British English for Hikers

American English and English English are not always the same language. Here is some English English that might just baffle Americans enjoying the pleasure of hiking in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

aye – yes (Scotland, northern England)
beck – stream
ben – mountain (Scotland)
biscuit – cookie
brae – hill (Scotland)
burn – stream (Scotland)
downs – rolling, grassy hills
drove road – ancient route used to bring livestock to market
glen – valley (Scotland)
glyn – valley (Wales)
jumper – sweater
kissing gate- swinging gate that allows passage of hikers (but not animals)
ladder stile – Over walls and fences via two ladders, back to back
moor – high, open, treeless area
Ordnance Survey (OS) – the British mapping agency
pen – peak (Wales)
pike – peak (northern England)
ramble – a short to medium length hike
sack – backpack
squeeze gate – narrow gap in wall allows people, not animals, throughj
tarn – small mountain lake
twitchers – avid bird-watchers
way – a long distance trail