another stunner dave man you have got the life of a lord yet more great scenery love the canoe/kayak/packraft ones really enjoyable brill banter and craic thanks for the show slan mike.
Hi Mike, apologies for the delay in replying. For some reason, I didn't see this comment in my notifications. Glad your'e still enjoying the vids. I'm looking for a weather window to get out with the pack raft again. Seems like March is going to pretty unsettled though but fingers crossed I'll get a water based trip filmed soon. Slan, Dave
Hello Alex, so glad you enjoyed the video. Springtime is definitely evident around the coast and my garden is full of green shoots. It was still pretty cold in the hills but great that the days are getting longer and winter is on the back foot. ATB, Dave
That looked quite a rocky landing for the boat on Loch Treig Dave. Very challenging trip at this time of year so huge respect for that! Loch Ossian looked fantastic. Thanks for sharing.
Good morning, Graham, yes the take out on Loch Treig was tricky. The west bank of the loch, up at the north end, has lots of crags dropping straight into the water. Ossian is such a beautiful loch; it draws me back time and again. ATB, Dave
Hi Jennifer, glad you enjoyed the video. Loch Treig is a beautiful loch. It proved quite the challenge getting across, especially with the bike. I’ve wanted to do this route for some time so was quite pleased when it all came together. ATB, Dave
What a great trip and quite a challenge. I follow a number of outdoor channels like yours and get huge pleasure just watching the adventure. I followed a chap's (Iohan Gueorguiev) channel who was cycling around the world. At times , like you, he took an inflatable boat and loaded everything, bike tent etc and made some hazardous crossings. His life was short but he lived it to the full. Many thanks for a pleasant hour watching the trip.
Good morning, Colin. Glad you enjoyed the video. Iohan's adventures are legendary and his passing so very sad. An adventurous spirit is a blessing, but comes at a cost. Some pay the ultimate price. Maybe one day I'll share my thoughts and personal experiences of such matters. Nature is awesome, beautiful, powerful and, sadly at times, literally breathtaking. ATB, Dave
@@daveoutdoorsscotland2854 I really don't know why but your reply brought a lump to my throat. The world is poorer with his death, such a warm all encompassing person. Thanks for your replying.
Hello William, it does take a bit of discipline to film from the tripod, especially as the day progresses and tiredness creeps in. But, I now have a good feel for how much footage is required to make the journey appear seamless on the screen. Once I've captured enough footage of a particular section of the journey, I can relax and enjoy making good headway. In some of the earlier videos, I tended to film too many similar shots, which really slowed me down and could spoil the experience for me. Getting the balance right is a bit easier now. I've also learnt that some of the best footage is captured when I really don't feel like stopping. That's when I have to knuckle down and 'get on with it'. If I set out with the intention of filming, I tend to be able to get the job done. However, I do enjoy leaving the cameras behind and have have tended towards that this winter. I think if I filmed every trip it would certainly become soul destroying. ATB, Dave
Hi Martin, I woke to the howls of Storm Otto this morning and was immediately grateful that I wasn't about to launch my wee boat. Turned out to be a nice day here though, despite the wind. ATB, Dave
Hi Jennifer, thank you so much for the kind comments. I simply try to let the trips wash over me and enjoy the ups and the downs. Learning to accept the things we can't change is a surprisingly hard lesson, which I've not yet mastered, but I do try. ATB, Dave
Great video as always Dave, really enjoyed that. Bike packed most of this area in the past. Loving that wee inflatable you have, i might have a look at one sometime. Cheers, Lee
Hi Lee, glad you enjoyed the vid. The wee boat is an Alpaca Packraft. There is a guy in Aviemore who stocks them.....great wee boats. I find myself going back to that area often, because of the choice of decent tracks and spectacular views. ATB, Dave
An amazing journey Dave, the second nights camping spot is absolutely beautiful, no wonder you keep returning. The fat bike looks too large to go on the wee pack raft, but you managed it. I personally wouldn't go near the water let alone on it. As always thanks for taking the trouble to take us along and film the whole trip. Regards D
Hi David, glad you enjoyed the vid. I should really have stripped the bike down a bit and stacked the wheels on top of the frame, and then mounted the whole lot onto the front of the boat, which would have given me more space for paddle strokes. But I made it work just fine and, of course, I knew the bike was 'good to go' when I reached the end of the loch. As always with these trips, there are judgement calls to be made (and risks to take), which is all part of the fun and challenge. I'm happy filming and sharing these trips, more so than the 'domestic' adventures, which have possibly become a bit repetitive. ATB, Dave
Nice one Dave! Would love to do that myself, but need a fat bike! Such a delight watching your adventures (tying fishing flies as I watch now). ....Looking quite windy there.
