Get Ready for the Mountain

Camping in the mountainous areas of the United Kingdom can be apowerful way to de-stress, recharge the batteries and enjoy a world of outdoor adventure. Before you head for the hills though, here are a few tips to help you stay safe and enjoy the rocky peaks.

Get Kitted Out

The weather in the UK can be notoriously changeable, and with temperatures on the mountain tops sometimes being 10 degrees or more lower than in the valleys, it’s always sensible to be prepared for the cold, wind and rain. There’s no need to buy the most expensive clothing around, but as a minimum you should have a decent waterproof jacket, warm fleece or jumper and a warm hat and gloves.

It’s a good idea to carry spare layers rather than one thick jumper, as this allows you to wear just enough to suit the temperature. Cotton and denim are best avoided as they become very wet from both rain and sweat, and draw heat away from your body.
Other useful equipment to carry includes a small first aid kit, plenty of water and a torch with spare batteries.

Know Where You Are

Navigation in the mountains is a world away from the roadmap that led you to the campsite! Modern GPS units can pinpoint your location and have their uses, but if you don’t know how to interpret the information on the screen, they are useless in helping you to pick a safe route up and down the mountain. Unfortunately you don’t quite get the turn by turn directions afforded by GPS units for your car.

The other major drawback of GPS units is that they rely on having sufficient battery power for the time you are out in the hills.

With Ordnance survey maps costing as little as £5 and a decent compass priced at £15, there really is no excuse for not carrying them in the mountains. If you’re unfamiliar with navigation, consider booking a course, such as the Mountain Skills course administered by Mountain Training UK (www.mountain-training.org). These are skills for life, and often much more reliable, or at least a necessary back-up, of modern tech.

When to Turn Back

Poor weather, fatigue, illness and even one too many glasses of merlot the night before can all slow your progress in the hills.

In spring and autumn, snow and ice on the ground can make the mountains particularly hazardous if you are not properly equipped and trained. Have a backup plan in case you can’t make it to the summit you intended and don’t be ashamed to turn back if it’s the safer option.

It happens to us all; the admirable thing is to avoid being foolhardy – not carrying on regardless.

How To Get Help

Volunteer Mountain Rescue Teams exist in all of the mountainous areas of the UK. If you find yourself in serious trouble help can be summoned by dialling 999 or 112 and asking for the police, then Mountain Rescue.

Classic Routes From Our Campsites

Our Scottish and Welsh campsites are located close to some of the best family-friendly mountain walks around. Try these for starters:

Beddgelert Forest: Snowdon

The roof of Wales is accessible by several routes, with the easily-followed PYG and Miner’s tracks being particularly popular trails, both starting at the Pen y Pass car park. For a slightly longer, though easier-on-the-knees route, try the Llanberis track, leaving from the village of Llanberis.

Glenmore Forest: Cairn Gorm

A trek up to Cairn Gorm mountain from the Coire Cas car park near Glenmore Forest is a steep but achievable trip, even for little legs. The chilled Cairngorm Plateau harbours patches of snow and ice well into the summer months, so July snowmen are not unheard of!

Queen Elizabeth Forest: Ben A’an

A trail leads from the Ben Venue car park at the western end of Loch Achray, wandering up through birch and evergreen forest to a rocky pinnacle with views across Loch Katrine, Loch Achray and Loch Venachar.