I was in Scotland 2nd May through 8th May this year and walked the Great Glen Way, camping each night bar one (when I stayed in a B&B) - that was brilliant but so too was the West Highland Way which I completed in May 2019. Cheers. Ken
It was, indeed, and yes, some magnificent scenery even when at low level. The first 3 days were relatively flat (Caledonian Canal / Loch Lochy / Caledonia Canal / Loch Oich / Caledonian Canal) but thereafter (from Fort Augustus) you gain some height (and lose it!). The views looking back to Fort Augustus along Loch Ness were fabulous notwithstanding some mist / low cloud. As for my tent, for the sake of lightness I took my Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo LE. Despite owing it since 2014 (when I did WaInwright's Coast to Coast), it still performed well. I toyed with the idea of taking my V4A but as I said lightness prevailed, especially as I'm not getting any younger - 68 in June! Cheers. Ken
@@kenhenley7599 Excellent! I’m toying with using the Hexpeak without an inner, but I need to figure out the midge situation - whether it’s coils or wearing a net to sleep. We’ll see. What’s your take on the Lunar Solo’s door height? I’ve seen one in the flesh and it seemed to be awfully high, almost like the MLD Trailstar. I’d considered the latter before, but I wasn’t keen on Coops being able to get out through the night. 🤔
The dreaded midge! Personally, I wouldn't use the V4A without the inner after end of April / beginning of May and before the middle / end of September. I am not a fan of coils or wearing a head net to sleep in. I shall be interested to see the outcome of your deliberations...que a video? The Lunar Solo does sit quite high - to help- control condensation - and although you can lower it, there is still a large gap between the ground and the bottom of the doors...enough for Coops to get out even if dropped to the lowest possible position. Of course the Lunar Solo is a 1.5 person tent so he could always sleep inside provided you covered the floor to stop his claws piercing it! Hope this is of some help. Cheers. Ken
I had a friend who liked to sculpt stone, and he was fond of leaving prank carvings around on random rocks about buried treasure and hidden faces. He would often share his photos with us, but never the locations, I always wondered what it would be like to find one. Sadly he passed on a few years ago so the knowledge went with him, RIP Jack.
Wow, what a story! He sounds like a right character and hopefully people have found his work whilst out and about 🙂 It's always great to find things like this, as it adds to the overall atmosphere! Thanks for watching 👌
Aye, it truly is a special place, especially being in amongst it all when everything slows down and becomes still. That's when the little details start to emerge and you feel at one with it all. Thank you for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Great video mate. 😎👌That's what it's aw aboot. Experiences like that. Who needs to camp high when you can get away to remote locations like that. With your own thoughts, beer and Coops. 😁🍺🐶
We disappeared into the twilight zone 😁🧙🏼♂️ Definitely a trip to remember, that wee gap of perfect silence before the weather set in the following day 👌🏻 All about chasing the views Kev boy 💪🏻💪🏻
Great video as always mate, I always look forward to your vids! The loch on day one looked like paradise, some amazing shots of the reflections on the surface. The face on the rock was so interesting, very Easter Island-esque!
Thanks mate, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I said in another comment that it was amazing to be in amongst the landscape when everything slowed down and all of the smaller details began to emerge. I couldn't have picked it up with the gopro, but those geese made everything more special, just seeing them gliding about on the surface of a mirror was incredible. It was also amazing to witness such calm after a week of bad weather, only for it to slip away again in the darkness, totally cerebral experience. The rock was 'The Grey Man of the Merrick' - one of the best examples of Pareidolia I have ever seen. Really hard to believe that it's natural!
Another excellent video mate! I was up Loch doon last Sunday, was hellish in the morning but was great just waking up to nature, truly forget what a beautiful country we have sometimes! Also pesky grey man of merrick better have teleported you and coops to the car 😂!
Thanks Johnathon, glad you enjoyed it! This trip was Sat/Sun, I noticed a wee window of calm and rolled the dice and it paid off for the Saturday night 😀 I managed to get up and away just in time, as it started pouring as I left camp... Still, absolutely brilliant experience! Re the Grey Man, unfortunately not 😬 Back to the car DRIPPING, haha!
What a fantastic video on every level. I really enjoyed whiling away 14 minutes watching it (except when you stepped in the bog up to your knee...urgh!). The bond between you and Coops is lovely to see. The Grey Man is cool. Cheers. Ken
Hi Ken, thank you for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed it! Being out with Coops is such a special experience - especially when everything just slows down and I'm able to embrace the moment 😀 I'm trying to improve each video as I make them, so hopefully that comes across! Oh, and that wasn't the only time my foot sunk into the depths of the boggy abyss 😅😅 Thanks again mate, I appreciate it!
I've just this week dropped on your videos and i am enjoying them so much. I found you through buying a V4A, but i've found so much more than advice and mods. The love and kindness you have for Cooks pretty much sums up everything that is great about you and your channel. I can't believe your feet were dry after all of that though. That rock face is amazing. I see a chief. My favourite camping experience was in Snowdonia, next to a remote tarn, still silence, hot chocolate, stars, the Milky Way, memories of childhood holidays in that region, everything i wanted from wild camping. Keep up the great work and wellness - "it's good for you". That says it all.
