Home › Forums › Chat Forum › 3 or 4 day “Wilderness” Hike and Camping Help
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3 or 4 day “Wilderness” Hike and Camping Help
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bubsFull MemberPosted 6 months agoMy son is keen to do a 3 or 4 day away from it all hike and wild camp after his GCSEs. He is an Explorer (scout) has done the Great Escape, DoE etc and loves roughing it…I love the outdoors but am not a camping fan (but happy to suffer for his big adventure).
I’m just about to start planning things and so:
- Where should we look? He was thinking Scotland but we do need to be able to get there from Surrey without too much pain.
- Shamefully I haven’t visited Scotland for 18+ years. I was initially thinking Torridon but is this a suitable set of hills for relative novices?
- We should be ok for kit etc but what do I need to know about where we can camp? He was thinking bivvy and tarp.
- What is the best way to carry/source water? This is longer than he normally does.
- Are there better areas to look at from a midges perspective?
- I’m quite keen to have the last night in a decent pub/inn for good food, hot shower and a nice bed
Recommendations for books/guides or websites also welcome.
polyFree MemberPosted 6 months agoIgnoring the technical ability point Torridon is about as far from Surrey as you can get you are adding a lot of extra hours in the car. If you’ve not been north since before he was born you can get epic without going so far. generally midges are worse in north west too – cairngorms? Borders or D&G? Bivvy will be hell if there’s midges. Grim if it’s raining for 4 days. Have you considered bothies?
Look up the Scottish outdoor access code – guidance on light weight camping, you can essentially camp anywhere away from houses that is sensible and where you carry your own kit (ie as part of your access rights on foot – not car camping). EXCEPT for some specific areas of the Lomond and Trossachs National Park where control zones exist.
water – you can filter, you can add puri tabs, you can use common sense and fast flowing water, or you can probably get a bottle filled anywhere you are buying coffee/beer/cake and ask nicely. Think about human waste too – it’s an increasing problem. I’m increasingly of the “hike it back out” view.
kormoranFree MemberPosted 6 months agoGood post poly
Living in the Highlands I wouldn’t be super keen on a tarp trip in the midge season. It’s doable but oh my it could be tragic. If you are keen on Scotland I’d consider a walk using the railway lines to get out or back and do a one way trip. Several options available, have a look at a road atlas. There’s also the durness bus that will drop you wherever you want. Cairngorm area is an excellent option for wilderness, you could easily do a point to point in remote scenery with the railway. My two favourite railway trips were the strathfarrar hills to Craig and train taxi return, and a trip from foinaven to achanalt station using bus and train from Inverness.
Worth pointing out that multi day trips over hills such as in torridon can be very tough going with heavy packs, pack super light of you can.Four days dehydrated food would be pretty light, pick up water in evening for cooking etc. I have a platypus filter , chemical treatment is fine for short trips. I generally don’t drink straight from watercourse any more, sheep and deer around nowadays and a bout of the Arthur hits is completely avoidable
From Surrey I would seriously consider popping across to France and down to the alps. It’s probably closer and the weather better.
kiloFull MemberPosted 6 months agoYou could to the west of Ireland quicker and do a three day section of the Kerry way.
konagirlFree MemberPosted 6 months agoScotland is easier to camp without issues, but weather and distance is a factor. I fancied starting with Blair Atholl to Aviemore / Grantown on Spey via Glen Tilt. I guess return trains could work from London. And a nice hotel at the end.
Not as ‘wild’ but it’s easier to get to Wales borders where the Offa’s Dyke path goes through some remote areas. Or Dartmoor enables wild camping without issues too, and there are long distance routes or you could make up a circular. Have a look at some blogs for ideas.
I would recommend filtering water (we have a Katadyn) as rats / mice / cows carry leptospirosis and there are lots of other bacteria, viruses or parasites carried by mammals including us.
ircFree MemberPosted 6 months agoThe Blair Athol to Aviemore walk via Glen Tilt and the Larig Ghru is a classic. 40 miles without crossing a public road. Train stations and hotels either end. A few hours less driving to get there than Torridon etc. One account (not mine) here.
Scope to vary depending on weather and fitness. Last time I walked it in reverse but rather than go the glens I camped on top of Braeriach the first night then spent the second night at the Tarf Hotel bothy.
