Hiking and Camping

Shrews · September 2023

Just for the hell of it and before the autumn really kicks in I thought I'd go on a bit of a hike, at the gentle age of nearly 57. So I'm going to be walking the Hadrians Wall path from Solway to Wallsend and a little bit extra to the coast at Tynemouth. I'm planning on 7 days, so about 12 miles each day. Taking my time which I will need to because I will have about 30lb on my back.

I am an experienced walker, regularly do 10-15 mile walks in the hills.

But I haven't camped since I was a kid. No idea about the etiquette of such things e.g
- how far away to pitch a tent from another
- toilet and shower arrangements (visions of Carry On peepholes and giggling Barbara Windsor types)
- what's it actually like trying to put up a tent in wind and rain (plus taking it all down and forcing it back into backpack)?
- Are fellow campers ok and helpful, or typically a bunch of c*nts?

Obviously I know that after four days or so of walking my feet might be aching and Day 5 onwards might be 'WTF am I doing?' and likely it will mean mental as well as physical challenges. Also, not easy I guess to put up a tent and take it back down when you're knackered and just want to lie on a bed.

What's the reality here?

Trouble is when you read all the blogs or watch the videos it's like they're on a big sell for gear and I wonder how much gear is actually needed eg do I really need to take a stove when I could just go to a pub. Do I need to carry food etc? After all it's a 12 mile walk and if I did that in the hills at home I'd probably just take a pack of peanuts, crisps, a chocolate bar and a litre of water.

Or is it just more of a challenge and more fun to pile it on your back and go for it?

Kittyfrisk · September 2023

Interesting idea, I hope it goes well.

I'd pitch my tent far enough away from others so that you don't disturb or be disturbed by snoring...
The idea of a big empty field & having some random stranger pitching up right next to me would not be welcomed.
Most camping sites will have reasonable shower & toilets included in the site fees but take some wet wipes too.
Putting up tents depends on your tent & experience. Modern tents are lightweight & can be pitched & taken down quickly.
Campers are people. Some will grunt at you, some will pester the shit out of you, most are pretty OK.

You should be able to get meals in pubs, teashops etc. along the way if you didn't want to lug all the cooking kit with you. As you say, energy dense foods are fine for during the day & easier to carry. Easy to restock too.
Research into planning stopping points should mean you don't get caught out without the means to camp & eat somewhere.
Should things get really tough, then get out the debit/credit card & into a B&B

Image: /plugins/EmojiExtender/emoji/fb/3.gif

Lastly, if it's of any help, I live in the area roughly in the middle of your trek.
If needed I could provide a bit of a backup service & in the worst case, get you to a transport hub (depending on the timing, personal circumstances etc. obviously).
Any questions, just ask.

Jaycee · September 2023

If it's not to late I use https://www.tailwindnutrition.co.uk/ I found them much better than the gels you can get, and or electrolyte tablets

swiller · September 2023

The reality is stay home bruv. Feet up, put your slippers on. Bottle of red, boeuf bourgignon and just relish that you are not sodden wet in a blown over tent, no sleep, maybe animals trashing your tent overnight, or foxes nibbling on your jacksons while you try and knock some z's out. Not to mention a good 500 nika down on your bank balance with all that kit.

Would suggest for a home job similar money..
6X vina ardanza rioja 1994 or 2004. or if feeling flush castillo ygay 1989 reserva especial.
2kg shortrib beef, onions, spuds, cabbage etc.
Lots of butter, thyme, parsley, garlic.
Slabs of expensive cheese and some crackers.

Consume the above over the planned days out. If exercise is key, maybe go shopping and carry it all home on your back, in an old puma holdall.

Sassafras · September 2023

Take an axe and a big knife to fend off the night attacks.

dano · September 2023

Just camp in your own garden. You can walk to the pub in the next town and back every day and shit in your own bushes.

EricTheWeary · September 2023

We go to quite a few campsites, although not in a tent, and often hear that modern campers are indeed a bunch of c***s because it’s a staycation/ covid thing and they don’t know etiquette, leave mess, leave the toilets and showers dirty,etc.

When we did camp it was mostly on C&CC sites or CSs (small affiliated sites) and they would generally make sure you were well spaced out. Facilities varied a bit but at main sites they were generally good and kept clean. Independent campsites are always a gamble, can be brilliant but quite often they are a bit shit. I don’t like people having fires and their kids running amok but obviously some people love all that, so shit is subjective.

HippoPete · September 2023

Hi,

I'm reluctant to put my four pen'orth in as you are clearly a capable hiker. I did try this walk a few years ago with some friends but had to bail half way through as I felt poorly (in retrospect, dehydration I think as I suck up a LOT of water and ran out).

Having a quick gander to refresh my memory of our route, I happened across this which might be helpful for your planning if you haven't seen it already - https://hiiker.app/trails/england/tyne-and-wear/hadrian-s-wall-path

We walked West to East as you are doing. First night was beside the river just East of Carlisle and I suspect we were at or near Low Crosby and simply wild camped after picking up some snacks and drinks on the outskirts of Carlisle.

Second night was just North of the Hadrians Wall visitor centre where there is a toilet block and car park I think. beside was some "hidden" grass area for another wild camp and used the tables at the block for breakfast (I think they were locked out of hours).

I then bailed and walked down to I think The Sill hostel and caught the bus back to Haltwhistle and back to the car in Solway. Booked myself in to a Premier Inn to pull myself together and picked up my buds in NewCastle with them looking suitably smug.

