new level. A few folks have posted on here that they are not very confident and need a bit of help. Thanks to this channel, some of them will still be here at the end of the summer and have been on a few solo walks.

Oslo is the luckiest dog and has seen the most beautiful sceneries than i have ever had! Thank you for your videos Athena! 🌻

I was on a first aid course today run by someone from mountain rescue and something I thought it'd be really useful to share with anyone heading into the hills or places with limited phone signal is to register your phone to be able to send emergency texts to 999 if there's not enough signal to get a call out. It's super simple, just test 'register' to 999 and you'll get a confirmation text back. You'll then be permanently registered, but need to have registered in advance to use the service and can then text details of the situation if you're in and out of signal and adventures go awry. Another tip would be to always take an extra couple snacks with you than you're likely to need to keep blood sugars from dipping if you're out longer than planned and if you're doing a long day in summer (especially in an area with livestock/high deer numbers), to take a couple water purification tablets and make a mental note of streams when route planning in case you need to refill :)

I cannot wait to go hiking again! Right now I am 37 weeks pregnant, so I go on little walks along the black sea beaches here in Turkey 😊 I love the landscapes in your area, I never knew England was so beautiful ♡.

Would love a video on how to pack your bag for different hikes ❤️😊 brands you would recommend and so on.....

Thanks for sharing all those important tips, beautiful area, stunning views ❤

Great way to start my weekend ! Another fab video... The lakes are on my bucket list 🤙

Absolutely stunning views and hike. Great video Athena - Thanks for sharing!

Hi Athena and Oslo!!🙂 I really liked this video. Plus it was really good for other people to hear your tips on hiking and safety. Really good tips. Especially about social media, and not telling people that you come across which route your taking. Because we all like to think we can trust new people we meet. But you just can't tell these days. I dream of the day I can do walks again. Especially in Cumbria, Lake District, Peak District. I had many holidays as a child with my mum dad and sister. Me and my sister use to climb the hills with dad. Though we did it the really unsensible way. No kit, no safety gear. Totally random. And my mum just asleep in the car. I still tease my dad about one particular climb. Because he went up ahead of me and my sister. So we couldn't see him. Then he shouted out a slow ,"Agghhhh!! , then appeared and laughed. Talk about cruel. Though we see the funny side of it now. Anyway, it was so nice to wake up this sunny morning. Opened the window. Sat down to have my breakfast. Then saw your vlog. I was like,"Cool, I can enjoy my breakfast and cuppa with the lovely vlog". So thank you so much. It was lovely to see Oslo again xx

Looks like a lovely trip, hope you thoroughly enjoyed yourself. Some great advice. Thank you.

epic informative vid as always👍, glad your out and about again often, looking forward to your next installment, looking forward to using my new sawyer filter out in the hills 😁

Gorgeous filming Athena - well done. And wonderful, sensible and friendly advice. I always like to see the path ahead, when walking on such a rocky landscape, and cannot imagine how it would be if you were trying to navigate with a covering of snow.

Sound advice. Bow Fell is one of my favourite fells. Thanks for sharing the views. I was last there in 1996. I should revisit soon

Great video, I love solo hill walking too, it really helps me clear my mind. It is so nice to do your own thing and not worry about others while walking. One tip I would have is to make sure you know your own limits and being alone you use the exit routes or turn back when you feel out of your comfort zone, as you won't have anybody to consult with on decisions, this will only get better with experience, but being solo means you are not tied to others decisions so there is no face lost if you want to change your mind.

Oslo looks so important looking out over the expanse. Always be safe out there when hiking Athena. I loved seeing the Bowfells, Lake District. Beautiful place. Loved your hiking tips. Very good practice to inform a trust worthy person who knows you well.

Another fantastic video Athena. Really enjoyed the format of following your walk on the ground and on the map, and loved the tips for solo walking. I was pleasantly surprised that there weren't any other people there. I've only done Bowfell once and had to queue to get to the summit cairn.