Hi mate, I'm very happy to hear that! Coops is my partner in crime - I promised him an excellent and exciting life when I got him as a wee pup & since then, we've done everything together. I am extremely lucky to have him by my side, especially on these trips, it definitely makes them a lot more special! I'm still figuring things out in terms of shooting, but I aim to have a lot more Coops in the videos in future... Aye, the boots held up very well on the trip, I since returned them though as the overall build quality was crap. Ended up going back to my special forces boots! The grey man is fantastic and I totally see the chief as well, I didn't show the other side, which has another face and what looks like a flatcap. Really cool!
Great video mate! Was really laughing when you were nearly knee deep in the bog 😂😂😂. Aye the beers from Aldi are pretty nice, the orange and grapefruit flavour ones are my favourite. Also really like your coffee choice mate 👌.
Thanks! Haha, aye, I noticed a couple of similarities between our videos - Idahoan potatoes and the Harrington’s coffee bags 🤭Absolutely lovely 👌🏻 Aye, typical Galloway, the only progress you seem to make is when you’re falling 😂😂
@@outlawedlandscapes aye, but I like the yellow coffee more 😂 The ready dehydrated meals are just to expensive, really close to pull the trigger on a dehydrater 🤔
@@StripeyHatGuy I think that would be a great thing to have. I’ve never been tempted by the expedition foods as they are crazy prices, especially now! Unless you get the 1000cal pouches, they’re no better than standard pasta pouches, pot noodles etc. I can get 1000cal no problem with a Pot Noodle, mashed potatoes and some sort of protein, quorn or something. The mash also lasts a couple of meals, so always extra for a lunch or something. I’ve had a couple of the coffee pouches and so far the green one is my favourite, really lovely flavour to it. I also love the 3in1 Polish coffees by Kopiko. Brilliant stuff 😎
@@outlawedlandscapes yeah see it basically the same, might be more convenient to grab just a bag instead of always looking for new things to eat but I don't mind it either. Haven't tried the green nor the Kopiko ones, after I finished my 30 pack I'll try for sure the green one! 😎👍
@@StripeyHatGuy You'll get the Kopiko ones on ebay, definitely worth the effort though if you like milky coffee. Aye, but at almost £7 for 4/500 calories, plus the fact you have to order them / go to a specific shop, they aren't very practical in my opinion. Saying that though, they might taste amazing!
Great camp! I like to be well camouflaged so chose the green Hexpeak V4A, but seeing how well your brown one blends with the scenery I wonder if I should have opted for that! Hill Tarns/Lochans are my favourite places to camp, they're just so atmospheric. The rising wild trout often present in such places are a bonus, and I carry a lightweight fly-fishing rig (total weight about 250g) to cast a fly and enjoy a magical hour or two in unbeatable surroundings. 18kg is far too much in my book, and reminds me of my youthful backpacking days. You will easily halve that weight in your own good time. One tip to start with - ditch those heavy cans of beer and cultivate a taste for whisky instead - after all, it's distilled beer - the same bang for 15% of the weight, and carry in a lightweight plastic pouch. Carry it at cask strength (c60% alcohol) and get away with even less weight, just dilute to drinking strength at camp. PS I use the same coffee bags!
I've been dialling in the kit over time and my base weight before camera/video gear is actually pretty light at around ~8.5kg. Jumps up to about 9.5/10kg with winter gear. You're right about the beer as well, that was a one off as I don't actually drink alcohol. I've since stopped carrying water over 1l too, which definitely helps! One day I'll reduce the weight of my sleeping pad/bag, so that'll be nice as well - just expensive!
@@outlawedlandscapes 8.5kg is pretty good imo, as a non-photographer I don't have the weight of all that extra equipment. My baseweight is between 6kg and 7kg, depending on terrain and season, and it's taken me quite a time to get here - I can't see it getting much lower than this. And yes, carrying a water filter instead of several litres of water means a much lighter pack most of the time!
What a great video! Really glad to have found this as I'm heading to Loch Enoch this weekend. The weather is not looking as good as you had it though! Thank you for the video!
Funnily enough, due to the remoteness, a favourite camp of mine was on the side of the Merrick overlooking Loch Enoch. A helicopter landed on the summit in the dark at 10pm. Thought I might have to give them a cup of tea. Boggy Galloway is worse than some Munros up north! Great video, as always.
Oh, wow! Did you establish why it landed? MRT callout? I've yet to camp on the Merrick, but when I do it'll most likely be on the Western side overlooking the corrie rim (Black Gairy). I know exactly where you mean though and it's such a fantastic spot with extensive views over the hills... Stunning 😀
@@outlawedlandscapes I never found out. It was in March but unseasonably warm. It’s so flat up there, maybe a practice exercise in the dark? They only hung about for 5 mins. Yeah, the Western side would amazing. 🤟
@@kirsty9452 Hmm, sounds like an exercise as I didn’t hear about any call outs then (could be wrong though). I’ll bet it was a surreal experience though 🤣🤣 As I was coming down from Culsharg on this trip there was a Helicopter coming down through the Glen in heavy rain. It was amazing to see it manoeuvre down to the loch!
