The December issue of TGO is out now. I’ve some gear reviews this month. Firstly a detailed look at the Primus Micron III stove. Then a review of the Rab Neutrino Pro 700 sleeping bag, which I tested extensively last winter, as Lucy Wallace did with the Mammut Women’s Perform Down Bag -10C. Lastly there’s a mats feature in which I review 3 mats as does Steph Wetherall.

Also in the gear pages James Roddie reviews six 2-person and group tents, Fiona Russell tests the Compressport Full Legs Recovery 2.0 tights, and Kirsty Pallas praises her indestructible Patagonia R1 fleece in The Long Review.

Gear also features in a big photo essay by Max Leonard and Henry Iddon based on their book Mountain Style, which is wonderful and highly recommended (disclaimer: I did write the Intro).

In other big features Hanna Lindon takes a stroll through 4 billion years of geology in the British hills and Isa Taylor discovers a network of trails in the Sierra de la Serrella not far from Alicante.

The annual Winters Skills Special returns this month with advice and tips from Glenmore Lodge.

In shorter pieces Nadia Shaikh honours the red fox, I review Nicola Hardy’s Peak Bagging Munros Volume 1, conservationist Dave Sexton describes his life, Jim Perrin revisits Moelfre in the Rhinogydd, and Juls Stodel writes about modern mountain legends and stories.

In Wild Walks the writers describe favourite winter hill walks. Roger Butler goes up Gleouraich and Spidean Mialach in the West Highlands. Ian Battersby covers two walks in the North Pennines, Collier Law and Fatherley Hill and then Burnhope Hill. Vivenne Crow has a pair too, over in the Lake District - High Raise via Greenup Gill and Stybarrow Dodd. Also in the Lakes James Forrest does the Newlands Round and Norman Hadley climbs Helvellyn and Catsye Cam.