In The Rain
I am not a camping person. That is not surprising seeing that I am much closer now to senility than I am to adolescence. The trouble is, I never was a camping person. That however, did not deter me from joining a group of 'friends' who were attending a Fleadh Cheoil in Gorey, Co. Wexford at a time when I had as much money as sense -which was none of either! We arrived in the town on a wet, clam
Continue ReadingTips for Lightweight Camping
I recently completed a four day solo camping trip in Finnish Lapland, just north of the Arctic Circle. My complete outfit weighed twenty-nine pounds. I know there are ultralight campers who carry even less, but in my experience, most people take far too much and there really is no need to. Here are some tips for lightweight camping which come from my own personal experience. Get a modern tent.�
Continue ReadingCamping Champion!
Kate and I made our merry way to the Petta Fiesta gig in Pettaugh with confidence and excitement. On arrival we found the designated camping area, removed the borrowed and previously unwrapped tent from the carry bag. Once successfully pitched we crawled inside its purple, flower embellished sheets and considered our open mic performance booked for the next day. Here are 10 tips on how to become a
Continue ReadingCamping in Scotland
Many visitors only see the Scottish highlands through the windows of a tourist coach, and might as well be watching television. The only way to really know the country is by putting boot on rock, with your tent on your back. But there are some things you need to know about Camping in Scotland. Legal Unlike England, Scotland has always had a traditional right to roam and this is now enshrined in
Continue ReadingLearning From Experience
I heaved my bag out of the back of the minibus and turned around. Here I was, after a slightly nauseating coach journey, in the middle of the Welsh mountains, for my first ever camping trip. The small field was surrounded by closely knit trees and shrouded by a light covering of mist. Along with the glistening dew on the grass, the meadow looked mysterious and magical. Two hours of hard labour la
Continue ReadingUsing Your Watch as a Compass
When our Border Collie/Sheltie mix, Keegan and I head off the pavement for adventure, I always carry a handheld GPS along with a compass and a map, so here's a word of advice: learn how to operate your GPS before you go out in the wilderness and know how to use a compass and a map. If you do not know how to use those items, they will be useless to you. Using your watch as a compass is easy, here i
Continue ReadingBy a Babbling Brook
We could not understand it! Arriving late in the day on this popular Lakeside Camping site we expected all the best, prime sites would already have been taken but there it was: a nice almost level site with commanding views across the lake, and right by a babbling brook. We parked on the plot and looked round mystified, all the other campers had pitched their tents just about everywhere else, unde
Continue ReadingGiant Dutch Oven Cinnamon Roll
This breakfast treat is sure to be a hit with the kids! Our giant Dutch oven cinnamon roll became a favorite camping breakfast each year at our Oregon coast campouts. Ours is done in a 6 quart/10” Dutch oven and would be a generous breakfast for 6. We use 2 lbs. of frozen bread dough (like Rhode’s), defrosted; so this would be a great breakfast after the first night camping! Generously coat
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