A Coastal Wild Camp (near to) Robin Hood's Bay

The two tents over looking the sea...

This was a quick wild camp, if there is such a thing. We had the destination, and it didnt involve much walking. As a result, there isn't much of a story to tell other than the pictures here and the fact that, while a humble camp - it was an amazing one...

Group camp in the Ogwen Valley...

Our group pitch at Gwern Gof Isaf campsite, in the Ogwen Valley.

It has been a couple of weeks since I returned from Snowdonia, and the first meet of the 'Hiking and Camping for UK Adventurers" group on Facebook. True to form, I haven't had much time to do any form of write-up. So this post will consist mainly of pictures from what was a great weekend...

The Old Man of Coniston Walk and Levers Water Wild Camp

Looking towards The Old Man of Coniston.

Given how busy I have been of late, and this last weekend's trip to Snowdonia, I have not managed to write up a full entry for my trip to the Lake district. I regret not having tried harder as soon as I had returned, but I do have photographs that I would like to put here. This post will contain those photo's and so I hope that they are an adequate marker of how great a weekend this one was...

Another outing in The Lake District, and another wild camp in the Karrimor Elite Ridge 2

Great view from the descent of The Old Man of Coniston

I haven't had much time to get a write up done from my last wander and wild camp with my friend Wayne, which actually took place on the 5th and 6th of April. Here is one photograph that I took, looking towards where our eventual wild camp pitch was. On this particular weekend, I also met with one of my Facebook friends, Scott; whom it was a pleasure to walk with. I will upload a full write up in due time, but for now - the above photo was my favourite view from the weekend.

Wild camping near Kinder Low; The second test for Karrimor Elite Ridge 2.

Over looking Kinder Reservoir from the Karrimor Elite Ridge 2 tent.

Saturday the 1st of March, and it was back to the Peak District for another wild camp. This time I was again using my Karrimor Elite Ridge 2, and again Wayne Sanderson accompanied me along with his friend Dan. I forgot to bring my dslr for this trip, and so only have a couple of shots from my mobile phone...

How I organise my rucksack for wild camping...

After having packed my rucksack in preperation for a wild camp, that I then had to abandon before setting off, I thought I'd do a video to show how I organise my gear in my rucksack.

Changing to gas...

I have tinkered with my cooking set-up. Decided that a gas stove may be a better choice for me at the minute. Have a watch?

Wild Camping (near to) The Woolpacks, Kinder Scout...

A very misty morning on the Kinder Plateau...

My first wild camp of 2014, and it just happened to be about a 30 second walk (when the weather is slightly clearer) away from the site of my first ever wild camp! It was an enjoyable primary outing of the year, and one that was more about the actual camping aspect of the weekend as opposed to the walk in and out. The other big theme, getting to know some new friends...

Karrimor Elite Ridge 2 - First Wildcamp Test...

Karrimor Elite Ridge 2, near The Woolpacks on the Kinder Plateau; Peak District.

So, I have now been out for a wild camp with the Karrimor Elite Ridge 2 and feel that it performed as well as it did when used on a site. It held fast, didn't leak, and was plenty big enough for me. Is there anything else to say for it? Well, yes there is...

Karrimor Elite Ridge 2 tent modification.

I made a minor modification to my new Karrimor Elite Ridge 2 tent. The general gist of it is to make packing it away slightly easier...

Karrimor Elite Ridge 2 - New Tent, and ideas for improvement/modification...

Had a game of guess the tent on Facebook, many thought it to be a higher end brand such as Terra Nova etc...

So, having had my Vango Tempest side by side with my friend Simon's semi-geodesic The North Face 'Sphinx' again a few weeks ago; I started to think how comfortable I am in the Tempest 200 and whether there was scope for an alternative, given my usually low budget...

Walking On The Glyders - My First Venture Into Snowdonia...

Overlooking Devil's Kitchen. Our route down from the Glyderau.

It's been a week now since my friend Simon Worsley and I returned from Snowdonia after my first time in the National Park, and his first experience of wild camping. We didn't quite have time to complete the route we had planned out, but we both came away having learnt a few things and having tested some new bits of gear. Most of all, we both arrived home having thoroughly enjoyed the two days...

What have I been up to...?

My first venture into the Lake District.

Well, I can't deny that I have been neglecting the documentation of my time outdoors since I got back from Ben Nevis all those months ago. Between one thing and another, it has been extremely hard to get time to do any writing about my outings. There have been some ups and downs in my life recently, but I have still been trying to get out as much as possible. Not as much as I'd have liked by a long way - but good times have been had nonetheless. Here are some pictures from the last  few months...

Pictures and a video from my trip to Scotland, walking up Ben Nevis.

Although I have written an entry on my trip to Scotland, I didn't put all of my favourite pictures in the post. So this is just a post with a few more pictures in from such a memorable weekend. :)

Ben Nevis via the Carn Mor Dearg Arete...

Looking at the route ahead. The Carn Mor Dearg Arete route, onto Ben Nevis.

So, it finally happened. I managed to venture out of the Peak District for a good solid day's walking. The weekend entailed my first time outside of the Peak District, first ridge walk and scramble, first ascent of Ben Nevis, first Munro climbed (if you like lists), and - first night under canvas in an actual camp site...

Rhinog write-off. Destination, Derwent (Moor).

View from Whinstone Lee Tor, towards Wheel Stones.

So, unfortunately; the planned trip to Rhinog range of Snowdonia had to be postponed due to an injury to the nether region of my good friend Simon. That said, I do respect his decision to call off the trip as he has another planned for this coming weekend. One that I will hopefully be able to be a part of (work depending). Ill not mention too much about it as yet, but it should be great if I can manage it. In the mean time - I decided to venture out anyway. Where? Derwent Moor. Well, almost...

Ready for the Rhinogydd...

The Rhinogydd range of Snowdonia National Park.

So I will be heading to Snowdonia for the first time next weekend, and straying from the comfort of the familiar Peak District for the first time also. I'm very much looking forward to getting out of my comfort zone, especially in what looks to be a stunning area...

So, I'd still never been to Kinder Downfall...

My day started at the bottom of Grindsbrook Clough.

So again, I've been busy recently. It's meant that I haven't really had the opportunity to acheive much in the way of walks, and certainly not wild camps. It's disappointing, but it makes my outings all the more savourable. These pictures are from a couple of weeks ago now, but such has been the intensity of my work timetable, that I am only now getting some free time to throw them up in this rather hurried entry...

First impressions of my new pack - Osprey Mutant 38L

Not bad for a freebie, eh?

So, Ive been thinking about subscribing to an 'outdoor' magazine for a while. Mainly so that I have something to read when I go wild camping. In recent months, most have been offering free gifts to try persuade people to go for their magazine in particular. A Jetboil 'Zip' and a Paramo 'Fuera' smock were offered quite recently, but I already have a cooking set up that I am happy with and a windproof smock that suits me to the ground. I noticed the other day, that 'The Great Outdoors' magazine had begun to offer a free Osprey pack - and I knew that it'd be worth a punt...

Matlock to Matlock Bath - 02/03/13

Looking up the River Derwent towards High Tor.

So, today; Sophia and I decided to take the train to Matlock to have a nice walk together. I enjoyed it a lot, as its not often that we both go walking together. We ended up taking route through Matlock Dale, back to Matlock Bath. It was a lovely White Peak walk, in an area that I have been to before, albeit not with my walking head [or walking gear] on. It was a nice day weather-wise. A little cold when the wind picked up, but when the sun appeared it became pleasant until it retreated behind the clouds again.