Thetownend.com

Does anyone on here fell walk, and if so can you recommend a decent 40-50l rucksack?

Yes.
Must be waterproof with a decent amount of padding / ventilation around your back. Can't recommend a specific make, but there are plenty to choose from. I like one to have plenty of pockets and loops to attach walking poles to.

I don't get walking poles, just seem like something extra to carry to me

I must admit that they help my knees going down and sadly i am not 40 yet!

I've got a couple of poles, but only ever use the one. It's very light....so you hardly notice the weight.

Invaluable during winter, when the paths turn to slop or there's snow and ice on the ground.  In fact, when the latter situation prevails, I use my pole for going around Old Town....amazing the number of people who just fall over.

I'm nearly 50 and have got fairly dodgy knees. Maybe I should give the poles a bit more of a chance. Where are you planning on walking? I am organising a trip to Skye to walk in the Cuillins (or however you spell it!)

One of the peculiarities of walking, which I found out in my heyday of doing LDP's carrying a pack, is that there's more pressure on various body parts going downhill, rather than, as common sense would suggest going uphill.

Before I had the pole, I'd just find a suitable ash stick or something from a hedge and use that....

I live in North Lancashire so get up to the dales and lakes a fair bit.

Used to walk a hell of a lot but what with work and now a young daughter don't get out too much.

Apart from boots and bits and pieces not bought anything recently but I have to admit that my day sack  (a karrimor hot route) has reached the end! Hence the questions....

Looking at Osprey Talon or Kestral?

What paths you done Reg? We did about half the West Highland Way about 10 years back, but we were short of time and rushing it. After three days just sacked it off as due to rushing it just wasn't fun!

I assumed this was going to lead to one of your lady stories.
I'm disappointed in you, Reg

Agree no point in rushing a path just to say you've done it...doing them in stages is Ok by me.

Offa's Dyke.....Ridgeway.....Dales Way.....Wye Valley Walk....Cotswold Way.

Done large chunks of SW Coast Path, (including all the Dorset Jurrasic coast bit) chunks of Pennine Way, and Pembroke Coast Path.

Other chunks of things like Wessex Ridgeway, Wessex Way, Test Way, Wayfarers Way.

In fact, there are so many of these little localish paths around, it's quite wonderful....some of them are quite short, like the Wimpole Way in Cambridgeshire, which is essentially a day's walk.

Of recent vintage....the Wales Coast Path is something I'd maybe look at doing.

If it wasn't for Poles, we'd all have to wash our own cars

I have noticed, that the new Polish restaurant in the original Los Gatos, has got a couple of Polish lovelies as serving wenches. Not ventured in yet, waiting to get a report from Chubbs or someone.

Didn't fB used to have webcam in there...

Gotohospital

Used to do lots of walking, but the wife isn't keen and the kids get bored too quick for the long distance stuff.

I walked the Pennine Way about 25 years ago. Have done large chunks of the Lake District and the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path.

Also used to go Letterboxing on Dartmoor, and would love to start that again.