Night #21 - Llyn Idwal

8 Apr 2015

Llyn Idwal has to be one of the best wild camping spots in the country. 20 minutes walk from the car. We've camped here twice, both times pitching the tent after dark and taking it down early the next morning before the crowds arrive.

The next morning we stashed our bags behind the wall and scrambled up the ridge and horseshoe of Y Garn, a top, top day out.

Scrambling up Y Garn, our camp spot was by the beach in the upper of the two lakes. There's an even better spot on Llyn Clyd, in the hanging valley of Y Garn's East face, but that's another 45 mins of walking.

A memorable sunrise.

We were joined by some friends.

And three other people arrive late at night with the same idea.

A perfect morning.

Even managed a very brief swim.

Night #20 - Afon Glaslyn

7 Apr 2015

Decided to chill out by the river near my folks house for the night. Of course they came to join us for the evening with beers and the dog!

Some down time after Snowdon

Idyllic spot on the river bank. Camping at this time of year there are no midges!

Breakfast

Night #19 - High Camp On Snowdon

6 Apr 2015

The boys had been keen to climb Snowdon for ages, but we'd held off for the right time, wanting to avoid the crowds that plague its summit on weekends and during the holidays. We made it up Crib Goch on Christmas Eve, but didn't go to the summit of Snowdon itself as the day was short and it was hailing and cold, and we didn't want to put them off what had been an otherwise cracking day by going too far.

So we hit upon a plan of heading up late in the day, leaving Nantgwynant up the Watkin path at 1pm. The weather was stunning so we stopped a couple of times to cool off in the pools and to scramble on Gladstone Rock. Despite the fact that it's the longest way up the mountain it's the most varied and interesting, with old mine workings, steep stone stair cases and an exposed scree slope to finish, and it kept the boys interested - we took 6 hours to get to the summit.

We chatted with a few folk on the top who were sticking around for the (truly spectacular) sunset, but then had the mountain to ourselves as we found a spot a couple of minutes down from the summit. It was exposed and windy, and there was a lingering snow patch just behind the tent but it was perfect.

The final scree slope to the summit. Despite this being the steepest section the boys loved it and motored to the top.

Sunset from the highest point in Wales and England.

A lingering snow patch at sunrise.

Teatime

From the summit.

Cooling off on the way up

Learning some camp craft

Snowdon summit

Sunset again

Cosy even though it was about freezing and very windy outside

Sunrise

Some more campcraft.

Night #18 - Rhyd (Snowdonia)Enjoying

5 Apr 2015

We'd considered bookng last minute flights to Mallorca, so fed up with the weather during the Easter Holidays were we. Very glad we didn't. We had one of the best weeks in Snowdonia ever. 4 nights of wild camping, some scrambles, an aborted bike ride and visit to A&E to glue Dylan's chin back together, a route at Tremadog, and a high camp just below the summit of Snowdon. Doesn't get much better.

An Easter Egg hunt on Easter Sunday. Took them ages to find this one on the top of the tent as they were looking in the undergrowth...

Happy boys

A cup of tea at breakfast time

Enjoying the sunset and a beer with my folks who live nearby and who sowed the seed to do this sort of thing and still do it now.

Nights #10 to #17

18-25 October 2014

Cycle touring in the mountains of Turkey.
I wasn't on this trip. It was Soph and her two girlfriends Jane and Cate. They had a fantastic time.

The Bits In Between

28 Aug 2014

We didn't camp every night in Denmark as we had access to these wonderful free log cabins.

Ideally you need to book ahead, but we didn't and got lucky.,

Night #9 - Near Aarhus

25 Aug 2014

On the outskirts of Aarhus we camped just a few hundred metres from the sea

The boys entering into the spirit.

Breakfast spot the following morning

Nights #7, #8 and #9 - Still in the Lake District

21, 22 and 23 Aug 2014

When you find a perfect camp site it's often hard to leave,

Level ground, fire pit, picnic table and covered area for when it rains.

We had the whole area you see to ourselves.

Marshmallows and biscuits by the fire

Playing with fire.

We spent three nights and had three fires.

Though it rained we had our tent

Night #6 - The Danish Lake District

20 Aug 2014

A couple of says cycling North from Billund saw us into the Danish Lake District. Supremely pretty.

At the end of a long day's riding this was a welcome spot

Catching the last of the evening sun.

Picnic tables are possibly the best thing about paid camp sites.

Chilling whilst their dinner is cooked!

Night #4 and #5 - Billund

17 & 18 Aug 2014

We made it the following day to Billund and were put up by Rachel, Alan and Red in their garden. Alan works at Legoland and managed to get us some reduced price tickets. The boys were chuffed!

I'd always wanted to go as a child. Wonder what our kids will want for when they are older?

We spent two nights camping in this garden. Was fantastic to meet other people and set the world straight as well as learning about Denmark.

Night #3 - Somewhere Near Legoland

15 Aug 2014

We stopped short of our objective of the day (Legoloand) thanks to a strong head wind.

Not quite wild camping, but a nice site nonetheless. Shockingly expensive though, and our last for a while.

Night #2 - Copenhagen

14 Aug 2014

We rode into Copenhagen for the day ad stocked up on maps, gas and food for the next two weeks. Fortunately the tent was still there when we returned.

First thing in the morning I get out of the tent to open up the 'window' end.

On our way back to camp for the night.

Night #1 - Copenhagen

13 Aug 2014

We'd actually pitched it once in the field by the house, but only to make sure that all the bits we present, so our first night in a nature reserve on the outskirts of Copenhagen was our first proper night in the new tent. What an opener!

Morning shade and evening sun. A perfect spot to pitch.

Our other option was the free cabin in the background.

The porch is big enough for 4 bikes, but there was no need at this free idyll in the woods.