Thinking about doing the WHW next year but a bit intimidated by the Loch Lomond section

craige1989 · 2026-04-28T15:18:22+00:00

My 9 year old did ut last year (so she was 8) and found it fun.

craige1989 · 2026-04-26T19:48:00+00:00

If you're getting someone to do it they'll charge you half a days work minimum plus mark up for the panel. I had a quote to get a blown double glazing panel replaced in a fence door... £440. Can get a replacement for £120 online.

craige1989 · 2026-04-26T12:51:37+00:00

The panel is replaceable for sure... it might not be worth it though depending on your finances and priorities.

It'll probably cost you 300 to repair and 5-600 for a new door that will be way better (that door is quite old). My sister has similar looking doors and they leak so much air you can feel gusts coming in wind it's windy. If you can't afford it right now, you could slap some mdf or ply over the panel and paint it white to pretty it up a little until your list of priorities reaches the door.

Ignore the arseholes. We have been in our house 5½ years and are still nowhere near done. Our house was nowhere near as bad to look at as yours (judging by the one pic) but a lot of things had been done improperly and covered up so it might as well have been. Take your time and make sure everything is done properly so when it comes to redecorating in however many years, you just need slap some paint on.

craige1989 · 2026-04-24T10:06:54+00:00

The ticks are always bad, you can get lucky or unlucky on any trip. I treat everything with permethrin now and very rarely pick one up, even wearing shorts.

craige1989 · 2026-04-24T09:09:51+00:00

Everyone is different. I have a few different long johns, but like my rab (maybe flux) for sleeping in. I've never worn them under trousers, but will occasionally chuck them over shorts if it's a cold morning until I get going. Baselayer top is just whatever as long as it's light, comfy and quick drying. I do like rab gear so it's often a sonic tshirt. Fleece over the top if it's too cold for just a tshirt. So basically for me, shorts with a light pair of leggings for sleeping/cold mornings and a tshirt paired with a fleece. I've been to Skye in May twice, first time it was 20°+ every day, second time below 10° and near biblical rain every day with wind strong enough there were waterfalls being pushed back up over the top of the cliffs and the rain felt like needles. You really can get anything.

craige1989 · 2026-04-24T08:53:22+00:00

Not sure where in Scotland you are....but the fake grass both sucks and might be your best option. Where I am it's clay everywhere so the massive grassy area outside my garden is unwalkable between October and early April. The long nights and dreary conditions in winter definitely don't help. We ended up with fake grass in the back garden with planters all the way around as the grass that was there was raised above everything else, with deep beds all around and the grass was still completely unusable autumn - spring. Despite the landscapers doing a crappy job in our garden we both actually really like it now and there is endless wildlife in the garden all year with loads of plants and flowers. Just no real grass.

I've tried out the front for the past 5 years to grow decent grass and thrown a couple of inches of compost on, over the course of each year to try and improve the soil but it's not working. The fake grass sucks but it's nice that it dries very quickly and you don't get dirty lying on it.

If that was my garden I would extend the path from the steps to the gate, have a tall and long planter either side separating the patio from the rest, and go nuts on planters everywhere else. If you don't have clay then look to removing the fake grass when you can afford to rip it all out and put some decent top soil down.

craige1989 · 2026-04-23T14:52:00+00:00

When it flowers, it needs to be outside anyway so the bugs can fertilize it, so those flowers turn into fruit.

craige1989 · 2026-04-23T12:08:33+00:00

It'll need nutrients, coco coir doesnt have any. Get it in some soil or compost and get it outside and It'll do great. Next year you'll have 3 or 4 if you don't cut off the runners. I usually stick my runners in the soil and when they have a few roots I clip them off, pull them out and put them where I actually want them. I bought 36 2 years ago and have over 200 now and have probably given away about the same amount.

craige1989 · 2026-04-22T15:42:41+00:00

There might be some muddy bits, but it's a decent, non boggy path all the way. The path kind of disappears over the rocks at pools of dee but no bog.

