I realise that, over the years I have built up a mental guide regarding where I might go to purchase my walking equipment and requirements. The list morphs over time as I move to a different part of the country or become aware of an on-line supplier. I thought it might be helpful to me (and potentially to others) to build this into a physical list. Hence this is my personal list and I can’t accept any responsibility for problems others may experience with these companies; nonetheless I hope it is of some help.
A good local outdoor shop
Despite the proliferation of on-line alternatives, nothing can beat actually going into a shop. Not only is it possible to see and handle potential purchases, but the staff are knowledgeable and helpful. They are usually outdoor enthusiasts with plenty of experience.
Taunton Leisure in Exeter. This is my local shop and definitely ticks all the boxes. The staff are excellent. First class service. Good range of carefully chosen products. If you aren’t fortunate enough to live nearby or near the other branches in Taunton and Bristol then there is an excellent website too including reviews of equipment by staff members. https://www.tauntonleisure.com/our-stores/exeter/
Summits Outdoor in Paisley. I only visited to buy some stove fuel after flying to Glasgow airport; the shop is within walking distance of the airport and very close to the railway station. It appeared to be a veritable Aladdin’s Cave. I didn’t stop to look at anything else as I didn’t want to add to my load. However the staff I met were interested and knowledgeable. https://www.summits.co.uk/about-us/
Ullapool Outdoors in Ullapool. I visited to restock on dried food during my Cape Wrath Trail Walk. Helpful staff and excellent range of stock. https://ullapooloutdoors.co.uk/
Craigdon Mountain Sports in Inverness is, in my experience, staffed by enthusiastic people who enjoy the outdoors. My shopping there is mainly for replacement tent pegs purchased during my journey home! https://www.facebook.com/craigdoninverness/
On line
Ultralight have a superb website with the bonus that the weight of each item is shown clearly and there is an option to order lists of items according to weight – very useful. There are also helpful and interesting articles about equipment and a more general blog about expeditions. I have ordered from this site a few times and delivery has always been prompt and reliable. https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/
Books and maps
Cicerone Guides are excellent! These are all very thoroughly researched by real experts who are outdoor enthusiasts. I have frequently ordered on-line and delivery is amazingly rapid. The company, based in Kendal, offers several discount schemes for members of different organisations – so ordering direct from the publisher is less expensive than buying elsewhere. I also recommend the extensive Cicerone Extra articles, which complement the books and are freely available on-line. https://www.cicerone.co.uk/
Dash4it offer large on-line discounts. I have used them to buy maps – there is an enormous range in stock including Ordnance Survey and Harveys Maps. Delivery has always been prompt and reliable from this company which is based in Cornwall https://dash4it.co.uk/
Walking holidays
In UK I have always made my own accommodation arrangements. However I have completed two major self-guided treks in the Alps and decided to book each of these via a travel company. Having completed the Walkers Haute with the help of Alpine Exploratory, I realised the advantages. They organised wonderful accommodation for me which I do not think I would have discovered on-line myself.
Alpine Exploratory also sent me every map that I could possibly need and their own detailed route card guides, including various options. The route cards, usefully supplied on lightweight water resistant paper, are updated annually.
My second expedition with them was during the short time in the summer of 2020 when travel from UK to Switzerland was permitted. This was the Swiss Via Alpina. I added on my own start in Liechtenstein and walked from Montreux to Geneva at the end. However, the mountain section from Sargans to Montreux was booked through Alpine Exploratory. With the restrictions imposed by Covid, I did experience some local difficulties requiring phone assistance; this was all managed incredibly efficiently. The staff are extremely helpful and have an enormously valuable fount of local knowledge and language skills. https://www.alpineexploratory.com/
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