Loch Linnhe is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland

This pull-in off the A82 is a popular spot for a picnic by the loch. Exceptionally photogenic, Loch Linnhe is a great place to take some snaps – whether you’re a novice or a pro photographer wanting to hone your skills.

How to get here

The picnic site is between Ballachulish and Fort William, about 2 miles (3km) north of Corran Ferry or 6 ¼ miles (10km) south of Fort William. Grid reference NN 040 656.
Stop here for a rest and take in the views. When the sun is out you can have a dip in the loch. Also a good spot for a bit of fishing. Lynne Grays, Thurrock
This picnic area about 15 minutes drive south of Forth William along Loch Linnhe is maintained by the Forestry Commission of Scotland (FCS) and is a lovely place to stretch your legs and look up and down the loch. There is ample parking and several picnic tables.

At low tide it’s possible to walk out onto the flat rocky bank of the lake and see the places where the seaweed has fastened itself to boulders that will disappear back under the water when the tide comes in. We didn’t see any, but some guidebooks say that seals and dolphins are sometimes present. M D London

Loch Linnhe is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland. The part upstream of Corran is known in Gaelic as An Linne Dhubh, and downstream as An Linne Sheileach. The name Linnhe is derived from the Gaelic word linne, meaning “pool”

Loch Linnhe in Scotland has a special attraction to photographers due to its fantastic scenery and sunsets. Not only photographers enjoy this unique location the area offers many other outdoor activities like kayaking, fishing, sailing and walking.

At 31 miles long and about 1.2 miles wide it stretches past Fort William, fed from the North by Loch Eil and continues south as far as the Firth or Lorne, the Loch is fed from the East by Loch Creran and opens up into the Firth of Lorne at its South Western point.

Loch Linnhe Wildlife

Wildlife in the Loch is in abundance with many seals taking advantage of its small islands throughout its length; also popular are porpoises, Dolphins and many sea birds you could even see Golden Eagles souring above. A great way to take advantage of the scenery is to take a trip from Fort William with Crannog Cruises, the cruise will give you the chance to see Britain’s highest Mountain Ben Nevis from the loch, and will take you to Seal Island to see the Common and Grey Seals. Another good way to see the loch is to simply drive around and pull over at the many parking areas around the Loch.

Loch Linnhe follows the line of the Great Glen Fault, and is the only sea loch along the fault.[2] About 50 kilometres (31 mi) long, it opens onto the Firth of Lorne at its southwestern end. The part of the loch upstream of Corran is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) long and an average of about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) wide. The southern part of the loch is wider, and its branch southeast of the island of Lismore is known as the Lynn of Lorne.

Loch Eil feeds into Loch Linnhe at the latter’s northernmost point, while from the east Loch Leven feeds in the loch just downstream of Corran and Loch Creran feeds into the Lynn of Lorne. The town of Fort William lies at the northeast end of the loch, at the mouth of the River Lochy.

Please share your secret campsites, tales and trails & trekking experiences with campingthings.com on our message board

Stay in touch

The post 360° video of the “Best Picnic Site” ever appeared first on Camping Things.

Highway to Hell…

The Devils Staircase (Altnafeadh to Kinlochleven) is a famous walk and one of the highlights of the long distance West Highland Way.

Discover more here https://www.discoveringbritain.org/activities/scotland/trails/devils-staircase.html

The Devils Staircase was initially given its name by the soldiers who were part of the road building programme of General Wade. The carrying of building materials up that stretch of the road was not popular! The name was perpetuated when some of the workers building the Blackwater Dam chose to travel to the nearest pub after their wages had been paid out. For the workers at Kinlochleven the journey to the Kingshouse Hotel proved to be more difficult than many realised. The journey back was even worse as unsteady legs meant that many were unable to manage the return trip and, on a cold winter’s night, the devil often ”claimed his own“.

Mountain Bike route

The rather ominously named Devils Staircase is a classic, some would say legendary, off road mountain bike route which follows the route of the West Highland Way from Glencoe to Kinlochleven.
The quick way to do the route, so that you can squeeze it in after work on a sunny summer’s evening, is to park at the foot of the climb at Alltnafeadh and make some arrangements to have a car waiting in either Kinlochleven or Glencoe village.