1tractionmanFull MemberPosted 6 months agoSouthern Upland Way, remote enough in sections but accessible by train at either end, with bail out options?
tjagainFull MemberPosted 6 months agoI have always just drunk the rivers and never had an issue. Just be sensible about where you take the water from. Its the purest water you can get – filtered thru the finest scottish bogs
Glen tilt / larig ghru is a classic for sure. The “scottish hill tracks” book allows you to make up your own routes as well. I have used it a lot.
bubsFull MemberPosted 6 months agoThank you for all of the ideas.. I now have some narrower areas to research which will help! I think I will look at Eryri and off grid camping too as this would be a gentler introduction (although I think he is excited about Scotland).
polyFree MemberPosted 6 months agoI think I will look at Eryri and off grid camping too as this would be a gentler introduction (although I think he is excited about Scotland).
if one of mine wanted me to drive them to Cornwall (which is about the same distance!) I’d not be bouncing with joy! That said the Lairig Ghru suggestion is a very good one, the potential to make the journey by train would make it almost enjoyable! The downside of doing the Lairig Ghru is you are going to struggle to find anything to match it next year – but he might be too cool/busy for any dad trip by then.
2scotroutesFull MemberPosted 6 months agoI don’t know when GCSEs are but if you’re planning on the Lairig Ghru then avoid 30th June. That’s when the hill race takes place and it would somewhat take away from the wilderness experience to have all those runners whizzing past you 😂
el_boufadorFull MemberPosted 6 months agoIf you haven’t done this kind of thing before, then this seems like over- reaching(?) Loads of expensive ultralight gear to buy and also in some of the potentially most inhospitable/inaccessible places (midge! transport!
Personally speaking I would be trying to scale this back a bit, but still have a proper adventure … just a less committing and expensive one.
An added bonus could be that it is actually fun and you learn things for the future, and your son (and you!) are keen for other more extravagent adventures. Surely a more modest but successful and fun trip is better than one that is an expensive failure that puts you both off for life?
For example you could easily do a 3-4 dayer in the Peaks, Pennines, or Wales. I would start with b&b’s and hostels as a base accomodation as it minimises faff, weight to carry, and outlay on gear..it also maximises the distance you can walk due to being unencumbered with kit.
After my eldest did his GCSEs we did the Hadrian’s wall path ( b&bs etc). It was absolutely brilliant – one of the best holidays ever – and now he loves being outdoors in general and always pushes his friends to do similar adventures they plan themselves.
I think I would have regretted doing something more adventurous but risking failure.
SpinFree MemberPosted 6 months agoAway from habitation/intensive agriculture/popular camp spots etc you can safely drink out of burns.
Re midgies, in Scotland in the summer they can ruin your day anywhere. I think this idea that gets bandied about that they’re better here or worse there is a bit of a red herring. And absolutely do not go for a tarp. Take a tent with a properly midge proof inner.
Torridon is a big drive for you so I’d echo the suggestions to go somewhere closer. However, it is outstanding and although they are big, hairy arsed mountains there is a decent network of paths through them.
1SpinFree MemberPosted 6 months agoSouthern Upland Way, remote enough in sections but accessible by train at either end, with bail out options?
This is a decent idea if you’re keen on Scotland although the sections to walk/return logistics may take a bit of working out. Doing part of the Wainwright coast to coast could be another option. Using an existing trail like the above in whole or part will simply planning significantly.
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/long-distance-routes.shtml
https://ldwa.org.uk/ldp/public/list_of_paths.php?sort_order=N
jonbaFree MemberPosted 6 months agoYou can get the train the edge of the Cairngorms fairly easily if you didn’t want to drive. Would take a while.
For inspiration I’d probably look here
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/
Bivy would be grim with midgies. Take a small tent.
He’s a Scout, ask him about water. Normally higher sources of fast flowing water are ok but I guess it’s getting harder these days. I’d go for a filter that does bacteria/viruses and chemicals.
Finishing in a town with a b+B is nice. That way you can shower etc. and be ready for the journey home.
If you are in Surrey I’d look to see what you can do in Europe. You may have to use campsites more. But time wise you can get to some nice warm places as quickly as Scotland.
