Guides
Ever found yourself mid-hike wondering why the hill you're struggling up is called Dodd? Or what that sheep who is currently fleeing your presence in a blind panic is called? Perhaps you've also considered whether you should get trekking poles — are they the ergonomic miracle your knees were promised, or simply two expensive sticks designed to complicate your life?
The answers to all those things, and several others you didn't know you needed to know, are right here. Welcome to TrailTrack's Guides.
The Classification Index
Whether it’s a Munro in Scotland, a Wainwright in the Lakes, or a Hewitt in Wales, every UK summit belongs to a different list. This collection explains the logic, the legends, and the logistics behind the "rules of the game" we use to categorize our hills.
View CollectionWhy is it called that?
Ever wonder why one peak is a Pike and the next a Dodd? These names aren't random; they are a thousand-year-old language left by those who shaped these slopes. This collection explores the history of the fells to answer one simple question: Why is it called that?
View CollectionWho Are They?
We all follow the routes and the digital maps, but we rarely think about the people who actually created them. This collection looks beyond the GPS coordinates to the explorers who built our UK mountain culture. It answers the one question we usually forget to ask: Who are they?
View CollectionStaying on Track
From the invisible logic of prominence to the dark art of map reading, here is everything you need to know to keep your bearings when the mist rolls in. It’s the sort of knowledge that helps you stay confident about where you are, even when the hill stops giving you obvious clues.
View CollectionWeather The Elements
The UK's mountain weather is as much a part of the route as the terrain itself. Understanding why a quiet morning develops into gale-force winds, or what atmospheric triggers create a cloud inversion and the elusive Brocken Spectre, is key to navigating the hills.
View CollectionUK Mountain Rescue: When Help is a Volunteer
Most hikers never think about what happens after a 999 call until they’re the ones waiting on a ledge in the dark. These guides take you inside the teams—from the early pioneers who used barn doors as stretchers to the modern volunteers currently struggling with the surge of "TikTok tourism" on the fells.
View CollectionWho looks after the Lake District Fells
Meet the teams and volunteers fixing the paths and protecting the fells we love to walk.
View CollectionSheep
You’re miles from the nearest pub, the mist is rolling in, and a sheep is giving you a look that says, "You’re lost, aren't you?" Don’t just stand there—know your audience. From the hardy locals of the Lakes to the coastal grazers, here is everything you didn’t know you needed to know about the UK's many breeds of sheep.
View Collection