Subscribed to your channel yesterday,after finding the link to your channel in one of the wild camping groups 👌 great video Charles. I love the Plynlimon. Keep up the good work 😃
Great video, Charles. I went up Plymlimon myself a couple of years ago, intending to camp. Halfway up I realised I hadn't packed my quilt, and it was forecast to drop to 1°C in the night, so I had to just do my route as a day hike (with a full wild camping pack on). I tell you what, though... I'd never seen so many ticks before, or since. The grass was alive with them! Thankfully none attached themselves to me.
Thanks Dean. I'm pleased that I'm not the only person with an issue about forgetting to pack stuff! Thanks for the warning about ticks, though; a good warning!
Good going Charlie. Plynlimon or Pumlumon (meaning 5 peaks) as the Welsh like yo call it is a mountain massif fear to me. It looked good on your 2 days - well on day 1. Lovely up top. Yeah, them views are special as are those moments with sunsets like that. You passed to great river sources the next day - the Wye and the Severn. Of course the Rheidol rises there too. It's the largest watershed in Wales - so yeah remote and I could see you were loving it. Well, a gnarly walk back. All the best. Mark
Thanks Mark. It was a memorable trip in many ways, but the change in the weather conditions from one day to the next was pretty dramatic! Somehow though it made it even more exhilarating! I’ll definitely be back, as I loved the isolation and views.
I'll try to give you a shout before I head there again. But it'll be a few months before I get a chance; I'm going to be doing the Hebridean Way in May, and the Clevelend Way in June. What's the best time to avoid ticks & midges around Pumlumon?
@@longsufferinghiker That's alright Charlie but thanks for your kindness. All the the best with the trail there. Re-midges. I've c amped up there om August and had no midges - so I guess it's hit and miss with the Welsh ones.
I finally had the time to watch your latest video. Our little one has a cold and there's hardly any time. Great as always 👍 and so motivating. Unfortunately, I usually don't sleep very well when I'm outside, no matter what the weather is like. Maybe I still need to get used to it, but I'm trying out a new sleep system and hope that it helps me have more restful nights.
Hi again. It's always very nice to see your comments :-) Very sorry to hear about your little one. It's important to put the family first, and fit the other stuff around that. Watching lots of wild camping videos sometimes it seems like everyone else has a carefree existence and can just disappear into the hills whenever they like. If only that was true!! I really hope the new sleep system works for you. I assume you've already tried eye masks and ear plugs etc etc?
@@longsufferinghiker Aww, thank you very much! Our little one is doing much better again. I also have the feeling that everyone else is out and about somewhere every week and has great adventures, but not me😅. Yes, I've tried a lot but the problem seems to be lying in the sleeping bag because I turn around so much. I've never had a quilt before, it somehow didn't look really comfortable and warm to me, but after thinking about it for a long time I'm giving the Zenbivy sleeping system a chance. Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to test it yet and I'm curious to see if it'll work. I hope you have plenty of time to enjoy nature and adventure with your Lanshan tents this year and we look forward to seeing you!
Thank you Charles you had me smiling all the way through that as it brought back memories of our journey on the Cambrian way last year, we camped overlooking Lyn Bugeleyn I tried to follow your route but got a bit lost after that. Maybe you should try the CW I’m sure you’ve thought about it. Any long routes planned for this year Charles. Anyway a great watch so thanks. ATB 👍🌈🏕️
Hi Dave. Glad you enjoyed it! After Llyn Bugeleyn I swung west towards Mynydd Bychan, then Southwards ending up at Llyn Llygad Rheidol. Some parts of the trail reminded me of the CWT, and it has given me a taste for the CW. This year I'm planning on doing the Hebridean Way solo in May, and the Cleveland Way with a friend in June, so it's shaping up to be a good year! Have you got any plans?
