Have you heard of a saying "there is no bad weather, just bad clothes". We agree and in our opinion wild camping should and can be done in (almost) any weather. So why not travel to Scotland where you might experience all seasons in one day!
Inca loves camping and is used to doing it in all weathers, although it goes without saying that when it's been raining the tent is filled with somewhat of a "wet dog" smell... Don't forget your raincoats, although a poncho can work even better and protects your backpack too. Luckily we remembered to take Inca's raincoat - it was in heavy use on this trip! It took her a while to get used to and she would only move and walk very slowly, but eventually she got the hang of it and wears it all fine now.
In Scotland it's allowed to wild camp as long as of course you leave no trace, and probably avoid camping in somebody's back garden. There are however some rules (Scottish Outdoor Access Code) that you should be aware of: https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/practical-guide-all/camping
Otherwise, feel free to enjoy the full beauty of Scottish nature and you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to the destination. And if you like fishing, you will find plenty of opportunities for that. You don't actually need a licence to fish with rod and line anywhere in Scotland apart from in the Border Esk region - you only need permission from the landowner or an angling club.
We decided to spend a week on the Isle of Arran, taking the ferry across from Ardrossan to Brodick, with the aim of travelling around the island to camp in different places. The ferry journey lasted about an hour, with lovely views and blustery winds. There are some alternative ferry routes and the timetables can be found on www.calmac.co.uk website.
After stocking up with some food and water in the supermarket near the harbour, we drove to Glenashdale Falls and trekked to a waterfall to camp by. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking. It was raining rather heavily on this night but nevertheless we truly enjoyed this beautiful location! Falling asleep and waking up to the sound of water is simply wonderful. If you're planning to camp when rain is on the agenda, we recommend taking a tarpaulin to protect your tent and enable you to cook in a sheltered area.
Coming from the busy Midlands area, it is safe to say that the quality of air on this island is extraordinary. You really can feel the difference. Sometimes we forget how much pollution we breathe in every day, so getting back to nature is a great way to give your body these cleansing opportunities!
When wild camping one thing to ensure is having sufficient amount of water and the right filtering equipment. We've tried a few and in our other blog there is more information about the specifics of water filtering. However, one thing to mention straight away is that it's best to get your drinking water from a flowing stream and to avoid getting your water from still rivers or ponds - especially if they're near agriculture. We're pretty sure we could have drank water straight from the streams but decided to filter it anyway, just in case.
We packed up our went tent and continued our journey along the coast. After an hour of hiking we found a great spot and decided to camp by the sea in an isolated and beautiful spot on the west coast. To be honest, it was a long night as we thought the tide would reach our tent! One of us stayed up all night observing the tide getting closer and closer, and although the water was about a meter away from the tent, luckily it never reached us. In the morning we tried to do some fishing but never succeeded in catching anything. Always willing to give it a go though - no effort, no rewards!
We could have stayed here forever (especially if we caught some food), but decided to carry on exploring the island and find a new place to wild camp. We continued driving along the coast and on the map found a mention of a loch within a reasonable walking distance. This place was Coire Fhionn Lochan, a magical loch nestled in the mountains. We walked up a fairly steep hill alongside a flowing stream and tiny waterfalls, and in the rain of course, and ended up in this wonderland. There was literally no other civilisation and we had the place completely to ourselves. Probably the best camping spot we've ever had!
At times the clouds would cover the whole loch, and at times it would clear out for a moment, revealing the sun and the majestic mountains. We had a very refreshing swim and enjoyed one of the camping meals we'd taken with. These ones from 'Summit to Eat' are pretty good, but we definitely think they need longer than 10 minutes to cook, as stated by the instructions. The salmon pasta especially tasted lovely!
Inca had her own fun admiring the scenery, but as we were pitching she had disappeared. After a while we saw her on another hill in the distance trying to chase a pack of deer, possibly up to ten of them… it took some shouting to get her back. Admittingly we still have a lot of work to do on her recall! She finally came back, absolutely knackered, needing a good long rest... She actually slept 12 straight hours in the tent, avoiding the heavy rainfall, and wouldn't want to come out even for a pee.
The last two nights we camped again by the beach, it was actually quite chilly and we needed all the layers we had to keep warm. There were other campers nearby too but we were remote enough to have another skinny morning dip in the refreshing waves... Crazy perhaps but needed when you don't have access to a shower! There is also something truly satisfying about eating warm and filling breakfast by the seaside. Inca is of course always on the lookout to get a little bit of egg or sausage - her favourite food. Somehow we managed to bring the eggs without any of them breaking.
Being by the sea, unfortunately a lot of bottles and other items had flushed to the shore. Couldn't leave this plastic hanging around any longer so we decided to litter pick as much as we could. We believe that any camper, or anyone in general, that truly appreciates nature will take a few bits of rubbish with them. Even picking one piece of rubbish a day can make a huge difference! We ended up filling three large refuse sacks and it felt great to see the shore free from plastic.
All in all, it has been great fun to drive around and camp on this beautiful island. It has definitely been food for the soul - sometimes living a bit rough and basic is exactly what you need to get away from it all and reset the mind and body. Isle of Arran provides lots of remote wild camping spots and prehistoric sites (such as The Giant's Grave and Machrie Moor Standing Stones), and we'd definitely recommend paying a visit. The clean air, variety of walks and fantastic scenery are definitely worth the trip. Happy camping!
