Blog 19th November 2025
Welcome to the ScotCampers fortnightly blog.
Am sure that by the time you read this, Scotland will be firmly in the World Cup after dismantling Denmark. We will see!
Last couple of weeks summarised by, last minute bookings, maintenance, me time, planning.
Always had it in mind that this time of year would be pretty quiet and might sneak off for a cheeky ski somewhere. Guests have different plans! Last weekend, three booking requests landed within a couple of hours – 5th December (which I can’t make as off to see Madness in Aberdeen with a couple of mates. We don’t get out much so could be interesting!). The other two requests are from Boxing Day and then new year – could be chilly but at least I have the diesel heater fitted.
Maintenance is ongoing and just a case of catching the right weather – all the tyres have been replaced on Bilbo and the refurb of Stormcrow continues to creep forward.
Last weekend saw me connecting again with Kinghorn Campers – wealth of information and top tips. From parking to navigation. Don’t know what I did before they appeared in life!
Last weekend also saw me hanging up the VW keys and off to my other passion – Landrovers. Mate of mine, Alan, organised access to a local forest which had 25 miles of offroad routes to explore. Done loads of these things before so this time I was marshalling for the Scottish Landrover Owners Club. Used to compete in their events back in the day (v expensive business!) and still enjoy pottering about and trying to navigate the un-navigable! Aside from popping up signs and making sure folks didn’t get lost, was pretty uneventful. Was dying to use my winch or snatch for recovery but no-one got stuck……
Here’s me overlooking Carronwater reservoir – water source for Falkirk.
Although I do love Spring, there is something appealing about this time of year in Scotland. Snow. Some of my most memorable walks and climbs have been amongst the white stuff. Ever conscious winter skills can get rusty over the summer, Monday saw me catching a weather window and heading up to the Cairngorms with the crampons and axe. Climbed an easy Munro I’ve done twice before and caught the snow around 700 metres. Always surprises me the adaptation you need to do to get used to walking efficiently in crampons again.
Was a very cold one which was good for ice and found myself a nicely pitched slope to throw myself off. Yes, you read that right. At this time of year I tend to pick an easy-ish hill in right conditions and practice arresting myself (art of falling on a slope and using your ice axe to effectively stop yourself as you accelerate downwards). Important activity to practice as you don’t want to be trying to remember what to do as you fall on something super steep.
Here’s me at the beginning of the walk (minus 4!) and target Munro over my left shoulder.
Next time hopefully sees me getting my kitchen for Stormcrow and maybe even a couple more hills. More time scheduled with the Kinghorn crew, which will be cool too.
DM me to discuss a 2026 discounted hire rate and until next time, remember, not all thos
