If you follow my blog, you’ve probably seen my summer bucket list blog post. I already knew I wanted to climb Ben Nevis, and to go wild camping, so we decided to combine the two.

Day 1: Living in Cornwall means that travelling anywhere takes FOREVER! It’s an absolute nightmare, but I guess that’s the price you pay for spending your life in a beautiful part of the country.

We weighed up the options of how we’d get to the Highlands and the Megabus Gold sleeper came out on top. Flights and the rail sleeper were extortionate – ranging up to £400 each for a return. The other option was driving, but I didn’t want to sit in front of the wheel for that long or put my Polo through the extra miles.

Choosing the Megabus Gold sleeper meant we had the option to have a double bed (with divider) when travelling as a couple. For us, this was a no-brainer because it looked more spacious that the hammock style beds above.

We hopped on the coach (complete with electricity and Wifi) at Victoria, London and woke up in Glasgow, for just £16 each. It was relatively comfortable and dead cheap – not to mention, you get a free croissant and juice box in the morning upon arrival.

Day 2: Arrive in Glasgow in the morning Starbucks in one hand, GPS in the other, we headed to collect our hire car from Easirent. We headed to Fort William and spent the day browsing the outdoor shops – it took all our willpower not to buy half the Ellis Brigham and Cotswold.

Stocking up on plenty of more fuel, and no new crampons or jackets, we headed towards Ben Nevis. We parked up nearby the trial in a parking lay-by and prepared ourself for a trek up the mountain. The heavens had opened, it was getting back so we knew we had to find somewhere to pitch soon.

Exhausted and soaked through, we realised that the lake we planned to set up our tent was further than we anticipated. Shocked hikers coming back down the mountain, warned us not to continue to the summit – supposedly there was 80mph winds on the peak. We continued on until we finally found the lake, where we planned to spend the night.

Last fortnight we purchased a Vango Banshee 300 from Penrose Outdoors. We recently went to Dartmoor to trial our kit, and it was apparent that we desperately needed a new tent. We chose the 3 man tent over the 2 man because despite the extra weight, so we’d have a bit more room for our bags.

Battling the wind, trying to set up a brand new tent that we didn’t even test before we headed off (we were rushed, and I have astroturf in the garden!) was pretty tough. It felt near impossible at the time, and at one point I wondered what the HECK we were doing.

Vango Banshee 300 tent, Helly Hansen rain jacket and trouser set, and Komperdell hiking pole.

Once the tent was up though, and I dried my hair, put on my base layers and climbed in my sleeping bag, we soon forgot how horrible it was outside.

Day 3: In the morning, we opened the door to find majestic looking cloud rolling into the valley. It was such an incredible view to wake up to, snuggled in a sleeping bag listening to the rain on the tent. Out of signal, we were unsure how the weather was going to progress. The forecast was constantly changing even when we did have internet, so we had no chance of knowing now.

After breakfast, we made the decision to continue our trip up the mountain despite the rain. Abandoning our camp and gigantic bags, we made our way back to the trial. Amazingly, the horizon cleared! When we turned around, we realised we’d actually been camping in a cloud. Ridiculous, huh? I never considered when finding a place to pitch a tent.

Lots of people were also on the trial, and we knew straight away that we made the right decision to summit that day. That said, we purposely booked our trip to avoid the school holidays – so thankfully it wasn’t overcrowded. The weather cleared up, but visibility went to shit when we gained elevation.

We met some lovely people along the way from all walks of life. Continuing on our trek, we met Daniel and his dog, Cara. The three of us stuck together on the last quarter of the hike, swapping holiday stories and eating jelly babies. Unfortunately, Cara got too cold and they turned around just as we reached the snow, metres from the summit.

Reaching the summit was such a great achievement. After getting a couple of pictures, we starting to head back down Ben Nevis. The feeling of walking down hill rather than up was bizarre at first, but soon so satisfying! Once we made it half way down the mountain, it cleared up completely and we could see for miles.

We crawled into our tent, zipped our sleeping bags together (cool, huh?) and celebrated our victory with some camp food. I’m so glad that we took our self-inflating mattresses and invested in sleeping bags suitable for freezing temperatures! I was so comfortable the entire evening, and slept like a baby!