I did a great multiday walk around Triglav in Slovenia. Poland also had plenty. Loads in France and Spain.
towzerFull MemberPosted 6 months agoGoes completely off piste. (And remembers having been dragged round Scotland by parents at a young age)
What about Reading (yes the one in Berkshire), see canal (it’s not the wilderness but there are no midges, probably better weather, and many more facilities if it goes tits and you can horse trade cheeky camping nights vs b&b with junior), head w about as far as Devizes (or you could go to bath and back to devizes) then xc n (*see ka way map) to the ridgeway and back to Reading.
dbFree MemberPosted 6 months agoWhat about 2 moors way in the South West? https://twomoorsway.org/ Not really Wilderness as its a waymarked path mostly but a good walk and chance to spend some time together without worrying about navigation.
tractionmanFull MemberPosted 6 months agoSomething like Hadrian’s Wall path is a good one, camping options en route, but if it’s remoteness/wide open landscape that you’re after (rather than walking through farmland) then how about a section of the Pennine Way at its northern sections? Could do a bothy or two, a hostel and camping, good to have a bad weather option–I found Hadrian’s Wall more uppy and downy than I was expecting and got shin splints…
chakapingFull MemberPosted 6 months agoAs others have said, maybe kick off with something closer to home and less severe.
Mid-Wales is stunning, hilly enough and might be quieter than some of the popular Scottish destinations anyway.
1hungrymonkeyFree MemberPosted 6 months agoNobody here knows your kid better than you – if he’s keen on Scotland, go to Scotland – get him involved in the planning, get him to work out what/where to go etc. I was a similar kid, and though my parents didn’t do this stuff with me, my mates and I just got on with it, with plenty of encouragement from mum and dad.
If it were me, I’d get the sleeper straight to Aviemore, crack on for a few days, and then get yourself back to Aviemore and the sleeper home. At 16, the sleeper train would have been a great experience, much more preferable than driving miles and miles. It’s expensive, but you’re likely only going to have one or two shots at this stuff with your lad before he wants to do his own thing – whether that’s more adventures (which it sounds like you’re helping him set himself up for), or heading to Magaluf and getting twatted on pills and drink.
It might be tough at times, but stuff like that, so long as you’re actually safe, builds character.
1scotroutesFull MemberPosted 6 months agoHe was thinking of Scotland but someone suggested, err, Reading? He’d hate you for life.
johndohFree MemberPosted 6 months agoWhich DoE has he done? I am sure he has learned lots from that (and his other adventures) to be pretty well experienced enough to know what you need (and, more importantly, DON’T need) for three or four days wild camping (DoE Gold is three nights isn’t it)?
And of course, the DoE site has lots of helpful information.
kormoranFree MemberPosted 6 months agoHe was thinking of Scotland but someone suggested, err, Reading? He’d hate you for life.
Oh come on , it’s hardly Slough now is it?
The hardest part of trips like this is to actually get out the front door and close it behind you. I applaud you wholeheartedly for helping to instill a lifelong attitude that he can do this stuff. And remember that some of the best trips are the ones that don’t always work out as planned. But you can learn and build on your mistakes.
A man who never made a mistake, never made anything
scotroutesFull MemberPosted 6 months agoHas anyone suggested the woods behind the Nationwide in Swindon?
kormoranFree MemberPosted 6 months agoHas anyone suggested the woods behind the Nationwide in Swindon?
Too many stingers
tractionmanFull MemberPosted 6 months agoGood call @hungrymonkey — the sleeper would make it feel like an adventure, and good to use public transport with our kids, and show them what’s possible without a car or a plane involved. Plus Aviemore is a great base to go from, and the Cairngorms has got it all, low and high-level routes, bothies, plenty of ‘wilderness camping’ options, and extendable loopy routes to give flexibility if the weather’s terrible or the midges too unbearable…
matt_outandaboutFull MemberPosted 6 months ago+1 on Spin’s link to Walkhighlands long distance walking routes – that solves all sorts of concerns around route, where to camp, resupply, transport etc as that is all on there.
All of ours did an adventure at end of exams either with me or some pals – and all said it was one of those deeply memorable trips. We cycled argyll for a few days, walked the cairngorms or they partied on Skye. Ahem.
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