Bivvy a Month 2025

[frogatthefarriers]

One thing I’d like to do one day is a tour of as many Derbyshire troughs and wells as possible (there's an idea for you Frog, fancy it?), with a (filtered!) drink from each one. The only trough I came across this weekend was the one at Monksdale Farm – it’s a very hot day so it would be rude not to deploy my Trailshot and have a thirst-quenching draught and fill up my bottle…

A great idea I can bring my big square of Visqueen for the water bed…

[dorsetshirelad]

May Bivvy: Ringstead Bay

This month’s bivvy began with a train from Christchurch to Moreton — a quiet little station with a sombre claim to fame as the burial place of T. E. Lawrence. From there, I set off, following a meandering route through narrow country lanes and bridleways, edged with wildflowers and cow parsley. May is a generous month for cycling — the air soft, the hedgerows full, and the light lasting well into evening.

The ride south was gentle, with just enough variation to keep things interesting. Dorset’s farmland rolled past quietly, and before long I was skirting the edges of Ringstead Bay. The last section involved a climb and then a rewarding descent, opening up suddenly to sweeping views of Weymouth Bay and the Isle of Portland. It’s a fine moment when the sea first comes into view, especially when the light’s beginning to dip and the traffic’s long gone.

Ringstead itself was quiet, the beach mostly empty apart from a few walkers in the distance. I found a secluded patch of shingle at the eastern end — well-sheltered, with the classic smooth Dorset pebbles in all sizes underfoot.The impressive White Nothe chalk cliffs and Portland as a backdrop drop.The sea was calm, the air still, and it felt like the right place to stop.

Dinner was cooked on my trusty Trangia, which has become something of a companion on these trips. I’d brought a small selection of ingredients from home: chicken fillet, carrots and purple sprouting broccoli, a handful of orzo, and a tin of condensed cream of mushroom soup. All of it came together in the pan to make a rich, comforting sort of stew — the kind of meal that tastes even better outdoors. Afterwards, I brewed tea on the stove, sliced some homemade fruit cake, and rounded things off with a tot of Glenmorangie from a battered old flask.

The weather was set fair so just my half sleeping bag, duvet jacket, bivvy bag and roll mat. I settled in with a good view of the sky and let the sea’s slow rhythm carry me off to sleep. There’s a particular kind of peace that comes from sleeping out like that — no screens, no roof, just the stars wheeling overhead and the steady hush of the waves.

Morning brought a soft light and the sound of seabirds. I fired up the Trangia again and made mushrooms on toast, followed by strong coffee. A simple breakfast, but it set me up well for the ride back. The climb away from the bay was steep but short, and soon I was cruising back through the lanes towards Moreton.

It wasn’t a dramatic trip, but it didn’t need to be. A night out, good food cooked over a little flame, a quiet beach, and the comfort of being still for a while — a reminder of how little is needed for a good adventure.

Video Ringstead Biking Packing Bivvy
https://youtube.com/shorts/YYMpq2YyLu8?feature=share

[RIP]

A great idea I can bring my big square of Visqueen for the water bed…

All we need to do is find a double trough

[RIP]

toast

Any photos of the Trangia toaster in action there 'Lad?

[Rapideye]

Just back at the Folks after doing most of The Badger Divide but stopping at Callandar. Great few days, despite the weather having a good effort at making it difficult.

[Bearlegged]

I got out last week. Left early enough that I didn't need my headlight, which was nice.
I had at least one very noisy robin, a tawny owl and a sparrowhawk for company in the evening as I settled down with some cheese, salami and customary impy stout.



The morning dawned with golden light stealing through the leaves, turning the canopy a luminous green.
As I readied myself to strike camp, I noticed just how much I wriggle about while asleep.*



More visuals here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKBz_p5N8Tm/

2025 BAM 5/12
2025 total bivvies 5
Current streak (months) 78


*Usual fitful napping.

[fatbikephil]

May...
So much for 5 straight nights on the Highland Trail but at least I managed one.



On the start line - Alan Goldsmith as cheery as ever. It was that marvelous rain type that is really quite wet, but allows the midges to have a go at you too. This persisted up into Glen Lyon and then slowly faded away. Then the sun came out!