However, improvements to the tracks in the glen of Glencoe have made doing this as a proper off road loop a more pleasant experience. From Clachaig Inn ride up to the A82 and cross over onto the short section of the old road by the photogenic Loch Achtriochtan. Pick up the new track which runs parallel to the main road as far as the farm and then rejoin the old road along the floor of the glen.

Please share your secret campsites, tales and trails & trekking experiences with campingthings.com on our message board

Stay in touch

The post 360° view of The Devils Staircase appeared first on Camping Things.

Welcome to Camping Things, lets go hiking…

Rediscover hiking – Swap the road to work for a forest river and season 4 of that box set for the changing seasons of a mountain valley.

Go alone and get a real life rush, go camping with a friend and double the experience – share the views, jokes, falls and that compulsory fireside beer outside under the starts or in the remotest of quirky pubs.

We set up “Camping Things” because we love adventure, hiking and getting lost in the great outdoors. We wanted to share our experiences, secret campsites and the very latest camping equipment – at camping things our aim is to simply help you get more out of getting out more.

From the Scottish Highlands to the waves of Britain’s wildest coasts, whatever sort of adventure you’re looking for you’ll find it at Camping Things

Go on have an adventure, put down the TV remote, log-out of Facebook go outside, explore and share your experiences on our message board :0)

The post Why do we go hiking – whats the point? appeared first on Camping Things.

Loch Linnhe is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland

At 31 miles long and about 1.2 miles wide it stretches past Fort William, fed from the North by Loch Eil and continues south as far as the Firth or Lorne, the Loch is fed from the East by Loch Creran and opens up into the Firth of Lorne at its South Western point.

The part upstream of Corran is known in Gaelic as An Linne Dhubh, and downstream as An Linne Sheileach. The name Linnhe is derived from the Gaelic word linne, meaning “pool”

Loch Linnhe in Scotland has a special attraction to photographers due to its fantastic scenery and sunsets. Not only photographers enjoy this unique location the area offers many other outdoor activities like kayaking, fishing, sailing and walking.

Loch Linnhe Wildlife

Wildlife in the Loch is in abundance with many seals taking advantage of its small islands throughout its length; also popular are porpoises, Dolphins and many sea birds you could even see Golden Eagles souring above.

A great way to take advantage of the scenery is to take a trip from Fort William with Crannog Cruises, the cruise will give you the chance to see Britain’s highest Mountain Ben Nevis from the loch, and will take you to Seal Island to see the Common and Grey Seals. Another good way to see the loch is to simply drive around and pull over at the many parking areas around the Loch.

Loch Linnhe follows the line of the Great Glen Fault, and is the only sea loch along the fault.[2] About 50 kilometres (31 mi) long, it opens onto the Firth of Lorne at its southwestern end. The part of the loch upstream of Corran is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) long and an average of about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) wide.

The southern part of the loch is wider, and its branch southeast of the island of Lismore is known as the Lynn of Lorne. Loch Eil feeds into Loch Linnhe at the latter’s northernmost point, while from the east Loch Leven feeds in the loch just downstream of Corran and Loch Creran feeds into the Lynn of Lorne. The town of Fort William lies at the northeast end of the loch, at the mouth of the River Lochy.

Please share your secret campsites, tales and trails & trekking experiences with campingthings.com on our message board

Stay in touch

The post 360° Sunset over Loch Linnhe appeared first on Camping Things.

Ben Nevis has to be climbed :0)

Ben Nevis is in the north west Highlands, near the town of Fort William and part of the Grampian Mountain range, the famous peak attracts 125k walkers a year. Whether you’re an avid ambler or you just love beautiful landscapes, bagging ‘the Ben’ is likely to feature near the top of your Scottish bucket list.

An ancient giant of the land, Ben Nevis was once a massive active volcano which exploded and collapsed inwards on itself millions of years ago. At the summit, there is evidence of an explosion in the form of light-coloured granite.

The name itself has two translations from the ancient Gaelic language, meaning ‘mountain with its head in the clouds’, thanks to its iconic mist-shrouded peak, or it can also mean ‘venomous mountain’ – you can decide which translation you prefer after the climb!

