Blog 15th April 2026
Welcome to the ScotCampers tri-weekly blog.
This period can be summarised by; hirers; Wainwrights; Socials.
Hirers. About to enter a busy period with bank holidays usually the trigger for folks planning. Blanca and Costa were out in Bilbo last week and given the weather, moved their plans from Skye to the calmer east coast. They managed the NC500 and then back via Aberdeen, ticking off the impressive Dunnottar castle on the way. The weather was kind in a way for both of us as they are hiring again in 4 weeks – destination Skye this time!
Bilbo in the east……..
Wainwrights. So, off to Chamonix in a couple of weeks, trekking with a proper fittie (Tomas) so training is the order of the day. I was away with my mate Dave and my hillwalking club in the autumn to the Lake District where we picked off three Wainwrights. The Wainwrights are a series of 214 hills/mountains in the Lakes documented by Alfred Wainwright in the mid 90s. Upon completing my walk with Dave in the autumn I thought I’d get to know more about them and figure how many of the 214 I’d done! Slightly disappointed that I was only in the teens (that said, think I’ve summitted Helwellyn 8 times – in my opinion, the best 3000 footer in England). Logbook bought and previous summits documented off I was to the northern Lakes last weekend. Conscious short of time on the Sunday (had to be in Scotland by lunch), decided to tick off 5 by foot on Saturday and then bike on Sunday first crack.
So Saturday was the Great Dod and it’s 4 neighbours in pretty horrendous conditions!. Winds were around 40mph on the summits making for tough going and bitter wind exposure (winter gloves on, neck buff, 4 layers at points). That said, pretty straightforward day (albeit, river crossing at end and in spate – wet feet!). Here’s me on my way (Hellwellyn with the snow in the distance):
I do like my real ale. And I do like my hills. They are perfectly matched for me. There’s nothing quite like the guilt free couple of beers following a shift in the hills. So, down to the encyclopedia, aka, Kinghorn campers their previous recommendation for a stopover on Sunday night – no faffing about with them! Good beer, the Masters on the TV and striking range of the planned 6 Wainwrights on Monday.
The “couple” of beers is probably downplaying the evening as the golf was a bit tense! That said, left blinds open as I slept to catch first light and then off! Bike assembled I was on the hills before 6 and wow – not often you only meet one person in the Lakes! Six ticked off on the eastern shores of Ullswater and weather lovely – clear, crisp and slippy!
(Here’s a dodge pic of my shadow as I pedal first crack looking west with Ullswater and Hellwellyn in the background):
That’s me at 28 out of the 214 Wainwrights now so getting there. I’ll have at least 50 done by year end and will do them all before I check out! Happy enough!
Socials:
Conscious of a gap in bookings around June/July it was back to the house of pain in Falkirk – aka, Sophie, my amazing Socials expert! I was fortunate enough to get a couple of government funded days with Sophie last year and was impressed enough to engage her professionally.
Meeting held and a robust plan of content across TikTok, Insta and FB landed for the month of April with a follow up meeting scheduled next week.
This stuff doesn’t come naturally to me and time with her feels like a gym workout! That said, no pain, no gain and very happy with where I am now. Here’s happy Alan with the equivalent of just pulling my PB and being asked for just 20 more kilos……:
That’s it for this time. Next period, hoping to survive the Happy Mondays, Cup tie at Hampden followed by night with handsome Dave in Dunfermline, more prep for Alpine faffing.
Until next time. Not all those who wander, are lost…….