This was all sorts of good news but lots of noise from my rear brake wasn't. On stopping, I realised the brake was binding horribly, you actually had to put a bit of effort into turning the wheel. I'd not noticed as Glen Lyon is a tailwind assisted road descent. I stopped to remove the caliper, pump the pistons in and out again and refit. Made BA difference so squeezed the pads off the disk and avoided using the back brake. Got over to Rannoch and Up the Ben Alder trail like this. Despite the rain, the trails were dry and I had fun. But on the descent the back brake had to be used and it got worse and worse with horrible noises coming from it. I figured on giving it one more go at Culra Bothy and if I couldn't sort, I was out of there. No way was I doing this route on one brake! Anyway, mangled pad spring removed, spare Hope pads and spring in, we're away. Bugger.

More good news. In '23 I was amazed to find the rotting old bridge over the Pattack gone and a nice new one in its place. The old one was piled up at the bank side. This year, I was similarly amazed to find the rather boggy track scraped out, a big drainage ditch dug and the latter half surfaced. Hoo-bloody-rah! The old bridge must have been buried on site somewhere - a fitting end.



Had a good blether with Donnie and Richie at the start of the Corrieairyack and accepted their dram as I'd nothing to lose. In the event the whisky went down like nectar and relived some of the pain.



Jimmy's air B'n'B after a long, long climb, into a strong, strong wind.

Then Fort Augustus and pizza! Loads of people were there and "that was hard work" was a bit of a theme. Suitably stuffed, I headed up the GGW in search of the first likely bivvy spot as I was done. My fab '21 spot had been clear felled so on we go catching up with Alan just before spying a perfect spot. The midges were about speeding up pitch time, then it was in the bag, swat a few followers and lay back, 98 miles done. The rain came on soon after and continued until dawn. I know this as sleep largely alluded me - I just couldn't seem to switch off, despite using all my usual tactics. I think I was stuck on thinking about where I'd bivvy elsewhere en-route, given the weather and the realisation I'd be a half to a full day slower given the forecasted gales.



Thank god for the Deschutes. Totally dry inside! Up and off sharp as the midges were out, then north into a brightening day and a freshening breeze. This got fresher and fresher over the trail to Cannich and I was on a serious go slow. I felt utterly wabbit with no way of putting more than a token effort into pedaling. That said I made steady progress over the huge climb and actually really enjoyed the Loch Ma Stack Trail, the rocks distracting me from the gale and the regular showers. As Alan had left that morning he said he was heading for the Cannich Campsite Cafe for breakfast. I'd been thinking of just bashing on as I had plenty of food on board to get me to Contin. But when I finally hit the descent I changed all plans. I needed food, caffeine and a rest, in order to recharge my batteries.

Pete and Alan were there (and another guy whose name I've forgotten) so we chatted and checked out the race action (!) The northern reaches of the route, in theory achievable that day were disappearing into an unreachable distance. This was confirmed on the Struy to Orrin Track. The puddles had reappeared thanks to the rain but were still way low so progress should have been good. But the climb was hard and at imes I felt I was crawling.



All climbs on this route fit the dictionary description of a cycling 'hard climb' - twice as long as you think, always seeming to find the highest bit of terrain to go over and always turning into the wind just when you were wanting a bit of respite, and always, always, one more bit. If you are on form you can just plough through this but I was not. I kept stopping on the pushes for no reason, just collapsing over the bars. I wasn't shouting or swearing (or crying) I knew what was happening and I was eating and drinking loads, waiting for the energy dip to pass. But it didn't and when the track turned into the gale I was destroyed. I made the decision I was out then. Always a bad thing but I was out of options. It occurred to me to just stop and sleep but the constant showers (and no hydro bothy!) precluded such a move. I got to Contin eventually and spent ages just sat, eating and drinking. Even Irn Bru didn't work! I was burst.

Alan was rightly scathing and I knew I could recover eventually but the weather for the next day would be worse and suddenly I didn't see the point in going on, enduring a suffer fest for no good reason. So on with the phone, find digs in nearby Dingwall, pedal off route. Even a descending tarmac road with a tailwind seemed hard work!

Food, beer and a lot of sleep followed then the fair city of Inverness and the bus home. Yes, you can get you bike on all city link services free! Getting it on was somewhat tricky but the journey was fine and suddenly I was back home. A scenic train ride to Tyndrum the next day got the car back and that was that. '25 Highland Trail attempt done.

[boxelder]

Everyone who starts is a winner (or something like that). Thanks for giving us a flavour of it.

[Rapideye]

Had a good blether with Donnie and Richie at the start of the Corrieairyack and accepted their dram as I'd nothing to lose. In the event the whisky went down like nectar and relived some of the pain.