I know that route myself but the Grey Man evaded me 😂 That looked like absolutely perfect conditions to pitch, relax and get your head down in. I've saw these lochs from the Merrick summit but have never ventured down to them or stayed myself. Great video as always and I hope you come back from wherever you disappeared to 👍🏼
Hi mate, thanks for watching! Aye, the grey man can be hard to spot if you don’t know it’s there, I’ll still need to show you! It was beautiful once I finally found a pitch in the heather, the entirety of the landscape is just boggy nonsense, so it was quite tough to find somewhere 🧐 It’s like another world in there, everything beyond the skyline becomes irrelevant 🙂 We went into the twilight zone, it was boggy in there too, so we headed back to the car 🤣🤣
That sounds like an awesome local trip/camp for you. I did something similar just Friday/Saturday in the Pentland Hills at North Esk Reservoir. Loving my Hexpeak. Probably the same as for you, the guylines weren’t required but the tent is so much quieter at 25min wind than others. I think the value of a good night sleep cannot be overstated.
Excellent Hendrik, I'm glad to hear you're getting the Hex out and about! I really do love the wind performance and having tried it against the Lanshan, I realised just how much of an affect the thicker material has when it comes to insulation and noise 😀
@@outlawedlandscapes , indeed a lot warmer than my Lanshan 1 Pro. And I love that I can comfortably sit in it and cook my dinner when the weather isn’t great.
@@outlawedlandscapes after I ‘copied’ you with the tent, I see, you now have the same boots. They are great in the Pentlands which can certainly compete with the Galloway Hills when it comes to bog.
@@hnahler Yes! I’d be interested to see if there was some sort of lightweight a-frame pole set up out there to really open it up. I know there are a few folk that use 2x trekking poles with a joint piece and pole extenders, but that just adds to the weight.
@@hnahler Ah, haha! I’ll admit it was a bit of a departure from the Bhutan’s, but so far I’m very happy with them. My only issue is the sole - it seems to be quite thin, especially when the x-ultra’s seem to have better cleats than the “actual” hiking boots (Quest) etc. Have you had a similar experience?
Really enjoyed watching this as a new owner of a hexpeak v4a I found your channel and watching a few videos I've enjoyed them so you have a new subscriber atvb Jimmy 😎😎👍👍
Hi Jimmy 👋🏻 I’m glad you’ve been enjoying them and I’m sure you’ll love the Hex, they are excellent!! I’ve got a video in the pipeline that covers a 4 season, lightweight inner for the Hexpeak, so maybe worth tuning into that when it’s out! 😁 ATB 👌🏻
Nice one Scott, i've camped up there twice and your right its a mission to get there. It looks like you done a different route from myself i went up by Valley Loch but great video mate and good to see Loch Enoch again. I'll be back there sometime ..cheers Stevie
Thanks Stevie boy! Aye, 100%! No easy approach.. I was originally going to head up via the Rig of Loch Enoch having done the Loch Valley route a few times, but I couldn't get over the burn from the Merrick path and opted to just head out from Culsharg instead. It used to be pure bog, but thankfully the new path made life a bit easier for a couple of km 😀 Give me a shout if you're thinking of Galloway in the future and we can maybe sort something out 👌
@@outlawedlandscapes Yes definetly Scott, i love the Galloway hills . I drop you a message on FB and get something sorted . Im away offshore on monday but we'll get something sorted mate
Cracking watch as always, im not sure of my favourite trip but ive recently got myself a sit on kayak for camping/fishing dieng to get out for a night or two to places hard to or not possible to reach by foot.
Just recently had a week wild/croft camping on isle of tiree... Beautiful place... beautiful beaches... plenty of places to wild camp... plenty of birds and wildflowers.. And the weather was very wild.. It was fantastic... A bit off topic....is it possible for an update on the tent after using it few times... any more details etc... Thanks...👍
Cracking video, firstly massive thank you as you made me decide to get the hexpeak and I love it. Also how are the coffee bags? Seen them advertised and thought they would be cracking for backpacking mate? Thanks again and take care mate👍🏼
Fantastic, I'm glad it was a help to you - the Hex is a fantastic tent!! The coffee bags are excellent, very, very tasty - full bodied and strong. I've tried a few of the flavours now and they've all been really good. My only issue with them is having to carry the wet bags back with me. xD
Hi Lewis, thanks for watching! Aye, this is something that I’ve seen expressed a lot prior to making the swap and I’ll be doing an actual review soon now that I’ve put a good few miles on them. Personally, the comfort and weight are excellent based on previous experiences. I’m not 100% on the build or the sole though - which I’ll talk about. However, at the end of the 18km round trip, I was quite happy to keep the boots on and drive home - usually I’d have swapped my boots for my trainers ASAP 😎
It is a good boot right out the box ,on the feet and away you go unlike leather boots needing to get broken in as well as the weight reduction . Looking forward to see your review of them /👍🏻
@@lewisdonald766 definitely my experience 😁 I did love the Bhutan’s, but I had two pair that suffered the same issue with the lug separating from the boot. They were also very heavy, especially on long ascents or when carrying a heavy load. Thanks again 😁
The toecap separated a bit on both versions of mine but the goretex still kept them dry for a few 100s kilometers afterwards. Its a good boot, with some limitations, I found, especially with 30+ pounds of weight my feet got tired much quicker than with heavier boots. The Quest Forces version is tougher, a bit more durable, and has a stiffer, flatter footbed
Hi Luke, thanks for your input! I had the opposite experience with the heavy pack, my feet were actually very comfortable whereas they'd have been aching after a few miles with the Bhutan's - especially in the type of terrain found in Galloway which can be unrelenting. I'm a bit concerned about the lack of rubber rand to be honest as this is my first pair of hiking boots without one - but we'll see. I'm definitely happy with their proofing so far, even the Bhutan's would eventually begin to soak through. My main concern with these boots is the sole; it seems to be very thin, the cleats aren't very pronounced and the material itself seems to be quite slippy in wet conditions. I'm a bit taken aback by this, as these are supposed to be Salomon's 'premier' multi-terrain hiking boots. I've had a look at the x-ultra's and their soles appear to be much better 🤔
Thanks so much for these videos OL, I hope to do the TGO Challenge and am seriously looking at the V4A. I’m just worried about the large footprint on a less than perfect pitch. Is this a big concern?
