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reece34

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Dec 07

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reece34 says:

Does the Peak District get a poor showing in Trail

Ive been buying or subscribing to Trail Magazine on and off for a fair number of years now.

Originally from Norfolk i moved up to Manchester 3 years ago and thought finally i can have the hills pretty much on my doorstep.

However upon looking back over my Trail Magazines of many years i cant help but think the Peak District gets a very poor showing in the magazine. Granted its not as big a walkers haven as the Lake District but surely it deserves abit more coverage.

It always makes me laugh when my issue comes through the door and my partner and i guess what area will be on the front cover. We never say Peak District and the April 2011 didnt let us down. Going through the 14 Routes not one of them is anywhere near the Peak District yet again theres 4 in the Lakes

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  • Posted 3 years ago (13 February 2011 16:28)
Screaming Tree

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Mar 08

Posts: 3556

Screaming Tree says:

Re: Does the Peak District get a poor showing in Trail

For the mountainous areas of the UK, you've got it pretty much spot I think GT. Hope there's nobody from Ireland reading................

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  • Posted 3 years ago (22 February 2011 09:00)
MoonlightShadow

Joined:

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Posts: 1268

MoonlightShadow says:

Re: Does the Peak District get a poor showing in Trail

Well GT, I personnaly don't think there is anything wrong in Trail concentrating on those three areas, they are the ones who offer the best mountain experiences in the UK.

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  • Posted 3 years ago (22 February 2011 12:02)
briffothebear

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Jul 08

Posts: 24

briffothebear says:

Re: Does the Peak District get a poor showing in Trail

GuyHurst said:

I think there could be a bit more coverage of the North Pennines, Southern Uplands, Cheviots and Peak District -- not to the exclusion of the Lakes or Highlands, just a slight shift in balance. Some routes in the Lakes must have been covered half a dozen times over the years, after all.

Now there's an idea for a future issue. Hills and wilderness routes that DON'T involve a National Park. Discover the wild areas around the country that are tucked away from the usual hot spots. How about Bodmin, Long Mynd, The Wrekin, hills of Mid Wales, much of Scotland? Shouldn't be too difficult.

[This Reply has been modified by the Author]

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  • Posted 3 years ago (22 February 2011 16:54)
GrahamThompson

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Jan 07

Posts: 4605

GrahamThompson says:

Re: Does the Peak District get a poor showing in Trail

MoonlightShadow said:

Well GT, I personnaly don't think there is anything wrong in Trail concentrating on those three areas, they are the ones who offer the best mountain experiences in the UK.

------ End Quote ------

Hmmm. That is a pity. We want to encourage even more people to visit the outdoors. So what can we do to get more people interested in reading Trail and connecting with the outdoors if the current mix of locations is about right?

GT

Graham Thompson Technical Editor Trail Magazine
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  • Posted 3 years ago (22 February 2011 17:26)
RobLilley

Joined:

Jun 10

Posts: 140

RobLilley says:

Re: Does the Peak District get a poor showing in Trail

GrahamThompson said:
MoonlightShadow said:

Well GT, I personnaly don't think there is anything wrong in Trail concentrating on those three areas, they are the ones who offer the best mountain experiences in the UK.

------ End Quote ------

Hmmm. That is a pity. We want to encourage even more people to visit the outdoors. So what can we do to get more people interested in reading Trail and connecting with the outdoors if the current mix of locations is about right?

GT

------ End Quote ------

I'm not sure that the issue is with the areas that Trail covers, it's a much wider one. Here in the UK the vast majority of "young people" see hiking/walking as being an "old persons" activity and "boring". I'm 27 and most of my mates still think I'm an old duffer because I go "walking" at the weekend, what they constantly fail to understand is that I'm out there having adventures climbing and scrambling all over the country but to them it will always be associated with pensioners, tweed and flat caps.

 

I've lived for long periods in North America, South Africa and Germany and certainly in most of those places outdoor sports such as those featured in Trail ARE considered to be "cool" by all age ranges and those who haven't experienced anything like it before are more willing to give it a go. I'm heavily involved with my local university's hiking club and I'm constantly surprised by the stigma associated with the club but pretty much without fail any one we have managed to convince to come with us on a trip has had to eat humble pie.

 

Essentially, hiking needs a face lift in this country if it (and therefore Trail) is to reach a wider, younger audience. Trail can play a part in that but it needs to be an industry wide push that opens the market up to all ages (without alienating the existing consumers, naturally!).