Visit Scotland is a great resource with maps and guides https://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/iconic-scotland/ben-nevis/

Please take care on Ben Nevis

Thousands of people walk up Ben Nevis every year and the vast majority do so in safety, taking common sense measures to make sure they stay safe while on the mountain. We hope you enjoy your own experience of walking up Ben Nevis and have a great time ! Please be considerate and not waste Police time by not walking up Ben Nevis when there is a severe weather forecast warning of gale-force winds and torrential rain. There’s always another day to enjoy the experience safely and sensibly.

Before you start your walk up Ben Nevis, make sure you are properly prepared.  The most important item is proper footwear.  Trainers are not suitable footwear for this path as it can become very slippery when wet.  The temperature at the summit is just below freezing on average, so make sure you take warm clothing with you.

Please share your secret campsites, tales and trails & trekking experiences with campingthings.com on our message board

Stay in touch

The post 360° view of Ben Nevis Scotland appeared first on Camping Things.

One of Scotland’s famous castles

When visiting the Fort William area do stop off to look around Old Inverlochy Castle. Although now a ruin this was one of the most important castles in Scottish history and has been the backdrop for two major historical events, the first and second battles of Inverlochy.

Find out more at the Old Inverlochy Castle website https://www.inverlochycastle.co.uk/

The moat that surrounded the castle has long gone but the location at the western end of theGreat Glen and natural defensive postion against the River Lochy gave Inverlochy castle a superior advantage. The old Military Road built by General Wade passed right by the castle and can still be followed back in to Fort William.

Originally dating back to the 13th century, Old Inverlochy Castle last played a part in Scottish and English history during the Civil Wars of the 1640’s. In 1645 the royalist Earl of Montrose routed the roundhead forces of the Campbell Chief Duke of Argyll at the second Battle of Inverlochy.

In 1654 the Castle was abandoned in favour of a large timber fort built nearby by Oliver Cromwell which in 1690 was then replaced by a stone fort named “Fort William” after King William III. The town which grew around it was named Maryburgh after the Queen, Mary II, though eventually it took the same name as the fort.

In 1836 a new Victorian, chateau-style Inverlochy Castle was built in nearby Torlundy by the Hobbs familiy. This has since been converted into a luxury hotel.

The “Fort” in Fort William was fell into disuse by the mid 1860’s when the railway was built to Fort William, cutting though the land on which the Fort was built along the side of Loch Linnhe. However, some parts of the Old Inverlochy Castle ruins still remain by the side of the Loch, at the end of the by-pass.

Please share your secret campsites, tales and trails & trekking experiences with campingthings.com on our message board

Stay in touch

The post 360° view of Old Inverlochy Castle appeared first on Camping Things.

The Red Squirrel Campsite is a fantastic casual campsite in the heart of Glen Coe

Visit their website https://redsquirrelcampsite.co.uk/

What a location – alongside a stream and surrounded by mountains! There’s plenty of space to pick a spot – alongside the stream, amidst tree cover and there are plentiful prepared fire-circles, with wood available for a campfire. The facilities are simple – loos, hot showers, washing up station, visitor info – but plenty for a good camp. The manager of the red squirrel is friendly and helpful. Good pub food about a mile down the road at the Clacaigh Inn.
Martin and Abigail – Tripadvisor Review

We stayed at the red squirrel for one night during our trip to the Highlands and was very impressed. The pitches all have amazing views over the river or the mountains, the facilities were clean and comfortable with lovely hot running showers and it is only a 1 mile (very picturesque) walk from a cosy warm pub that serves lovely food and selection of great ales. This campsite was definitely one of our favourites during our trip.
Polkadot Rain – Tripadvisor Review

Glen Coe

Steeped in history and shaped by fire and ice Glen Coe boasts some of the world’s most spectacular scenery. These rugged and remote environments of volcanic origins are famous hunting grounds for the aspiring landscape photographer and perfect for a romantic getaway.

Recently voted as Scotland’s most romantic glen, it is the ideal location to explore the Scottish Highlands.

With its scenic views, it’s really no surprise that many movies from Harry Potter, to James Bond use the landscape for it’s dramatic backdrop. With each season, new waves of colour wash across the steep foothills up to the angular mountain peeks. Summer through to winter, the glen always has something beautiful to offer.