Hi Lynn 😁 I haven’t had an issue with the footprint, as you can base the pitch around the inner to suit the ground. The good thing about my mods is that you can lengthen/shorten the tie outs to suit any contours; just as long as you get a decent flat spot for the inner. ATB 😀
Thanks Raymond, I'm glad you enjoyed it! Aye, he curls up/stretches out in the 'apex' while I sleep on the 'rectangle'. It doesn't leave a lot of room, but you're still left with half of the actual tent to store things etc. This was one of my primary considerations when looking to get a new tent! I've been looking into 'full size' 4 season inners for the winter, so that the whole inside area is insulated from the cold/spindrift, but as yet I haven't found anything suitable, though there are plenty of options for lighter/warmer inners on Aliexpress. You definitely won't regret purchasing (I've heard that the American supplier is an absolute joke, if that affects you) - the Hexpeak is absolutely brilliant!
Please do I strong wind test for Luxe Hexpeak V4A,I want to know how good it is. I was all set to buy LanShan 1 Pro to deal with strong wind in Scotland, but after I saw your video about wind ripped your LanShan, I change my mind.
@@Fungobackpacking 😅😁 They are awesome. A bit of a learning curve at first, but once you’ve nailed it they are excellent! (I have a “how to” video too). Just be warned, don’t buy from an American supplier as the guy is a fraud. Just in case.
Hi mate, really enjoy this video. I'm looking to do a wild camp here in a couple of weeks, can I ask where you parked and how long the trek was overall? Cheers again.
Hi! I’ve certainly not had any problems and my main concerns are; wind, snow and midges/ticks 😅 I’ll be treating my inner tent with Permethrin after my last trip in the Cairngorms, the ticks were on a whole new level! The f6a will have mega space inside too, so maybe mosquito coils or one of the electronic anti insect devices (Thermacell or Vango) - though I haven’t tried these myself.
@@outlawedlandscapes Hi, thanks for the quick reply. Very mind soothing that you had no problems. Gone get one I think. Yeah ticks are a menace too. Had loads last time on the cape wrath trail, nasty little buggersl 🙃
@@Hangarable no problem, I definitely wouldn’t be using it if they could get through👍🏻 Urgh, just can’t get away from SOMETHING getting in the way, whether it’s weather, biting insects, bogs or something else 😅 We just need extended settled frosty periods, where everything is beautifully balanced, foliage is short and weather is crisp and clear 💪🏻
![ออร่า (AURA) - JUEPAK feat. SARAN | [OFFICIAL MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RY9j7Lzp-FI/mqdefault.jpg)
What was your favourite camping experience? Leave a comment and let me know 🏕😁
I was in Scotland 2nd May through 8th May this year and walked the Great Glen Way, camping each night bar one (when I stayed in a B&B) - that was brilliant but so too was the West Highland Way which I completed in May 2019. Cheers. Ken
@@kenhenley7599 That sounds fantastic! I’ll bet you took in some magnificent scenery 😁 What tent were you in?
It was, indeed, and yes, some magnificent scenery even when at low level. The first 3 days were relatively flat (Caledonian Canal / Loch Lochy / Caledonia Canal / Loch Oich / Caledonian Canal) but thereafter (from Fort Augustus) you gain some height (and lose it!). The views looking back to Fort Augustus along Loch Ness were fabulous notwithstanding some mist / low cloud. As for my tent, for the sake of lightness I took my Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo LE. Despite owing it since 2014 (when I did WaInwright's Coast to Coast), it still performed well. I toyed with the idea of taking my V4A but as I said lightness prevailed, especially as I'm not getting any younger - 68 in June! Cheers. Ken
@@kenhenley7599 Excellent! I’m toying with using the Hexpeak without an inner, but I need to figure out the midge situation - whether it’s coils or wearing a net to sleep. We’ll see.
What’s your take on the Lunar Solo’s door height? I’ve seen one in the flesh and it seemed to be awfully high, almost like the MLD Trailstar. I’d considered the latter before, but I wasn’t keen on Coops being able to get out through the night. 🤔
The dreaded midge! Personally, I wouldn't use the V4A without the inner after end of April / beginning of May and before the middle / end of September. I am not a fan of coils or wearing a head net to sleep in. I shall be interested to see the outcome of your deliberations...que a video?
