Feb 08 2014

Trail Tours and Trail Travel

What are Trail Tours?

trail tours & bike tours

trail travelers

You’re probably familiar with the typical adventure travel model that involves riding bikes on roads, streets & byways. It is a very popular travel option for travelers who are bicycle enthusiasts but is quite different than trail tours. It offers exercise and camaraderie as well as a unique way to explore different regions or countries. But traditional adventure bike tours also has their disadvantages:

  • It’s not very safe. As newspaper headlines often prove, automobiles & bicycles do no work well together.
  • It often involves a frantic pace. Although riders are free to stop wherever they want, many roadsides aren’t conducive to site-seeing due to narrow shoulders and/or speeding traffic.
  • Road biking presents numerous less-than-pleasant distractions including pollution, noise & unattractive views.

Advantages of Trail Biking

The next section of this blog-post will provide you with information about the types of trails most often used in trail touring. But first, let’s look at the advantages of trail bike touring:

  • safety –  Because you aren’t sharing the road with hulking, speeding vehicles, you are much safer riding on trails.
  • serenity – Without the noisy background sounds of traffic, trails are much more peaceful than roads.
  • scenery – Trails often provide a much more scenic backdrop than roads.
  • less crowded – Since the majority of people have not yet discovered the joys of trail-travel, you are much more likely to enjoy a more peaceful and less crowded biking experience.
  • history – Most long-distance trails are built on former railroad grades, canal towpaths, historic footpaths or converted roadways. As a result, they are often dotted with historical gems along the way, including scenic villages, converted rail stations, historical waysides & unique museums.
  • family friendly – Because of all the reasons listed above, trail tours are much better for families, couples, retirees and most other demographic groups.

Types of Trails Conducive to Trail Tours & Trail Travel

Most people are unfamiliar with “destination trails.” Destination trails are those that are worthwhile for planning a vacation around and are most often the type used in trail travel and trail tours. Here are some examples of destination trails with brief explanations or definitions:

Trail Tour Companies

At present, only one bicycle tour company specializes in trail tours. Active Travel Tours offers trail tours as part of their hosted tour program. Most bike tour companies offer guided tours that are mainly limited to road biking. That will probably change soon as trail biking becomes more and more popular. Both trail tours and hosted tours are recent innovations in the travel industry, but it is likely that they will gain momentum and become a rising trend.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2014/02/08/trail-tours-trail-travel/

Jan 09 2014

Top Trail Articles for Trailsnet.com

Ammonoosuc Rail Trail Rates in Top 3 on Internet

New Hampshire's Ammonoosuc Rail Trail

Covered Bridge Near Ammonoosuc Rail Trail

Ranking high in the search engines is difficult; and, believe it or not, trails are one of the more competitive search terms when it comes to SEO ranking. (Search Engine Optimization) Let’s face it, there are a lot of great trail websites out there: Traillink, Everytrail, Trails.com… Don’t forget all the trail websites run by government entities such as the Forest Service, BLM, various National Parks, state trails, county trails, community trails and so on. So I’m quite pleased to have one of Trailsnet’s major destination trail descriptions, the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail in New Hampshire, ranked in the top five in the search results on Google and many other search engines.

Colorado's Glenwood Canyon Trail

Glenwood Canyon Trailhead

Colorado’s Glenwood Canyon Trail Ranks in Top Ten

Trailsnet’s Glenwood Canyon Trail near Glenwood Springs, Colorado ranks among the top 8 in search engine returns. This is especially significant considering how popular the Glenwood Canyon Trail is among bikers in Colorado and throughout the nation. Since Glenwood Springs is such a famous recreation destination, its premier bike trail is a big deal.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2014/01/09/top-trail-articles-trailsnet-com/

Jan 03 2014

Enjoy Some of Englands Best Hikes in Yorkshire Hiking Country

Yorkshire hiking trails in Great Britain

Britain has some of the best hiking destinations in the world, and among those, some of the most majestic are to be found in Yorkshire. But Yorkshire’s a big place, so if you’re trying to decide exactly where to walk it can be hard to know where to start. Fortunately, we’re here to help. Here are five of the best walks you can find in Yorkshire, whether you’re starting out on your first walk or looking for a really challenging hike.

Aysgarth Falls

This walk starts out at the Aysgarth Falls National Park Centre, and is actually a pretty easy stroll compared to most routes. Starting from SE012888 on your Ordinance Survey (you’ll need your Ordinance Survey maps for all of these walks), the walk will take you 2.2 miles in one or two hours, and is perfect for family outings.

The route will take you through charming woodland, scenic looking fields and eventually turns around to take you through Low Force, Middle Force and High Force, the three beautiful cascading waterfalls that visitors love. It’s a relatively short hike, so feel free to take your time and drink in the scenery.

Crummack Dale and Norber Erratics

This walk starts out from Austwick village, Ordinance Survey reference SD768686. It’ll take you 5.7 miles over two or three hours, and is just a bit more of a challenge than the afternoon stroll that is Aysgarth Falls.

