The perfect foraging kit

It's that lush time of year when wild garlic covers the forest floor and hedgerows are soon to be bursting with elderflower blossom and Jack-in-the-Hedge. Don't let it go to waste. We've compiled the perfect clothing and kit, from waterproof forest boots to a horn-gilded blade, to ensure a fruitful forage, whatever the weather...

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Field Stool

They say good things come in threes. Well here's a three-legged stool comprised of three simple materials, English ash, brass and leather. When folded you can carry this little beauty over the shoulder while you scan the hedgerows and use it while you're cooking your foraged bounty on a campfire. This is a Lissom & Muster collaboration with leather goods maker Cherchbi; using leather sourced from a Derbyshire tannery. Every step of the process, from sourcing the Hereford cattle hides, to leather tanning, to forging brassware, to finishing, is a British product or process.

£210

Forest boots

Something light, durable, waterproof and, of course, pleasing to the eye – that's pretty much what we want from a walking boot, right? Jonas Lundhag's Forest Boot is a fine cross between a rubber boot and a walking boot and it ticks the right boxes for us – it's leather, it's beautiful and it's waterproof, all the while being surprisingly lightweight.

£210

Hunter Flask

Another fine Lissom & Muster collaboration with British leather goods maker Cherchbi, this flask is something that should always be in your rucksack or field bag. We love it, firstly, because it's called a Hunter Flask. What a name. And secondly, it comes with four stainless steel cups so you can share a hedgerow gin with your foraging buddies on a well-earned break.

£120

Horn blade

A good sturdy knife is what you need to cut through branches or mushroom stems and this Barlow Knife by Taylors Eye Witness is just the job. They're handmade in Sheffield and each knife is unique because of the varying markings and colourings of the ramshorn handle. A fine country knife to keep in your pocket, always. Even if it's just to stroke and fondle the ramshorn handle from time to time.

£85

Filson coat

This Filson 'Alaska' fit coat is lightweight and strong, and allows for layering and mobility in the outdoors, so there's room for you to wear chunky knitwear underneath, if needs be. It is wind and water repellent, further enhanced by Filson's paraffin-based wax, and comes in a choice of Otter Green or Brown. The perfect outdoor coat, built to last a lifetime, folks.

£265

Field bag

For keeping your OS map and your hedgerow guidebook nice and dry, this Brady Ariel Trout bag is made from triple-layered waterproof canvas and trimmed with leather and brass fittings - all produced by English craftsmen.  It also comes with a removable, washable rubber liner. Now that's an Ernest bag if we ever saw one.

£150

Lissom & Muster sources and commissions the very best, authentic products, skilfully made for life in our landscape. Call in their beautiful shop on Tib Lane in the centre of Manchester or check them out online.

Millican Dalton: The Adventurous Spirit

Adventurous spirits all over the world can relate to Millican Dalton’s dream. In fact, many still talk of this self-styled "Professor of Adventure", who famously lived in a cave in the Borrowdale Valley, in the English Lake District, in the early 1900s. We journey into the world of Millican Dalton – who gave up his city life to seek romance and freedom.

“Forty years ago I was working as a clerk in a city office. Day after day I went to the office at the same time. But this was not the life for me. I gave up my job in the commercial world and set out to seek romance and freedom.”

— Millican Dalton, 1933 (while clinging to a large beech tree)

You could say Millican Dalton was the original outdoorsman. Even though his family moved from Cumberland to London when he was very young, Millican’s early childhood was spent climbing trees and mountaineering out of bedroom windows. By his late teens, Millican was exploring further afield with his brother Henry. Their bicycles loaded with heavy camping gear, they explored the Lake District, Scotland and Wales, making a hobby out of experimenting with lightweight equipment that would ease their long journeys.  

As a young adult, Millican fell in love with the Lake District. He and his brother spent every public holiday they could, camping in the Borrowdale and Wasdale Valleys – prime locations for hiking and climbing. They became engrossed in the outdoor scene that was emerging. At the time of the golden era of British rock-climbing, they were among the first to discover this adventurous outdoor lifestyle in the Lake District.

In search of Romance and Freedom

It might not come as a surprise that Millican was stifled in an office job. His office-bound career as a fire insurance clerk got in the way of the outdoor adventures he loved. He developed a powerful urge to live his life in the open, and he certainly lived out the dream.