The Lunar Solo does sit quite high - to help- control condensation - and although you can lower it, there is still a large gap between the ground and the bottom of the doors...enough for Coops to get out even if dropped to the lowest possible position. Of course the Lunar Solo is a 1.5 person tent so he could always sleep inside provided you covered the floor to stop his claws piercing it! Hope this is of some help.
Cheers. Ken
Blessings Be Upon You and Coop!!! Thanks for taking us on the adventure.
Thanks for watching Gigi, I appreciate it 😁
I had a friend who liked to sculpt stone, and he was fond of leaving prank carvings around on random rocks about buried treasure and hidden faces. He would often share his photos with us, but never the locations, I always wondered what it would be like to find one. Sadly he passed on a few years ago so the knowledge went with him, RIP Jack.
Wow, what a story! He sounds like a right character and hopefully people have found his work whilst out and about 🙂 It's always great to find things like this, as it adds to the overall atmosphere! Thanks for watching 👌
Great stuff mate and nice to see you out wild camping with the dog. Very well filmed and as always looking forward to the next one. Atb
Thanks Ray, glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully get back into the swing of things now and get out more often 👌🏻
Great ending! And lovely shots with your dog.
Thank you! I thought it was maybe a wee bit Twilight Zone, but then I'm not running for any oscars 😀 Thanks for watching!
Gorgeous nature's place, stunning landscape views, great atmosphere and a lovely walk with you.
Aye, it truly is a special place, especially being in amongst it all when everything slows down and becomes still. That's when the little details start to emerge and you feel at one with it all. Thank you for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed it 🙂
@@outlawedlandscapes 👌👌
Bonjour
Très belles images....merci beaucoup pour ce partage
Thank you for watching! / Merci d'avoir regardé! :)
Great video mate. 😎👌That's what it's aw aboot. Experiences like that. Who needs to camp high when you can get away to remote locations like that. With your own thoughts, beer and Coops. 😁🍺🐶
Liked the ending. Where did yis go. He swallow yis up. 🤭
We disappeared into the twilight zone 😁🧙🏼♂️
Definitely a trip to remember, that wee gap of perfect silence before the weather set in the following day 👌🏻 All about chasing the views Kev boy 💪🏻💪🏻
Great video, really enjoyed the scenery and excellent weather for the evening.
Thank you! I’m glad you liked it, it was an excellent trip! 👌🏻
Great video as always mate, I always look forward to your vids! The loch on day one looked like paradise, some amazing shots of the reflections on the surface. The face on the rock was so interesting, very Easter Island-esque!
Thanks mate, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I said in another comment that it was amazing to be in amongst the landscape when everything slowed down and all of the smaller details began to emerge. I couldn't have picked it up with the gopro, but those geese made everything more special, just seeing them gliding about on the surface of a mirror was incredible. It was also amazing to witness such calm after a week of bad weather, only for it to slip away again in the darkness, totally cerebral experience.
The rock was 'The Grey Man of the Merrick' - one of the best examples of Pareidolia I have ever seen. Really hard to believe that it's natural!
Another excellent video mate! I was up Loch doon last Sunday, was hellish in the morning but was great just waking up to nature, truly forget what a beautiful country we have sometimes! Also pesky grey man of merrick better have teleported you and coops to the car 😂!
Thanks Johnathon, glad you enjoyed it! This trip was Sat/Sun, I noticed a wee window of calm and rolled the dice and it paid off for the Saturday night 😀 I managed to get up and away just in time, as it started pouring as I left camp... Still, absolutely brilliant experience!
Re the Grey Man, unfortunately not 😬 Back to the car DRIPPING, haha!
What a fantastic video on every level. I really enjoyed whiling away 14 minutes watching it (except when you stepped in the bog up to your knee...urgh!). The bond between you and Coops is lovely to see. The Grey Man is cool. Cheers. Ken
Hi Ken, thank you for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed it! Being out with Coops is such a special experience - especially when everything just slows down and I'm able to embrace the moment 😀 I'm trying to improve each video as I make them, so hopefully that comes across!
Oh, and that wasn't the only time my foot sunk into the depths of the boggy abyss 😅😅 Thanks again mate, I appreciate it!
You're very welcome.
@@kenhenley7599 😁
I've just this week dropped on your videos and i am enjoying them so much. I found you through buying a V4A, but i've found so much more than advice and mods. The love and kindness you have for Cooks pretty much sums up everything that is great about you and your channel. I can't believe your feet were dry after all of that though. That rock face is amazing. I see a chief. My favourite camping experience was in Snowdonia, next to a remote tarn, still silence, hot chocolate, stars, the Milky Way, memories of childhood holidays in that region, everything i wanted from wild camping. Keep up the great work and wellness - "it's good for you". That says it all.
Hi mate, I'm very happy to hear that! Coops is my partner in crime - I promised him an excellent and exciting life when I got him as a wee pup & since then, we've done everything together. I am extremely lucky to have him by my side, especially on these trips, it definitely makes them a lot more special! I'm still figuring things out in terms of shooting, but I aim to have a lot more Coops in the videos in future...
Aye, the boots held up very well on the trip, I since returned them though as the overall build quality was crap. Ended up going back to my special forces boots! The grey man is fantastic and I totally see the chief as well, I didn't show the other side, which has another face and what looks like a flatcap. Really cool!
