Oof, that last pic.

Bearlegged wrote: ↑Thu Apr 24, 2025 9:52 pm Oof, that last pic.

Thank you - it is one of a few amazing little places, right on the edge of town, and not a pretty town, and then there's these little gems.... they were all ponds to feed the Nantyglo iron works. Have been looking at old OS maps today...

April on my doorstep Bivi done. Ride from the house for 20 mins to get where I wanted, how lucky am I. My partner in crime was unable to come so just me and the wind. Main reason was to test my new Wild Country Coshee micro tent which was £45 from Sports Direct the other day. Yes you heard that price correct. Saw it on on the wild country site as an EOL at £70 ( still a good price) and a bit of internetage later popped on sports direct with a discount. Anyhow the reason was test it for a HT550 ITT in a few weeks. Competed twice before with a bivi, this time fancied some luxury. This is basically a posh bivi and works really well, survived the gusts last night and I was able to get changed in it which was always the bivi downside. It will be coming to Scotland with me.

April bivi done. Rode towards home after a great week off in the Lakes and headed into a nearby Nature Reserve. Despite a weird incident where someone with a very bright headtorch seemed to be searching for me then found me and then buggered off I got a reasonable spot and some sleep. Up before dawn and away home. I’ll try to get a report done and put it in Mostly Coasting.

Despite a weird incident where someone with a very bright headtorch seemed to be searching for me then found me and then buggered off

https://youtube.com/shorts/OiBDDs0LZKk? ... VSZpiOZ14n

Nah, it was weirder than that.

I ticked off April’s BAM last Thursday evening. I’d intended setting out earlier in the day but some last minute domestic admin kiboshed that. I finally ended up leaving the house at 8.30 pm and it wasn’t long before the sun was setting.

Dean Village by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Colinton Tunnel by Jimmy G, on Flickr

I’d decided to make a return to the Pentland Hills just south of Edinburgh where I haven’t bivvied for a couple of years. In fact, Thursday’s bivvy was in a piece of woodland I’d last camped in six years ago. I mostly followed the Water of Leith cycle path out to Balerno then climbed up towards the Pentlands reservoirs. It was a very windy night although fortunately it was a tailwind most of the way. Bloomin’ chilly though.

On arrival at my chosen site I saw that since I last visited many of the less robust trees had obviously succumbed to the high winds we’ve seen in recent years, leaving a tangled mess of trunks all over the place. In fact, the winds last Thursday were causing some of the thinner trees to creak and sway precariously and I feared that some more might come toppling down. I searched for a while until I found four stout trees fairly close together, to hopefully provide decent protection in the event of any of their skinnier relatives falling.

I’d had dinner before I left home so didn’t bother having anything else and just settled down in my sleeping bag and bivvy bag combo. I’d opted to bring no overhead cover since, for better or worse, I’d chosen to believe the weather forecasters’ prediction of a dry night. They proved to be right on this occasion, fortunately. As a bonus, the wind dropped considerably in the early hours of the morning and I was able to enjoy a carefree sleep.

Tree Casualties by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Sit mat marks the bivvy spot! by Jimmy G, on Flickr

The day dawned bright and breezy but the wind was nothing like as strong as the previous evening. Btw I forgot to take a bivvy pic so a 'sit mat marks the spot' pic will have to suffice. I packed up, rode past the Harlaw and Thriepmuir reservoirs and descended into Balerno for an alfresco breakfast in the sun, courtesy of the neighbourhood Co-Op. From there I descended a bit further, eventually joining the Union Canal and rode the rest of the way into town on the canal path.

Thriepmuir Reservoir by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Thriepmuir Reservoir by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Union Canal by Jimmy G, on Flickr

In summary, that’s 4/4 for this year and a total of 88 consecutive BAMs.

In the first photo, that curious little castle thing next to the bridge... got a tiny red door... out of scale with all the other buildings..... I'll bet when you return next day it won't be there and never will have been there before and locals will not believe you when you say it was.......

Had to have another look myself. I see what you mean Reg. 10 out of 10 for observation… and for a vivid imagination!

Despite my best intentions i had to settle for another local bivvy so off up the Malverns i went it was a glorious evening i left reasonably early and enjoyed a decent ride before searching for a room with a view i was determined to find somewhere new. I followed some sheep tracks and found an ideal spot out on the flanks of the hills where i had the best nights sleep i have ever had while bivvying.
PXL_20250429_041254466 by Kevin Hawker, on Flickr
I was woken by a very cheery blackbird and treated to nice sunrise
PXL_20250429_044720125 by Kevin Hawker, on Flickr
It is fairly dry up there so decided the meths burner could stay where it was and coffee would have to wait until i got home. I went back on a round about route to check that my recent claim that the bluebell and wild garlic display is as good as anywhere in the country held water
PXL_20250429_053809961 by Kevin Hawker, on Flickr
The garlic was stunning the bluebells past their best unfortunately
PXL_20250429_054133942 by Kevin Hawker, on Flickr
What felt like box ticking before i set off turned into a memorable night out,

4/12 for this year

JimmyG wrote: ↑Tue Apr 29, 2025 8:42 am and for a vivid imagination!

one of my many burdens, sigh....

