Our Shop Window

Merry Christmas to all our customers. We're closing at 4:00pm today and here are our opening hours over Christmas and New Year: Saturday 25th December CLOSED Sunday 26th December CLOSED Monday 27th December CLOSED Tuesday 28th December OPEN 10:00am TO 4:00pm Wednesday 29th December OPEN NORMAL HOURS Thursday 30th December OPEN NORMAL HOURS Friday 31st December OPEN 9:00am TO 4:00pm Saturday 1st January CLOSED Sunday 2nd January CLOSED Monday 3rd January CLOSED From Tuesday 4th January normal opening hours apply

We promised we would keep customers up to date with the erratic deliveries we've been receiving recently. The back log from the transport difficulties here in Scotland a couple of weeks ago is now easing and this means that we currently have good stocks of Buff products, including standard, junior, merino and polar versions We've also had a delivery of base layers from Helly Hansen. This includes the lightweight stripe crew necks and fly pants at £25 each The Prowool Freeze half zip at £50 is also back in stock When the first lot of snow came at the end of November lots of people found that wellies just weren't warm enough and found that they got on better with their walking boots and then gaiters to keep the snow out. We ran out of gaiters a coulpe of weeks ago as a result but we now also have them back in stock starting at £15 for the Tundra gaiter , £17 for the front fastening Alpine gaiter and £23 for the eVent Perma gaiter So that takes care of the deli

The Harrogate branch is open today, the last Sunday before Christmas between 11:00am and 4:00pm

Here's the details of our opening hours over the holiday period:

Slightly delayed by all that snow, the Winter edition of Scotland Outdoors is now available in our Peebles store, packed with inspirational ideas for enjoying the best of Scotland this winter.

Parcelforce made it through the snow and ice that's got central Scotland grid locked and we now have The North Face Tent Mules available in Peebles. Hurry because we don't expect stocks to last long. The North Face Tent Mule £29

We have quite a few customers waiting for our stock of The North Face Tent Mules (or North Face slippers to most people) to arrive in our Peebles branch. The North Face Tent Mule £29 We spoke to our distributor at the end of last week and they were on their way to us at that time. We expect to have them available to sell in a few days, but deliveries are being severley hampered by the bad weather so we can't confirm the exact date at this time. We will update this blog when we have them and also our Facebook page. Follow the link in the top right hand corner of our main website or click here to join us on Facebook and get the most up to date information.

The Harrogate branch is open today Sunday 5th December from 11:00am until 3:00pm so if you've been snowed in all week why not make the most of this additional shopping opportunity

With weather like this it's hard not to get into the Christmas Spirit and Peebles Christmas Lights are being switched on tonight. In common with most shops in the town we'll be open from 6:30pm - 8:30pm, a chance to get in out of the cold and do a spot of Christmas shopping too.

It hardly seems any time since we were last posting on this subject but we want to assure all our customers that despite the current bad weather we are very much open for business , in both Harrogate and Peebles . We all live within walking distance of the shops so we are able to get there even when its snowy (whether you can reach us or not is, of course, another matter!). Scheduled deliveries to us are currently being delayed to varying degrees- so if you need us to order anything, please ensure you leave a little leeway in your timescale to take this into account.

Haglofs Map Beanie New in the Peeebles branch is the Haglöfs Map Beanie £25 , a knitted reversible activity beanie with excellent thermal properties and minimal pack volume. Knitted in a lovely soft merino/acrylic blend this cap feels like a comfort blanket for your head. The simple no-seam hems minimise bulk and the flatlock seams ensure comfort. It has quite a deep crown, so can be worn loose or snugly with the hem turned up to the desired height. The care labels inside are bar-tacked in place- so once you’ve read them, they are simply removed in order to reveal the reverse colour pattern. Sweden recently banned by law the sale of merino wool products sourced from sheep that have undergone the controversial procedure of Mulesing- so the source of the merino wool in this hat is Mulesing-free. Weight: 55 g (size M) Colour: deep red/mellow red Fabric: 60% Merino Wool (Mulesing free) 40% Acrylic Haglofs Barrier Vest The Barrier Vest £70 , needs no introduction, having be

This winter Buff have introduced the new Reversible Buff to their range, a buff lined with Polartec Microfleece giving you the option of fleece side in or out when you use any of the styles of wear. Here's a video from the Buff European website to show you how.