@@outlawedlandscapes As long as you remain authentic, all is going to be great. I’m subscribed.
@@frogslips No worries there 😁 Welcome aboard!
Great video mate, loved the ending too. 👌🏼
Thanks for watching sir, aye, it was a wee bit twilight zone 😅
Great video mate! Was really laughing when you were nearly knee deep in the bog 😂😂😂. Aye the beers from Aldi are pretty nice, the orange and grapefruit flavour ones are my favourite. Also really like your coffee choice mate 👌.
Thanks! Haha, aye, I noticed a couple of similarities between our videos - Idahoan potatoes and the Harrington’s coffee bags 🤭Absolutely lovely 👌🏻
Aye, typical Galloway, the only progress you seem to make is when you’re falling 😂😂
@@outlawedlandscapes aye, but I like the yellow coffee more 😂 The ready dehydrated meals are just to expensive, really close to pull the trigger on a dehydrater 🤔
@@StripeyHatGuy I think that would be a great thing to have. I’ve never been tempted by the expedition foods as they are crazy prices, especially now! Unless you get the 1000cal pouches, they’re no better than standard pasta pouches, pot noodles etc. I can get 1000cal no problem with a Pot Noodle, mashed potatoes and some sort of protein, quorn or something. The mash also lasts a couple of meals, so always extra for a lunch or something.
I’ve had a couple of the coffee pouches and so far the green one is my favourite, really lovely flavour to it. I also love the 3in1 Polish coffees by Kopiko. Brilliant stuff 😎
@@outlawedlandscapes yeah see it basically the same, might be more convenient to grab just a bag instead of always looking for new things to eat but I don't mind it either.
Haven't tried the green nor the Kopiko ones, after I finished my 30 pack I'll try for sure the green one! 😎👍
@@StripeyHatGuy You'll get the Kopiko ones on ebay, definitely worth the effort though if you like milky coffee.
Aye, but at almost £7 for 4/500 calories, plus the fact you have to order them / go to a specific shop, they aren't very practical in my opinion. Saying that though, they might taste amazing!
beautiful location, great video !
Thanks mate, aye, Loch Enoch is a belter 😁 Perfect for getting away from it all 👌🏻
Sweet scenery! Good stuff!
Hi mate, thanks for watching 😁
Great camp! I like to be well camouflaged so chose the green Hexpeak V4A, but seeing how well your brown one blends with the scenery I wonder if I should have opted for that! Hill Tarns/Lochans are my favourite places to camp, they're just so atmospheric. The rising wild trout often present in such places are a bonus, and I carry a lightweight fly-fishing rig (total weight about 250g) to cast a fly and enjoy a magical hour or two in unbeatable surroundings.
18kg is far too much in my book, and reminds me of my youthful backpacking days. You will easily halve that weight in your own good time. One tip to start with - ditch those heavy cans of beer and cultivate a taste for whisky instead - after all, it's distilled beer - the same bang for 15% of the weight, and carry in a lightweight plastic pouch. Carry it at cask strength (c60% alcohol) and get away with even less weight, just dilute to drinking strength at camp.
PS I use the same coffee bags!
I've been dialling in the kit over time and my base weight before camera/video gear is actually pretty light at around ~8.5kg. Jumps up to about 9.5/10kg with winter gear. You're right about the beer as well, that was a one off as I don't actually drink alcohol. I've since stopped carrying water over 1l too, which definitely helps! One day I'll reduce the weight of my sleeping pad/bag, so that'll be nice as well - just expensive!
@@outlawedlandscapes 8.5kg is pretty good imo, as a non-photographer I don't have the weight of all that extra equipment. My baseweight is between 6kg and 7kg, depending on terrain and season, and it's taken me quite a time to get here - I can't see it getting much lower than this. And yes, carrying a water filter instead of several litres of water means a much lighter pack most of the time!
6-7kg... Wow, I can only dream of a weight like that, haha!!
What a great video! Really glad to have found this as I'm heading to Loch Enoch this weekend. The weather is not looking as good as you had it though! Thank you for the video!
Hi Freya, thanks for watching! It's an amazing area - I hope you had/have a great time?
Funnily enough, due to the remoteness, a favourite camp of mine was on the side of the Merrick overlooking Loch Enoch. A helicopter landed on the summit in the dark at 10pm. Thought I might have to give them a cup of tea. Boggy Galloway is worse than some Munros up north! Great video, as always.
Oh, wow! Did you establish why it landed? MRT callout? I've yet to camp on the Merrick, but when I do it'll most likely be on the Western side overlooking the corrie rim (Black Gairy). I know exactly where you mean though and it's such a fantastic spot with extensive views over the hills... Stunning 😀
@@outlawedlandscapes I never found out. It was in March but unseasonably warm. It’s so flat up there, maybe a practice exercise in the dark? They only hung about for 5 mins. Yeah, the Western side would amazing. 🤟
@@kirsty9452 Hmm, sounds like an exercise as I didn’t hear about any call outs then (could be wrong though). I’ll bet it was a surreal experience though 🤣🤣
As I was coming down from Culsharg on this trip there was a Helicopter coming down through the Glen in heavy rain. It was amazing to see it manoeuvre down to the loch!
@@outlawedlandscapes Oh wow. Now that’s cool!
