Expeditions

Wild camping

Wild camping involves carrying all the required kit for the days walk and nights sleep on your back. This includes the tents, sleeping bags, food, cookers and other various bits and pieces. Watch the stars from your tent as the light pollution we have all become accustomed to fades into the distance and listen to nature after dark. For many who try wild camping it becomes almost like a drug, the solitude and peace when out miles from civilisation is exhilarating and sobering at the same time. Perfect therefore to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Upcoming open sessions:

None at this time

Any pre-requisites?

You should be a reasonably fit hill walker able to carry your overnight equipment. Your expedition rucksack with the necessary overnight equipment and food will weigh 10-15kg.

What will you learn?

How to plan and implement an overnight expedition
Choosing a suitable camp site
Camp craft and hygiene when wild camping
Stove safety and camp cooking

What can you expect?

The peaceful tranquillity of spending a night under the stars. A multi-day adventure deep in the mountains away from civilisation. Self-sufficiency and a sense of true exploration.

You will meet your instructor during the morning of day one for introductions and a brief of the days ahead. Once the kit is checked and the bags are packed you will decide on the route for your mini adventure factoring in the weather and other relevant influences. Shortly after lunch you will be off into the mountains, heading towards your intended camping spot. On the way your instructor will share their knowledge of the mountain environment with you, teach you some navigation and problem avoidance and keep the pace purposeful yet relaxed and casual.
Once at camp you will be shown how to put up the tent, organise the camp, find safe drinking water and how to make your home from home. Once the group is settled in you will be cooking together while at this point enjoying the sunset over the surrounding tops. Depending on the group and the weather you may head off for a quick evening stroll away from camp or decide to head straight to bed.
Depending on the weather day two may offer the opportunity to watch the sunrise from a surrounding peak. Whether or not, you will be breaking down camp before the day walkers arrive in the mountains, enjoy your breakfast and head off on the second half of your walk. Gradually you will be making your way back to the start and the end of your mini-expedition.

If you want to enjoy a longer expedition we can of course accommodate this, just let us know and we'll put together a personalise itiniery and quote. Our instructors will work with you to tailor your expedition to your needs. Be it an effort to cover distance over multiple days or experience a night under the stars, we can help - just drop us a line.

What do you need to bring?

We offer multiple equipment options depending on your circumstances and needs. While we can provide the full range of camping and expedition kit, you may find that hiring this externally provides better value.
Aside from basic day walking equipment such as warm layers, waterproofs and sturdy boots, you will also need a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, cooking kit and a large expedition rucksack. Let us know what you already have and we can tailor our quote to your needs.
Unlike all of our other programmes we will work with you to work out food requirements and will typically provide the evening meals based on group size and dietary requirements.

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Jargon Buster

What do our difficulty values mean?
	Suitable for beginners with little or no previous knowledge and experience. For walking activities you should be able to walk at a slow to average pace continuously for 30 minutes.
	Suitable for intermediates with basic knowledge and previous experience. Walking participants should be able to walk at an average pace continuously for 1 hour. Climbing participants should be able to pass a belay test and/or demonstrate good bouldering practice.
	Suitable for those competent at and comfortable with the basics of the activity. Walking participants should be able to walk at an average pace and ascent rate continuously for 1 hour. For mountain activities, you should be a little sure-footed and not hugely afraid of heights, as activities may include short sections of exposure and steep ground. Climbing participants should be able to comfortably and competently top-rope grade 5 climbs or boulder the equivalent.
	Suitable for experienced participants with above average fitness and knowledge. Walking participants are expected to be able to walk at an average pace and rate of ascent continuously for 1 hour over broken terrain. For mountain activities you are expected to be sure-footed, have a moderate head for heights and be happy with longer stretches of moderate exposure. Climbing participants are expected to competently lead climb/belay and climb grade 5 indoors (or the equivalent boulder grade).
	Suitable for very experienced participants with high degrees of fitness and above average knowledge of the basics. Walking participants are expected to be able to walk to Naismith's rule (3-4km/hr + 1min/10m ascent) steadily for long periods of time over broken and complex terrain. For mountain activities you are expected to have a good sense of balance, be sure-footed and happy with long stretches of, at times severe, exposure. Participants are expected to show high levels of competence and self-sufficiency in their disciplines.

Our current private course price list:
For the prices listed here, we deliver a private booking just for you, on your chosen date and time. Where practical we will deliver the booking in your chosen location, though any areas outside of our usual operational areas may incur extra travel costs. We will let you know should this be the case. You will receive a full breakdown of costs with your quote.
Scrambling	£180 for the first 2 participants, £45 for each additional participant	A significant portion of the day is spent scrambling in complex, rocky and steep terrain.
Mountain Walk	£180 for the first 4 participants, £45 for each additional participant	Most of the day is spent walking in the mountains, though short sections of scrambling and steep terrain may be encountered.
Hill Walking	£170 for the first 4 participants, £25 for each additional participant	Days involving no possibility of scrambling and encountering rocky or steep terrain.
Lowland Walking	£160 for the first 6 participants, £20 for each additional participant
Beginner Navigation	£390 for the first 4 participants, £75 for each additional participant	2 days learning the fundamentals of navigating with map and compass.
Intermediate Navigation	£410 for the first 4 participants, £100 for each additional participant	2 days intermediate navigation, learning to navigate off path and across open countryside.
Advanced Navigation	£360 for the first 2 participants, £120 for each additional participant	2 day advanced navigation course learning to navigate in mountaineous terrain and remote countryside.