After dithering for a couple of days, I finally set off last Saturday afternoon. My destination was in East Lothian, very close in fact to the site of December’s Scottish Winter Bivvy meet at Auldhame Castle. The castle overlooks Seacliff Beach and my intended site was St Baldred’s Cave which sits just above the beach. This location had been raised as a potential bivvy site on the SWB thread.

Track towards North Berwick by Jimmy G, on Flickr

I headed out into East Lothian using much the same route that Gecko76 and I had taken back in December. After reaching North Berwick I stopped for an obligatory portion of chips before heading on towards Seacliff. On arriving at the gate leading down to the beach I saw that the vehicle access gate was closed and there was a sign informing would-be visitors that the beach was closed due to the icy access road. I thought to myself, ”‘How bad can it be?” and set off down the hill. I pretty quickly realised that the road was covered in sheet ice in places and was forced to dismount and gingerly make my way down the grassy verge.

St. Baldred's Cave by Jimmy G, on Flickr

I found the cave easily. It's right next to the beach car park in fact and certainly couldn’t be classed as a discreet bivvy site, particularly at peak visitor times. It was shallower than I’d expected but I made my way to the rear of the cave regardless. However… I soon found out that the cave floor was covered in a red muddy sludge and therefore definitely not an option that night.

St Baldred's Mudfest by Jimmy G, on Flickr

I then checked out the surrounding area but couldn’t find anywhere particularly inspiring that would provide shelter from the cold wind. A Plan B then occurred to me - scramble back up the hill to the tried and tested Auldhame Castle! I’ve never used the same bivvy spot for two consecutive BAMs before but why not eh?

Auldhame Castle by Jimmy G, on Flickr

As expected on an icy January night, there was nobody else in residence so I quickly made myself at home (again). The ambience was somewhat less festive than our SWB setup but it worked for me!

Auldhame Castle by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Bedroom Window by Jimmy G, on Flickr

A good night’s sleep was had and I woke to find that the temperature had risen markedly overnight (despite what the frost on the beach might suggest!).

Seacliff Beach by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Seacliff Harbour and the Bass Rock by Jimmy G, on Flickr

After a leisurely breakfast, I packed up and headed homewards.

Castle Grounds by Jimmy G, on Flickr

I soon learned that the tracks which had been dry and hard-packed the night before due to a good few very cold days, had thawed completely leaving lots of mud instead.

In summary, that's 1 from 12 for '25 and 85 consecutive BAMS. Oh and I promise not to use Auldhame Castle again next month!

Nice one Jimmy. Yes, that cave did look a bit sub-optimal but the castle was a cracker, albeit it's seen better days.

Nice pic Justin. Must've been a pretty impressive place in its day.

Off we go again....
Sadly no sub zero bivvy as I bashed a rib in last week on an icy commute so last weekend ended up being R&R. This weekend looked to be mild and dry....
Nowt special, just a usual spot in the woods off the Dunning Road. I got there fairly early and concocted haute cuisine - boil in the bag chickpea curry courtesy of HM forces, that was just about to go out of date. Then a read of the book, a drink of some beer and a (very small) dram whilst listening to many owls.



Tea on the go. The only challenge were a few slugs about, obviously enjoying the mild weather too.



Decided to join *that* club. Actually very pleasant but hideously expensive.

Oddly, I woke at about 1.30 to hear a strange whining noise. After a minute it got closer and I realised it was a drone. It never got too close but what the hell this was doing up at this time, and in this place, I have no idea. There is a house on the hillside opposite this spot although I've never seen anyone in it, but maybe it came from there. I lay awake for a while wondering if someone would come looking for me but all was quiet and soon enough, the owls started hooting and screeching again and I zonked out.

A leisurely morning followed a nice lie in then home was via various tricky trails and a 'challenge' to find a bivvy spot on Black Creich Hill, which ended up being a bushwacking expedition up through young sitka. I did find a good spot though.

Winter event next!

very pleasant but hideously expensive.

I think that one comes up fairly regularly in Lidl, worth keeping an eye out for it.

Phil wrote: Oddly, I woke at about 1.30 to hear a strange whining noise.

That's uncanny! Happens to Reg every night lying next to Mrs Perrin .

2025 and we're off to a somewhat ignominious start. New bike not ready (see MYOG thread) so pinched me wife's and left later than planned after a long chat on the phone with my uncle.

Moon was good.

Back to the same spot I used in January and again in November last year because while it may, according to my aforementioned spouse, look dank it is in fact dry(alright, -ish) and, crucially, flat.

I had been hoping to get some writing done but in the end settled down with a book (well, Kindle) and a beer and read for a bit before getting cold enough to want into the bag.
Got my head down and that's when I heard ssssssssss as the mat began to slowly deflate. Took about 15 minutes, which I spent debating whether it was worth trying to find the hole or not. Didn't have any patches with me anyway but can confirm the R-value of a deflated mat on a concrete floor tends to zero. In the end used my fleecy shirt thing to keep my shoulders and hips insulated a bit and that worked surprisingly well, well enough to get some sleep anyway.
Woke to check the time just before 7 and figured that would do. Unlocked the bike, threw everything in the panier and home before the sun.

That's 1/1 and 25/25. Winter Event next which should be more, well, just more. Phil I'll get you your GRs soon but note Black Creich Hill.

Edit: so it was two holes, and what you get for kipping in a spot which is clearly used by local teens in the summer months with the associated broken glass. Thought I'd swept it all away but lesson is not to rely on tyvek sheet and bivvy bag to protect your nice blow up mat but instead to take a foam one.