Yours sounds better, that would be epic in the dark!! 😀
I know that route myself but the Grey Man evaded me 😂
That looked like absolutely perfect conditions to pitch, relax and get your head down in. I've saw these lochs from the Merrick summit but have never ventured down to them or stayed myself.
Great video as always and I hope you come back from wherever you disappeared to 👍🏼
Hi mate, thanks for watching! Aye, the grey man can be hard to spot if you don’t know it’s there, I’ll still need to show you! It was beautiful once I finally found a pitch in the heather, the entirety of the landscape is just boggy nonsense, so it was quite tough to find somewhere 🧐 It’s like another world in there, everything beyond the skyline becomes irrelevant 🙂
We went into the twilight zone, it was boggy in there too, so we headed back to the car 🤣🤣
That sounds like an awesome local trip/camp for you. I did something similar just Friday/Saturday in the Pentland Hills at North Esk Reservoir. Loving my Hexpeak. Probably the same as for you, the guylines weren’t required but the tent is so much quieter at 25min wind than others. I think the value of a good night sleep cannot be overstated.
Excellent Hendrik, I'm glad to hear you're getting the Hex out and about! I really do love the wind performance and having tried it against the Lanshan, I realised just how much of an affect the thicker material has when it comes to insulation and noise 😀
@@outlawedlandscapes , indeed a lot warmer than my Lanshan 1 Pro. And I love that I can comfortably sit in it and cook my dinner when the weather isn’t great.
@@outlawedlandscapes after I ‘copied’ you with the tent, I see, you now have the same boots. They are great in the Pentlands which can certainly compete with the Galloway Hills when it comes to bog.
@@hnahler Yes! I’d be interested to see if there was some sort of lightweight a-frame pole set up out there to really open it up. I know there are a few folk that use 2x trekking poles with a joint piece and pole extenders, but that just adds to the weight.
@@hnahler Ah, haha! I’ll admit it was a bit of a departure from the Bhutan’s, but so far I’m very happy with them. My only issue is the sole - it seems to be quite thin, especially when the x-ultra’s seem to have better cleats than the “actual” hiking boots (Quest) etc. Have you had a similar experience?
Really enjoyed watching this as a new owner of a hexpeak v4a I found your channel and watching a few videos I've enjoyed them so you have a new subscriber atvb Jimmy 😎😎👍👍
Hi Jimmy 👋🏻 I’m glad you’ve been enjoying them and I’m sure you’ll love the Hex, they are excellent!! I’ve got a video in the pipeline that covers a 4 season, lightweight inner for the Hexpeak, so maybe worth tuning into that when it’s out! 😁 ATB 👌🏻
Very good. So pleased I watched for the Scottish culinary excellence. But must try that beer. Cheers bud
🤣 The beer is very good Dave, bursting with flavour and tastes very clean 👌🏻
Nice one Scott, i've camped up there twice and your right its a mission to get there. It looks like you done a different route from myself i went up by Valley Loch but great video mate and good to see Loch Enoch again. I'll be back there sometime ..cheers Stevie
Thanks Stevie boy! Aye, 100%! No easy approach.. I was originally going to head up via the Rig of Loch Enoch having done the Loch Valley route a few times, but I couldn't get over the burn from the Merrick path and opted to just head out from Culsharg instead. It used to be pure bog, but thankfully the new path made life a bit easier for a couple of km 😀
Give me a shout if you're thinking of Galloway in the future and we can maybe sort something out 👌
@@outlawedlandscapes Yes definetly Scott, i love the Galloway hills . I drop you a message on FB and get something sorted . Im away offshore on monday but we'll get something sorted mate
@@ootnboots Nice one sir 🙂 Have a good time, I know a chap Keith who works on the abseils out there, an absolute unit!
Cracking watch as always, im not sure of my favourite trip but ive recently got myself a sit on kayak for camping/fishing dieng to get out for a night or two to places hard to or not possible to reach by foot.
Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it 😀 A kayak would defo be a good way to scoot about - definitely beats long walks with a heavy pack 😅
Just recently had a week wild/croft camping on isle of tiree...
Beautiful place... beautiful beaches... plenty of places to wild camp... plenty of birds and wildflowers..
And the weather was very wild..
It was fantastic...
A bit off topic....is it possible for an update on the tent after using it few times... any more details etc...
Thanks...👍
That sounds excellent Rich, glad you had a good time! Never been to Tiree myself!
I replied to your other comment re the tent updates 👌
Why so few views? This is one of the most enjoyable wild camp videos I haved watched in a long time! Liked and subscribed
try SOBA pot noodles, they are fantastic
Hi Scott! Thanks for the recommendation, I’ve heard a few people talking about these, so I’ll definitely need to give them a try 👌🏻
They're the business. 😋
@@WalkWithWallace Defo need to try some 🤩
I have to agree and now they do them in packets as well as pots, definitely worth a try.
@@AScotsmanOutdoors Jeezo, the jury is out!!! 😆
Cracking video, firstly massive thank you as you made me decide to get the hexpeak and I love it. Also how are the coffee bags? Seen them advertised and thought they would be cracking for backpacking mate?
