Winter Bivvy?
Moderators: Bearbonesnorm, Taylor, Chew
Re: Winter Bivvy?
I'm all ears here folks and will be up for wherever the consensus takes us. I must say Phil, that open-sided 'shed' in Falkland Estate did look good.
One day, you’ll wake up and there won't be any more time to do the thing you always wanted to do. Do it now. – Paolo Coelho
Re: Winter Bivvy?
I've always enjoyed the winter bivvy, although last years welsh one got snowed off...
Anyway, I'm in East Anglia (Bury St Edmunds way), be interested in tagging along. Have to say, the Yorkshire one has always been my favourite
![Smile :smile:](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
Re: Winter Bivvy?
R'amen to that! Winter Bivvy is the best of the year. This one was particularly memorable.
https://vimeo.com/148850259
Greetz
S : )
Re: Winter Bivvy?
We should maybe start its own thread then. I was thinking about contacting Wicken Fen to see if the basics campsite was available; open sided shelters, a fire pit and a composting loo. Meet at Cambridge Station, do a bit of a ride, camp, brekkie at Maglia Rosso, then either back to Cambridge or Bury St Edmunds if folks need the train; or just disperse.
There are theories at the bottom of my jargon.
Re: Winter Bivvy?
Count me in, I'm pretty easy going - it's a social affairBoab wrote: ↑Sun Nov 12, 2023 11:38 pm
We should maybe start its own thread then. I was thinking about contacting Wicken Fen to see if the basics campsite was available; open sided shelters, a fire pit and a composting loo. Meet at Cambridge Station, do a bit of a ride, camp, brekkie at Maglia Rosso, then either back to Cambridge or Bury St Edmunds if folks need the train; or just disperse.![]()
![Thumbs up! :-bd](./images/smilies/113.gif)
Currently available all the weekends, would probably prefer 16th/17th December on preference.
- Chicken Legs
- Posts: 490
- Joined: Wed Apr 03, 2013 8:49 am
- Location: Mid Essex
Re: Winter Bivvy?
I would be interested in a East Anglia bivvy depending on datesZippy wrote: ↑Mon Nov 13, 2023 10:10 pmCount me in, I'm pretty easy going - it's a social affairBoab wrote: ↑Sun Nov 12, 2023 11:38 pm
We should maybe start its own thread then. I was thinking about contacting Wicken Fen to see if the basics campsite was available; open sided shelters, a fire pit and a composting loo. Meet at Cambridge Station, do a bit of a ride, camp, brekkie at Maglia Rosso, then either back to Cambridge or Bury St Edmunds if folks need the train; or just disperse.![]()
Currently available all the weekends, would probably prefer 16th/17th December on preference.
![Thumbs up! :-bd](./images/smilies/113.gif)
"What is man but the sum of his memories"
Re: Winter Bivvy?
Seems awfully quiet this year.
Re: Winter Bivvy?
@FatBikePhil any news on that spot nr Falkland?
- fatbikephil
- Posts: 6583
- Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 10:51 pm
- Location: Fife
- Contact:
Re: Winter Bivvy?
I've drawn a complete blank I'm afraid Gecko. I've got one more avenue to try thanks to a suggestion from someone I know in the countryside trust I was speaking to this weekend. Should know by the end of this week
For plan B I did think of Duinish bothy again as per 2017 (north of Loch Rannoch). It's a bit basic but has a large fire place.
For plan B I did think of Duinish bothy again as per 2017 (north of Loch Rannoch). It's a bit basic but has a large fire place.
Re: Winter Bivvy?
Cool, just let us know. You mentioned Devilla Forest before, and the Borders (plans C and D). I'm easy, but would prefer a start point reachable by train.
- fatbikephil
- Posts: 6583
- Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 10:51 pm
- Location: Fife
- Contact:
Re: Winter Bivvy?
Right, that's definite no to the Fife 5 star bivvy spot
We should have just turned up as after having been told it's not for hire (but no indication of what it is used for) I'd be reluctant to try it given I'd said it was for the weekend after next....
