Wild camping in Scotland

Wild camping in Scotland

We are going camping this week. We are most excited. It’s been a long time coming, but we’ve finally freed up a week. This is a different style of blog this week, considering our preparations for wild camping in Scotland.

Scotland

Just off the west coast of Scotland lies the island of Mull, and on the west coast of Mull there is a wild camping designated spot called Calgary Bay. Normally I’d choose a south facing spot – if you’re going to camp, you can be picky about these things! But with ‘North Coast 500’ established not that long ago, and with the upheaval of Covid, normal ‘right to roam’ wild camping laws are no longer appreciated by land owners. Rather than be moved on with 3 children and 2 dogs, just as we settle down in our tents, I’m very happy to stick to ‘wild camping designated’ spots. Also, it looks beautiful – the pictures online. Mull is beautiful, so I believe it. We lived on a remote island in Orkney for a couple of years, my husband and I, and my eldest son. There is a part of island life in me that I hold dear. I think it is mainly the wind (I might regret saying that later) and the endless skies.

Children camping

The children are most excited for swimming (west coast is not quite as cold as the North Sea off the east coast of Scotland because of the Gulf Stream), waterfalls and the ferry ride. Eating chips and ketchup is a highlight on any ferry trip and must be factored in as legitimate a holiday activity as ice cream at the beach. But I know they are keen to while away hours crafting and foraging on the beach and in the rocks. Penknives, twine, drift wood, sand and rock pools – how fine it all may be.

Camping activities

Most of the activities when wild camping in Scotland are raw materials, improvisation and inspiration. I hope we can build a sun dial, perhaps using pebbles or shells, and spot constellations at night if we’re still up. But perhaps the boys will come up with their own hair brained, quixotic ideas, like building a raft and sailing out of the bay, binding it with their own jumpers and using their sleeping bags as sails. (For anyone worried, I won’t let them freeze, never fear.) I suspect we will fall into our routine of foraging any berries or seaweed we can, building castles, lighting fires, roasting marshmallows and whittling.

https://thereisnoshouldbe.com/expectations-of-our-children/

Mum camping

I am most looking forward to sitting by the fire by the beach, when all is said and done – tent pitched, children fed, dogs cared for – and watching the children play, and the flames dance, and the skies slowly change. I am hoping we won’t find ticks crawling everywhere, and midges eating us alive. I think this is a fact of wild camping in Scotland, there’s always a chance it will be a disaster. With 3 children, I would normally camp somewhere that isn’t a 16 mile journey over the sea, followed by a 4 hour drive to reach the comfort of home again. But I’m hoping, and at present the children’s enthusiasm convinces me that it’ll be worth it.

Logistics

Food wise, there will be no fresh gourmet cuisine. Tins and pasta, packs of pancakes and bacon will be delicious in the great outdoors, though my stomach is cramping just thinking about it. We will have to content ourselves with the ‘an apple a day’ promise of good health… However, a major consideration when camping – can I drink coffee without milk? Probably not. Possibly lemony water will be my solution – also a welcome treat. I’m always very glad of any camping food/water tips.

It’ll be fine

My main hopes are that it won’t pour with rain, and that we will manage to pitch the tents before dark, and without the littlest one and the dogs running into the sea before I’ve managed. My consolation is that two of my children have already much experience pitching their tents, as they do so regularly in the garden, or in their bedrooms on rainy days.

https://www.anadventurouseducation.com/2023/11/08/thank-you-my-dearest-children-for-teaching-me-too/