Please share your secret campsites, tales and trails & trekking experiences with campingthings.com on our message board

Stay in touch

The post 360° view of the Red Squirrel Campsite – Glen Coe Scotland appeared first on Camping Things.

Dare to turn off all those gadgets and just play

Camping can be a way to let your mind and body breathe, like, really breathe. To fully relax and let your ideas flow, if we stay plugged in for too long, it makes us sick, it makes us go crazy.

Why do we go camping? Well there needn’t be any other reason than because you enjoy the hell out of it, for you to go camping. If you just love the feeling of being outdoors, of climbing and hiking and taking in stunning views from the top of cliffs or the bottom of sweeping valleys, then that’s the reason you go.

At Camping Things we’re all about finding the right camping gear for the job, at a price that’s affordable. We love wild camping, and we believe that we’ve built up a solid knowledge of what’s good for accompanying you on your jaunts into the wilderness of the UK, USA and beyond.

There’s nothing quite like a camping trip to put you back in touch with who you really are, with the good, focused and relaxed person you know that you can be, and if you have the time (which you should), then we highly recommend putting on all of your best gear, and at least going out for a walk, without your phone.

Here are our picks for the right camping gear to help make your wild camping and trekking trips more enjoyable, more safe and more memorable.

So that’s us, do it alone and get a real life rush, go camping with a friend and double the experience – share the views, jokes, falls plus that compulsory fireside beer under the stars.

Please share your secret campsites, tales and trails & trekking experiences with campingthings.com on our message board

Stay in touch

The post When the iPad isnt charged… appeared first on Camping Things.

Rediscover camping, here are 5 great “Camping Things” reasons why camping isn’t just fun, but also really good for you.

1. Go off grid: turn off the phone and breathe, if you can’t have fun without your phone in your hand, then something has gone wrong A few days away from your modern hectic life can do wonders for your mental and physical health.
2. Clear your head: When you’re being constantly bombarded by phone calls, messages and emails it can be difficult to find the headspace you need to let your ideas grow. Camping is a great way to give yourself room to think.
3. Great exercise: All the treadmill running in the world, and all the weights machines can’t fully prepare you for taking on Mother Nature. Hiking and climbing are some of the best forms of exercise there are – so get out and challenge yourself.
4. Reduce stress: With the temporary removal of job stress and family troubles, the reduction in your stress levels can feel like you’ve just escaped a giant vice – it’s a great big reset button, pack those camping things and get out.
5. You’ll be glad you did: Camping is good for you; it’s the easiest, most rewarding way to get healthy and make yourself feel great. Even if you just spend the night in your back garden – do it for yourself.

So that’s our list, do it alone and get a real life rush, go camping with a friend and double the experience – share the views, jokes, falls plus that compulsory fireside beer under the stars.

Please share your secret campsites, tales and trails & trekking experiences with Camping Things on our message board

The post 5 reasons camping is good for your health appeared first on Camping Things.

Escape the norm and hunt out your own campsite, trekking and wild camping is peaceful, thrilling, beautiful and more.

Do it alone and get a real life rush, go camping with a friend and double the experience – share the views, jokes, falls and that compulsory fireside beer.

Wild camping takes adventure seekers back to the great outdoors, by inviting them to pitch their tents away from roads, people and reception desks.

The rules for wild camping and trekking differ from country to country and is rarely legal, we’ve gathered a few general rules you should always consider.

Seek permission; if you’re unsure you’re allowed to camp ask the landowner, for sure its ok to wild camp in Dartmoor and Scotland.

Arrive late and leave early, also leave no trace and camp solo or in very small groups.

You’ll also need to make sure that you’re at least 100m from any roads or property borders, camp high and out of the way.

It’s very important to consider the weather especially when you’re trekking off grid, conditions can change hour to hour so be prepared.

Ultimately stay safe, be considerate and above all find that adventure.

We’d love to hear your experiences, secret campsites, tales and trails, please do get involved and visit our message board at camping things

The post 2026 Wild Camping Rules – Trekking Tips and Tricks appeared first on Camping Things.