Hello Mai, glad you enjoyed the vid. In truth, it was a wee bit too windy to be out in the middle of the loch with a bike strapped to the boat. The fat bike is great and I love mine, but I do wonder if a gravel bike would be an easier option. It would certainly be easier to carry a smaller (and lighter) bike on the raft. Part of my problem is my fondness for steel bikes. If you are seriously thinking of combining biking with your pack rafting, I'd advise taking some time to look at all the bike options. Tight lines for the coming season. ATB, Dave
Dave, this looked so daunting to us. How does one strap a full size bike on an inflatable boat and beat the odds. Guess you did. But it was scary! But the surroundings were stunning but also dark and malevolent. Kit and I found a seal pup on a road far from the ocean yesterday and stayed with him or her until the Dept of Fisheries officers came to rescue it. It had moved a good distance over the hour we spent with it and we were a long way from where we started. Such a tiny fella.
Good morning Karen and Kit, and greetings from the old country. I'm glad you were able to help the seal pup. We have a fair few washed up on the shore this winter, close to our house. Sadly, many appear to have been attacked by adult males, which is apparently quite common. My journey was through some fairly remote terrain and the wee boat was necessary to complete the circuit. Its very much a case of staying absolutely focused during the dangerous sections, especially as I was effectively beyond help if anything went wrong. Definitely not a journey for most, but quite immersive to be so far from humanity. Hope the winter is treating you well in Nova Scotia. We have another winter storm on the way, arriving tomorrow. ATB, Dave
What a fantastic trip again Dave... The boat really opens up route options, and you took full advantage.. maybe one day I'll try similar but with no boating equipment (and more importantly no experience of such things) it would be a long while before I attempted that I imagine! nice to see some of the paths we were on recently as well... a great well rounded adventure - you've set a high bar for the rest of 2023!!! - ATB Tom
Hi Tom, I thought of you as I cycled by Strath Ossian. It is such a great area for bike adventures. I did, very briefly, consider trying the old track, which runs from Fersit to Strath Ossian, through the hills. It is many years since I last hiked that way but remember it being very rough and extremely boggy. I suspect I would have pushed the bike most of the way. I don't have many plans for Scottish adventures in 2023. I suspect I'll be less productive with the cameras. Mo and I are hoping to sped a fair bit of time in China, which will impact on the channel. However, I will try and get a few more vids uploaded though, just to keep things ticking over. Look forward to viewing more of your adventures on RU-vid. ATB, Dave
@@daveoutdoorsscotland2854 Yes I stopped at the old track on the Strath Ossian side for a look... very rough... but I do like the older more historical tracks... I wouldn't rule it out in future but I might have been unpopular if I suggested that one at the time so it might have to wait for a solo adventure! - I'm assuming you won't be doing any filming in China? - I have no idea on the dos and don'ts with regards to that sort of thing over there so it might not even be an option or more hassle than its worth.. I did visit Beijing about 15 years ago for work but I'm lead to believe its a very different place now due to the more recent construction - I really enjoyed my 4 or so days there though.. All the best to you and Mo - Tom
@@hikebikescotland9121 Morning Tom, I agree the old routes are fun to explore. Sadly, many have become very rough in recent years. I guess the argo plays a part in that, with less need to maintain the pony (stalkers) tracks. Mo and I are not quite sure of the format of our China trip. We will visit friends and family for sure, but whether or not we have time for a wild China adventure is a little uncertain. We had plans for an expedition to the Sino-Himalaya before Covid struck. We might resurrect those plans, but not this year. I'd like to film some of my old haunts and share them on the channel. Filming in the wilds shouldn't be a problem but I wouldn't be able to upload until I was home. ATB, Dave
I remember doing the 2 hills on that side of the loch Dave , and foolishly came down on the far end , that steep loch side walk all the way back to the pump station was no fun . That’s a grand adventure you had .I can’t wait to get back out on the bike but my weekends are busy getting my van kitted out just now.The views cycling to Carrour are fantastic. I was very impressed last summer when I did that route .
