My Favourite Wild Camps of 2021 In Pictures

View over Lochan Fada to Slioch, evening June 4

For the second year running there were no long walks. Four days was the maximum. I never left the Highlands either. Indeed, Glen Feshie in the Cairngorms was the southermost place I reached. Most of my trips away from the Northern Cairngorms were to the north and west. I made no plans to leave Scotland. With Covid restrictions at home and abroad constantly changing I decided it was simpler and less frustrating to stay at home.I did have many splendid camps, especially in the early summer when there was a long spell of dry clear weather. Here are pictures of my favourites.

Tom Mor above Strathspey, January 6

My first camp my only snow camp of the year and just a short walk from home on a little hill overlooking Strathspey. It was right on the eve of the winter lockdown. I wouldn't pitch a tent again anywhere other than the garden until April.

Below Carn Breac, north of Glen Carron, April 14

There was still snow on the tops when I ventured out again but it was going fast and I had no need for ice axe, crampons, snow shovel or other snow gear. From now until the autumn my gear was in summer mode.

By Loch Damh, looking to Beinn Alligin, May 15

Camp with Liz Steel en route to Beinn Damh, May 17

All my camps were solo except for one where I was joined by Liz Steel for one night on a sheltered woodland site not far from Beinn Damh in Torridon.

Above Loch Maree, Beinn Eighe in the background, June 3

The longest trip was a walk into the Letterewe area on which I had three fine camps and climbed two of the remotest Munros.

Letterewe, evening June 4

Lochan Fada, June 5

Below An Teallach, June 30

Below Ruadh-stac Beag, Beinn Eighe, July 21

Below Baosbheinn, July 22

Late summer brought rain and midges - rare in the earlier dry weather - and my NW trips were over (a main aim had been photography for an upcoming project). And for various other reasons there were few autumn and early winter trips. I did though head into Glen Feshie and up on to the hills above for my last two camps. I camp in these favourite spots every year but hadn't managed to do so earlier in 2021 due to all the trips north and west.

Glen Feshie, October 23

On the Moine Mhor, December 10