The new Glade jacket from Haglofs is a highly technical and full- featured waterproof shell that also happens to be manufactured using a durable recycled fabric. Concentrating on the technical features first, you will find that the Proof 946 recycled fabric is waterproof and highly breathable to handle diverse weather conditions. The design of the jacket features: Full front zipper with dual storm flaps Two large torso pockets with watertight zippers One laminated chest pocket Watertight pit-zips for increased ventilation 3-way adjustable hood with a foam and wire supported peak Three inner mesh pockets (one zipped) Articulated sleeves Velcro adjustable cufs Single-hand adjustable hem Rear hang loop A DWR treatment that's free of harmful chemicals.  Haglofs Men's Glade jacket £200  Haglofs Women's Glade Jacket £200 The attention to detail that's shown in the design of this jacket is also evident in the consideration Haglofs have given to its en

The Grisport Bowness has been a popular boot in our Peebles branch for quite some time now, its flexible comfort and classic good looks making it a popular choice for general pupose use and walking the hills and forests around the town. When we heard that manufacturers Grisport were discontinuing the model, we used the opportunity to introduce two new models (both already a success with our customers in Harrogate) that combine the comfort and flexibility that the Bowness offered with a waxed leather upper, that's easier to maintain and keeps its looks longer than the Bowness's Nubuck. They also offer a quality branded Vibram sole, an upgarde on the own-brand sole that the Bowness featured.. For men we have introduced the Everest at £70 available in sizes 41-46 For women, we have introduced the Hurricane also at £70 and available in sizes 37-41 We still have a few pairs of Bowness left and while they are still available they can be purchased at the offer price of £50 .

It's been a while since customers have been able to buty Zamberlan boots in our Harrogate branch but we're pleased to say that you can now with the introduction of the Vioz GT , a contemporary update of a classic 3-season hill walking boot currently available in men's size 42-46 at £165.00 (For more info visit the footwear section of our website here ) We're also pleased to announce the return of one of the most popular women's boots we've ever sold the Ultralite currently available in sizes 38-41 at £140.00 (For more info visit the footwear section of our website here )

Montane's Liberty jacket, a truly classic fleece has just received a 5* review in Adventure Travel Magazine. This women's fleece is available in our Peebles branch for £75

Award-winning magazine Scotland Outdoors has just launched its tenth issue, available now and throughout the autumn in our Peebles branch. With the usual mix of fantastic photography and interesting articles there is something for everyone, wherever your outdoor interests lie.

A reminder to visitors to Peebles enjoying the Peebles Walking Festival. We're open tonight and Tuesday night until 7pm, so there is no need to rush back from your walk to take advantage of your festival participant discount and our special offers. You should have received our brochure letting you know what's on offer in your festival Welcome Pack. We hope to see many of you over the next two evenings

If you are planning a visit to our Peebles branch please take note that we will be closed early at 1:00pm on Tuesday 31st August in order to undertake our stock take. Everything will be back to normal from 9:00am on 1st September. Thanks for your patience and sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Our Harrogate branch will be closed on Monday 30th August for the Bank holiday. The following day we will be doing our stock take in the morning, so please be advised that we will not be open until 1:00pm on Tuesday 31st August. (If we get finished with our counting earlier than this we will open the doors sooner!) Thanks for your patience and sorry for any inconvenience caused.

We're gradually building up the range of our products that you can browse online before you make an in-store purchase. Tents are the latest addition and can be found on our website here . As always, we like talking to our customers so if you have any questions about what you see, just give us a call.