Unlike the beer…

Ah, what luxury it is to indulge in the finest al fresco accommodation amidst the wild charms of the New Forest! Arriving in style, I dismounted my Whyte 901—a fully-laden bike, adorned with panniers and a hint of adventure dust. Far more elegant than any chauffeured car, it allowed me to glide through winding paths and dappled glades, turning heads of cattle and ponies alike.

My “suite,” a cleverly pitched Gunyah tarp, offered panoramic views of swaying trees and a moonlit sky, the sort of vista you’d pay a premium for in lesser establishments. My bed, a snug bivvy bag, had all the rustic charm of a high-end cabin, albeit with a touch more pine needle embellishment. Dinner was a true gastronomic affair. With my trusty Trangia cooker doubling as sous chef, I prepared a fondue bourguignonne—a decadent feast of sizzling morsels, perfectly cooked with a selection of delicious mayonnaise dips. A glass of Gamay wine accompanied the meal, its velvety notes complementing the woodland aroma, as if the sommelier had conspired with the forest itself.

For dessert, I savoured dark ginger chocolate, paired with a fine whisky chaser and a steaming cup of tea, brewed to perfection as I savour glowing wood stove. The ambiance was pure magic—soft firelight dancing on tree trunks, the whisper of nocturnal creatures.

I retired to my “room” with a contented sigh, the stars my chandelier. Who needs five stars when the entire cosmos will do?


Video
https://youtu.be/ETTIzAduzzo

dorsetshirelad wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 1:04 pm Ah, what luxury it is to indulge in the finest al fresco accommodation amidst the wild charms of the New Forest! Arriving in style, I dismounted my noble iron horse—a fully-laden bike-packing bike, adorned with panniers and a hint of adventure dust. Far more elegant than any chauffeured car, it allowed me to glide through winding paths and dappled glades, turning heads of cattle and ponies alike.

My “suite,” a cleverly pitched Gunyah tarp, offered panoramic views of swaying trees and a moonlit sky, the sort of vista you’d pay a premium for in lesser establishments. My bed, a snug bivvy bag, had all the rustic charm of a high-end cabin, albeit with a touch more pine needle embellishment.
Jan Bivvy .jpg
Dinner was a true gastronomic affair. With my trusty Trangia cooker doubling as sous chef, I prepared a fondue bourguignonne—a decadent feast of sizzling morsels, perfectly cooked with a selection of delicious mayonnaise dips. A glass of Gamay wine accompanied the meal, its velvety notes complementing the woodland aroma, as if the sommelier had conspired with the forest itself.

For dessert, I savoured dark ginger chocolate, paired with a fine whisky chaser and a steaming cup of tea, brewed to perfection as I savour glowing wood stove. The ambiance was pure magic—soft firelight dancing on tree trunks, the whisper of nocturnal creatures.

I retired to my “room” with a contented sigh, the stars my chandelier. Who needs five stars when the entire cosmos will do?


Video
https://youtu.be/ETTIzAduzzo

Wonderfully put sir!!

Lyrical

Lovely stuff ^^^ though I did first read 'The ambiance was pure magic' as The ambulance was pure magic...

Marvelous stuff. And a very fine point made - why go to all the hassle and expense of a hotel when you can sleep out for free in opulent luxury

Mmm... have never understood that one.... "so, how does this work then?"... "so, I go into this room, I go to sleep, I wake up a while later, I leave the room, and then I give you £8/£50/£100/£200/£whatever? I see."

So basically I'm forking out a lot of money to stay unconscious for a period of time. Doesn't sound like the most fun way of spending my hard-earned I have to say.

(*) I can clearly remember paying £8 for a B&B when I was a bit younger (**)

(**) Pauline's £25 Wynnstay is about as far I'm prepared to go these days, and that's for the entertainment value.

Memo to self:

Gamay wine
Dark ginger chocolate
Fine whisky

Bearlegged wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 2:29 pm Memo to self:

Gamay wine
Dark ginger chocolate
Fine whisky

Steady, Bear, steady

Brilliant stuff watching you prepare and eat dinner was one of the most relaxing things i have done for a long time keep them coming.

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Sat Jan 18, 2025 9:10 pm a drink of some beer and a (very small) dram

Glad to hear you're taking dry January seriously after the SWB Phil

thenorthwind wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 3:22 pm

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Sat Jan 18, 2025 9:10 pm a drink of some beer and a (very small) dram

Glad to hear you're taking dry January seriously after the SWB Phil

Dryer / dryish January!

RIP wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 2:31 pm

Bearlegged wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 2:29 pm Memo to self:

Gamay wine
Dark ginger chocolate
Fine whisky

Steady, Bear, steady

That IS steady!

Cheers guys

Sorry, I haven't worked out how to reply to individual comments yet! Perhaps someone could enlighten ?

But it was one of my most chilled out bivvies to date.

Indeed. I meant steady yourself after reading about the delights partaken of .

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 2:17 pm Marvelous stuff. And a very fine point made - why go to all the hassle and expense of a hotel when you can sleep out for free in opulent luxury

So true. After all these BaMs I hate even paying for camping. Well, especially camping - at least with a B&B or hotel, you get a bit of comfort…

dorsetshirelad wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 4:55 pm Sorry, I haven't worked out how to reply to individual comments yet! Perhaps someone could enlighten ?

D'you mean like this?
See that little 66 to top right (actually " quote marks)? Click on that

@dorsiteshirelad really enjoyed reading that, wonderful images and words