Last year I did a lot of swimming in Loch Morlich, Cairngorms. In the summer there were signs saying 'WARNING stay out of the water - Algae'. This is a summer thing, hot temperatures. I was still swimming there in December, in the snow, and the signs were still up. Today I swam in another loch and i...

Thanks for the replies. Good thing I asked as I was confusing cranberries with cowberries. Both are safe but it is not good to confuse berries. I saw some cloudberries last month, when camping next to Loch Avon (no, I still can't pronounce it correctly). Very scattered and not enough to pick. I'll s...

I'm going out for a few nights in the Cairngorms. Noticed the large amounts of bilberries/blaeberries. So thought I might supplement my snacks. Thought I would just check - Anything nearby and similar that I could mistake them with? Is there a limit on eating them, regarding health? :YMSICK: Advice?...

You didn't need a licence when I paddled the length of the (non-tidal) Thames. Or any of the other rivers I have paddled on. That idea has been promoted falsely by the BCU. You do need a permit though. And that can be purchased for each river on the day. It works out a lot cheaper, unless you paddle...

Any risks if you do this without scales.

I think some of you are over interpreting.

I have been talking to campsites. They have explained it as -

The overnight stays/holidays/campsites etc is due to using shared accommodation or facilities. Or the cleaning of.......

It has nothing to do with solo, no shared bogs or beds, wild camping.

Can anyone tell me why the 29th March is not the first bivi night?


"The stay at home rule will end, but the government will urge people to stay local as much as possible"

Just don't camp on Strontian Hill. You won't be able to have any kids afterwards.

Okay thanks. That is what I meant by towing my camping gear.

The track? On the island? I was hoping for a castle for the night.

Re - Loch an Eilein, it is on my list for next year. Hammock possible?

I'm getting a tiny (1 metre) kids/toy inflatable dinghy £15. This summer I will be doing some swimming tours, towing it with my camping gear. Was supposed to do it in Corfu last year but.....

Okay. That is nippy. Loch Morlich was always about 5°C colder than other lochs I swam in, like Arkaig. I now do a lot of squats and box jumps before getting undressed. Works a treat. Also bought Wim Hof's book, but it doesn't say much, other than the basics. I'm amazed how my body has adapted. Walki...

What temps have you got up there now? Morlich was 3°C when I left last month. I'm swimming in 3-5°C. Getting really easy now. Just hot thumbs for a half hour after.

3 little owls on my evening walk back from a swim. Always take my binos now.

Long tailed tits arrived at 2pm this alvo. First time.

Re the fat balls. If you hang the holder so it swings freely, it prevents the larger birds getting at it.

SMD Lunar Solo is quite long if you use the end tie outs with poles. I just find sticks each night or use the handlebars for the head end. Maybe up to 6'4".
Hilleberg Akto. But sitting headroom is poor.

I have both and I'm tall.

If you want to have fun with the kids, make a wigwam. These are made with a very cheap but strong plastic tarp. Have a look at videos made by bushcrafters. They don't call them wigwams though, usually some trendy, macho name like Finnish hunter's tent (made that up). If made properly, they are serio...

I take it you live in the countryside?

Maybe Donald Dumbasfuck lives in a city with no outdoor space. Maybe the virus has cost him his job, wife, house.....

Maybe D D is screaming at the walls. Maybe DD is going to top himself........?

Bump!

I'd rather talk about maggots than bikes.

I've just finished reading The Running Hare by John Lewis-Stempel. It's not about birds but has a lot of bird stuff in it. He explains why we are losing birds in the UK. A good read if you like nature. You can buy mealworms on Amazon, meant for pub snacks. They are dehydrated though. Popular with pe...

I did some research this year to try to get robins to eat from my hand. Though I didn't complete the task. Maybe someone can confirm - Mealworms are vegetarians. Maggots are carnivores. Cheap budget mealworms are maggots in disguise. Badly raised maggots introduce nasty diseases to the birds. Covid ...

But I'm not going unless you post some pics

Are you in the sea up there? :shock: I think that warming up afterwards is the secret to enjoying a cold water swim. At least for me. Lots of 'talk' about getting into a warm car being the slowest way. ie warming from the outside to in. Exercise and a pot noodle being the quickest. Running hill spri...

Verena wrote: ↑Sun Dec 13, 2020 11:56 pm Absolutely not related to bikepacking

It is
I plan my routes to get in as many swims as I can. I nearly always take my trunks on a ride. Just in case the rain and mud don't get me wet and cold enough.