In 1904 Millican famously left his job and conventional life behind, setting out to “seek romance and freedom." He defined these ideals in intriguing ways: "romance" as exploring one’s own personality and the potential of the mind; focussing on one’s passions and creative spirit (regardless of rules and protocol) and connecting with nature in order to appreciate its beauty. Millican’s number one priority was "non-conformation with society’s expectations." He really did break free.

“Use is everything. We dress too much, we eat too much, almost everything we do is too much. Put a man to it and see what he can come up with.”

— Millican Dalton

Wild camping in Borrowdale

Becoming a mountain guide was just the start of Millican’s original take on life. His new business led him to set up a living camp in the Borrowdale Valley. 

First at High Lodore Camp and later in his very own "Cave Hotel", Millican had all he needed – mountains and rocks where he’d share guided adventures, nature and spectacular scenery to enjoy while he cooked over his open fire. Shelter from the Lakeland weather was provided by a cave, which Millican claimed as his own and filled with his very few possessions (the most advanced of which was a sewing machine).

Millican lived with the firm belief that material possessions do not provide happiness and satisfaction. So he honed his campcraft and took great pleasure in his free and simple lifestyle. He became an expert in it.

Millican dressed for functionality never fashion, ate simple meals and focussed only on what he needed. Perhaps his only vices were his “ruling passion” for brewing very strong coffee, which he’d buy in Keswick town centre and lace with syrup, and his habit of smoking Woodbines.

Locals in the Lake District knew Millican as the Borrowdale Hermit. To tourists and aspiring adventures he became known as a leading light, whose guiding services were in great demand. On the inside wall of Millican’s Cave Hotel was an inscription that perhaps sums up his whole approach to life: “Don’t waste words, jump to conclusions”

Professor of Adventure

Millican took his mountain guiding very seriously. He ran a rigorous annual programme of camping tours, mountaineering experiences and "hair-breadth escapes." In the winter months, he grew his income by making camping equipment that he would rent out and sell.

Using everything he knew about the demands of lightweight cycle camping and his unrivalled experience in the outdoor world, Millican designed innovative tents, sleeping bags and rucksacks that were way ahead of his time. His two-man tent weighed less than 3.5 pounds, impressive even by today’s standards. Simple Egyptian cotton with a tight weave was the key – it was light to carry and in rain, the cotton would swell and become waterproof. He transformed woollen Jaeger blankets into sleeping bags, and made rucksacks to order. He called it “handicraft from a years user”.

Millican Dalton was a maverick. He celebrated sustainable living as a truly rewarding lifestyle, well before it became a modern day movement. And his natural affinity with the outdoors no doubt has a legacy in today’s world of challenges and pursuits. He valued romance and freedom over conventional gain and has inspired many others to follow their hearts in the same way. 

Jorrit & Nicky are co-founders of Millican, The Keswick Bag Co. Inspired by Millican Dalton’s life, they founded their company in the Lake District in his name. Millican make bags and accessories for outdoor living and travel, using sustainable materials, timeless styles and designs that are good for life. Read more about Millican Dalton in his biography Millican Dalton: The Life and Times of a Borrowdale Caveman.

Top 5 Planetariums

The night sky, projected onto giant domes above our heads. Them's be planetariums – the perfect immersive substitute for when nights are simply too cloudy for the real thing.

Royal Observatory, Greenwich

In issue one we compiled the perfect stargazing kit for an expedition up the hills. This is all fine if the skies are clear and you're a creature of the night, but if you find yourself flummoxed by cloudy skies, have no fear. Planetariums are here (and more buildings named after Sir Patrick Moore than you can shake a monocle at).

Royal Observatory, Greenwich

Surely the daddy of observatories in Britain? It's worth visiting for the architecture alone; the planetarium is housed inside a 45-ton bronze-clad truncated cone, tilted at 51.5˚ to the horizontal (the latitude of Greenwich), and stands parallel to (but 50 metres east of) the prime meridian. The cone is one of the single largest uses of bronze in the world; made from nearly 250 individual plates welded together and patinated to look like a single piece.