Thanks again and take care mate👍🏼
Fantastic, I'm glad it was a help to you - the Hex is a fantastic tent!! The coffee bags are excellent, very, very tasty - full bodied and strong. I've tried a few of the flavours now and they've all been really good. My only issue with them is having to carry the wet bags back with me. xD
Salomon is a good boot but would only use them for long distance walking as the two pair I had when they first came didn’t last very long.
Hi Lewis, thanks for watching! Aye, this is something that I’ve seen expressed a lot prior to making the swap and I’ll be doing an actual review soon now that I’ve put a good few miles on them.
Personally, the comfort and weight are excellent based on previous experiences. I’m not 100% on the build or the sole though - which I’ll talk about.
However, at the end of the 18km round trip, I was quite happy to keep the boots on and drive home - usually I’d have swapped my boots for my trainers ASAP 😎
It is a good boot right out the box ,on the feet and away you go unlike leather boots needing to get broken in as well as the weight reduction . Looking forward to see your review of them /👍🏻
@@lewisdonald766 definitely my experience 😁 I did love the Bhutan’s, but I had two pair that suffered the same issue with the lug separating from the boot. They were also very heavy, especially on long ascents or when carrying a heavy load. Thanks again 😁
The toecap separated a bit on both versions of mine but the goretex still kept them dry for a few 100s kilometers afterwards.
Its a good boot, with some limitations, I found, especially with 30+ pounds of weight my feet got tired much quicker than with heavier boots.
The Quest Forces version is tougher, a bit more durable, and has a stiffer, flatter footbed
Hi Luke, thanks for your input!
I had the opposite experience with the heavy pack, my feet were actually very comfortable whereas they'd have been aching after a few miles with the Bhutan's - especially in the type of terrain found in Galloway which can be unrelenting. I'm a bit concerned about the lack of rubber rand to be honest as this is my first pair of hiking boots without one - but we'll see. I'm definitely happy with their proofing so far, even the Bhutan's would eventually begin to soak through.
My main concern with these boots is the sole; it seems to be very thin, the cleats aren't very pronounced and the material itself seems to be quite slippy in wet conditions. I'm a bit taken aback by this, as these are supposed to be Salomon's 'premier' multi-terrain hiking boots. I've had a look at the x-ultra's and their soles appear to be much better 🤔
Thanks so much for these videos OL, I hope to do the TGO Challenge and am seriously looking at the V4A. I’m just worried about the large footprint on a less than perfect pitch. Is this a big concern?
Hi Lynn 😁 I haven’t had an issue with the footprint, as you can base the pitch around the inner to suit the ground. The good thing about my mods is that you can lengthen/shorten the tie outs to suit any contours; just as long as you get a decent flat spot for the inner. ATB 😀
great video. Thank you. Is the inner tent big enough for you and your dog? I also plan to purchase for this very nice tent.
Thanks Raymond, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Aye, he curls up/stretches out in the 'apex' while I sleep on the 'rectangle'. It doesn't leave a lot of room, but you're still left with half of the actual tent to store things etc. This was one of my primary considerations when looking to get a new tent!
I've been looking into 'full size' 4 season inners for the winter, so that the whole inside area is insulated from the cold/spindrift, but as yet I haven't found anything suitable, though there are plenty of options for lighter/warmer inners on Aliexpress.
You definitely won't regret purchasing (I've heard that the American supplier is an absolute joke, if that affects you) - the Hexpeak is absolutely brilliant!
Please do I strong wind test for Luxe Hexpeak V4A,I want to know how good it is.
I was all set to buy LanShan 1 Pro to deal with strong wind in Scotland, but after I saw your video about wind ripped your LanShan, I change my mind.
Hi mate, I’ve actually done a couple, most notably “Camping Chaos” - 50mph winds on coastal cliffs 😁
The Hexpeak is an absolute tank of a shelter! 💪🏻
@@outlawedlandscapes ok, I go buy right now !!!
@@Fungobackpacking 😅😁 They are awesome. A bit of a learning curve at first, but once you’ve nailed it they are excellent! (I have a “how to” video too).
Just be warned, don’t buy from an American supplier as the guy is a fraud. Just in case.
Hi mate, really enjoy this video. I'm looking to do a wild camp here in a couple of weeks, can I ask where you parked and how long the trek was overall? Cheers again.
Hei mate, thinking about going for a hexpeak f6a but am a bit paranoid about the scottish midge proofness of the netting. Can you reccomend it?
Hi! I’ve certainly not had any problems and my main concerns are; wind, snow and midges/ticks 😅
I’ll be treating my inner tent with Permethrin after my last trip in the Cairngorms, the ticks were on a whole new level!
The f6a will have mega space inside too, so maybe mosquito coils or one of the electronic anti insect devices (Thermacell or Vango) - though I haven’t tried these myself.
@@outlawedlandscapes Hi, thanks for the quick reply. Very mind soothing that you had no problems. Gone get one I think. Yeah ticks are a menace too. Had loads last time on the cape wrath trail, nasty little buggersl 🙃
@@Hangarable no problem, I definitely wouldn’t be using it if they could get through👍🏻
Urgh, just can’t get away from SOMETHING getting in the way, whether it’s weather, biting insects, bogs or something else 😅
We just need extended settled frosty periods, where everything is beautifully balanced, foliage is short and weather is crisp and clear 💪🏻
What is the difference between luxe minipeak and hexpeak? And which one would you recommend?