Hi Athena & Oslo! Another really enjoyable video. Spending time on The Fell alone with my Collies was just perfect. I was a Mountain Rescue Team Member in The Lakes for some time. If I may, I would like to add to your points. If you require assistance from Mountain Rescue you ring 999. This will connect you to The Police not MRT. The Police are responsible for alerting and coordinating the appropriate MRT. Normally The Team Leader will then activate the team call out and a decision will also be made whether to call out SARDA Teams (Search & Rescue Dog Association). So, ringing 999 connects you to The Police not MRT. Hope this helps?

Another lovely video , hope the self employment is working out , Iv been self employed the vast majority of my working life and as I’m now 60 I’m still learning , adapting etc , your right most people be are nice & friendly thank goodness 👍👍

I solo hike all of the time in British Columbia, but it is largely treed areas until I am up in the alpine. I rarely change my route because if one gets lost, you may never be found in these woods. I would love to hike somewhere that is so open and clear and not have to worry about bears, cougars and wolves!

Just found this channel and working my way through your playlist. Just getting back into hiking/camping and it’s great to find some useful advice, goodluck in you new venture 👍

you are not "solo", you got the best friend of the world with you 🐶

Really enjoyed your solo hike today! Scenery is breathtaking!

Beautiful views. Thanks for posting!

Another great video I have a trip planned for my first trip to the Peak District and Lake District soon and finding your videos very helpful 😊

Great video! Thank you so much for talking about safety and preparedness in the mountains. Where I'm at (British Columbia, Canada), our Search and Rescue groups are currently overwhelmed by the volume of rescue calls. With COVID restrictions, more and more people are heading out to the mountains, but many of them are only getting their info from social media posts that don't always speak to the many ways we need to be prepared in order to enjoy these places. Even though I'll likely never get to visit your part of the world, I think I'll order your guidebook and live vicariously through pictures and route descriptions!

Beautiful hike, amazing landscapes! ❤️🤗

Another great video. Followed a number of your routed from your ramble Guides book last week for Peak District. Looking forward to the release of the new book

14:09 that light on the valley..gorgeous!

Inspiring as always. 🙌 Would love to see videos on navigation skills and longer hikes.

Thank you for this vlog. Really lovely day for a hike and it’s great to take a virtual walk with you - especially as I can’t get to the Lakes very easily. I love walking solo. It gives me time to think. A bit easier to walk solo here in the South of England. The terrain is easier going 😃

Thanks for all the tips and advice, really useful.

Wonderful video and lovely scenery ,thank you so much!

Hiya Athena just recently found your channel, my list of places to go has got a lot bigger now. Great video and very useful tips, I always carry a first aid kit and use the maps on my phone along with OS locate. Have a great weekend. 👍

Great video, lovely walk also looks amazing . Your dog is so well behaved

Great film as always, thank you.

Gorgeous views and lovely hike! 💚🌿🌸

Great video yet again! I've been wanting to go solo hiking for a while but always too scared to go. Your video has pushed me a bit more to take that step! Would love to see a video about cycling in the outdoors. I know you did a lot of cycling before and would love to hear more about your experiences!

Beautiful country in the Lake District as well as instructive about hiking tips to ensure safety. Oslo certainly must be enjoying himself with all the new scents and exercise. Your pub food looked like it was a nice treat to reward yourself at the end of your hike. Jenny

I did the wainwrights a year ago over about 18 months ago and planning the route and then doing them certainly increases your confidence. Just this minute got back from a wild camp on Hart crag in the lakes on Fri night and came back over St Sunday crag. I need to move closer too!!! Sheffield is too far away. Love the channel Graham Sheffield

Thank you for taking the time to do a guide on solo walking. It was really good 😀👍

When solo hiking I always do something risk free. If there is no mobile phone signal and you are in trouble it could be disastrous. Your advice was spot on.

Great videos as always, really happy to see u doing more vids in the lakes.

Another wonderful video Athena and some really interesting tips that I might need when I move up there soon! Love you lots Mama xxx

I did bow fell just before the last lock down and went to the left up oxendale, crinkle crags, then bow fell and back down the band. A couple of lovely water falls and pools up Hell Gill to check out next time to have a dip in, just up the left side of the band.