Now personally, this is one of my very favourite walks as it goes into the Norber Erratics. If you’re a bit of a geology nerd like me this place is a paradise. You’ll find limestone and Silurian sandstone boulders, and the red and green whetstone of the Moughton Scar. There’s also some fantastic views, such as the one you can see from the top of the drop into Crummack Dale.

Catrigg Force and Attermire Scar Walk

This walk starts in Settle, where Alfred Wainwright began his legendary epic hike up to Hadrian’s Wall and back. This is more of a hike than a walk, talking you 11.2 miles over four or five hours, it’s a challenge for intermediate hikers.

This walk is a walk full of secrets. It will take you to Catrigg Force, a magical hidden waterfall that it feels great to discover. You’ll then end up following a quiet road down to Victoria Cave and the Attermire Scar, before eventually finding your way back to Settle.

Simon’s Seat and Troller’s Gill from Strid Wood

Okay, we’re getting onto the real challenges now. This hike starts out at lovely Pavilion cafe in the Bolton Abbey Estate, and goes on to cover 13.2 miles over five or six hours.

What’s more, it’s steep. The initial leg of the walk will see you climb over 350 metres, with a highpoint of 485 metres at Simon’s Seat. But it’s worth it for the breathtaking views you’ll get over the desolate Barden Fell. Many hikers prefer to stop for lunch here before starting back down to Parceval Hall and the wonderfully named Troller’s Gill. You’ll then head along the River Whafe, past the magnificient waterfalls of Strid Wood. It’s hard going, but worth every minute of it.

The Three Peaks Walk

Okay, now we’re headed into the big leagues. This walk is a legendary hiking challenge, one of those things that anyone who’s serious about their walking shout try at least nice, and anyone who isn’t should probably leave well alone.

Starting off at Horton in Ribblesdale, you’re going to walk 25 miles. If you’re quick you could hypothetically complete the walk in eight hours, however it’s not unusual for the entire trek to take up to fourteen hours. This is a real challenge for serious hikers, many of which hop over from Europe by ferry to attempt it.

There are various routes you can take, but you what’s compulsory is that you climb the titular Three Peaks – the 694 metres Penyghent, the 736 metre Whernside and the 723 metres Ingleborough. You’re going to spending a large chunk of the walk climbing and descending, so you need to be properly equipped and in good physical fitness. However if you can do it, the views are well worth it, as is the sense of achievement when you finally get to the end.

 

Featured images:

By Sam Wright

Sam Wright is a writer based in Norwich, Norfolk.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2014/01/03/yorkshire-hiking-trails/

Dec 23 2013

5 Horse Riding Tips For Beginners

 Horse riding is a fun activity if you can afford it. It’s a skill set that you can use if you’re ever in any trouble and a horse is your only getaway. You’ll be surprised how often that situation comes up. In any case horse riding is an important skill to possess, which is why it’s taught at fancy schools where rich kids go to study. If it’s important to a millionaire’s daughter, it should be important to you as well. However, before you saddle up take a look at these important tips.

horse owner and horse

horse and rider

Spend Time with Your Horse

Riding depends on the connection between a man and his horse. If that connection isn’t strong the horse isn’t going to have any qualms about knocking you over. Groom your horse and spend as much time as you can with it. It’s not a bad idea to talk things over with your horse before your riding sessions. Bribe your horse with an apple every time you meet him, so he perceives you as a caregiver and not some moron who wants just wants a ride. A rider’s safety depends on the horse’s mood.

 A Little Warm up

training horse on sandy trail

horsemanship requires training

Before running a full sprint people usually jog. It helps them loosen up their muscles. Your horse should also warm up a little before your riding sessions. Before you test your equine companion’s horsepower it’s best to take a few laps. This will prevent any accidents halfway through your gallop. At that speed if your horse’s muscles tighten up, it could spell trouble for you. The horse will come to a sudden halt and you’ll become airborne. Where you land will be a simple matter of physics and luck. Knowing both I wouldn’t keep my hopes up if I were you.

 Follow the Rules

Rules are meant to keep you safe, not to inhibit your fun. Following them doesn’t make you any less cool. Equestrians may dress up like pompous English royals, but there’s a reason for it. The clothes make it comfortable for you to ride and the helmet prevents your head from cracking open like an egg. Also, hold the reins with both hands and keep your body in a locked position. You’re not exactly John Wayne, so riding like a cowboy is out of the question. You may try to wave to somebody while riding and end up crashing at their feet.

 

horseback saddle on fence rail

equestrian saddles require routine maintenance

Inspect the Saddle

The saddle is meant to keep you on the horse, but if it’s loose, you’ll go down with it. It’s important to check your horse saddle before each riding session. Someone could have tampered with it or unknowingly loosened it up. Either way you’ll be the one eating dust. It’s best to replace your saddle once a year. Don’t wait for the wear and tear to become apparent before making this decision, or you may not live to regret it. A large number of horse riding accidents are related to saddles, so they can be quite deadly.