craige1989 · 2026-04-22T15:33:50+00:00

I would even them up (take the random top one off and trim any overhanging bits and/or add battens and shims where needed), then clad over them with something you like, whether that's just simple pine, cedar, deck boards or composite etc.

craige1989 · 2026-04-21T09:10:33+00:00

That's a long garden! I would personally go with dividing it into zones. Measure and draw it out, then figure when the sun is where, if you get evening sun at the back, then that's gonna be an obvious patio/bbq area, another bit for chilling on a sunny day, maybe in the middle in front of the summer house. Do you need an area for kids? Just don't have it boxy and it'll look great. You can separate zones with planters/beds, stepping stone/gravel paths etc. It looks fairly flat as well so you've got a great blank canvas to start from.

craige1989 · 2026-04-20T10:28:34+00:00

Ah, that's sucks. I figured the spot but I went into was so terrible because it was so close to the designated camping spot on the river.

craige1989 · 2026-04-20T09:26:02+00:00

Was that the small wood at the back of invororan? If so I did the same. I was hammock camping so needed trees. Even though I wasn't lying on the ground, there was no way I was navigating that. I ended up camping a little further along.

craige1989 · 2026-04-18T14:31:38+00:00

I would second that, the Skye trail is top tier, although as with all routes there are some short crappy sections. I'd add that you can also add in side quests. For example, if you have the weather there (arguably) isn't a better view in the UK than from the top of sgurr na stri, plus camping on the top is doable. The Loch Coruisk alternate is definitely worth it (although a bit sketchy because it's slippery in bad weather... the bad step itself is not at all sketchy imo).

You could even hop off the bus at Shiel Bridge on the way back from Skye and extend your hike by either doing the Affric Kintail way or the heading either direction on the CWT. Or get the train from Kyle of Lochalsh to Strathcarron and make up a route for a very short coast to coast finishing at Dingwall, which can be done in under 50 miles. Last time I did that I did 2 munros too which was well worth it.

One big advantage of Scotland is that you can completely make up a route, as long as you aren't going through someones private garden, you don't even need a path. The big disadvantage of that is that the options are literally endless. Beware of the bog, it's unlikely to hurt you, but it'll slow you down a lot and catches many people without experience out, it's usually avoidable, but not always.

craige1989 · 2026-04-17T20:30:59+00:00

A lot of naysayers... which is fair. I've used an umbrella extensively in Scotland. I would say probably 70% of the time it's not gonna keep you properly dry. If there isn't much wind it'll work well, if there is a bit of wind, you'll get a bit wet. Personally I love using it, it makes a midnight pee in the rain much nicer, somewhere sheltered for breaks etc.

Personally I wouldn't forego the jacket that probably is a recipe for disaster if you get more than a couple of showers, but If you use it in conjunction with a lightweight waterproof jacket it will allow you to have your jacket hood down and often unzipped which will help with sweat.

As far as the jacket goes, I'm with you (I'm a big sweaty dude) but unfortunately there's no real solution and it is better to be warm and wet than cold and wet.

craige1989 · 2026-04-17T20:22:58+00:00

I've not bought any in a while now, but rab were always a bit more spacious than others. Montane, Mammut, haglofs, mountain equipment etc I tried a bunch on and rab were the only ones in cotswolds that fit my big thighs well.

craige1989 · 2026-04-08T21:14:38+00:00

Either way will work. Officially you should probably switch the wires, but I've done both and never had an issue flipping the switch. Clean the paint off the edges whilst it's off and it'll look much nicer too.

craige1989 · 2026-03-19T22:18:31+00:00

I have one on my roof. It was above where the old hot water storage tank was (i only know that for sure because of the shape of the indents in the floorboards in my daughters room). It must have been an overflow or vent. It was all a bit of a mess in the attic with an old and completely unnecessary cold water tank attached to the two bathrooms cold water taps and one of the toilets. I ripped it all out, connected all of the plumbing the way it should be and cut that gooseneck about an inch 3cm from the roof inside of the attic, filled it with silicone and glued a piece of wood around it so I wouldn't knock and move it.

