Message Forums

Hi guys,

Would really love some advise. We are planning to do an over night back pack when visiting Knoydart with our 12 & 9 yr olds. So we can see the views and get back to real camping! Of course we do realise that the weather can be very tempermental up there so would love to hear from anyone who has done this.

Look forward to hearing from you

Clair

Never done an overnight backpack, but my kids Now 9 and 6 have backpacked significant distances (6 miles +) carrying their own stuff. If some terrible weather in the Lakes.

I`m assuming you`ve backpaked overnight without them and have the lightweight gear

IF they`ll carry their stuff you should be okay......unless they are girls and can`t manage without 5 changes of clothes......LOL

Lovely idea....enjoy

I've taken Scouts on overnight hikes a few times.  Most important thing I would say is that if the kids are going to carry kit, you must make sure their rucksacks are a good fit. . . I've seen Scouts really struggle with bags that are too big for them.

If you've got lightweight kit and your kids are adventurous, you should have a great time.  If at all possible I would plan an alternative "get out" route in case the hike becomes to much for them.

Take a stove so you can have hot drinks and food en route, that always boosts moral (or feed them up with crazy sweets!)

Thanks guys

No don't have any gear at mo need to buy 2 two men tents small stove and packs any ideas.

Would love to do knoydart in june but work in school so have to wait for hols. Will the midges be really awful?

Are we mad?

our two will walk 15k at least.

You'll need serious lightweight gear (ie expensive!!) if you're going to be carrying two tents plus everything else between you (two adults??) and a 12 and 9 year old. Two tents and all the gear would be a fair burden for four adults. My suggestion would be to have someone take the heavier kit in the car to a point close to where you're camping, or even go ahead and pitch the tents for you then scarper. We used to do this when we took our offspring cycle-camping and didn't have enough carry capacity on the tandems for everything we needed. It works very well if you have an obliging friend.

If you're really determined though my suggestion is to load up with the full gear and try a 5k+ walk along the nearest trail or canal path. If the kids can manage that loaded up without blisters or complaints they you may just manage the bigger walk. Also start making them carry day packs on any walks between now and summer, with a fair share of the necessary kit like waterproofs, food and water. It will get them used to walking with a load.

Lightweight kit needn't be too expensive. Eurohike from millets although not the best, does stand up to a fair battering (scouts).  I would suggest the following to lighten the load/make easier to carry.  First ditch the sleeping bag stuff sacks and tent stuff sacks, altho not heavy, they pack awkardly into ruck.  Ok, put a bin liner in ruck and first thing to go in is sleeping bag - shove it right down to fit the shape of the ruck. Put any spare clothing on top and fold over/tie bin liner.  Tent's can be split into component parts and shared out - ie strongest gets poles as well as inners, next gets outers, weakest gets pegs etc.  Shove fabric parts into another bin liner on top of sleeping bags/clothes.  Water proofs go in top pouch of ruck or inside on top of everything else.  Food, mess tin, stove etc goes in side pockets.  This way you have access to waterproofs and food whilst hiking + if raining when pitching, tent comes out first, then sleeping kit once pitched. Don't take anything you don't need.  1 mess tin each to cook in and eat out of.  1 spoon each. No tinned food - take supernoodles etc.  Water is heavy, but you need it - strongest gets to carry more than everyone else.

We have taken Scouts on the Mendips carrying their own kit like this and altho tough, they did it and even enjoyed it!

Go to outdoor shop and get bags fitted.  Don't just guess or everyone will have back ache.  For instance, I can carry a 100 litre military style bergen, but my wife can only manage 55 litre bag at the most.  I get the heavy stuff and she takes the lightweight kit.  If you have Oswald Bailey near you - they are good for bag fitting and decent prices - they also sell mess tins for about £5 + lightweight stoves etc

As Val said, take them out on shorter walk with kit first to get them used to it.

Have fun!!

I would deffo work yourself the wife and kids up to a longish walk some of the terrain you will be walking could be tough and even a walk of a few miles on a pavement pales when your out there in the wilds..Excellent packing advice from Maceman btw..And I would take his advice on getting the bags fitted too to accommodate each of your individual needs..Funny how we all try these things out in the shop ie boots etc..and they feell comfy at the time..but become a bit of a burden after hiking in them/carrying them for 15K..A workmate did the West Highland way last year and had hired a courier type company to drop off  their main gear at their next stop along the way..While they carried only essentials in their packs..Said he was amazed at the No of people who had taken on the WHW(for charity etc)without proper preperation..who had broken down at various stages due to exhastion/blisters etc

Jelboy.

Thanks everybody for super advice,

, kids are used to carrying their own packs, have been doing it most of their walking lives. We did start as we ment to go on, ha ha.

As it is our first we will only do a 5k walk and pitch have place already picked. then explore a bit more without gear. If it goes well we will do it a bit more through out the holiday.

Will brake them in gently.

Cheers

Clair