Well last weekend we (me and my brother) lightly packed the car and headed north across the border in search of a new spot to enjoy nature in the Galloway Forest Park, we had a simple plan and this was to not be stuck surrounded by sitka spruce trees.
Now anyone who knows the north of England and southern Scotland knows how tricky this can be as the area is literally covered in this weed tree, most were planted after WW2 to feed industry with wood for fuel and as industry turned away from using wood for fuel most of it was just left to grow and choke itself out and the weaker ones die and fall, rows and rows of them as far as the eye can see and the wildlife that lives amongst them being just as limited.
Scenes like this are common
So equipped with the trusty OS 1:25'000 maps of the area we set about visiting the tiny pockets of non-coniferous trees marked on the maps which were far enough away from roads to qualify for some wild camping spots, it took us over 4 hours of driving and hiking to and from the car before we found a lovely little oak tree filled area on the edge of a loch with a stunning stream rolling out of the mountains past it, it was well worth the effort (please don't ask as i won't divulge the location), it was clear that people had camped in the area before us but thankfully they seem to have respected the area and tried to leave no trace.
We set up camp and settled in for a couple of days of blissful relaxation, we never heard a single car all weekend, not a single plane flew overhead and we only seen 3 people and each of them asked us directions on how to get out of the area other than back the way they came.
Clatteringshaws Loch
The Bruce's stone on Clatteringshaws (one of many stones The Bruce may or may not have leant on, that was what the plaque said lol)
4 hrs later camp settled an first cuppa on the go
last morning just before packing up
We barely even left behind footprints
Now anyone who knows the north of England and southern Scotland knows how tricky this can be as the area is literally covered in this weed tree, most were planted after WW2 to feed industry with wood for fuel and as industry turned away from using wood for fuel most of it was just left to grow and choke itself out and the weaker ones die and fall, rows and rows of them as far as the eye can see and the wildlife that lives amongst them being just as limited.
Scenes like this are common
So equipped with the trusty OS 1:25'000 maps of the area we set about visiting the tiny pockets of non-coniferous trees marked on the maps which were far enough away from roads to qualify for some wild camping spots, it took us over 4 hours of driving and hiking to and from the car before we found a lovely little oak tree filled area on the edge of a loch with a stunning stream rolling out of the mountains past it, it was well worth the effort (please don't ask as i won't divulge the location), it was clear that people had camped in the area before us but thankfully they seem to have respected the area and tried to leave no trace.
We set up camp and settled in for a couple of days of blissful relaxation, we never heard a single car all weekend, not a single plane flew overhead and we only seen 3 people and each of them asked us directions on how to get out of the area other than back the way they came.
Clatteringshaws Loch
The Bruce's stone on Clatteringshaws (one of many stones The Bruce may or may not have leant on, that was what the plaque said lol)
4 hrs later camp settled an first cuppa on the go
last morning just before packing up
We barely even left behind footprints