You may be a super fit person but 30Lb / 15Kg soon wears you down, I'd encourage you to try and take 2 / 3Kg out of that.

I was never really fit enough to pursue hiking but did do the Great Glen Way the year before and it really is the best way to clear your head. No better feeling than your only task for the next 10 to 12 hours is one foot in from of the other. No call, no emails, no worries.

Persistent rain is shot to be honest, putting up and then taking your tent down wet is miserable.

In my limited experience of longer hikes, I've never met such a generous and kind bunch of folk from fellow walkers to people letting us dry tents out on their lawn, honesty boxes with water / snacks and so on.

Again, you probably know this but cheese rolls are a good bet. I got my wife to make me a few, solidly wrapped in cling film and were still moist and good to go three days later !!

Enjoy and finish it for me buddy,

Budgie · September 2023

Why don’t you give wild camping a go en route? You could do a mix of campsites and wild camping. Just find a discrete spot and pitch your tent. Obviously, you would need to take food with you but there are lots of dehydrated meals available that weigh little. Also, get a water filter like a Sawyer to gather water too, it’ll save a lot of weight. The rest of your kit - take as little as possible, your back and knees will thank you for it!

Have fun!

BillDL · September 2023

I would suggest that you buy a cheap mini folding potting trowel type shovel to dig a hole for your "human waste" needs if you are wild camping. They hardly take up any space and are very lightweight. They would be strong enough to dig shallow holes in soft soil. Avon Skin So Soft actually does work almost as well as the more expensive Deet for repelling midges.

Pjon · September 2023

BillDL said:

I would suggest that you buy a cheap mini folding potting trowel type shovel to dig a hole for your "human waste" needs if you are wild camping. They hardly take up any space and are very lightweight. They would be strong enough to dig shallow holes in soft soil. Avon Skin So Soft actually does work almost as well as the more expensive Deet for repelling midges.

Skin So Soft works very well down here in South Wales - just as well as deet-based formulae and without the risk of burning your eyeballs out, like deet does. But, it shouldn't work, according to the internet, because it has no active ingredients. I don't think the midges know. One of my friends says that the only problem with SSS is that it makes you smell like a 'sexy old lady'. (This needs to be said inn a Portuguese accent for full effect!)

jonnyburgo · September 2023

Bro in Law is a mountaineering instructor, his tent is up in about 5 mins, very compact but quite expensive, buy well and buy once.

Teetonetal · September 2023

Key things for me...

Make damn sure you can get and stay warm at night.

Take enough socks...

Very small stove , pan, spoon and a cup to at least make a hot drink.. even if its only black tee and sugar. Take some kind of emergency food, such as noodles that can cook in a pot.

Get a light weight self inflating roll mat to sleep on.

Tent that will be waterproof and sturdy. Some are very easy to put up... I used to do high alpine camping and I had a Northface tent that was light, waterproof and strong. 5 mins up, 5 mins down.

Waterproof rucksac liner.

Take any opportunity to refill / get fresh water.

Don't be afraid to plan a rest day or sit out bad weather if you can.

I think such a trip is well worth it.

BigMonka · September 2023

@Shrews that sounds like a really exciting trip, I'd love to do something like that!
If you know the route you want to take then you can plan your campsites, coffee shops, pubs and shops - that'll give you an idea on whether you need cooking equipment at all.
One thing I would note with your plan is just to think about your timings for each day, as 10 miles is probably 4hours of walking which means you'll have an awful lot of downtime at campsites in the morning and evenings.

In terms of equipment try and keep it light as you'll also have food and water weight. I'd actually recommend going away for a couple of nights beforehand to see what equipment you actually think is worth having. There are cheap light tents these days, and they're really quick to put up and take down once you've done it a couple of times. There are two main categories of tents, which are inner-pitch-first or outer-pitch-first, with the former a bit more useful in wet weather.

Kittyfrisk · September 2023

BigMonka said:

@Shrews that sounds like a really exciting trip, I'd love to do something like that!
If you know the route you want to take then you can plan your campsites, coffee shops, pubs and shops - that'll give you an idea on whether you need cooking equipment at all.
One thing I would note with your plan is just to think about your timings for each day, as 10 miles is probably 4hours of walking which means you'll have an awful lot of downtime at campsites in the morning and evenings.

In terms of equipment try and keep it light as you'll also have food and water weight. I'd actually recommend going away for a couple of nights beforehand to see what equipment you actually think is worth having. There are cheap light tents these days, and they're really quick to put up and take down once you've done it a couple of times. There are two main categories of tents, which are inner-pitch-first or outer-pitch-first, with the former a bit more useful in wet weather.

I favour tents that pitch both inner & flysheet 'in one' such as my Coleman Avior. Not the worlds most modern tent, but it pitches fast, is waterproof, deals well with high winds, light & has enough features to make trips more bearable & fun.
https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/p/Coleman-Avior-X3/93

Stratavarious · September 2023

https://www.campsites.co.uk/search/campsites-near-hadrians-wall

https://mattwalkwild.com/how-to-walk-hadrians-wall-path/#:~:text=Because%20of%20these%20reasons%2C%20wild,protected%20or%20a%20farmer%27s%20field.

Nice cafes at Vindolanda and Roman Army Museum.. make plans to visit some of the cool sites.

You’ll have to do the Coast To Coast next,

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

Hiking and Camping

Comments