The tips are so useful, I wouldn't have thought to take all of those items.

Can't wait to go to Angle Tarn and pitch a tent exactly where you were seated 😊

Hi, a nice relaxing video with some good tips. As others have said, a video on navigation would be a good idea. Cheers.

Hello from a fellow Mellor in Sydney, Australia. I visited the Lakes District on a camping trip back in mid-2001. Yikes, now 20yrs ago!! 😜 Such beautiful country.

Somehow I was recommended your channel, doesn't really match my usual preferences But I'm so happy because your videos are so calming. The landscapes and the pebbles rattling under your feet are my fave.

Lovely video :)) Thanks for all the tips and it's so nice to watch nature :)

Great content as usual with some lovely scenery and advice. A beginners guide to map reading with a compass would be a great idea just incase the clouds come down you don't know which way to go if the paths are not clearly defined you can soon end up coming down the wrong path and end up miles away from your destination.

That stone wall right at the end.💚💙

I can really relate, I went on my very first solo wild camping trip last summer in the northern part of Sweden and the first two days I was second guessing myself every step of the way haha. But then I felt sooo empowered, once the self doubt had passed. Such a good feeling !!

Nice walk 7-8 miles just about my limit these days keep up the good work regards David

Great vlog Athena beautiful lakes scenery and a great companion in Oslo really great seeing you enjoying life and freedom of the fells an inspiration to everyone....who watches these great videos..Please keep up this Brilliant work.....😃😃😃...stewart

Glorious filming as always. Yes best advice, always let someone know of your intended route, having myself been caught out in a white-out in the Alps, silly me.

You should make a video on dog hiking gear! I'd love to know what Oslo thinks of his backpack!! Xx

I used to live in Cumbria (sob) and get nostalgic when I watch your vlogs. I find your choice of walks interesting too. You need to get yourself over to the Western Lakes.

loved the video i walk a lot here in ireland love walking 😁✌

Been missing the ODG and Old Peculier. Cheers!

🥾🐶👌🏻 always a relaxing watch!

I always find your videos so interesting and soothing :) I love walking and finding rural pockets and hope to start hiking/camping in the next few years. Do you have any advice for building basic navigation skills? I am very much a beginner and pretty clueless! x

Loved the video brilliant

Lovely video as always ☺️ My dog always likes to lay away from us when at the pub too! I always think she’s embarrassed to be with us but maybe it’s a dog thing after all 😄🐶

Beautiful video , greetings from Ireland 🇮🇪

Great video!!!!!

Hi Athena and Oslo. Thank you for taking uns with you to this wounderfull places and giving your hints. I also like your soundselection, a perfect arrangement. In case of navigation like to leave my Smartphone as lang as i can away and use some map pouches (ex. Tasmanian tiger) which are light and i mount on my front backpack lines. This helps me to come down even better by putting away the digital life. But this is ny way. Like what you do, and how you do it.

Great video. I'm heading off tomorrow on the first long-ish hike for a year. I've done the route a couple of times before and I've got Plan A (a little further than previous hikes) and Plan B (the 'escape route'). My route is printed out and stuck on the fridge at home 😀. Glad to have your encouraging advice. Only downside of solo hiking, always have to pass up on a well-earned cider at a pub at the end because of the drive home 😭 😂

This was fab Athena, loved the format! It would be great to have a similar video on solo wild camping, and solo overnight van trips - excitingly, we've just bought an adventure van and I'm a little bit nervous about going away myself, but would love to try it ☺️

I use a hiking app when I go out, alone or with others. But if I go alone, I usually send the route I'm taking to a friend or to my dad (who is my hiking buddy), so they know where to look for me in case I don't come back. I also have an emergency SOS GPS tracker. I can signal for help by pushing one button and all I need is a GPS signal. That also gives me more confidence to go out alone. I also have a compass and I recently started using maps (mainly for the fun of it and because I think it's a lost art). Therefore I would also love a navigation video. :)

Thank you Athena for another great film. I would love some help on navigating circular walks without a map as with my dyslexia, maps just swim before my eyes so I have to work it out as I go along. Cheers x

So beautiful. Thanks for that video. Langdale was my favourite place until emigrating in the eighties. Spent a few soggy nights on that camp site in the seventies. Agree with your comments about being conservative (with a little c). Always was when walking and since then when motorbike touring. Never been hurt and now 65yo. Can still have fun but always stay sane. Take care - I know you will.