So Plan b (D?) is needed - I'd be up for Devilla forest if the weather is looking OK - I've a good spot which will sleep a few with options to suit most shelter types. I've cooled on Duirnish bothy in Perthshire so Plan E is a bothy in the Borders - I'm thinking Geensykes as we've not been there yet and within range of Tweedbank station. Or Wills bothy a bit further out.
Any suggestions or ideas welcome!
![Angry x(](./images/smilies/14.gif)
So Plan b (D?) is needed - I'd be up for Devilla forest if the weather is looking OK - I've a good spot which will sleep a few with options to suit most shelter types. I've cooled on Duirnish bothy in Perthshire so Plan E is a bothy in the Borders - I'm thinking Geensykes as we've not been there yet and within range of Tweedbank station. Or Wills bothy a bit further out.
Any suggestions or ideas welcome!
Re: Winter Bivvy?
Ah well, thanks for trying. Guessing hiring it would have been against the rules in any case but good to keep it in mind for a sneaky future bivi.
Those other options look good to me, with a leaning towards one of the bothies.
Those other options look good to me, with a leaning towards one of the bothies.
Re: Winter Bivvy?
Assuming we're talking about the 9th/10th December, I'm up for it. Like Gecko, I'm probably more inclined towards the bothy option and from what I've read online, the Greensykes one looks bigger, with three rooms.
One day, you’ll wake up and there won't be any more time to do the thing you always wanted to do. Do it now. – Paolo Coelho
- fatbikephil
- Posts: 6583
- Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 10:51 pm
- Location: Fife
- Contact:
- thenorthwind
- Posts: 2619
- Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2016 6:07 pm
- Location: Newcastle
Re: Winter Bivvy?
I'd sort of written this off with other potential plans floating around, and let's face it, a lack of motivation to head into the cold damp outdoors... But it turns out I'm free till the Sunday afternoon, and Greensykes is a great bothy and not far, so it would be rude not to really.
Re: Winter Bivvy?
Can you keep me in the loop re greenskyes as its reasonably drivable.for me and on my to do list. Depends if I can arrange stuff re kids so not sure yet.
Re: Winter Bivvy?
I have finally phoned Wicken Fen and the basics campsite is not available at the moment; evidently they're thinking of opening it again in the later half of next year*. So if anyone fancies an East Angular Winter Bivvy, we'll have to think of somewhere else to go; I'm open to suggestions...Boab wrote: ↑Sun Nov 12, 2023 11:38 pm We should maybe start its own thread then. I was thinking about contacting Wicken Fen to see if the basics campsite was available; open sided shelters, a fire pit and a composting loo. Meet at Cambridge Station, do a bit of a ride, camp, brekkie at Maglia Rosso, then either back to Cambridge or Bury St Edmunds if folks need the train; or just disperse.![]()
* I mean, it's not gone anywhere and is still there, you're just not able to book it. Probably bad form to just pitch up and use it...
There are theories at the bottom of my jargon.
Re: Winter Bivvy?
Boab, That's a shame as it looked a good spot. I'll struggle to fit it in before Xmas. Kids and prep are going to tie me up.
Re: Winter Bivvy?
Ooh, if I can sort the dog out, that would be doable. Some nice pedalling round there. And it has a toilet (or am I misremembering.....)
- thenorthwind
- Posts: 2619
- Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2016 6:07 pm
- Location: Newcastle
Re: Winter Bivvy?
I was just thinking this afternoon "I wonder if Andy's seen this". There's a separate thread now. Yep, composting toilet there IIRC.
Re: Winter Bivvy?
If you go to Greensykes, you'll probably pass Jamestown and the birthplace of Thomas Telford https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/ ... e_vignette
Loads of 'celtic' stuff around there (not hoops related) and the Buddhist monastery too.
Just your average Borders backwater.......
Working on being free but up against dog duties, 'Dad's Party Bus' needs and a badminton match.
Loads of 'celtic' stuff around there (not hoops related) and the Buddhist monastery too.
Just your average Borders backwater.......
