Firstly a disclaimer that I am by no means an expert in any of the skills or practices that I enjoy reading about on here. I have been guilty of emptying my flat into my rucksack/s and stopping at every Tesco on my way to previous 'Wild Camps'. However over the last couple of years, when time allows I have been working on a stripped back approach to camping whilst still retaining a degree of comfort and watching my budget.
Anyhoo......
I had a week off planned and with an extremely demanding job I wanted to make the most of my time.
I was really looking forward to hiting the East Coast near North Berwick, and had the superb offer from Andybythesea to show me a spot he used previously. However on the evening before I left I read of weather warnings in the east and this was enough for me to seek somewhere with a lower risk of rain. (I have been washed out on my previous 3 trips).
I decided to head for an area I know fairly well, Carrick Bay. I have camped on the ledges of the rocks there previously and in various other spots in WIgtown Bay. However this time I checked the tide times as I wanted to head out to the big isle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islands_of_Fleet
Before I set off I had to source a new sleeping bag as my previous one was now passed its best after 16 years of abuse. I settled on the Coleman Big Basin as I am 6'4 approx 120kg and this was within my budget. It is very bulky and it won a fight with a compression sack so bungees and my poncho tamed it a little. As an aside I would recomend this for any of the bigger guys out there on a budget.
I parked beside the shore at Carrick Bay and loaded up as the tide was out. My good lady and I were still like a couple of pack mules despite stripping our supplies down to the bare minimum. Unfortunately my deerhound, Falcor, has no manners and carried HEEHAW! <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/carrickshore.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/carrickshore.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo carrickshore.jpg"/></a>
10-15 minute trek across the bay, the sand was deep and soft at points, however it did hold the promise of razor clams (spoots) and cockles for future trips. <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/bigisle.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/bigisle.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo bigisle.jpg"/></a>
Ditched the gear on the white sand and shell shore of the isle and went for a wander to pick the camp spot. <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/20130521_162819.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/20130521_162819.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20130521_162819.jpg"/></a>
Keeping the dog on the lead to make sure no livestock or deer were around, <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/20130522_121155.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/20130522_121155.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20130522_121155.jpg"/></a> we treked round the whole island in around 25-30 minutes. The spot we chose was close enough to the shore to scavange driftwood and close enough to the trees for some protection from the winds. <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/falcortent2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/falcortent2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo falcortent2.jpg"/></a>
The south side of the island is very rugged. Even in the calm weather the sea crashes in quite dramatically constantly. <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/falcorcliff.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/falcorcliff.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo falcorcliff.jpg"/></a>
The air was heavy with wild garlic and at points a wee bit minty. Im not fully equipped for ID'ing enough plants to fill my belly so had brought supplies. <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/wildgarlic.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/wildgarlic.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo wildgarlic.jpg"/></a>
First night was the treat of wild garlic with tame corgette. Into some tin foil with butter and onto the fire. This was accomppanied by cous cous, which is by far one of my favourite items for the trangia. <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/corgetteswildgarlic.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/corgetteswildgarlic.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo corgetteswildgarlic.jpg"/></a>
No luck with the fishing, due to poor prep on my part with old reels, line spooling all over the place. Recovered all of the line to be disposed of, but a bit dissapointed that I couldnt bring home some fish.
There was a building at the south east corner of the island, no sign of it having been used recently but it wasnt falling to bits and had fairly modern guttering and water collection drums. <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/building.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/building.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo building.jpg"/></a>
Overall a lovely spot with an interesting feel. Being cut off when the tide comes in is a nice feeling. Plenty of bird life on the near by isles, Im sure there will be foraging opportunites for those more knowledgable than I, and fishing should bring some results in the warmer months with a reel that works!
<a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/bedtime2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/bedtime2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo bedtime2.jpg"/></a>
Anyhoo......
I had a week off planned and with an extremely demanding job I wanted to make the most of my time.
I was really looking forward to hiting the East Coast near North Berwick, and had the superb offer from Andybythesea to show me a spot he used previously. However on the evening before I left I read of weather warnings in the east and this was enough for me to seek somewhere with a lower risk of rain. (I have been washed out on my previous 3 trips).
I decided to head for an area I know fairly well, Carrick Bay. I have camped on the ledges of the rocks there previously and in various other spots in WIgtown Bay. However this time I checked the tide times as I wanted to head out to the big isle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islands_of_Fleet
Before I set off I had to source a new sleeping bag as my previous one was now passed its best after 16 years of abuse. I settled on the Coleman Big Basin as I am 6'4 approx 120kg and this was within my budget. It is very bulky and it won a fight with a compression sack so bungees and my poncho tamed it a little. As an aside I would recomend this for any of the bigger guys out there on a budget.
I parked beside the shore at Carrick Bay and loaded up as the tide was out. My good lady and I were still like a couple of pack mules despite stripping our supplies down to the bare minimum. Unfortunately my deerhound, Falcor, has no manners and carried HEEHAW! <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/carrickshore.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/carrickshore.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo carrickshore.jpg"/></a>
10-15 minute trek across the bay, the sand was deep and soft at points, however it did hold the promise of razor clams (spoots) and cockles for future trips. <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/bigisle.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/bigisle.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo bigisle.jpg"/></a>
Ditched the gear on the white sand and shell shore of the isle and went for a wander to pick the camp spot. <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/20130521_162819.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/20130521_162819.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20130521_162819.jpg"/></a>
Keeping the dog on the lead to make sure no livestock or deer were around, <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/20130522_121155.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/20130522_121155.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20130522_121155.jpg"/></a> we treked round the whole island in around 25-30 minutes. The spot we chose was close enough to the shore to scavange driftwood and close enough to the trees for some protection from the winds. <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/falcortent2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/falcortent2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo falcortent2.jpg"/></a>
The south side of the island is very rugged. Even in the calm weather the sea crashes in quite dramatically constantly. <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/falcorcliff.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/falcorcliff.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo falcorcliff.jpg"/></a>
The air was heavy with wild garlic and at points a wee bit minty. Im not fully equipped for ID'ing enough plants to fill my belly so had brought supplies. <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/wildgarlic.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/wildgarlic.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo wildgarlic.jpg"/></a>
First night was the treat of wild garlic with tame corgette. Into some tin foil with butter and onto the fire. This was accomppanied by cous cous, which is by far one of my favourite items for the trangia. <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/corgetteswildgarlic.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/corgetteswildgarlic.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo corgetteswildgarlic.jpg"/></a>
No luck with the fishing, due to poor prep on my part with old reels, line spooling all over the place. Recovered all of the line to be disposed of, but a bit dissapointed that I couldnt bring home some fish.
There was a building at the south east corner of the island, no sign of it having been used recently but it wasnt falling to bits and had fairly modern guttering and water collection drums. <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/building.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/building.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo building.jpg"/></a>
Overall a lovely spot with an interesting feel. Being cut off when the tide comes in is a nice feeling. Plenty of bird life on the near by isles, Im sure there will be foraging opportunites for those more knowledgable than I, and fishing should bring some results in the warmer months with a reel that works!
<a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/user/freddybamboo/media/bedtime2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/freddybamboo/bedtime2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo bedtime2.jpg"/></a>
, sounds like a great trip. I do understand about taking too much, I still do it though I've got a lot better 