@@longsufferinghiker thanks for that info Charles I’ll take another look at the map. Those trails sound great and I’ve been to the Hebrides a couple of times but on motorcycles. No set plans Charles but a couple of weeks on the Scottish national trail and Cross fell to complete Leicester to Cape wrath and going forward after that it’s start knocking bits if Leicester to lands end. My son in law finishes a contract in August so I like to do something he fancies. Got a crazy idea to do the Dales 30 in one trip too. Sorry to ramble on Charles anyway your a great character. ATB 🍺
Same here Charles, I was already eyeing up a Lanshan 2. After watching your videos I bought one and will be using your mods. Hiking the Ridgeway next month. My first hike. You've inspired me to do it. By the way....where did you get that chest pod? The OMM ones are all sold out.
That's great! I hope you have a good time on the Ridgeway, it's a beautiful trail. Actually, I chose the new chest pod to replace my OMM. I really like using a chest pod, but the OMM ones aren't waterproof, which is a real nuisance; I had to use ziplock bags and sponges to protect the phone etc. The new one is waterproof and has more pockets (but I swapped out the clips because they are very fiddly with gloves on). They're not cheap tho :-( www.treadlitegear.co.uk/hill-and-high-street-chest-pack--multi-carry-bag-1192-p.asp
Nice one Charles, the Lanshan is such a great tent isn't it. I have a 1 and a 2 and would not use anything else 👍. Get yourself up to the Carneddau where I live - nice and quiet.
I agree; and exceptional value, too. I'd love to check out the Carneddau next, even though it's a long drive from home. Any suggestions for a good place & route to start with?
@@longsufferinghiker I'm not at home at the moment. I'll send Carneddau details when I return. However, as a starter, look at getting the train to Conwy, then walking in to the mountains from there. OS Snowdonia map required.
Fantastic series of videos which I enjoy increasingly! Quick question regarding sleeping bags in non winter conditions! Your oex leviathan v criterion 350 is it worth the extra £200 over the oex? Keep up the good work! Ed, Somerset
Thanks Ed. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment; it means a lot to me :-) The Leviathan is great value for money, but the comfort rating isn't much better than the Criterion, and it weighs a hefty extra 650g. It just depends on how much the weight saving is worth to you. Personally, I have a 'rule' of spending no more than 50p to save a gram of weight (don't ask...) and in this case for the extra £150 you're saving 650g = 23p per gram saved. But... Perhaps I sleep colder as I get older. And the Leviathan has a more generous cut, which makes it less efficient insulation. So I have found that for me the suggested 'Comfort' temperature ratings aren't very accurate for either of them, and I would add 5 degrees. If you are going to be using it in sub-zero conditions then pay close attention to the fill power and the weight of the filling. The fill power in the Criterion is very good, but I'd suggest it could do with a bit more, and if I was buying again then I'd go for the Criterion Quantum 450 instead. Hope this helps. Sorry it's a long-winded answer!
Perfect answer and personally one of the reasons I like your style of content is that it is more in-depth and thought out than most others! Top marks, thank you.
Thanks!! I use Strava when I'm on training walks locally. It's a nice way to record & share the activity but the main benefit is that my wife can track me using the Beacon facility, and make sure there's a fresh cup of coffee ready & waiting when I get home! When I'm in the hills then I use the Ordnance Survey App for navigation, and that also has the facility to record an activity.
Thanks Charles would be good on your videos to see your routes they’re quite inspiring . As I live near Dartmoor would be good to see that route you did last summer 👍
That's a good idea on Dartmoor (in other places I'm more reluctant to share my wild camp locations). On that trip on Dartmoor in August 2022 my camp locations were: Steeperton Tor Higher White Tor Top of Tavy Cleave
Stumbled upon your channel a few weeks back starting with your Cape Wrath video and absolutely love your content. You have really inspired me to get out and about more and I've even got myself a Lanshan 2 on order which I fully intend to adapt with some of your excellent looking mods. Keep up the great content!
Wow, that's fantastic! And I'm so so very pleased that it has inspired you. Thanks for letting me know; I am very happy :-D Please let me know how you get on!!