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  • Posted 3 years ago (22 February 2011 18:06)
RobLilley

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Jun 10

Posts: 140

RobLilley says:

Re: Does the Peak District get a poor showing in Trail

To follow on a bit as for what I (and I stress "I") think would help reach a younger audience is more of an emphasis on the activities being an adventure than just a leisure activity. Some of the recent articles in Trail do hit the spot but there needs to be a more consistent theme (e.g. bivvying on Pillar Rock).

 

The hill safety type articles that crop up regularly are good, sensible articles with well meaning intentions but they're not going to help bring in new readers, if you want to attract new readers excitement is a much bigger draw than practicality. If I bought my magazines on that basis I'd have a cupboard full of DIY and decorating mags.

 

I'd like to see more aspirational articles , I want to read about the epics that others have experienced. Because we live on a relatively small island with no real wild areas left there isn't as much to cover so placing less of an emphasis on the areas themselves and more on the exciting activites available within them could only serve to benefit the mag in my opinion.

 

Just to be clear, I'm not knocking you guys at all, I think Trail is excellent and many of the articles are spot on but a few tweaks here and there could really help increase circulation.

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  • Posted 3 years ago (22 February 2011 18:21)
TurboTom

Joined:

Feb 11

Posts: 13

TurboTom says:

Re: Does the Peak District get a poor showing in Trail

RobLilley said:

To follow on a bit as for what I (and I stress "I") think would help reach a younger audience is more of an emphasis on the activities being an adventure than just a leisure activity. Some of the recent articles in Trail do hit the spot but there needs to be a more consistent theme (e.g. bivvying on Pillar Rock).

 

The hill safety type articles that crop up regularly are good, sensible articles with well meaning intentions but they're not going to help bring in new readers, if you want to attract new readers excitement is a much bigger draw than practicality. If I bought my magazines on that basis I'd have a cupboard full of DIY and decorating mags.

 

I'd like to see more aspirational articles , I want to read about the epics that others have experienced. Because we live on a relatively small island with no real wild areas left there isn't as much to cover so placing less of an emphasis on the areas themselves and more on the exciting activites available within them could only serve to benefit the mag in my opinion.

 

Just to be clear, I'm not knocking you guys at all, I think Trail is excellent and many of the articles are spot on but a few tweaks here and there could really help increase circulation.

------ End Quote ------

I have to admit the adventurous sections do grab my attention a lot, being 18 and extremely keen on the outdoors. When I show my mates articles like the Pillar Rock bivvy or the bothying in Scotland they do get interested and indeed we got 15 of us on the overnight sleeper from Manchester to Bridge of Orchy and then walked all the way to Speen Bridge taking in Gorton Bothy, Corrour YHA and another bothy at Loch Trieg. Yet if I recommend something that is only a day or less of an adventure then it tends to be dismissed as boring or for old people.

What we think, we become.
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  • Posted 3 years ago (22 February 2011 18:36)
jub2k

Joined:

Aug 08

Posts: 1051

jub2k says:

Re: Does the Peak District get a poor showing in Trail

It just needs a little tweaking. There could be more coverage of other area's outside the Lakes and Scotland without damaging the flow of the magazine.

GT mentioned that when the magazine expanded, the readership went up..  Maybe adding another 10-ish pages per issue to cover the extra is possible (an article or two, a couple of routes, a couple of adverts to pay for it)?

 

GT: Of course you think the balance is right... If you didn't, you'd have already have suggested changes to trail.

 

(that and the fact if there were more features outside the lakes, you'd have to travel more / or more articles would be written by others).

 

Isn't a bit of an overlap between Trail and CW a good thing? If there isn't , then you'll get area's that don't get coverage because the don't fit the remit of either mag - even if they deserve it.

 

 

How many posting before this post have guffawed at the thought of the PDNP having 'real' mountains, but then baulked at the thought of the bogs? Too difficult for you? Or just scared of getting dirty?

 

[This Reply has been modified by the Moderator]

http://lost-in-england.blogspot.com/
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  • Posted 3 years ago (22 February 2011 19:10)
MoonlightShadow

Joined:

Aug 09

Posts: 1268

MoonlightShadow says:

Re: Does the Peak District get a poor showing in Trail

Or just not interested in sinking in mud all day, you'd be surprised how little appeal it has for a lot of people...

If the great outdoors need to be sold to those with short attention spans and an incapicity to engage without adrenaline pumping through the veins, then maybe it's best not bother and leave that segment of the population go to Go Ape or gap years abroad...I'm staggeringly indifferent to what Mr and Mrs Average Dullard think of my activities to be fair...

