OK, so its asking for a lot but let me explain...
As a family we've been camping for years but it's all been 'load up the car and head off' camping.
I used to do a lot of wild camping/walking back in the day and my sons (10 & 13) are keen to give this a go with their old Dad. I've recently camped out overnight with them in our hammocks (albeit at the foot of the garden in a holiday lodge) and they're dead keen to get out into the green stuff, carry their own gear and camp wild.
Now I know from the outset that I'll be carrying all the 'communal gear' and most of theirs too. I also know that a couple of days will be enough for them the first time round. The plan is to travel somewhere by either bus or train and then walk a route and hammock for a couple of nights (but not too far considering their ages and the fact that they will be carrying some of the gear).
I want the boys to be leading the planning, working out what we need (in terms of gear, food, water, etc) as well as working out our route (public transport to get there and back, walking route and where to hang our hammocks I also want them to do the navigation once we're there. I'll obviously be double checking everything and giving them helpful hints throughout the process.
I'm looking for a bit of a starter for ten though from anyone who can suggest a few possibilities.
I'm looking for somewhere not too far away from Glasgow, ideally within the Strathclyde area that's easily accessible by public transport (train or bus). I'm also looking for areas that either have access to safe wild camping spots (far enough away from civilisation that we won't be bothered by marauding neds/joyriders) or hammock friendly campsites nearby, close enough that we can get back to civilisation in case we hit problems (really foul weather, etc) with a little bit of walking thrown in (5 to 10 miles a day for a couple of days maximum).
I had initially looked at the Loch Lomond area but the east side has poor public transport links from what I can see plus the camping exclusion zone which would make hammocking tricky. I've been looking at the West side as there are train stations but also don't want to spend ages walking along busy roads, especially if there isn't much of a path.
Anyone out there got any suggestions? Any ideas would be gratefully appreciated.
Many thanks
NS40 & sons
As a family we've been camping for years but it's all been 'load up the car and head off' camping.
I used to do a lot of wild camping/walking back in the day and my sons (10 & 13) are keen to give this a go with their old Dad. I've recently camped out overnight with them in our hammocks (albeit at the foot of the garden in a holiday lodge) and they're dead keen to get out into the green stuff, carry their own gear and camp wild.
Now I know from the outset that I'll be carrying all the 'communal gear' and most of theirs too. I also know that a couple of days will be enough for them the first time round. The plan is to travel somewhere by either bus or train and then walk a route and hammock for a couple of nights (but not too far considering their ages and the fact that they will be carrying some of the gear).
I want the boys to be leading the planning, working out what we need (in terms of gear, food, water, etc) as well as working out our route (public transport to get there and back, walking route and where to hang our hammocks I also want them to do the navigation once we're there. I'll obviously be double checking everything and giving them helpful hints throughout the process.
I'm looking for a bit of a starter for ten though from anyone who can suggest a few possibilities.
I'm looking for somewhere not too far away from Glasgow, ideally within the Strathclyde area that's easily accessible by public transport (train or bus). I'm also looking for areas that either have access to safe wild camping spots (far enough away from civilisation that we won't be bothered by marauding neds/joyriders) or hammock friendly campsites nearby, close enough that we can get back to civilisation in case we hit problems (really foul weather, etc) with a little bit of walking thrown in (5 to 10 miles a day for a couple of days maximum).
I had initially looked at the Loch Lomond area but the east side has poor public transport links from what I can see plus the camping exclusion zone which would make hammocking tricky. I've been looking at the West side as there are train stations but also don't want to spend ages walking along busy roads, especially if there isn't much of a path.
Anyone out there got any suggestions? Any ideas would be gratefully appreciated.
Many thanks
NS40 & sons
.
