camping gear

More photos from my recent trip – Part Two

Craigellachie National Nature Reserve

Craigellachie National Nature Reserve
Craigellachie National Nature Reserve
Craigellachie National Nature Reserve

Strathspey Railway

Strathspey Railway 5025
Strathspey Railway 5025
Strathspey Railway 5025 front detail
Strathspey Railway 5025

River Findhorn at Logie Steading

River Findhorn at Logie Steading
River Findhorn at Logie Steading
Monochrome close-up of a fern
Fern in the sun

Isle of Skye

We moved onto the Isle of Skye.

The Bridge to Skye​
The Bridge to Skye

Loch Alsh from Kyleakin

Loch Alsh from Kyleakin

Loch Greshornish

Loch  Greshornish
Loch Greshornish
Loch Greshornish

Dunvegan

Dunvegan, The Duirinish Stone, Loch Dunvegan and the MacLeod’s Tables
Dunvegan, The Duirinish Stone, Loch Dunvegan and the MacLeod’s Tables
Dunvegan
On the walk to The Duirinish Stone a Pixie House
On the walk to The Duirinish Stone a Pixie House

The Duirinish Stone

The Duirinish Stone
The Duirinish Stone

Loch Dunvegan and the MacLeod’s Tables

Loch Dunvegan and the MacLeod’s Tables

Portree

Portree Harbour
Portree Harbour
Portree

Broadford

Broadford
Broadford
Pabay
Pabay

Loch Linnhe – Fort William

Loch Linnhe - Fort William
Loch Linnhe - Fort William
Loch Linnhe - Fort William

More photos from my recent trip – Part Two Read More »

Sunday on Skye

Isle of Skye Camping and Caravan Club Site
Loch Greshornish
Loch Greshornish

Dunvegan

From Dunvegan Car Park
From Dunvegan Car Park
Dunvegan
Dunvegan
On the walk to The Duirinish Stone a Pixie House
On the walk to The Duirinish Stone a Pixie House

The Duirinish Stone

The Duirinish Stone dates from the turn of the Millennium, not the stone age, and was put here by local villagers to commemorate the date.

It is located above Dunvegan with views of Loch Dunvegan and the MacLeod’s Tables in the distance.

The Duirinish Stone
The Duirinish Stone
The Duirinish Stone

At the foot of the hill are the ruins of St Mary’s Church.

St Mary’s Church
St Mary’s Church
Walking to The Duirinish Stone
Walking to The Duirinish Stone

Loch Dunvegan and the MacLeod’s Tables

Loch Dunvegan and the MacLeod’s Tables

Sunday on Skye Read More »

Coffee

Storm Betty has passed leaving us with a sunny, dry but breezy morning.

Time for coffee.

Coffee by my hiking tent on the Isle of Skye

The plan today is to go nowhere for the morning as Jeremy wants to watch the football World Cup today. The last time I camped at this site was in 2013 and I commented on the lack of a phone signal – this would be a problem today when it comes to watching the football.

However a new phone mast that we can easily see from our tent has solved that problem.

Excellent internet at Skye Camping and Caravan Club Site Isle of Skye

Coffee Read More »

A new toy for camping

This is not for backpacking but rather for when we have the car with us. I am also expecting a 100w folding portable solar panel to go with it.

ALLPOWERS Portable Power Station 300W / 288Wh

It is a ALLPOWERS Portable Power Station 300W / 288Wh, with plenty of options for plugging in gadgets, including 240v three pin plug. It can even be charged from the car.

It will also be useful if the government cannot sort it’s energy policy issues out and we have power cuts.

A new toy for camping Read More »

How to make camping coffee?

I was planning to go out for a lunch time walk and brew some camping coffee but the weather had other ideas – too much rain.

On a recent walk the wind shield I used was not effective so I was going to test out a new one I made from a used food tray. I moved the test to the doorway of the summer house office.

Making camping coffee in the office

The wind break was cut to fit tightly around a Bushcraft Essentials mini twig stove when using an up-cycled Burt’s Bees tin as a gel fuel burner. As the fit was close I punched some air holes low down and on two sides for air flow.

Outdoor Pocket Micro Stove EDCBox
Outdoor Pocket Micro Stove EDCBox with homemade wind shield

The idea of this stove is for me to have the makings for camping coffee or soup in my lightweight cookset bag. There is a very small gas burner in the cookset but no gas – the gel fuel for the Bushcraft Essentials stove is carried an up-cycled hand sanitiser bottle in the cookset stuff sack.

Outdoor Pocket Micro Stove EDCBox adapted for gel fuel
The Burt’s Bees tin for the gel fuel – alight!

To test the stove wind break I made coffee.

Making Camping Coffee

There are many gadgets on the market for making coffee when camping – I have a 750ml titanium bush pot/cafetiere for when I am car camping – but when backpacking and walking I like this lightweight solution.

For a while now I have been using a plastic tea strainer as a reusable coffee filter (see my camping coffee page). Since I wrote that page I have cut down the handle and made some cut-outs so the filter sits level.

Tea strainer adapted for making camping coffee
The notches keep the filter level

The process I use is:

1 I fill the strainer mesh with ground coffee until it just covers the the plastic rim.

2 Wet the coffee grounds and then wait a minute or so.

Camping coffee wetting the grounds
For the best results the coffee grounds need a little hot water and a rest!

3 I then carefully add water to the brim of the strainer and let it drain through.

Coffee for camping in a small strainer coffee making gadget
Care is needed when filling the strainer so it does not overflow

4 It takes about 100ml to 150ml of water to make a strong brew. I top up with hot water.

Ground coffee when lightweight backpacking or camping
I never drip all the water through as it is not necessary

5 I take mine black and no sugar when camping – but I do carry coffee creamer and brown sugar for caffeine and energy boost.

This gadget and method only generates used coffee grounds to dispose of, no paper filters and there is no comparison when it comes to the weight or price of this coffee maker when compared to other backpacking/camping coffee gadgets. And it can be used as a strainer as well!

Light and simple bushcraft coffee gear
This is an excellent coffee making kit for my haversack gear

The 30ml Nalgene bottle shown in the photo when “tap” filled (start to fill the bottle and tap it to settle the coffee grounds and repeat until no more settling happens) can hold two measures of ground coffee.

The Wind Shield

It worked better than its predecessor, keeping the heat on the mug. It will also fold up small enough to store in the stove slip case with the stove and the Burt’s Bees tin.

The next test will be later in the week when I can get out for a walk.

How to make camping coffee? Read More »