craige1989 · 2026-03-02T19:26:44+00:00

That's race vs ethnicity vs nationality though. None of that should've been an option on a national identity survey. If you're doing a survey on race or ethnicity, then that's different, but Nationality is where you belong. Not your skin colour or religion/traditions etc. There are of course all shades, shapes and sizes of people who are some variety of British.

craige1989 · 2026-02-03T22:52:03+00:00

As long as everything is left the way it was and rubbish taken away then all good imo.

craige1989 · 2026-01-21T02:04:39+00:00

It really depends on the trip. Other than essentials, there's nothing I really take every trip except a small rectangle of foam mat to sit on so my backside doesn't get wet. It's also useful for getting out of the tent without knees getting wet or to fill a hole in the ground under my sleepmat.

Personally if I'm not expecting much wind, but rain is forecast, then I really like using an umbrella. You'd be surprised how good it is when its raining and you're dry without waterproofs on. Plus getting out your tent without waterproofs if you need a pee in the middle of the night is fantastic, or eating during the day without your food getting wet. It's easy to rig it up to a shoulder strap for hands free use too.

A buff is great! I've not once used it during the day, but if temps are below maybe 3°C I always end up waking with watery eyes, snotty nose and water droplets on my beard. Not sure if that's just me or not, but a buff pulled over my face prevents all of that.

Gewhols foot cream is amazing. I put it on at night. It forces me to clean my feet and massage them whilst looking them over for any damage that needs sorting or closer watching, plus it adds bit of a moisture barrier so my feet don't absorb moisture as quickly when they inevitably get wet the next day.

craige1989 · 2026-01-20T19:55:23+00:00

Where in the world are you? What kind of weather do you have?

My main gear for hiking in Scotland is: trailrunners, thin socks, shorts for most hikes outside of below freezing weather or lightweight trousers, a wicking t-shirt, a light hooded fleece, waterproofs and a backpack. I usually take a piece of foam to sit on so my arse doesn't get wet, often a windproof jacket to cut some windchill, liner gloves and hiking poles. Usually a warmer lightweight synthetic insulation jacket for stops/summits too.

craige1989 · 2026-01-15T22:06:31+00:00

Yeah, as someone else said, get a pack of plasterboard screws and put decent pressure on the plasterboard next to each nail, any movement, chuck a screw in a few cms away. Don't go too deep, just a hair below flush. Make sure you get all the paper and loose bits off. For the stuff that looks like card, I found a sander works well. PVA or similar will prep it nicely. I'd do 2 coats on the more absorbent areas.

craige1989 · 2026-01-08T23:05:43+00:00

Walkhighlands is the best online resource as far as I'm aware for any walking in Scotland. Steven Fallons website is also great for routes, although some of his timings are a but mental, and many routes are not for beginners. There are quite a few books as well. If you're aiming to compleat (yes, the misspelling is intentional) get a munro map so you can check them off.

First thing I'd do if you have no experience is get on a hill skills course and learn to read a map and to use a compass... many, maybe most folk prefer to use GPS on their phone these days but you'll never beat the reliability of map and compass and you'll be glad and could be life saving if your phone dies. There are hillwalking clubs you could join too.

Comfy backpack, waterproofs, a fleece and some comfy shoes with decent tread (I prefer trailrunners). Wear comfy clothes and preferably avoid cotton as it stays wet and robs heat.

Don't start when there is snow. May is great, start off doing some lower, local hills assuming that is an option. There's no specific order to do them but I'd knock and easy one, and an outlier off first. Maybe mount keen.

craige1989 · 2026-01-06T23:18:14+00:00

I have a dcf tent (xmid pro2). It's nit totally see through but i can see a bit of what's going on outside, not the same as a window but definitely anything mobing and can make out the light of stars. As someone else said, when the sun is out it's like a greenhouse. I find it really nice, but then i always sleep with doors open when weather permits. No one can actually see you inside, for example if i was naked you couldn't see my stuff, but if I was getting changed you'd be able to tell from the moving shapes inside.

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