Interestingly we saw several backpackers on each and every site we stayed on over last two weeks up in Northumberland.
These people had little tents that looked like coffins and they appeared early evening and disappeared early morning! A couple had dogs and a couple had bikes others seemed to be walking. What a wonderful way to spend a few days, I was quite envious. I also know that the C & CC club sites never refuse a backpacker even if full.
We did notice that they all packed up very carefully and precisely, re-rolling and packing each thing twice if not quite perfect first time, their packs did not seem overlarge. We also noticed that they occasionally ate in pubs/cafes if available nearby.
I have just come back from backpacking my way across the yorkshire dales. Got home, picked up work kit bag, drove to aberdeen and now I am back at work (on a god damn oil rig) and wish I wasnt.
This backpacking trip was even more enjoyable because we cut the milage down, giving us time to relax. anything less than 10 miles is about right I reckon.
Hope you enjoyed Northumberland. I stay camping by embleton / beadnell bay a lot- wonderfull beaches. A lot of backpackers are doing the Duke of Edinbrough award - at least they are the ones who leave early !
We were camping in North Yorkshire a few weeks ago and liked the North so much we decided to go back and take in Northumberland. We stayed at various sites along the coast including Beadnell Bay and the Kyloe Hills. Stunning area.
I am a walker but alas my husband is not well enough so I do not do much walking when we go off camping. But I am off to St Ives with a friend in September for a week's walking and always do 10 miles twice a week locally from home - off to Chilterns tomorrow.
I would love to walk in Northumberland. Shame you are on an oil rig, bet there is not much walking scenery around there! So glad I took early retirement.
I think it is a lovely idea to take children on a backpacking adventure so wish the OP a wonderful time.
You might need to source some lighter more compact sleeping bags if you have bulky ones. I'd certainly take a kip mat - not so much for comfort but for warmth -
I slept on the ground before and it's cold. The tent will be the single heaviest thing most likley
Light - has to be a LED head torch each - make sure it has a reaosnable light, some are a bit rubbish.
Don't take unneccessary stuff. Eg when by myself I don't bother with plates or bowls - I eat out of the cooking pans - usually cooking 'one pot meals' For two I would probably take two pans from a suitable sized cookset and a bowl for the other person to eat out of. Though I do like to have my little trangia kettle for a brew when pans are dirty/in use.
You don't need a full cutlery set - a spoon is enough if you stick to one pot things.
You don't need much of a washkit for a couple of days - tooth brush and paste, a small bottle of liquid soap and a small microfibre towel if you feel luxurious is plenty
Etc.
Don't aim on walking to far, you won't have to go miles and miles to get the wild camping experience
I've gone from a "pack it just in case" person, to someone who tries to make everything work together.
For example, a Jetboil and Ration Packs and Spork and a few tea bags solve all the cooking, drinking and eating chores. Food for a couple of days packs down to about the same size and weight as the Jetboil. Nice and compact, and everything all together in the rucksack.
For all the messy junk, like compass, notebook, torch, etc., I find that a medium sized stuff sack works to stop them all getting lost at the bottom of the rucksack, or looking like an explosion inside the tent when you unpack.
I keep stuff which doesn't like getting wet in a couple of small plastic containers. Again, easy to find when rummaging through the rucksack.
And lastly, a roll of freezer bags. I seem to go through hundreds of these, for everything from rubbish, to keeping the camera dry, and lots of other things.
Every time you go out, you'll think of more things that you could have used, and lots of things that you took, but never used. Also, have a look at some of the lightweight outdoors websites - the kind where they make tents out of paper hankies, and use supermarket carrier bags as rucksacks. But I think that some of the people there are verging on the wee bit obsessive.
Add a tiny LED keyring light for the inevitable need to change the headlamp's batteries.
If it can be 'on' permanently it may be great for a 7 year old's kit. Hung on a shockcord loop around the neck when going to toilets.
Most youngsters like to feel they're 'pulling their weight' so with careful choices they can be 'fully equipped' without being weighed down. They can even carry their own food if you choose yoghurt-pot size rice puds etc.
Don't try to go too far too fast. Enjoy; don't forget the camera!.
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Topic: Backpacking?