RIP wrote: ↑Tue Apr 29, 2025 3:34 pm

JimmyG wrote: ↑Tue Apr 29, 2025 8:42 am and for a vivid imagination!

one of my many burdens, sigh....

Your earlier comment put me in mind of Brigadoon!

April’s Bivvy: Christchurch to Nine Barrow Down

With a promising forecast and a few days clear on the calendar, I packed light and rolled out from Christchurch. The route took me along familiar cycle paths through quiet stretches of suburbia and green corridors towards Wimborne. The pace was easy, the traffic light, and the morning sun warming the hedgerows.

From Wimborne, I picked up the Castleman Trailway—a disused railway now reclaimed by trees, gravel, and the occasional dog walker. It’s a gentle, meandering route that led me through Upton and then onwards to Wareham, mostly via quiet roads and cycle tracks.

Arriving at Wareham Quay, I treated myself to a pint of cider by the river. The sun was out, the water calm, and I had no particular schedule. A few paddleboarders drifted past and I took the chance to rest in the late afternoon warmth.

From the quay, I followed the river to Ridge, then turned south across heathland—bridleways and narrow lanes threading through gorse and pine. It was here, somewhere between glances at the sky and thoughts of dinner, that I realised I’d left my rucksack back at the pub.

A rapid return to Wareham followed—more urgent than elegant—but I found the rucksack safely behind the bar. Grateful, I retraced my route once more and climbed steadily up to Nine Barrow Down.

At the top, I met Bob, who’d walked in from Corfe. We pitched up near the ancient barrows—Neolithic burial mounds silhouetted against the sky. The views were everything we’d hoped: Poole Harbour to the north, Swanage to the south, and a fading sunset between.

We cooked a simple paella, shared a few beers, and let the quietness of the ridge settle around us. Later, zipped into bivvy bags among the ancient mounds, we drifted off under a clear sky.

Morning brought a soft pink glow and sweeping views across the landscape. Breakfast was Dorset muesli, followed by scrambled eggs with smoked salmon on toast, accompanied by lashings of tea and coffee. Once washed up and packed down, we said our goodbyes—Bob on foot, me back on the bike.

The final leg took me across Rempstone Heath, still and golden in the morning light. I descended to Studland, caught the ferry across the harbour, and followed the promenade
A fine short ride with just the right mix of movement, mishap, and stillness.

Raggedstone wrote: ↑Tue Apr 29, 2025 10:33 am Despite my best intentions i had to settle for another local bivvy so off up the Malverns i went it was a glorious evening i left reasonably early and enjoyed a decent ride before searching for a room with a view i was determined to find somewhere new. I followed some sheep tracks and found an ideal spot out on the flanks of the hills where i had the best nights sleep i have ever had while bivvying.
PXL_20250429_041254466 by Kevin Hawker, on Flickr
I was woken by a very cheery blackbird and treated to nice sunrise
PXL_20250429_044720125 by Kevin Hawker, on Flickr
It is fairly dry up there so decided the meths burner could stay where it was and coffee would have to wait until i got home. I went back on a round about route to check that my recent claim that the bluebell and wild garlic display is as good as anywhere in the country held water
PXL_20250429_053809961 by Kevin Hawker, on Flickr
The garlic was stunning the bluebells past their best unfortunately
PXL_20250429_054133942 by Kevin Hawker, on Flickr
What felt like box ticking before i set off turned into a memorable night out,

4/12 for this year

That looks and sounds wonderful Kev.

Yes bluebells and wild garlic as described.

Can I book myself in for a bluebell BAM this time next year there???

April 28th...Gathering of the Clan sharing knee comebacks
BAM 4 of 4, 40 of 40
My old mucker Dave from Penkridge travelled down to my place so we could bivvy together again, our first since Aug 24.
After a mega meat feast and tinnies we cycled a few miles along an old drovers track and settled in a small wood.
A clearing became home for the night, a log pile our throne for more beer.
Dave used his Alpkit Elan, and the Hunka XL for me.
Pitching in woods generally hasn't been my choice so I was pleasantly surprised by the claustrophobic cover it affords.
Morning brought bird song and gunshots nearby, fortunately a bird scarer!

Verena wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 7:35 am ...bluebell BAM this time next year...

Excellent idea!

BaM for May, one of two on WRT...


5/5 for '25.

May BAM. Loch Laggan day 1 of HT550 ITT. Got off the boat at Heysam 23:30. Arrived in Tyndrum 04:30. Set off on bikes having had a leisurely faff at 06:00. Did not get as far as normal on the first day so working on the fact its lack of sleep. Weather is tremendous.

Enjoy it - the group start is going to get wee'd on...