Hi all. I'm hoping to get some advice on longterm backpacking, camping.
In the coming year I hope to leave the rat race behind and spend an extended period hiking, walking and camping around the UK.
I was hoping to gain some ideas regarding equipment and experiences from this forum to help me plant this trip.
Any advise or help would be appreciated, thanks
By extended period, how long do you mean?
Any ideas of route?
Would you be camping?
What ideas have you had about resupply.
What equipment do you have? Is it tried and tested?
Hi, thanks for the reply. I'm planning on several months if not a year time wise. Route wise, I'm not overly fussy. The idea is to take in as much scenery anywhere between Cornwall and Scotland. Dont have any real time limits or goals to reach.
I have started investing in some good quality footwear, clothing etc. I have done some small weekend trips locally, but nothing to the extent I'm hoping to do.
Cheers
Such long trips are more common elsewhere such as the states or Europe on specific trails. You could combine the excellent long distance paths. Once in Scotland, you can use the Scottish national trail.
If you are going to be camping you want the largest tent at the lowest weight you can afford. A two man would be best. A little one man would get too confined over time. Also, you will have to take into account wild camping and the restrictions in England.
Little things like resupply, getting a shower, recharging electrical gear also need looked at. You will need to have a place to recharge yourself and your gear. If a year, there is weather and that will influence equipment. You may have to organise a change of gear as the seasons change.You are also going to have to be ruthless in getting rid of anything you don't need.
A cursory route idea will be needed if only just to avoid built up areas. Sad to say but on such a long trip, you may get hassled and assumed to be homeless.Keeping tidy and looking the part will help.
You will need zero days, where you don't do any walking and have a rest and you will also have to decide if this is a walking trip or a tourist trip. Iff you are walking somewhere, you don't really have time for sightseeing. Having somewhere to aim for is good, otherwise you could just be wandering aimlessly. You could do something in the way of linking up the south west coastal path to Offa's dyke and then over to the Pennine way for example. The advantage of using the UK trail network is they often have places to stay etc and are more easily navigable. They also have less tarmac bashing.
Good luck. The longest I have done is 10 days I think. A walk over several months requires a lot of planning and mental fortitude
Several people have walked the entire mainland coast of GB, usually raising money for charity. A homeless ex soldier recently, if I remember correctly. And I have a book written by a woman who did this with her dog. May take a year? Some people lay up somewhere for a while, one was on an island, local folk took supplies over to him.
Plan well, you’ll find the kindness of strangers on the way, and get the best boots you can afford - you’ll go through several pairs.
Good luck.
Thankyou all so much for the advice. It seems a good idea to give myself a route, even slightly vague to help with lay ups etc. I have also wondered about water re supply too. I have seen and heard of the water filters available. Anyone have experience of using these.
When I was in the TA (Territorial Army} 50 years ago we had water purification tablets so took water from streams etc. Probably less fertiliser then but still sheep droppings. This was fine for drinking. Although there were also de-tasting tablets I preferred it without.
Water for cleaning teeth etc could all be untreated on the proviso that we didn't swallow it. Also for making tea, cooking etc was OK untreated as it was boiled.
Washing up was rubbing the pan in the soil which cleaned it ell, followed by a simple rinse in the stream
This meant that a simple water bottle was all we needed to carry.
The lightest filter would be a sawyer squeeze or a katadyn be free. I'm currently using a katadyn vario as it has a carbon filter to get rid of peat etc. They are usually good enough for the UK.
I do carry tablets as well for emergencies - lifesystems chlorine dioxide. Never used them.
It might be an idea though these days.
Google “LifeStraw” or just “drinking water straw”. They filter bacteria, silt, whatever, and get sent to third world countries where people die from drinking dirty water.
Hello! I recommend that you watch some of the YouTube output from Paul Messner, Walk with Wallace and also Sintax77. Walk with Wallace did the Cape Wrath trail and produced an informative set of episodes which will give you an idea of resupply and recharging issues. Paul Messner has lots of sensible gear advice. Sintax77 is based in the USA and his output includes great reviews of many water filter/sterilisation systems.
Robin (walk with Wallace) has a very good channel as does Paul.
Best thing regarding gear is that you have to be ruthless and discard everything you won't need. Also, buying cheap often ends up costing you more.
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Topic: Longterm uk backpacking
via mobile 21/10/2021 at 10:43pm
