As a outdoors and climbing equipment shop, Outside is one of the best in the Peak district, if not…read morethe country. They have great sales, the people are knowledgeable (although the guys in the climbing section can be a bit arrogant) and the stock is good, high quality stuff. In other words, the opposite end of the spectrum to Blacks or Millets. Come here if you need to buy a waterproof jacket, walking boots or maps. There's a cafe upstairs too, which is very popular on wet days with walkers and climbers. It's ok, but nothing to write home about.

From the owner: For over 25 years Outside has been equipping climbers and walkers with the equipment, clothing and…read morefootwear that they need. We offer specialist advice and competitive prices on hundreds of products, whether you're going for an afternoon stroll in the Peak District or are about to embark on a 2 month expedition to the Himilayas.

The Army and Navy Stores have been in Heswall since the army began! Well not that long, but as long…read moreas I can remember going past it on the school bus! It's your stereotypical Army Surplus store, with a range of rather pricey survival esque gear. They sell gore text jackets and pants, waterproofs, camping stoves, knives, camo piant, cooking materials and fire lighting equipment, books on survival, compasses..The list goes on. They're very helpful in here and I would recommend going for a browse if you're facing any extreme weather conditions or if you need a tent or if you're joining the army! They seem to be doing well in the face of the recession which is always nice to see when it's a shop that people could probably boycott for the likes of Aldi,B and M and of course,, the internet.

I have found that the Army and Navy stores seem to have gone from our High Streets now !! , the…read morefirst Time I ever used the shop was to get a shoulder bag to carry my sandwiches and papers to work and the other bits that make our world revolve , the shop I used near Central Station Liverpool is now well gone !!! . Well Im now retired and dont need the butty bag anymore but I do have a hobby and dont laugh cos its Metal detecting ! (magic Hobby), I now live in Runcorn the costa del sol of Cheshire and whilst havine a run around last week I spotted the heswall Army and Navy Stores !! , I went in and looked about then bought a couple of items right away , the Service and help was magic ( service is something you dont normally get these days) . Later that week I went onto the site for the shop on the Net and saw more items that I wanted so placed an order on line , three days later they were delivered (Magic) . They now have another regular customer !!!! . Mal Asterley

Popped in here early Saturday morning as my better half's boots had given up the ghost immediately…read morebefore we set off to take on the Watkin Path. We were expertly and enthusiastically aided by a chap who's name I unfortunately didn't catch who found us a great replacement pair (to some very stringent requirements) and went very much above and beyond to make sure we were fully set. I'm glad to report that the boots made it comfortably up the path and back down again and are ready for their next adventure. Many thanks!

Great one stop shop for pretty much all major out door activities. Good range of equiptment, well…read morepriced and helpful staff on hand to assist you. They have a cycle surgery for maintainance and repairs to bikes. Good range of footwear and kit for the snow. It's a good idea to call ahead should you be after something specific just to check it's in stock.

Moutain Warehouse is possibly my favourite outdoor clothing shop after our recent visit!…read more We were initially only browsing at the footwear section, when we noticed a sale rail at the fron of the shop with ski salopettes on. As we are going to Iceland, we figured that warm clothes would be a plus, and were more than happy to pay upto £50 for warm trousers as this is roughly what we've seen so far, so imagine our surprise and happiness when we realised they were all priced at £10!! We came out of the shop with £190 worth of trousers for £30 which was incredible. And they're a really good make. Will definitely be making another trip before we go away as who knows what other bargains we might pick up I also like that the shop is just by one of the railing openings so you can get straight back onto the car park.

Mountain Warehouse is yet another outdoor clothing shop which sells cheaper alternatives to more…read moreexpensive shops in the area. The clothing is very durable and they do all different types of clothing (hats, coats, trousers, etc). The staff are very nice, as is the shop and if you're off to a festival or just going camping, there will be something in store for you.

Adapt Outdoors is a place where you can buy a range of different clothing designed for all weather…read moreconditions and camping equipment. It is therefore ideal for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities in various environments whether it is for a picnic in your local park or high up in the Andes Mountains! This small shop caters for most trekkers' needs although it is expensive being a specialist store. I once purchased iodine sterilisation tablets for my trip abroad when I visited more rural regions, where tap water was unsafe to drink; having applied my tablets to the solution, I did not experience any illnesses. Prior to buying those tablets, I was kindly advised by a member of staff for the suitability of the product. A decent quality store but you probably won't find a bargain if that's what you're after.

I visited this shop on a recent trip to Liverpool from the Philippines. It is easy to find just off…read morewilliamson square and close to the main shopping street, church street I think. The staff are very friendly and made myself and my family very welcome. As we were unprepared for the british weather we needed some warm clothing, with so much to choose from I was helped by a friendly assistant and one of the north face jackets i purchase was even half price!!! It is a very busy shop but the staff still made sure I was ok, I actually enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere from the different customers, young and old. also some great brands, lowe alpine, the north face, rab, merrell etc. I will definitely visit this store again when I am next in Liverpool and would recommend it to anyone.

In spite being the sort of guy who has visited every one of the many outdoor chain stores on Deans…read moregate, I still have a lot of time for Campcraft. The premises are large enough to display a good selection of outdoor gear - two good-sized floors - with tents, backpacks and boots being on the upper floor. The staff are really friendly, the young sales assistant who served me especially so, pointing out cool gear at random such as a super-lightweight pack. And I was treated to a demonstration of the latest LED headlight which varies its intensity according to lighting conditions - perhaps a wee bit more James Bond than I need, but still it was fun to see! I had been looking for a pair of adventure sandals to replace my worn-out pair, and had no problems at all with paying £75 for a Merrell pair featuring super-grippy natural rubber soles. Somehow, the 'just enough' stock on display helped me focus on making a buying decision which had eluded me in larger outdoor stores. I also appreciated the sales guy's opinion that I needed the larger size. Having since done a few hikes wearing the sandals I am very happy with the fit. For most Bolton locals, I would say Campcraft offers you all you really need. Just step through the door and tell the staff you need a tent, sleeping bag, campstove, boots, whatever and I am sure they will put you right. Although I don't do any extreme outdoor sports, I'm still a total outdoor gear junkie. But there is definitely a place for Campcraft's expertise alongside the Deansgate outdoor chains and out-of-town tent display warehouse places which I also enjoy. Although some of the Campcraft gear is cutting edge, this is still the kind of place I can imagine getting on first name terms with the staff and rocking up to ask 'What's new?' and be treated to a demo of the latest gizmos. Or for staff to remember what level I am at with outdoor pursuits or previous conversations and come up with suggestions tailored to my needs. Plus, we got talking about food, and it turns out that the owner of this place also owns Thyme deli and cookshop in Horwich which the sales assistant thought I might like. Where can you get that sort of village feeling these days? Exactly - so let's treasure it!

It's a fair sized shop but no where near as big as the big retailers. The staff are very helpful…read morethough and know what they are talking about. I went for some gas for my gas stove. I didn't have a clue what I was doing /looking for, but they were really friendly and helpful in advising me on what I needed.