Hi John, I'm familiar with your route off these hills, having once dropped down to the loch side to try a cast or two. Sticking to the high ground is definitely the way to go with these hills, even if it means and out and back route. Another good day out is to undertake a summer traverse from Corrour to Tulloch, which used to be doable between the morning and evening trains. I'm not sure if the timetable still permits this, or indeed my leg muscles! Hope you get out on the bike soon, and good luck with the van project. ATB, Dave
Absolutely amazing Dave 😍👍..What a brilliant adventure 😁👍..What a challenge taking the bike across the Loch 😁💪🏻I really do fancy Loch Treig ..Stayed in Chiarain Bothy before..Loch Treig is next up from there .We’re actually meant to going for a camp on Lochan Sron Smeur this weekend..Depends on how I feel ..Unfortunately Iam still positive for Covid ..Hopefully I’ll be clear for the weekend 😁..Top video mate. Cheers Robert
Good morning, Robert.Glad you enjoyed the vid. Chiarain bothy holds some fond memories for me. I enjoyed a ceilidh there, to celebrate completing a round of the Corbetts. We hiked over the hills in our kilts, carrying a ridiculous amount of provisions and coal. Then Mo and I danced to the piper (my pal, Bruce) until the wee sma' hours. Happy days. Hope you are feeling better soon. The stormy weather, which is coming in tomorrow, will move through quickly, giving way to a good day on Saturday (rain on Sunday though). Sron Smeur is a grand wee hill and the lochan has a lovely wild atmosphere. ATB, Dave
@@daveoutdoorsscotland2854 Thanks Dave ..That sounds a brilliant night you had in the Bothy😁👌🏻..Hopefully I’ll be well enough to go 🤞🏻..Cheers for the weather tip😁Keep the videos coming 😁👍
I think you must be the first person in Scottish history to make an amphibious bike dingy journey, guininess booking of records material most definitely. The sound of the elements and shape of terrain was beautifully filmed, refreshing. All the very best to you. Harry
Good morning Harry, thanks for the lovely comments. The wee boat allows me to 'join together' tracks that afford passage through fairly remote parts of the country. It makes for slow, and fairly ponderous travel but does allow time to appreciate the landscapes as they drift by. The light was quite special during this trip and helped tremendously with creating the correct mood. One of my GoPro's however, has some serious scratches on the screen cover, hence the flaring here and and there. As you know, funding our wee channels can make a dent in the savings, but definitely time for some upgrades to my tech. Best to you and Helen. Dave
What a great adventure Dave and it takes in parts I've done and parts I would love to join up into a bigger trip like yours. Inspiring stuff, youre enviably fit and the work you put into those long shots ! A great multi activity epic. ATB A
Good morning Andrew, glad you enjoyed the vid. The long shots take discipline, which I don't always have. As you know from your own filming, some of the best footage can be captured when you're least inclined to stop and set up the cameras. I like the consistency of quality within your vids. I've been filming less this year, but trying to knuckle down on shoots and capture the 'best bits' for the viewers. ATB, Dave
Hi George, the little raft can carry a fair weight. The swell in the middle of the loch was a bit troublesome. These little boats are pretty versatile, but they are slow. ATB, Dave
You captured this trip beautifully Dave. Stunning scenery, so hard to believe this trip was done in Feb. May I ask if you plan any of your trips according to moon cycles to assist weather and fresh-water tidal predictions, just curious as weather changes normally come with new or full moons, and this period was neither. Also (sorry) was trying to work out where the West Highland Railway line was to your first night camp and if you needed to cross it.