I met them on my way down as they were setting up. Declined their offer of a whiskey but they didn't offer any gummies

Jimmy's air B'n'B after a long, long climb, into a strong, strong wind.

I also knocked for Jimmy. He wasn't in. Probably nipped out to the Spar

[RIP]

And how is the food in the lunatic asylum Phil? Sitting with my breakfast toast here, I really felt that outing. Cap seriously doffed to you.

[fatbikephil]

And how is the food in the lunatic asylum Phil? Sitting with my breakfast toast here, I really felt that outing. Cap seriously doffed to you.

Cheers Reg - Save the cap doffing for those who get round!
On a positive note, this seems to be the only ride where I make extensive use of cafes, pubs and restaurants, rather than the Co-op. I need to do more of this...

[dorsetshirelad]

toast

Any photos of the Trangia toaster in action there 'Lad?

It’s only a diffuser plate, but works a treat.

[RIP]

It’s only a diffuser plate, but works a treat.

Handy. Maybe Stu could do us one for the 22g meths.... or even the 8g... mind you that'd probably require a postage-stamp sized bit of toast

[Bearlegged]

Or croutons, to give them their proper name.

[RIP]

Or croutons, to give them their proper name.

Mini-toast for posh people . Not sure I'd have time to butter and marmalade 100 croutons for breakfast

[JimmyG]

Jimmy's air B'n'B after a long, long climb, into a strong, strong wind.

I also knocked for Jimmy. He wasn't in. Probably nipped out to the Spar

Nah, I was safely ensconced in my city residence at that point... dotwatching from afar.

PS: I see they still haven't fixed that door yet. I must have another word with the estate management.

[fatbikephil]

Nah, I was safely ensconced in my city residence at that point... dotwatching from afar.

PS: I see they still haven't fixed that door yet. I must have another word with the estate management.

It did occur to me that it needs adopting by some locals much like a few of the other unofficial bothies. It would be quite a valuable shelter to be kept in good shape, given its location. There are some nice old batteries in there, you could use them to charge your gadgets

[Mr Sparkle]

I'm still in the BaM game. I managed to tick May off last night with sneaky mid-week visit to the 4th tee of a local golf course. Report and pics to follow in 'Mostly Coasting'.
5/5

[gecko76]

Hoping to get out before the end of the month hits. Done three bivvies and a bothy but none that count.

[MuddyPete]

A last-minute local Utility BaM. Too warm for a bivi bag. Good, solid sleep until 05.00: best night's bivi sleep I've had in ages .

https://www.instagram.com/p/DKRDTmYo6f2 ... N6dnhjbm1m

20/20

[sean_iow]

I have had a lot of personal things going on this month so I've ended up leaving it nearly to the last day. Amongst the personal things were getting made redundant and then signing my contract with my new employer 2 days later I may have seen it coming and made some advance inquiries. Today (Friday) is my last day as the business is closing down, I've been here for 36 years, so what better way to arrive for the last day of work than on a bike having slept in the woods.

On my normal ride to work there is a small conifer woodland (I assume with clearings) which is currently for sale. It has outline planning for use as a glamping site. I didn't fancy climbing over the gate on the A road but it backs onto the cycle path. There is a dead end path off this that runs up the side of said woodland but sadly upon investigation there is a substantial fence around the site... and that's after you've crossed a ditch/stream So onward to the forest I often use. Whilst I'd like to be going to new places, after all these years and with the limited size of the Island that's not going to happen.

For a change I had decided to take the bivi bag after 2 years of hammock BAMs. I'd been out the west side of the Island with work earlier in the day and knew it was misty so I'd packed the tarp just in case as drips from mist blowing through the trees are not far off having actual rain. Sure enough, as I climbed up the downs I rode into the cloud, the picture doesn't do justice to the scene ahead.