 Fall Gracefully

Horse riding can be dangerous, it even injured the Man of Steel Christopher Reeves, so it’s important you know how to take a fall. The second you realize you’re going to fall your body tightens up due to instinct. You’ll need to fight this instinct and loosen up your body, because that way you’ll be better prepared. A rigid body falling on a rigid surface will end up with broken bones. Try to roll as you fall to avoid injury. Rolling will prevent the retaliation force of the ground from seriously injuring you. Keep rolling like a stone or you may accidently be trampled by the horse.

equestrian trail rides

horseback trail ride

Horse riding in my mind equates to freedom. It’s just you, your horse and the open plain. Gallop away when you feel like it and leave your worries and your troubles behind. Following the tips mentioned here will prevent accidents while riding. Few people ever get back on the horse after taking their first tumble. If you want to ride like a cowboy, you need to be fearless like one. If you happen to fall, pick yourself up, brush yourself off and then try again. And keep trying until you succeed, because that’s the only way you’ll learn how to ride a horse.

Author Bio:

The contributor of this article, John Ray, is an employee at Saddle World, well-known providers of horse saddles. John loves adventure sports and goes paragliding with his friends every now and then.

 

 

 

 

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/12/23/5-horse-riding-tips-beginners/

Dec 01 2013

Great Plains Trail Featured in Bootprints

Long-distance Trail

rainbow on the plains of eastern colorado

Pawnee Buttes in Eastern Colorado

The worlds of hiking and biking are mainly set in the mountains. I’m not exactly sure why that is, but hopefully hikers and bikers will discover that America has an amazing ecosystem unlike that found anywhere else in the world. Oh sure, our mountains are beautiful, but nearly every continent and country has similarly beautiful mountains. However it’s our great plains that are extraordinarily unique and under-utilized when it comes to non-motorized recreation.

Bootprints Features Article about Great Plains Trail

Finally, folks are starting to discover the joys and scenery of the Great Plains. As the Great Plains Trail begins to take shape, hiking and biking publications are gradually starting to take notice. Recently, the online outdoor magazine Bootprints published an article about the Great Plains Trail. It’s a short but sweet article that notifies hikers and bikers that America’s greatest frontier is now open for business and recreation. Please take a moment to peruse the Bootprints article about the Great Plains Trail. It’s a nice, short summary of what’s going on in this new recreational frontier.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/12/01/great-plains-trail-featured-bootprints/

Nov 22 2013

Ireland Mountain Bike Trails

Mountain Biking Trails in Galway, Ireland

I have been working in the hospitality industry in Ireland for many years and in recent years there has been huge rise in popularity of activity holidays. I work for the Drury Court  Hotel which is located in Dublin, however a lot of our guests would travel from here to Galway, in the west of Ireland for its mountain biking. Although, there is very good biking trails located in the Dublin Mountains and the Wicklow Mountains. Below I take a look at two of the most popular Mountain Bike trails in County Galway.

Derroura Mountain Bike Trail

Bike: On this trail it would be advisable to use a mountain bike with full suspension because of the terrain. However there are people that bike this trail with a range of bikes from basic to high quality mountain bikes.

Close By: The closest town to the trail car park, which has parking for approximately 30 cars, is Oughterard.  The town of Oughterard is approximately 6km away and has a variety of shops and restaurants.

The Trail: The Derroura Mountain Bike Trail is a forest trail and has quite a variable terrain and begins with a winding single track over natural granite. This leads to a steady climb which soon turns into very stoney ground, this is why we advise bikes with full suspension. When you reach the summit you will be treated to incredible views of the surrounding landscape. The descent is my favourite part of this trail and is made up of a long north shore that brings you through the beautiful Connemara bogs. This is not a difficult trail but it is a lot of fun and the country side location makes it all the better.

Derroura Mountain Bike Trail in Ireland

Derroura Mountain Bike Trail

Graph of Bike Trail Elevation for Ireland mountain bike trail

Graph of Bike Trail Elevation

 

 Portumna Mountain Bike Trails

Bike: This trail is suitable for riders of any type of mountain bike or even hybrid.

Close by: This trail is located just 1km away from the town of Portumna. This is a wonderful town and there are plenty of restaurants and bed & breakfasts in the town itself and the surrounding areas. There is also a car park and toilet facilities at the beginning of the trail.

The Trails: There are three mountain bike trails at Portumna, these are called Bonaveen, Rinmaher and Woodland. They are all relatively easy trails which makes them ideal for younger riders as well as those who may be just starting off in mountain biking. More experienced riders would definitely prefer the Derroura trail. The terrain is made up of compacted hardcore which means that it can be a little loose but it is ideal for these short and quick trails. There can also be walkers on these trails so it is advisable to visit the Portumna trails during the week when it is quieter.

The weather in Ireland can often be cold and wet, even in the summer months, so it is advisable to bring appropriate clothing if you are planning on biking in Dublin or in Galway.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/11/22/ireland-mountain-bike-trails/