There might be a hosepipe ban in Cumbria but around here, the combination of heat, hills and Northwesterly winds heading our way from the Atlantic via the Highlands makes for a much more changeable weather picture. All of which makes this the ideal time to pick yourself up a new summer waterproof jacket in our Peebles branch Sunshine and Showers Summer Sale of lightweight performance waterproofs.

Our Harrogate branch currently has some rarely available sale offers on selected Paramo garments. Availability is strictly limited so don’t waste any time in contacting us to check availabilty.

Peebles Beltane Festival is just about to begin, a week of community celebrations beginning on Sunday 20th June. Customers from outwith Peebles should note that there will be some traffic disruption through the town, mainly on the Wedensday and Friday evenings. In common with most local businesses in the town centre we will be CLOSED ON SATURDAY 26TH JUNE . It's traditionally expected to allow staff to enjoy the festivities and as David and I have primary school age children who are heavily involved in events on Saturday we aren't able to open. We apologise to any customers planning to travel to Peebles for any inconvenience caused. General enquiries arising on Saturday can be directed to our Harrogate branch, contact details here . You can find out more about the Beltane festival here  http://www.peeblesbeltanefestival.co.uk/index.html

The summer 2010 issue of Scotland Outdoors is available now in our Peebles branch packed with the usual inspiring mix of conservation and outdoor adventure stories including mountain bike touring in the Cairngorms; exploring Orkney; the impact of new legislation to protect marine bio-diversity and a review of the first full year of the Scottish Beaver Trial.

Available in our Peebles branch and costing £100 the Rab Vapour-rise Lite is an active cut soft shell jacket constructed from wind resistant Pertex® Equilibrium combined with a lightweight wicking lining for warmer days. By balancing wind resistance and breathability the Vapour-rise Lite Jacket creates a comfortable operating environment through a wide range of activities. For high intensity activities like running and mountain biking the Vapour-rise Lite makes an excellent cold-weather outer layer and in warmer weather it comes into it’s own for hill-wallking and mountaineering use. If, like us, you enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities all year round, the Vapour-rise Lite could easily become one of your most versatile garments. A size medium weighs only 390g and features include:   Excellent wicking properties and fast drying fabrics Collar drawcord to help keep out the elements (men’s) 2 optimum access chest pockets Reflective trim details Full length 2 way zip Single e

The award-winning Marmot Mica Jacket (2010 price £100 and available in our Peebles branch) is aimed squarely at the lightweight gear enthusiast; incredibly it weighs only 198g . This is thanks, in part, to the minimalist design featuring attached adjustable hood, two zipped pockets and adjustable Velcro cuffs and to the Angel-Wing Movement™ cut, which gives a neat fit whilst retaining excellent freedom of movement. But the really clever technology is in the fabric used. Marmot’s own Membrain®Strata™ a waterproof, breathable 2.5 layer fabric that weighs only 2.2oz per square yard (the imperial units used there are explained by Marmot’s US heritage!) The geeky bit: MemBrain® Strata™ employs Marmot’s own lightweight waterproof / breathable technology. It’s a laminated fabric, rather than a coating, that rates a 20,000mm hydrostatic head and 20,000 gr in breathability. This level of performance is comparable to, or exceeds, many more expensive fabrics in this area of the marketplace

Lots of you drop by on a Friday afternoon for last minute bits and pieces before you head off for the weekend's adventures so we wanted to let you know that the Peebles shop will be shut a little earlier than usual this Friday at 5pm

You might have noticed that it's been unseasonally cold lately. The BBC News team certainly did and prepared a piece which they filmed at Harlow Carr Gardens in Harrogate about the late frosts and the problems they might cause for gardeners. They also came to Out & About and filmed and interviewed Pat about the things we've been selling this month that we wouldn't normally expect our customers to need in May, which included a down jacket the other day. It was scheduled to be shown on the evening news last night "unless Gordon Brown does something dramatic..........." So unfortunately our soon-to-be-ex-Prime Minister prevented Pat from enjoying his few seconds of fame.