And inside it gets even more interesting. The planetarium combines real images from spacecraft and telescope with advanced CGI, projected onto the inside of the massive dome that will make you feel as though you're in a 360˚ cinema. As well as showing you the constellations of the night sky, it can fly you into the heart of the sun, transport you to distant galaxies, show you the birth of a star or land you on Mars.

The museum is also running the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition and is open for entries until 24 April.

Think Tank, Birmingham

Another immersive cinema experience. Could 360˚ sound and video be the future of cinema, as well as planetariums? According to film makers David Lynch and Steven Spielberg, it might well be:

"A dome is such a great shape to project a movie on. I think one day people will have domes in their homes. They’re magical" - David Lynch, The Art Newspaper, 2008

"Some day in the not too distant future you'll be able to go to a movie and the movie will be all around you. The movie will be over your head, it will be 360 degrees around you" - Steven Spielberg, TIME, 2006

This 70-seat planetarium has a huge hemispherical image of 3200x3200 pixels, and through Digistar 3 technology and LED projectors it can take you through the human body, under the ocean or shrink you to the size of an atom, as well as display the wonders of space before your very eye.

National Space Centre, Leicester

The Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium is the largest in Britain and was opened by the monocled legend in 2012 shortly before his death. It's currently showing We Are Aliens, a film exploring whether or not we are alone in the universe, narrated by Rupert Grint of Ron Weasley fame. At weekends they do a presenter-led tour of the night sky.

There's heaps to see besides the Planetarium in the Space Centre – there's the 42-metre high rocket tower, which has changed the Leicester skyline somewhat, and the newly opened Professor Clegg's Fantastical Observatorium, which takes you on a virtual mission to discover planets, stars, nebula and comets as they hurtle past Earth. Awesome day trip for kids.

World Museum, Liverpool

The museum's 62-seater planetarium has 30-minute shows – you can currently see one about the spring night sky, exploring its myths and constellations, and a show about the history of the telescope. Entry is free, just collect a ticket from the information desk on the day.

Don't just go for the planetarium though. The whole museum is a feast for the brain and eye – lose yourself among Egyptian mummies, Samurai armour, Anglo-Saxon treasure, Javanese shadow puppets and the hypnotic splendour of the aquarium. And it's free. FREE! God bless museums.

South Downs Planetarium, West Sussex

This 100-seat planetarium in Chichester was opened in 2001 after a seven-year fundraising campaign, led by the project's patron Sir Patrick Moore. It's entirely volunteer run.

Over April you can see recreations of the Northern Lights and understand how they come about, explore the stars and planets visible in the springtime sky, understand our nearest neighbour the Moon and see the latest images from the Hubble telescope. What a splendid facility.

We are indeed blessed to have these awesome educational facilities at our disposal, but there's nothing like the real thing is there? Buy issue one now for our guide to the perfect stargazing kit, and get up them hills quick smart.

A cycle and a well-deserved pint.

No cycle ride is complete without a well-earned pit stop. We asked Sustrans to choose their favourite rides that conveniently take you past some very fine watering holes. Think open fires, pub gardens, craft beer, dominoes and hearty fare. Bliss.

The Wild Rabbit on the Cotswold Line

The Peregrine Path, Herefordshire/Monmouthshire

This unique route straddles England and Wales, showcasing some of finest scenery in Britain.  Following the route of the River Wye, the route travels past a great pub called the Saracen’s Head at Symonds Yat – just under midway, it’s an ideal stopping off point. It's right on the water with spectacular views, and on a sunny day you have a bite to eat outside and happily watch the world, and a few boats, drift by.  

High Peak Trail, Derbyshire

This traffic-free route takes you through the Derbyshire Dales, offering stunning, panoramic views of the surrounding peaks.  At the end of the ride you’ll find the fantastic Royal Oak at Hurdlow. The food is beautiful and all ingredients are sourced within 20 miles of the pub. There is a campsite here, too, so it’s a perfect place to pitch up and relax for the night if you are planning a multi-day trip.  

