blondestwo - Tumblr blog

[blondestwo]

Gear Review the KEEN Tempo Flex Hiking Trainer Boot and Ridge Flex Waterproof Hiking Shoe

Fed up with stiff walking boots or walking shoes? We review the KEEN Bellows Flex collection (complete with bendy bit!) #walkingboots #hikingboots #KEENFlexChallenge #HikeHappy @keeneurope @karma_pr

I have to admit to never thinking in terms of energy efficiency when it comes to buying walking boots but one thing I always consider is comfort. Who wouldn’t? A day out on the hills is only fun until your feet start aching and your blisters start forming. The team at KEEN however has come up with an interesting idea that combines both comfort and efficiency. Flexible for comfortable…

[blondestwo]

Backpack or wild camping on a fixed budget

Camping kit price vs camping kit quality. We challenged the team at Regatta to kit us out for a wild camp on our budget. #GetOutside #camping #wildcamping #gearreview #regatta #campingkit @RegattaOutdoors

If there’s one thing that gets the outdoor community talking (and often disagreeing), it’s camping gear. Or more specifically, which kit to take backpack or wild camping. If you’re thinking about buying your first set of camping kit,  there’s plenty to consider: How many nights will you be out for? How far will you be carrying your full rucksack? How comfortable do you like to be? How much do…

[blondestwo]

Downhill Running

B2 discovers that jogging downhill isn't as tricky as she thought it might be... #GetOutside #running #jogging #wellbeing #exercise #somethingnew

I don’t know if you remember but way back last year, during lockdown one I made an exciting discovery. I realised that I could walk to the beach from my house. This was, of course, something I should have worked out a long time ago as I live in Torquay (Torbay walks are fabulous) but there was something about the hills between me and the sea (about 100 height) that had blocked this piece of daily…

[blondestwo]

Looking for Narnia. Book walks with children.

B2 takes a wander around the stories of her childhood, and looks at how they encouraged her love of exploration. #getoutside #childrensbooks #walkswithchildren

During the Beast from the East’s last visit we Devon belles did eventually managed to squeeze a centimetre of snow out of our Devon skies. To celebrate I went for a quick early morning walk in my local copse, and was reminded of my childhood search for Narnia. I hope I’m not the only person who spent a significant amount of time huddled next to fuzzy clothing at the back of her Mum’s wardrobe…

[blondestwo]

The Scottish Highlands and Northumberland. Two new walking route books.

B2 discovers two new walking books to help her enjoy some lockdown vicarious walking (and plan routes for the future!) #GetOutside #walkingroutes #highlands #northumberland #hiking #walkingbooks #walking @OSLeisure @VertebratePub

I don’t know about you but, although I’m still enjoying my local lockdown walks, I’m also dreaming of walking routes that include post-lockdown big hills and wide empty spaces. Lonely Glen Etive in Scotland perhaps, or the historical majesty of Northumberland’s Hadrian’s Wall. Dartmoor sits temptingly distanced outside my bedroom window. Out of reach but displaying all her weather moods, she…

[blondestwo]

How to go for a walk with a friend (during lockdown)

Walking with a friend is the perfect way to fulfill both your mind's need for chatter and your body's need for exercise. We have a few tips on how to make the most of the opportunity. #GetOutside #walking #talking #friends @OSLeisure

Please note: This post was written at a time of lockdown when local exercise with one other person outside your household was permitted in England. The photo above was taken a few years ago. There’s plenty about being in lockdown to be disliked. However, one thing I have really enjoyed this winter is the local walking and talking outings I have had with friends. Lots of people have been doing it.…

[blondestwo]

Instead of Dartmoor letterboxing, how about some Valentine's Day local letterboxing?

With Dartmoor letterboxing off the cards for most of us at the moment, how about celebrating Valentine's Day with a local letterbox treasure hunt? #GetOutside #localwalks #letterboxes #familyactivities #valentine @OSLeisure @dartmoornpa

Dartmoor letterboxing If you’ve heard of Dartmoor family activities, you’ve probably heard of Dartmoor letterboxing. This treasure-hunt activity involves heading to certain locations (sometimes remote like the Cranmere Pool letterbox) on Dartmoor and collecting stamps to show how fabulous you are at exploring. It’s great fun and really gives the kids (big and small) something to get excited about…

[blondestwo]

Winter outdoor swimming. At last a snow swim!

B2 has a rather chilly encounter with the Beast from the East. #GetOutside #snow #outdoor swimming #thestoics #beastfromtheeast #snowswim #winterswimming @OSLeisure

Since I started outdoor swimming four years ago I have swum in some marvellous (and very cold) places. My absolute favourite would be a particular fjord swim in northern Norway but sunrise loughs in Ireland, and winter swims in Snowdonia have to come a close second and third. The elusive snow swim Until the Beast from the East came back last week, I hadn’t however had the opportunity to enjoy a…

[blondestwo]

GetOutside Champions... Five years and counting!