Please share more tips for women hikers 😊

Langdale my favourite walking place 🤗

Hi Athena, really enjoy your videos, I do some solo hiking, what has concerned me is if I get injured & need help when there’s no mobile signal, so I’ve used satellite trackers/communicators, previously the “Spot Gen 3”, more recently “Garmin inReach mini”, both have SOS functions, but the Garmin allows two way communication using text messaging, this gives me piece of mind.

Great video

I could do with some navigation help. Getting together with some followers and you guys seems like a dream. Solo hiking tips are special in undiscovered terrain. How do you never run out of music when editing? Every song 🎵 ♥ takes me away.

Hiya ! I just discovered your channel, and have been thoroughly enjoying going through your videos! I was wondering : have you done much solo backpacking ? How do you plan your food and avoid overpacking when you know you'll have to carry everything you'll need for a few days ? I am planning a trip next week, and I think the nervous part of my brain wants to overplan a bit, and I'll probably stress over carrying too much weight for a few days leading up to it :p Lovely to see the Lake District, I'll definitely have to plan a visit !

Hi Athena. Mickleden at the end of Gt. Langdale is my favourite spot. Rossett Gill is a bit of a slog but must help if you have Mr Oslo to pull you up ! I know what you mean about nervousness. I get what I call "the fear" before my 1st walk of the Summer. I too think it's a positive thing though as it shows you're not over confident which could be dangerous potentially. Lovely video of one of my favourite spots. Take care mate xx

Such a beautiful day with beautiful views. I’m planning a solo day hike in the Smoky Mountains in a few weeks, can’t wait! Other than sheep, are any wild animals in this area? We have bears, wild hogs, bobcats, and the occasional panther too. BTW, your fish & chips dinner looks very good...

Great video my favourite place since I was a teenager is the lake’s. and my present companion is a large shitzu called Bella. And just like Oslo she likes to lead. Better than a sat nav. Ha Ha. Great video Athena keep them coming. 😀❤️

Hi Athena, I like this change in video to welcome new viewers. I enjoyed you showing the map and talking ys through it. Since I don't know the area, to see on the OS Map the height you climbed and visual of a 10km was helpful. I wonder, have you ever done solo without your dog? As having a dog is more comforting to try new routes than just by yourself?

First time watching one of your vids and really enjoyed thanku! I'm an older female would you still recommend hill walking alone? think you're brave and sassy! Keep up the good work👍👊🤜

What snacks do you take for Oslo ? love you videos thanks so much...

What a view at 14:16, absolutely beautiful. When God was making Northern England he was just showing off!

Hi, Athena, I have been enjoying your amazing videos and planning to have a solo backpacking trip to lake district for 2-3 days this summer. But I don’t have a car and will use public transportation! Can you recommend some places within lake district where beginners can visit without car for a few days? Thanks xx!

Hello Athena. Just watched this video again. Only solo walked twice. Not planning to again but you're so inspiring. I would like to ask a question of you if I may. Do you find a lot of solace when you walk? Time to take stock for instance?

Beautiful hike! I went up to the Langdale Pikes quite a few years ago, from Dungeon Gyll. Just a couple of questions- what size rucksack do you use?, and what app do you use for maps - is it the OS one? Thanks for sharing. X

Wow what a beautiful view from the top! This got me thinking Athena, have you considered running classes for map reading and orienteering or even guided walks for those of us that are not confident enough to go it alone yet? 😊

Hi Athena, could you confirm if you are using a standard OS (OL6) Explorer paper map? I noticed when checking the route on mine that your map seems clearer, eg. the cut through from Angle Tarn to Ore Gap is there, but difficult to pick out. Maybe your map is newer and has been updated to make clearer? Great vid as always 😊 Thank you.