By the time I reached the woods the mist/fog was so thick my lights were struggling to pick out much at all. It had also made everything wet. This and the lack of vision meant losing the front wheel from under me on a root, luckily I broke my fall by landing on anther root on my knee, ouch

My first choice was a spot in a section they had cleared a few years back and I've used before. Turns out in the time I've been away in the hammock it's grown back in. There used to be clearings just behind the regrowth on the track side, but it's now just dense vegetation. It's a big enough woods so no issue, just press on to a favourite spot. The fog was so dense that I couldn't really work out where I was in the trees so I settled for the first flat-ish bit I found. Tarp up and thankful I'd made the right choice by bringing it. I also had the borah bivi. I'd made the tarp and bought the bivi for the 2018 HT550 so fitting I was using it in HT550 week, albeit with better weather than they had. I had a really goods night sleep, snug under the quilt and smug that the drips were landing on the tarp and not my face like last time I'd used a bivi here in the fog



The tarp is a bit low for chores (which I why I purchased the deschutes for longer trips) but there is enough room to get dressed and packed away at the front - high end. Packed up and away by 06:30 and into the fog again. I dropped down off the downs another way and was surprised to see the gate shut across the track, literally as I wasn't looking as I was talking to some cows about the conditions, and when I looked forward the gate was right there Despite it being a bridleway it was secured by a tightly stretched but of rubber that looked like it was screwed to the gatepost but as a BB200/BB300 veteran (where the farmers weld the gates shut) I just heaved the bike over and climbed over at the hinge end Once on the road and descending I was soon out of the fog and it was a nice morning when not in a cloud. Stopped for the traditional post box photo on the way past.



I'm a bit late getting to this one, I expect it to be changed out soon. Once at work I thought it would be rude not to hang the tarp to dry off in the shed one last time



As there are no windows I assume all the moisture is absorbed by the files, I wonder if they smell of woodland when you open them?

That's 5/5 this year. Must try to get in earlier next month.

[MuddyPete]

I'm a bit late getting to this one, I expect it to be changed out soon. Once at work I thought it would be rude not to hang the tarp to dry off in the shed one last time



As there are no windows I assume all the moisture is absorbed by the files, I wonder if they smell of woodland when you open them?

I'm sure a nice bonfire would soon dry them out, Sean .

[sean_iow]

I'm sure a nice bonfire would soon dry them out, Sean .

The other side of that old and thin stone wall at the back is Waterstones bookshop so I'm sure that would escalate quickly

[javatime]

BAM May done on the Dahon Wednesday night.

Pictures to follow

[Raggedstone]

it was always going to have to be Friday or Saturday night for this months bivvy regardless of the weather as it happened i got very lucky, I had to do some proper riding and i have never visited Cleeve Cloud the highest point in Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds so a crossing of the Severn plain was in order
Just about every other road has a road closed sign at the junction so i thought i would take a few in and see how closed they actually were just as i was about to cross the M5 i was very surprised to see a young hare in the road which ran off fortunately the opposite direction to the motorway for years now i have only seen hares in the Cotswolds. A little further along a sign says road closes at 8pm 2 miles to the closure and 10 minutes i made it just in time to make my way through a lot of activity which was more surprising than seeing the hare !
From where i now am there are three lanes heading up onto the common all stupidly steep so i picked the middle one Gambles lane after several saddle based pep talks i made it to the main road and picked up the byway to the golf course club house. There were a lot of people around some trying to find a little white ball others enjoying a glorious evening normally the highest point is fairly obvious i think this one is only marginally higher than the surrounding area but after a bit of exploring the trig point showed itself. The sunset was absolutely stunning and as i was planning to spend the night up here somewhere contrary to the local bylaws i had plenty of time to enjoy it
PXL_20250530_195540607 by Kevin Hawker, on Flickr
PXL_20250530_201624273 by Kevin Hawker, on Flickr
It was very windy so i went to the other side of the hill which is less popular to find a bivvy spot i knew there was somewhere of historic importance over there where there was water i saw it below me at the same time somewhere suitable for the night presented itself. Bed quickly made and time for a cold one which was now luke warm enjoyed watching the final throes of the day. Another good nights sleep its becoming a habbit shame its taken six years to get.
PXL_20250531_042127278 by Kevin Hawker, on Flickr
I woke at 5.30 to a different dawn chorus Jackdaws and when they shut up skylarks and according to the bird call app Linnets i knew i had to be up early so coffee and porridge and away just after six to be met by dogs taking their owners for a run so good timing. The sun was out and i know a good cafe unfortunately it is the other side of Bredon Hill but i was loving being on the bike so why not two things happened on the decent i nearly took out some bloke on an ebike who was going as fast uphill as i was going down never right
and another hare a fully grown one this time,
I am not sure if there is any significance
PXL_20250531_075214295 by Kevin Hawker, on Flickr
Time for breakfast 2
PXL_20250531_084309369 by Kevin Hawker, on Flickr

5/12 for this year