A Rambler's Christmas Gift Guide 2019
Unbelievably, this is our third Christmas Gift Guide since we launched Ramble in 2017! December has to be one of our favourite times to head out walking; a time of first frosts and empty moors, snowy forests (please!) and icy lakes. We take a lot of inspiration in this Gift Guide from the beauty and simplicity of the landscapes at this time of year. It reminds us what little we need, what we truly appreciate, and what really matters.
This Christmas Gift Guide focuses on British craftsmanship; independent makers doing wonderful things on our own island. Items that you will cherish for years and years, for the love that goes into their creation and that similarly goes into their giving and receiving.
Contoured Coasters by Of Alp & Ash
Founder of Of Alp & Ash, Debs, was inspired to create her laser-cut Contoured Coasters after hiking all 214 Wainwrights one year and staring at a map for so long! She wanted to try to recreate the detail that goes into a map, onto something beautiful you can place your mug of steaming coffee onto. And so Of Alp & Ash was born; beautifully hand-crafted coasters that make for the perfect gift for any outdoor lover. Each coaster is hand-cut on oak-veneered plywood and finished with Danish oil. The maps are accurate to a scale of 1:25,000 and feature summits, lakes, reservoirs tarns and roads. Buy either a single coaster, or a set of 4 or 6 and choose from a whole range of British National Parks; from the Lake District to the Cairngorms to the Three Peaks. You can even choose which peaks you want to purchase to personalise your gift for every avid rambler.
Contoured Coasters: Buy 1 for £8, a set of 4 for £24 or a set of 6 for £32.
Fire & Wild Feast
The perfect gift for that person who loves the outdoors and food (don’t we all?), an immersive outdoor dining experience with Sussex-based company, Fire & Wild. Fire & Wild focus on wild food and cooking with fire, and host numerous events throughout the year that invite people to go wild camping, foraging, and cooking on fire with seasonal ingredients. Their next event is COOKING WITH FIRE: FUR, FEATHER + FIN in March 2020, where guests receive a masterclass in cooking with fire and create a three course meal with ingredients such as rabbit, wood pigeon, and wild garlic. This would be the perfect gift and an unforgettable experience for someone special.
Cooking with Fire: Fur, Feather & Fin: £125
Findra Merino Buff
Scottish-based brand, FINDRA, design and make all their Merino goods in the UK using Australian-sourced ethical wool. These buffs are an ideal present for someone who loves wandering in colder temperatures, to keep your neck and head toasty and your heart happy on wanders in the hills. We love this Moss Green colour as it complements our favourite landscapes perfectly, while being soft, comfortable and practical for walking. Pair it with a pair of 100% Merino socks to make the perfect gift combination.
Merino Buff: £30
RMBLR Laces
It is a little-known truth that a new pair of laces for your favourite rambling boots can almost entirely change your shoe and make you feel like you’re walking in new leather… it’s true! RMBLR’s laces are manufactured in the UK from a supplier with over 50 years of experience in making boot and shoe laces. Choose from a range of colours and style, our favourite (featured in this photo) being the Flat Stone laces to give our Danner’s a new look.
RMBLR Laces: £3.99
Ceramics by George Bronwin Mug
We can’t deny that we’ve been a little bit obsessed with all of George Bronwin’s ceramics since we first got our hands on a little mug pale blue earlier this year. George is a potter based in Islington, North London, who designs and makes all his own ceramics from a home-grown potting conservatory. The colours, patterns and textures of George’s ceramics are all simply beautiful, and to us evoke days beside the sea with the bold teal mugs, walks in snowy hills with the white speckled design, and pale pink sunrises with the lucent pink mugs - any of which would be perfect to drink a cup of tea out of after a day walking in the hills. George also makes beautiful serving dishes, salt and pepper pots, vases and much more.
Single Mug: from £25-30. DM George on Instagram for commissions and enquiries.
Dark Woods Coffee
Based in the West Yorkshire Pennines, Darkwoods Coffee is our go-to brew to fill a flask with when heading into the hills. The company take inspiration from the surrounding wild moorland, dry-stone walls and woodland of their home in West Yorkshire, where they are based in an old mill beside an industrial canal on the edge of Marsden Village.There is an array of flavours available in Dark Woods’ blends, our favourite being Deer Hill - named after a nearby hill and reservoir, and Good Morning Sunshine.
Snow Stone: Buy the Darkwoods winter blend for £6.95 in their shop.
Home of Millican Originals Backpack
It’s your last chance to get your hands on one of Lake District-based brand, Home of Millican’s, original rucksacks. This 22L Matthew the Daypack includes both a laptop and water bottle holders, taking you from town to hills. It is made from 100% organic cotton canvas with a recycled polyester rain-cover. We love the design and look of this beautiful backpack, which is currently reduced and will be discontinued when stock runs out.
Matthew the Daypack: £112
Woodland Woodcarving Workshop with miscellaneous adventures
Spend a whole day in the woods with Miscellaneous Adventures learning the foundations of woodcarving, from using an axe to whittling your own wooden spoon. Miscellaneous Adventures are dedicated to teaching woodland-based outdoor skills, as well as selling their own range of camping gear. We think this workshop is ideal for that person who is eager to learn the foundations of woodcarving and spend more time outdoors doing something a little bit different.
Woodcarving Workshop: £120
Do Wild Baking / Food, Fire & Good Times by Tom Herbert
This beautifully written and photographed book inspires you to get outside, build a campfire, and bake your own food. Written by Tom Herbert, a UK-based 5th generation baker, the book includes over 50 recipes; from Beer Bread to Hot Smoked Salmon, grouped by location taking you from mountains to beaches, rivers to forests. Wherever you find yourself out in the wild, this book allows you to cook up some tasty recipes and offers practical advice on wild baking.
Do Wild Baking: £8.99
A Stay at Brownber Hall
Gifting a loved one with a stay at Brownber Hall will be one they will remember for a long, long time. Comfortably nestled in the rolling Howgill Fells, within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Brownber Hall is ideal for lovers of good design, classic style, country walks and delicious food. Enjoy curling up in front of the wood-burning stove after a day walking over The Calf, with views over to the Lake District from its barren summit. Brownber will treat you to a delicious dinner and sunrise views of the fells right from your bedroom window. A winter retreat at Brownber is a perfect way to rejuvenate in nature and explore a little-known part of the British Isles.
We hope this Gift Guide inspires you to shop more locally. In fact, our favourite thing would be for you to wander into your local town and buy right there from stores who so lovingly source and craft these items.
Merry Christmas, ramblers, and may it be a festive period of moorland walks, snowy forests and cosy fires.
Team Ramble x