 

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  • Posted 3 years ago (22 February 2011 20:19)
RobLilley

Joined:

Jun 10

Posts: 140

RobLilley says:

Re: Does the Peak District get a poor showing in Trail

MoonlightShadow said:

Or just not interested in sinking in mud all day, you'd be surprised how little appeal it has for a lot of people...

If the great outdoors need to be sold to those with short attention spans and an incapicity to engage without adrenaline pumping through the veins, then maybe it's best not bother and leave that segment of the population go to Go Ape or gap years abroad...I'm staggeringly indifferent to what Mr and Mrs Average Dullard think of my activities to be fair...

 

------ End Quote ------

The great outdoors are exactly that, great. The problem is that a large proportion of people don't know that, they've grown up in inner city areas with zero exposure to it, all they know is that it's where old people go and do boring things. When many of these people are actually given the opportunity to try it for themselves they quickly change their mind. 

 

I'm not suggesting that we ban anything other than extreme downhill mountain biking or anything, all I'm suggesting is that in order to hook more young readers attitudes need to change toward ALL outdoor activities and get people out there to try it for themselves. The best way to engage young people is to show them it's FUN and exciting. I don't care (much) about what others think about what I do but magazine publishers should if they want to reach a wider audience.

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  • Posted 3 years ago (22 February 2011 21:24)
GrahamThompson

Joined:

Jan 07

Posts: 4605

GrahamThompson says:

Re: Does the Peak District get a poor showing in Trail

TurboTom said:
RobLilley said:

To follow on a bit as for what I (and I stress "I") think would help reach a younger audience is more of an emphasis on the activities being an adventure than just a leisure activity. Some of the recent articles in Trail do hit the spot but there needs to be a more consistent theme (e.g. bivvying on Pillar Rock).

 ------ End Quote ------

I have to admit the adventurous sections do grab my attention a lot, being 18 and extremely keen on the outdoors. When I show my mates articles like the Pillar Rock bivvy or the bothying in Scotland they do get interested and indeed we got 15 of us on the overnight sleeper from Manchester to Bridge of Orchy and then walked all the way to Speen Bridge taking in Gorton Bothy, Corrour YHA and another bothy at Loch Trieg. Yet if I recommend something that is only a day or less of an adventure then it tends to be dismissed as boring or for old people.

------ End Quote ------

 

Great stuff

Yes the Pillar Bivvy story is interesting. We came up with that idea after seeing a picture of someone in Utah in an advert sleeping on some lump of rock. For me it was seeing the image of the people sleeping on this rock that looked like a great adventure.

Great feedback ... although it does agree with our views ... so of course I am going to say it is great.

But yes I think you are right with the points about getting younger people involved too.

Graham Thompson Technical Editor Trail Magazine
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  • Posted 3 years ago (23 February 2011 09:32)
reece34

Joined:

Dec 07

Posts: 20

reece34 says:

Re: Does the Peak District get a poor showing in Trail

Well ive just received my last copy of Trail Magazine after cancelling my subscription and low and behold.

Again not one route out of 16 anywhere close to the Peak District.Ooooh except for the 42 mile trek

Then we have more pages testing MORE sleeping bags and sleeping mats

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  • Posted 3 years ago (13 March 2011 11:24)
Screaming Tree

Joined:

Mar 08

Posts: 3556

Screaming Tree says:

Re: Does the Peak District get a poor showing in Trail

You won't win on this one I'm afraid. The majority of the terrain is not what Trail is all about

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  • Posted 3 years ago (13 March 2011 11:31)
julesandmissyg

Joined:

Feb 07

Posts: 886

julesandmissyg says:

Re: Does the Peak District get a poor showing in Trail

RobLilley said:
I'm not sure that the issue is with the areas that Trail covers, it's a much wider one. Here in the UK the vast majority of "young people" see hiking/walking as being an "old persons" activity and "boring". I'm 27 and most of my mates still think I'm an old duffer because I go "walking"
------ End Quote ------

Please, God, don't try and market hiking as an adrenaline sport.

 

The problem is with the young people, not the activity. Hiking in other countries is loved by younger people but, by and large, that is because they are more appreciative of what hiking can offer, not because it is packaged any differently (perhaps they do that in the States, but not so in Europe and other parts of the world). 

If in doubt, walk.
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  • Posted 3 years ago (14 March 2011 15:13)

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