Camp-A-Box Complete Dish set from Wildo

Day 4: In the morning, the clouds cleared and the sun finally came out. We packed up our tent and continued our descend down the mountain, taking in the glorious views. The trek down the mountains was considerably easier than battling the winds on our way up but it was still a challenge manoeuvring the trials with giant backpacks. Our Komperdell hiking poles took a lot of pressure off though – I’d never do another long hike without them!

Once we made it to the bottom, we grabbed some food at the Ben Nevis Inn. Finally eating something that wasn’t cooked on a camping stove, drinking something other than water and sitting on something dry was bliss. I highly recommend popping in if you’re heading to the Nevis mountain range. The food is incredible, the staff were super friendly and I loved the decor.

Before we knew it, the day was almost over and we needed to find somewhere to camp, fast! We drove towards Glencoe and found somewhere to pitch. Little did we know that we’d be lucky enough to find a spot that offered more amazing views.

Day 5: On our last full day in Scotland, we decided to do a bit more exploring. We headed to Falls of Falloch, a waterfall situated in the north part of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. To avoid being eaten alive by midges, we kept our trip brief. Jumping back in the car, we drove towards Glasgow, stopping off for sightseeing along the way.

Rab microlight alpine jacket navy blue jacket from Snow+Rock

As you probably know (and if you didn’t, you do now!) wild camping is completely legal in Scotland. There is, of course, rules and regulations to adhere to but there are quite a few spots in the Highlands. One of the stipulations is, your camp must not be visible from the road. You can find more information here: https://www.visitscotland.com/accommodation/caravan-camping/wild-camping/

As it was coming towards the end of our trip, we needed to find somewhere to stay the night before returning the car Glasgow following morning. We headed tried to find somewhere to pitch nearby so we wouldn’t be rushed returning the car in the morning, but alas! we couldn’t find anywhere.

Turns out, there isn’t many rural spots near the city centre. We bit the bullet and decided to opt for Red Deer Village Holiday Park on the last night of our trip in Scotland. It was refreshing to finally have a shower and put up a tent in a sheltered, even ground campsite.

Knitted & Polar Hat Savva Cream from KitShack

That said, I wish our last night was spent somewhere near Loch Lomond (above).

Day 6: In the morning, we packed our bags and dropped the keys off at the car rental. We grabbed some breakfast before going to Glasgow Hilton Hotel to relax before our journey home. I even squeezed in 15 length in their swimming pool before unwinding in the soothing sauna, steam room and whirlpool.

With clean hair, a face full of make up and fresh clothes, we headed to Slug and Lettuce looking half human. 3 cocktails, plenty of food and an incredible chocolate cake later, we moved on to the cinema. Hiding behind my hands mostly, we watched the Conjuring 2, then proceeded to plan our next holiday while having a drink in Walk About.

Ready to crash, we caught the sleeper from Glasgow to Victoria, London.

Day 7: Upon arriving to Victoria, we grabbed a coffee in London before heading back down south to Cornwall.

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Here’re some of my top beauty tips for outdoor girls that love adventure!

1. Hide behind some shades. – Looking back at our Dartmoor pictures, I realized that dark sunglasses made EVERYTHING better. It’s inevitable forward the end of a camping trip; you start to look a bit of tired. Packing for Ben Nevis, I’ll be taking my Rayban Wayfarers.
2. Semi-permanent makeup is a game changer. – That said, sunglasses aren’t always suitable – we can’t hide behind shades all the time. I’m a fan of the natural look and don’t wear much makeup. But mainly when camping or going hiking, I stay far away from anything that can smudge. I’m sure other blonde girls can relate, but the truth is – I hardly have eyebrows. Ever since I had my eyebrows tinted by a mobile beauty therapist, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
3. Sometimes less is more. – When you’re carrying everything on your back, you’ll appreciate that every pound counts. That’s why it’s lucky that blotting paper and face wipes cost pennies and takes up no room in your rucksack. Whether you decide to wear makeup or not, these are both a are a must! Don’t add more chemicals to your face, just wipe and blot away!
4. Braid your hair. – Trust me, I always wear my hair down, but fighting 45mph winds, you’ll soon change your mind. Ensure you always have a hair bobble and a couple of clips on you. I’ve been experimenting with different styles I’ve found on Pinterest. Find a hairstyle that it easy, will keep the hair out of your face and looks cute.
5. Don’t get caught with greasy hair. – We’ve got a portable shower that we take wild camping with us. But for those days in-between, dry shampoo is a God-sent! I try not to use it too much because using it often can cause damage to your scalp. Take a trip to the mini cosmetics section in the supermarket and pick one up, you won’t regret it!
6. Take a hat with you. – Beanies aren’t just for the summer. I take one with me everywhere now! Okay, not everywhere but I do take it on our hiking trips. It stops your hair flying in your fringe, if you have a fringe like me and always lose your clips. It also keeps you cosy in the evenings when it’s getting colder. But the best thing? It hides your greasy roots on the last couple of days!
7. Don’t forget lip balm. – Nothing is worse than dry lips in a photograph. Keep hydrated throughout the day, and ensure that you apply Blissworld lip balm regularly. Don’t forget that your lips need protecting from the sun, too. There are lots of different types of lip balms on the market, so I’d suggest buying one with SPF.