Good morning, Andrew. The West Highland Railway was on the slopes, above my camp. There is a bridge, where the line crosses a river, a few miles back from where I camped, that allows passage beneath the line. There are other places where you can shuffle beneath the railway line, where it crosses the burns which tumble down from the hills, but they are all far from the track I was following. I've used these drainages many times in the past but care is required in tight spaces with fast moving water. I'm interested in moon cycles and tides, living on the coast as I do, and often witness periods of change associated with such cycles. But, for this trip, I relied heavily on the Met Office, XC Weather and MWIS, all of whom, in my humble opinion, 'got it wrong' with their wind predictions for the area. The crossing of Treig was marginal and I would not have attempted it in my canoe. Interestingly, the heavily laden boat helped it roll with the swells, but also meant I spent more time in the middle of the loch than I would have liked (it was slow progress displacing the water in front of me). ATB, Dave
Thanks Dave....as always your video is much appreciated! Looks like a great trip....not sure I'd have done the pack raft with a fat bike strapped to it! Can I ask you Dave....do you use any specific sites to work out the trails for the bike....I am planning a similar trip for later in the year but looking on OS maps but it's a bit of a struggle really! Best wishes, Andy
Good morning Andy. The Treig crossing was indeed a wee bit marginal. I rely heavily on past experiences when planning these routes. Over the years, I've built up a mental picture of the country and tend to know where the obstacles are located. The OS maps are pretty good but even the on-line versions can become misleading for tracks. Check out Bing Maps and use the aerial view function. By zooming in, you can sometimes get an idea of the track condition (this doesn't work where the track disappears under trees though and it wont take account of places prone to winter snow accumulation). When you get a rough route in mind, send me a comment and I'll give you my thoughts on it. ATB, Dave
Glad you are enjoying the vids and wee adventures. In fact, I have been in the lodge, but it was many, many years ago. I was hiking from Aviemore, through the lairig to Braemar. It was the depth of winter and I was poorly dressed in well-worn army surplus greens and carrying a massive pack full of pretty useless kit. I sought shelter for a few hours before pitching my tent in the pines. Haven't been there recently though. ATB, Dave
@@daveoutdoorsscotland2854 it does not exist now was in it quite often walked from tomintoul to brairathol over the tops went into the pub in Mar Lodge for a few then camped near white bridge finished it on the Sunday man oh to be young again as I said love you and mo ,s vids
@@rantmaker6427 Thanks for the information. Those old routes over the 'gorms bring back so many memories of my youth. As you say, "oh to be young again". Glad you are enjoying the vids. ATB, Dave
That crossing on Loch Treig Dave, not many would attempt that even in summer, especially in a puddle jumper with a bike and all that gear, I would maybe do it, but only if it was necessary, although the wife would probably divorce me if I filmed it and let her watch it 🧐 but in all seriousness, I'd 100% want a dry suit on, especially Solo and in February, if you take a swim in winter it's more than likely curtains, even if you get to shore, you still have a fight on your hands, I know this because I'm a experienced kayaker and have taken an unexpected swim a few times in winter, if it's remote and you are cold & wet and can't get warm, 30 mins max and you're more than likely to make an appearance on the Evening news at 6pm , I just thought I'd highlight that for those with a nervous disposition 😩, SO DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME FOLKS, ATB and Well done Dave.
You raise some really good points about safety. I really should have taken my drysuit. No excuse really for not having it. The crossing was distinctly marginal. My canoe certainly wouldn't have survived that crossing. The swells were a metre and half high out in the middle and coming from every which way. The weight and flexibility of the boat helped it roll with the water but I had a fair fight at times to make any progress. I've practiced solo self rescue in all my boats and know how cold the water can be, even in a drysuit, so again, no excuses for my recklessness. On the upside though, the wee raft is very difficult to tip so I was reasonably confident of staying in the boat. Shipping water was not good though and just added to the weight, which in turn, increased the difficulty in making progress. I'll add this one to my list of dodgy escapades in the great outdoors. Good that you highlighted it, much appreciated. ATB, Dave
@@daveoutdoorsscotland2854 Thx for the reply Dave, but yeah we all have responsibility for our own safety, although I've taken a few unnecessary risks of my own over the years, my wife reminds me all the time that it's not just about me, of course she's right, glad you had a safe adventure though, I don't doubt your ability or judgement, just keep yourself safe Dave.
It’s on the north side of Loch Ossian, about the mid point. There are a few good spots to camp along the northern loch side. The loch side can get wet and boggy after heavy rain but if you take time to scout, you will find a few suitable places. There are fewer locations on the south side, but there are one or two spots close to the track. On both shores, it’s best to keep a decent distance away from the lodge and hostel. The area is reasonably popular with wild campers in summer so the best spots might be taken. Most wild campers who visit this area tend to adhere to the LNT ethos and move on after one night. In the unlikely event you found the area busy with wild campers, you could spin round to Loch Treig, where there are a number of possible camping spots. Hope this helps. ATB, Dave
Hi Steve, the bike is a Genesis Caribou. It is not electric, relying only on pedal power. I've never owned an electric bike but have test ridden one and was very impressed with how it performed. It was a Trek, belonging to a friend. I do still have the CV40 and have been very happy with it. However, I am toying with the idea selling it and purchasing a more basic vehicle for my outdoor adventures. ATB, Dave
@Dave Outdoors Scotland ha ok, sorry thought it was an electric bike, I've had my CV40 12 months now and love it, I have just done a oaktree Lithuim battery upgrade, a DC-DC and 3000w inverter upgrade