We have just taken delivery of new products from Paramo in our Harrogate Branch . There are fresh new colours for established favourites like the men’s and ladies’ Cascada Jacket and some technical new introductions in the guise of the versatile Summit Hoodie co-ordinated with the Fuera Ascent windproof jacket.

Not a great deal of work got completed yesterday afternoon as we all succumbed to the temptations that lie between the covers of Scotland Outdoors magazine after Richard Rowe dropped off our copies of the latest edition. If the front cover cyclists riding along a Hebridean beach aren't enough to convince you that Spring is nearly here and that you should start making your outdoor expeditions plans then there is plenty more inspiration inside. There are articles on sea kayaking, hill-running, sea-eagles, bothies and an Exploration of Wester Ross. Scotland Outdoors is available in store all spring for £3.80

Since the middle of December, the hills and mountains of Scotland have been covered, to varying degrees, in snow but before that, in November you might recall it was just very wet and very windy. In the middle of what was probably the wettest and windiest weekend of them all we headed up to Loch Tulla with the intention of climbing Stob Gabhar. Strong winds and swollen rivers put paid to that plan but the weekend was salvaged with a trek along the stretch of the West Highland Way running north towards Kingshouse. It rained...alot but in between the extremely heavy showers we enjoyed the desolation of Rannoch Moor and glimpses of peaks that we'll save for another day. Overnight camp at Loch Tulla- not raining yet The rain clouds headed our way from the south with the wide-ranging view giving us plenty of warning of when to don waterproof overtrousers. We've used this next photo in our window display cards this March taken high up on the moor looking back towards Bridge of Orchy

Back in November we reported on the success of ex-Out & About Saturday Staff Andy Houseman on the North Face of Chang Himal. In partnership with Nick Bullock he suceeded in this notable first ascent. Their climb has now been recognised by the selection committee of the prestigious Piolet d'Or and is one of five nominees for the 2010 award. The news is extensively covered in the climbing media: The British Mountaineering Council UKclimbing Piolet d'Or

Sealskinz socks have a unique seamless three-layer construction that works together to keep your feet warm, dry and comfortable. The inner lining wicks moisture away from your skin and is made from either Coolmax, or in the case of the newly introduced Walking Sock £28 , Merino wool for warmth and comfort. The waterproof, breathable membrane that makes up the mid layer typically has a breathability greater than 65% WVP. The outer layer is designed for extra durability and abrasion resistance with stretch properties to ensure a good fit. There are approximately 10 models in the Sealskinz sock range, each aimed at a different end-use. Sealskinz Walking Sock with elasticated arch and ankle support

Our range of Lifesystems First Aid Kits are, for obvious reasons, displayed with the zip fasteners secured closed, so we thought we’d present you with an opportunity to view the contents on line. The Trek £13 is one of our most popular models containing 23 essential items for self-treatment of minor injuries.

Our Peebles branch will be closed for one day only on Monday 15th February- we apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause. Staff in our Harrogate branch will be available to answer any queries you may have. You can find our contact details here  . Opening hours return to normal on Tuesday 16th February

We're all in the midst of the Big Freeze but if you've been following the news you'll be aware that things are particularly bad in the Scottish Borders at the moment, we've been pretty well cut-off from everywhere else, with the police advising people to stay at home unless its a life-or-death situation. We'd like to reassure everyone that despite the thick ice on the inside of the window (see pictures below) our Peebles shop is open for business as usual even though many shops in the town's High Street are currently closed. So far this morning we've been able to help people out with water containers so they can take water to their horses in frozen fields, emergency blankets to help thaw out pipes and small gas stoves and gas cartridges when they are without power (and of course warm socks). In between customers we've been helping free cars stuck outside the shop. As we are not currently receiving deliveries, we are running low on some items but