Working on being free but up against dog duties, 'Dad's Party Bus' needs and a badminton match.
Re: Winter Bivvy?
I appear to be tied up 16-17 now, can probs still make next weekend.Boab wrote: ↑Thu Nov 30, 2023 5:11 pmI have finally phoned Wicken Fen and the basics campsite is not available at the moment; evidently they're thinking of opening it again in the later half of next year*. So if anyone fancies an East Angular Winter Bivvy, we'll have to think of somewhere else to go; I'm open to suggestions...Boab wrote: ↑Sun Nov 12, 2023 11:38 pm We should maybe start its own thread then. I was thinking about contacting Wicken Fen to see if the basics campsite was available; open sided shelters, a fire pit and a composting loo. Meet at Cambridge Station, do a bit of a ride, camp, brekkie at Maglia Rosso, then either back to Cambridge or Bury St Edmunds if folks need the train; or just disperse.![]()
* I mean, it's not gone anywhere and is still there, you're just not able to book it. Probably bad form to just pitch up and use it...
There's some shelters (3 sides and a roof, but concrete floor) in Thetford Forest (you can see it from the red route), and indeed in their playground areas you could probs camp down somewhere. Could almost ride round during the day, spot some shelters, go to pub and then head to them after the pub...
I haven't really got time this week to plan much though :-|
I'm happy to tag along any other ideas too.
Re: Winter Bivvy?
I canny do the weekend of the 16th/17th anyway, got to pick son up form Uni. I did think High Lodge might yield a suitable spot, so why not...Zippy wrote: ↑Sat Dec 02, 2023 11:27 pm I appear to be tied up 16-17 now, can probs still make next weekend.
There's some shelters (3 sides and a roof, but concrete floor) in Thetford Forest (you can see it from the red route), and indeed in their playground areas you could probs camp down somewhere. Could almost ride round during the day, spot some shelters, go to pub and then head to them after the pub...
I haven't really got time this week to plan much though :-|
I'm happy to tag along any other ideas too.
There are theories at the bottom of my jargon.
Re: Winter Bivvy?
What bike are you thinking Boab? I can either go gravel or MTB...26er rigid is perfect for the Thetford traisl IMHO but gravel does get round fine.Boab wrote: ↑Sun Dec 03, 2023 11:18 pmI canny do the weekend of the 16th/17th anyway, got to pick son up form Uni. I did think High Lodge might yield a suitable spot, so why not...Zippy wrote: ↑Sat Dec 02, 2023 11:27 pm I appear to be tied up 16-17 now, can probs still make next weekend.
There's some shelters (3 sides and a roof, but concrete floor) in Thetford Forest (you can see it from the red route), and indeed in their playground areas you could probs camp down somewhere. Could almost ride round during the day, spot some shelters, go to pub and then head to them after the pub...
I haven't really got time this week to plan much though :-|
I'm happy to tag along any other ideas too.
Could meet lunchtime-ish at High Lodge - blatz round the trails/playground eyeing up somewhere to sleep, then pedal off to a pub in Thetford/Brandon or further afield (sorry, no local knowledg on these!), make more plans as we go/in the pub?
I know here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hAv8nGFjGZC3UQXw9 is good for breakfast though!
Sound good?
Re: Winter Bivvy?
Well, I'm currently off work with whatever lurgy put pay to my BAM run, and generally still feeling like poor show. Not sure cycling in the rain this weekend would be the best plan health wise.Zippy wrote: ↑Mon Dec 04, 2023 10:58 pm What bike are you thinking Boab? I can either go gravel or MTB...26er rigid is perfect for the Thetford traisl IMHO but gravel does get round fine.
Could meet lunchtime-ish at High Lodge - blatz round the trails/playground eyeing up somewhere to sleep, then pedal off to a pub in Thetford/Brandon or further afield (sorry, no local knowledg on these!), make more plans as we go/in the pub?
I know here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hAv8nGFjGZC3UQXw9 is good for breakfast though!
Sound good?
If I some how magically improve before then, I'll let you know...
There are theories at the bottom of my jargon.