Aire Valley Towpath, Yorkshire

The Aire Valley Towpath in Yorkshire passes through urban areas and tranquil countryside, connecting the shopping Mecca of central Leeds with nearby Bingley. The highlight of the route is Saltaire – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It has amazing architecture, galleries, boutiques and antique shops.  And as luck would have it, it also has an award-winning brewery, where a pint of Cascadian Black comes highly recommended. Or two if you're sticking around…

The Cotswold Line, Oxfordshire

This ride takes you into the heart of the Cotswolds and through the quaint village of Kingham – where we recommend stopping in at the newly opened Wild Rabbit pub. Stylish yet traditional, this pub is the perfect pitstop.  Relax into one of the large leather chairs in front of the roaring fire and sample beers from local artisan breweries. There's dominoes, too. Now you're talking.   

Bath Two Tunnels Circuit, Somerset

This scenic 13-mile loop between Bath and Midford not only takes you through the longest cycling tunnel in Britain, but conveniently past the fantastic 18th-century Wheelwrights Arms in Monkton Combe. If you feel you’ve earned another rest stop (who are we to judge), take a slight detour to the Hope and Anchor in the Cam Valley, Midford, which is on the new Colliers Way cycle path that leads straight into the pub car park.

Sustrans is a leading charity enabling people to choose healthier, cleaner and cheaper journeys on two wheels. sustrans.org.uk

Behind the cover: Fern Leigh Albert

This brooding stone circle on the wilds of Dartmoor was the cover photo of our first issue, captured by someone who lives in a wooden cabin on the edge of a wood.

Scorhill Stone Circle, Dartmoor: Fern Leigh Albert

Tell us the story behind the cover photo.

On the day I shot the cover image, it was a crisp January day and the sky was changing fast.

Scorhill stone circle is a mystical place. It’s surrounded by stark moorland and surprisingly large in circumference and stone. I've been to many stone circles but this one beats them all. In fact it’s known as the Stonehenge of Dartmoor. One of my favourite folklore stories about the stones tells of a fierce ogre who used to live there, they say he had a passion for sheep and any that strayed near would be killed, butchered and eaten.

I used a medium format Bronica SQ-A. It's pretty heavy and highly unpractical but I find it does what it's told and produces more organic imagery. Something that lends itself well to my subject matter, which often involves landscapes, parts of animals and greenery.

How you did get into photography?

Taking pictures hasn't been a lifelong obsession, it's just something I always did. It wasn’t until my grandfather died that I started to take it more seriously; he was a photographer and a great inspiration to me.

What else inspires you?

I live in a 32-acre woodland on the edge of Dartmoor. I’m surrounded by nature and birdsong. This itself is hugely inspiring but the people around me continue to be a massive source of inspiration, too, whether it’s seeing people healed by hedgerow herbs, learning about bird anatomy or animal husbandry. It’s all incredibly wholesome and real, I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Any exciting projects for 2014?

Yes, I've just been awarded some funding from the Arts Charity Ideastap to complete a series of work later on in the year. It’s based in South West Ireland and focuses on the mediative quality of nature. It will involve time spent in remote places, although I can't tell you too much because it will ruin the surprise.

Where would you like to go, anywhere in the world, and why?

Aaah, there are so many places I’d like to visit. As a child I wanted to go to the land at the top of the Faraway Tree, then to the moon and later the Serengeti. I’ve never visited any of these places but making imagery gives me the possibility to create any world I like. I guess that’s what’s exciting about being a photographer, the possibilities are endless.

Finish the following sentence. I have never...

…wanted a ‘real’ job.

What's on your bedside table?

Sitting next to my bed is a head-torch, a hot water bottle, an old copy of The British Journal of Photography and a couple of tatty books; Ekhart Tolle’s Stillness Speaks and The Summer Book by Moomin creator Tove Jansson.

I’m particularly fond of The Summer Book; it tells the story of a grandmother and her granddaughter who spend their summer on a tiny island in the Gulf of Finland. It’s a beautiful tale of their simple adventures. They discuss things that affect them both, like life, death, the nature of God and love:

“Gathering is peculiar, because you see nothing but what you're looking for. If you're picking raspberries, you see only what's red, and if you're looking for bones you see only the white. No matter where you go, the only thing you see is bones.”

You can read about Fern's extraordinary life in humble wooden dwellings on the edge of Dartmoor and see more of her spell-binding photography in issue one, on sale now. 

fernleighalbert.com