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From our last few trips, I feel like we’ve learnt A LOT. I’m glad we’ve done these little test run trips before wild camping for a week in Scotland, and eventually when we trek Scandinavia because it’s taught us some valuable lessons.

We’ve been using the Kelly Kettle and hobo stove and it’s been an absolute dream. You just need a little bit of wood and a lighter, and you’ve got everything you need to start cooking up some food or brewing a cuppa tea. It’s so simple to use, I recommend this for solo campers, trekkers, hikers, backpackers, in matter of fact, all outdoors enthusiasts!

How to use the Kelly Kettle

Before starting a fire make sure that it is allowed where you are planning on having your fire. In some places it is strictly prohibited, so make sure you check the rules before you set up camp.

To start, gather dry twigs, leaves and small sticks and branches. Green wood is not good to start your fire with, you need to use dry wood to get the fire started, but green wood can be used in small amounts if you want the fire to burn longer once you get it started.

After you have your wood gathered; clear the area where you want your fire to be. Make sure it is not near brush or trees – we placed our Kelly Kettle on a rock to ensure that it wasn’t going to cause any damage to the area.

The Mimia I.A Mid layer, 200 weight, inter-active fleece from Sprayway

Now put the leaves and twigs you gathered into the center of the hobo stove. Next use sticks to build a teepee around your pile of leaves and twigs, now use larger pieces of wood to place around the teepee.

If you want to boil some water, fill the kettle with water and place it over the hobo stove, alternatively, you can just use the hobo stove as it is, to cook some food using a mini camping saucepan. If you are using the kettle, remember to remove the orange plug from the opening.

Now light a match, or a piece of paper and poke it through the side of the teepee pile to let the twigs and leaves catch fire. As the fire starts continue you can continue to add natural fuel, such as sticks, Pine cones, Birch bark, dry grass, etc., to the fire, down the chimney!

It was really easy to use, it boiled water incredibly quick, and didn’t leave any mess when we left! The best thing is, you can cook and boil water at the same time. This is a must-have piece of equipment for trekking and wild camping – we wouldn’t go anywhere without it anymore

A photo posted by Strawberry Squeeze (@samcharleseuk) on May 18, 2016 at 3:49pm PDT

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Last weekend S and I decided to go wild camping in Dartmoor – despite it only being up the road I’ve never been before. We headed up on Friday the 13th (Ohhh spooky!) because this was my last day working my normal 9 – 5 job! 

After making such a huge decision, and making a radical change in my I felt like I could really do with a few days away from technology and out of the house – even better, out of Cornwall.

Nothing against technology, my house or Cornwall – I love all those things, but I needed a break in between my normal life, as I transitioned into self-employment. What better way than a weekend in wild camping in Dartmoor?

Wild camping was on my summer bucket list, and I knew I wanted to rough it when we explore Scotland, but we figured it was best that we did a trial run somewhere a bit closer to home.

We feared (*I feared) we might get all the way to the Highlands and realise something terribly wrong with our tent (which we browsed for online for hours until we found What Camping Tent for tent reviews in 2016) or our equipment wasn’t good enough. Although we knew wild camping in Dartmoor couldn’t truly prepare us for a week wild camping in Scotland, our short two-night trip would be the perfect way to take our tent, tactical self defense flashlight, sleeping bags and hiking boots for a worthwhile test run.

Walking in Dartmoor

Situated in the south west of England, right in the very heart of Devon, Dartmoor is a landscape of stunning views, awe-inspiring granite tors, deep wooded valleys with fast flowing rivers, and rugged, wide open spaces.

