How do I pack a rucksack so it carries well?
Where the weight has to sit, the order that puts it there, and how to adjust the straps so the hips carry the load rather than the shoulders.
beginner30 min4 min read
Travel & Outdoors
Packing, planning and being comfortable outside.
163 guides in Lifestyle
How do I read contour lines on a map?
Contours turn a flat map into a shape you can picture — spacing tells you steepness, and the pattern of the lines tells you whether you are looking at a spur, a valley or a col.
beginner30 min4 min readHow do I take a pet abroad from the UK?
Why this starts months ahead, the vet-led sequence that the rules impose, and the carrier restrictions that decide whether the journey is possible at all.
intermediate2 hr4 min readHow do I take children camping?
Choosing a first site, keeping children warm at night, the routine that gets everyone to sleep, and the specific hazards of a campsite with small people in it.
beginner30 min6 min readHow do I take children walking without it being a disaster?
Route length, pace, snacks and the psychology of a walk from a child's point of view — plus the kit and safety differences that matter when the group includes small people.
beginner25 min4 min readHow do I travel on my own safely?
The arrangements that make solo travel work — who knows where you are, how to arrive somewhere new, and the routines that reduce risk without ruining the trip.
beginner45 min4 min readHow do I watch a meteor shower?
When the main showers happen, why the hours after midnight are better, where to look relative to the radiant, and how to stay comfortable enough to keep watching.
beginner2 hr5 min readWhat are my rights if I am denied boarding because the flight is overbooked?
Volunteering and being bumped are legally different things, and the moment you volunteer you give up a fixed entitlement in exchange for whatever you can negotiate.
beginner15 min3 min readWhat changes when you walk in the hills in winter?
Why a summer hill route in winter is a different undertaking — daylight, cold, snow and ice, avalanche risk and the equipment and training that becomes non-negotiable.
advanced30 min5 min readWhat do I do if the accommodation is not as described?
The order to act in on arrival, the evidence that decides any later claim, and the different routes depending on how you booked.
beginner40 min4 min readWhat should I do if I lose my passport abroad?
The reporting, embassy and travel-document steps in order, and the preparation that makes it far less painful.
beginner2 hr2 min readWhat tackle do I need to start coarse fishing?
A short list that will actually catch fish on a day-ticket water, what to spend on and what to ignore, and why float fishing is the right place to start.
beginner30 min5 min readWhere am I allowed to fish?
Day-ticket fisheries, club waters, free stretches and the sea — how permission to fish actually works in Britain and how to find a water near you.
beginner20 min5 min readWhich tyres should I put on my bike?
Width, tread and puncture protection do different jobs, and the right answer depends far more on the surfaces you ride than on the bike you own.
beginner25 min5 min readWhy do my knees hurt going downhill, and how do I stop it?
Descending loads the knee far harder than climbing does — the fixes are technique, poles, pack weight and strength, in that order of immediate effect.
beginner20 min5 min readWhy have the birds stopped coming to my feeder?
Seasonal abundance, a sparrowhawk, a cat, stale food or something that changed nearby — the six explanations that cover almost every sudden disappearance.
beginner15 min5 min readWhy is travel insurance so expensive over 70, and what can I do about it?
Why price rises with age, why the age bands sit where they do, and the four routes that genuinely reduce a quote without reducing the cover you need.
beginner14 min3 min readHow do I travel with hand luggage only?
How to fit a week into a cabin bag — the clothing maths, the liquid rules, and the things worth checking before you commit.
beginner1 hr2 min readHow do I travel with young children without it being miserable?
Preparation, timing and expectation management that make journeys with children survivable.
beginner1 hr2 min readHow do I get a bike going again after years in a shed?
A methodical revival of a bike that has sat unused — what has almost certainly perished, what is merely dirty, and the point at which the bike is not worth the parts.
intermediate2 hr6 min readHow do I get into hill walking safely?
Building up gradually, the kit that genuinely matters, reading a mountain forecast, and knowing when to turn round.
beginner1 hr4 min readHow do I get through an airport with minimum stress?
Preparation before you leave, the security rules that catch people out, and realistic timing.
beginner45 min2 min readHow do I give a six-figure grid reference?
Eastings before northings, along the corridor and up the stairs, and why the two letters at the front are the part that actually matters in an emergency.
beginner15 min4 min readHow do I look after a bike?
The basic bike maintenance that prevents most problems — tyres, chain, brakes — and how often each needs checking.
beginner1 hr2 min read