We Blondes are celebrating 5-years as Ordnance Survey GetOutside Champions. We look back at the campaign's beginnings and celebrate its successes. #GetOutside #teamwork #champions @OSLeisure @Mr100Peaks @jasonrawles @PhoebeRSmith @Sean_Conway @dartmoornpa

February 2nd, 2016 was a day that will stick forever in our Blonde minds. It was the day we first became one (pair) of the first fifteen Ordnance Survey GetOutside Champions. Lots of things have happened since then (see below). We’ve stayed true to our belief that being outside is good for everybody, and done our very best to convince everyone else of the same. If online interest is anything to…

[blondestwo]

Synthetic, merino or bamboo. Which are the best thermal clothing base layers?

With spring almost here you might be planning a bit more outdoor time. Or you might be staying warm and cosy inside. We recommend thermal base layers either way! #GetOutside #staywarm #outdoorgear #nearlyspring #ad @Rohantime @bam_clothing

This post contains affiliate links. All our recommended products have been field (and home) tested by ourselves. If you hibernated through January, now is the perfect time to turn your thoughts to getting outside again. Watch the weather though, especially the temperature. It’s still chilly out there, and it isn’t time to ditch the thermal base layers just yet. With lockdown limiting us all to…

[blondestwo]

Happy February

Happy February everyone. B2 takes a look at some fun Feb facts, plus a few Blonde February traditions. #GetOutside #nearlyspring #February #wintermonth #funfacts @OSLeisure

Happy February everyone. I’m writing this post in advance so who knows what the weather will be doing. Down here in Devon February is (in Blonde tradition) the month where we bravely arrange the first camp of the year for our Ten Tors Challenge youngsters, then promptly un-arrange it when the month provides conditions that are less-than-camping. You would think we would have learned from this by…

[blondestwo]

Outdoor swimming is getting more popular... even in winter!

Blonde Two has to give herself a bit of a talking to as swimmer numbers increase at her local beach. #GetOutside #seaswimming #winterexercise #coldwater #outdoorswimming @OSLeisure

I’ve mentioned before that during lockdown one in March we saw a marked increase in outdoor swimming around Torbay. Not all the way around Tor Bay you understand, just at the edges (usually the extreme edges). A new swimming ‘destination’? Like so many people used to solitude and the ‘look at me’ aspect of an unusual hobby, I at first found this slightly disconcerting. Had our quiet early morning…

[blondestwo]

Treezilla - outdoor science for the whole family

'Let's go for a walk!' Isn't always a popular family suggestion. How about a bit of citizen science to help things along? B2 has fun mapping trees with the Treezilla app. #GetOutside #familywalks #citizenscience #activitiesforkids @OSLeisure @Treezilla_org

If you think your kids know more about science than you, you’re probably right. The good news is that there are plenty of citizen science projects out there for the whole family to enjoy. So during this latest UK lockdown we have a citizen science project for you that might just end up being your favourite outdoor learning activity with the kids (or indeed without them). I have certainly be…

[blondestwo]

Staying local and appreciating the small things

Staying local is really important at the moment but don't worry. Small views can be as stunning as grand vistas. #GetOutside #staylocal #staysafe #smallthings #nature #weather

I make no bones about it, I am lucky to live where I live. This is especially noticeable during a lockdown when I can’t, with any conscience, visit some of the further afield places I love. Torquay is a hilly seaside town and even the shortest of my local walks offers lovely views towards Dartmoor and across Tor or Lyme Bay. Last weekend however I avoided my usual local routes and got my daily…

[blondestwo]

Not quite Dartmoor wild camping - a very local New Year's Eve hammock camp

B2 finds a rather noisy alternative to wild camping on Dartmoor for New Year's Eve. #GetOutside #wildcamping #newyear

To my mind, as a new year begins, it’s really important to start as you mean to go on. This isn’t usually too tricky and Mr B2 and I often enjoy our New Year’s Eve celebrations in a tent whilst wild (backpack) camping on Dartmoor. 2020 of course hasn’t been the year any of us planned, and outdoor activities have required some adjustment. We have all had to brush up on our un-planning skills. When…

[blondestwo]

New Year, New Resolution, New Maps (Discount)

Breaking news... New year sale... Ordnance Survey are currently offering a £5 discount on their annual OS Maps subscription. That's the whole of GB for only £18.99. #GetOutside #adventureawaits #exploremore @OSLeisure

Find your 2021 adventure with OS Maps I don’t know about you but for me, new year’s resolutions rarely have satisfactory outcomes. I have known a few successes such as my 50 Sleeps for 50 Years Challenge but in general, as New Year slips into spring, I find myself distracted. Here’s a new year possibility that might suit you though. How about exploring your local (or hopefully more distant)…

[blondestwo]

The Dartmoor Escape Room - a map quiz with a difference (3)

At last the final clue to our Dartmoor Escape Room quiz. Can you find your perfect Dartmoor escape using only your map reading skills? #GetOutside #OSMaps #findyouradventure @OSLeisure

Two Blondes Walking have an affiliate advertising relationship with Ordnance Survey With more national lockdowns in place post-Christmas, Dartmoor might be an escape too far for you. So we thought we’d bring you our very own Blonde online Dartmoor Escape room. All you need is a map (Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 or the OSMaps app)and a bit of patience. This is your final clue of three (clue one)…