Firstly, I’d recommend that you have a good pair of walking boots and a decent pair of breathable socks. There is so much uneven ground and bogs when walking the moors in Dartmoor!

My shoes are crafted from waterproof leather and suede with a waterproof membrane for extra weather protection. They are by far, the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn. The contoured heel lock holds your foot in place while the cushioned footbed offers all-day comfort.

Women’s Wanderer WP hiking boots from Keen and hiking socks from SmartWool 

On the first day, we headed to Fernworthy Dam & Reservoir – a granite-faced concrete dam and lake in Fernworthy Forest, near Chagford. There was parking for £1 when we arrived but there were clear signs instructing fires and camping were strictly prohibited.

We moved on and found somewhere to set up camp, cook some food and catch a few Z’s.

The next day, we woke up and headed towards Princetown to walk around the area, and eventually find somewhere else to pitch the tent. We arrived at the North Hessary Tor and followed the circular track that we found on OS maps, towards to Foggintor Quarry

Parallel to a field of cows, there is a beaten track overlooking Princetown. We followed this path, passed some ponies, until we arrived at Foggintor Quarry. I’d been swooning over pictures on Google, and it lived up to my expectations.

Foggintor Quarry is located on a flat and desolate part of Dartmoor in the heart of a landscape scattered with granite boulders and old industrial ruins. The quarry is an outdoor lake swimming spot suitable for dip, swim and skinny dipping but it was definitely too cold, even for me!

Wild camping in Dartmoor

There were a few spots that were suitable for us to pitch a tent, so that’s exactly what we did.

To go wild camping in Dartmoor, your tent must be lightweight and discreet – basically, don’t use a family tent! You should also pitch your tent at least 100m from a road and it should not be visible from the roadside or residential properties.

It’s also not strictly true that you can legally wild camp in Dartmoor anywhere you want!

Camping for one or two nights on the open land on Dartmoor is perfectly acceptable provided that you choose your spot sensibly and don’t pitch your tent on farmland, on moorland enclosed by walls, on flood plains or on archaeological sites. Please note that camping is not permitted on Cadover, Haytor, Holne Moor, Roborough and Spitchwick commons.

You should also follow four (common sense) rules:

• Take all litter home.
• Guard against risk of fire.
• Ensure you do not pollute streams or rivers.
• Avoid disturbing wildlife particularly during the moorland lambing and bird breeding season, from 1 March to 31 July

To respect these rules, we decided to take our hobo camping stove and trekking kettle from Kelly Kettle. The kettle is lightweight, compact, durable and works in extreme weather, to boil water and cook at the same time!

Using only a handful of fuel such as sticks, Pine cones, Birch bark, dry grass, etc. The kettle boiled within a couple of minutes and was a great way to cook without leaving any mess or having a large fire.

We wrapped up, made a flask of tea and took in the view, snuggled up in sleeping bags that have a comfort rating of -4, and on a pair of self-inflating mats c/o Planet Camping for extra comfort.

We had the most incredible weekend, and well why wouldn’t we, waking up to a view like this:

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I don’t think I’ve completely lost it yet, but it’s important to note, these changes aren’t because I’m unhappy – these changes are because I’m scared. I’m totally scared I’m going to wake up one day and I’m going to have realised I’ve wasted my life. That’s why I’m focusing on living, and not putting my career on the back burner.

These aren’t all overly exciting goals, but to me, it’s really important. So here is a list of what I’m hoping to achieve by the end of this summer. I’ll let you in on a secret – it isn’t to get a promotion or to get a pay rise.

Climb Ben Nevis

You may have read my post recently about what an incredible time I had climbing Mount Snowdon last month. This was a real eye-opening weekend for me, because although I appreciate natural beauty and personally think mountains are gorgeous – I’d never actually visited one in the flesh and I had seriously under estimated the scenery.

We climbed Mount Snowdon (you’ll notice I’m using the word CLIMB here), it was super icy, and at least the last 1 – 2 hours we were on our hands and knee, wading though the snow and using our upper body strength to drag ourselves up the mountain. I knew this was going to be challenging; “why don’t you go in the summer?” I heard so many people ask. But the snowy slopes is what I was dreaming of, so this wasn’t an option.

I’m digressing.. reaching the summit then ascending the mountain in 45mph winds gave me such a rush, and an even better feeling once I’d had a shower and snuggled up by the fire, knowing I’d conquered the mountain and that’s why my legs were aching. Jesus, I make it sound like I climbed Everest – and this is exactly why I’m now infatuated with mountains.

I found it incredible to wonder why people put their lives at risk and battle with nature on some of the highest peaks in the world in the hope for a beautiful view – but I weirdly kinda understood, on a micro scale!

I might never reach K2 summit, or go further than Everest Base Camp, and I’m okay with that – but I absolutely want to explore more mountains and be left speechless again. Keeping to a strict budget, the next step (crampons at the ready!) naturally will be Ben Nevis, in Scotland.

Retreat to Thailand

When it starts getting cold in England, S and I will be packing our bags and heading over to Thailand for 4 weeks to explore the area and completely relax. You probably think that after quitting my job this isn’t the wisest mood, but I assure you – I didn’t quit my job just to sit at home and work 24/7.

When I was studying abroad in Australia I took a trip to Bali and had the most incredible time. I’ve never felt so relaxed in my entire life, and it was great to completely disconnect from the UK, Australia and just everything around me.

S and I have both always wanted to go to Thailand, and after finding an incredible deal, staying at a 3 story home surrounded by beautiful gardens, there was no way that we could resist. What was stopping us now?

Yoga paddle boarding

My other half laughed at me when I said this – he thought I meant yoga and stand up paddle boarding as two separate things! After reading some articles and stand up paddle board reviews, as part of my new morning routine, I’m dedicating half an hour to meditating and stretching. What better way to spend your morning yoga sessions, than on a paddle board in the sea!?

I’ve seen this advertised recently by one of the local clubs near where I live, and I absolutely love the idea! I’m slightly nervous that I’ll just fall in and ruin everyones vibe, so I’ll probably get a little bit of practice on a normal paddle board first to make sure I’m feeling comfortable.

Go wild camping

It’s been a while since I’ve been camping, and I don’t mean pitching up a tent at a festival! I’ve always wanted to get away and spend a few nights wild camping but to be honest – I’ve always been a bit scared! After following some Instagram accounts, swooning over landscapes shot by people who are sleeping out in stunning forests near lakes in Canadian National Parks, I’ve decided that this is absolutely what I need in my life right now.

Okay, perhaps camping out in Canada for my first experience isn’t the best idea – after all I don’t think I’d deal too well waking up to a bear in my tent. But there are so many gorgeous places in the UK, and that’s exactly where I’m going to start my camping adventures – it also ties in quite nicely with our Ben Nevis trip.

The post My Summer Bucket List For 2016 appeared first on Strawberry Squeeze.

There are many ways to travel the UK. Trains, planes and automobiles tend to be the most popular choices. The UK also has some of the best cycle routes on offer too. Other choices include sailing the coastline, narrow boating the canals, and walking. The best UK holidays combine all these different ways, but they may take a little bit of organising!

Another way to see the very best of the country is to take a helicopter tour. Fly over some of the best estates and stadiums. Sam from Pleasure Flights Ltd says “Guided tours are often a good way to get a new perspective on places you are interested in. Visit our website for more information”. An aerial view certainly can offer you an experience of a lifetime.

Of course, heading out on your own with little more than a map is exciting, especially if you are touring somewhere like England. Hire a campervan and pootle along one of the country roads until you find a tea room or pub. Without a doubt, you will see some of the most beautiful landscapes this country has to offer. Head to the coast for some wild surf in Cornwall, or look for dinosaur bones along the south coast.

Canal boats are a very slow-paced, relaxing and romantic way to travel. You can see some great tow paths that wind through old industrial areas, or wildlife-rich fenland. These routes are also the backbone of much of the best cycle routes too. Take your bike with you and head out into the countryside to find those hidden gems like windmills and castle ruins.

What England and Wales both have in common is castles. If you fancy notching up a few towers and great halls, why not plan a route that stops off at one or two? There are plenty to choose from, although many are now little more than piles of rubble. There are also some incredible country estates to visit. The cheapest way to explore these places is to become a National Trust member.

Wherever you head to in the UK, you can be sure of finding some real gems. Whether you love landscapes or architecture, you can’t find anything better than what is home grown in the UK. With a tradition of live music, theatre and the arts, you will also have plenty to do in the evenings during your tour. You might need to wrap up warm and bring a brolly, but you definitely won’t be disappointed!

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