My Favourite Camps of 2022 in pictures

 

The Lairig Ghru, Cairngorms, October

Most of my outdoor time in 2022 was spent in the Cairngorms as I'm writing a book on the area. Only a few times did I venture further afield. There were no trips longer than four days but there were many trips.

Toll Creagach, Glen Affric, March

My first camping trip was one of those not in the Cairngorms. It was on the Inverness Backcountry Snowsports Club annual igloo-building trip, held in Glen Affric. I went along to help with the igloos but didn't sleep in one, leaving that to those who'd never done so before. The first night I camped low down on boggy terrain above a bulldozed road. This was not a favourite! The second night I was high on the slopes of Toll Creagach with splendid views all around.  

Cairngorm Plateau, March

There wasn't much snow and it didn't last long in the winter of 2021-22. I only had one camp on snow and by April the snow gear had been put away until the autumn. Hills I'd skied and snowshoed on in spring in previous years only had traces of snow left.

Rothiemuchus Forest, Cairngorms, April

The Moine Mhor, Cairngorms, May

Glen Affric, Cairngorms, May

Below Carn Etchachan & the Shelter Stone Crag, Cairngorms, June

The Moine Mhor, Cairngorms, July

Spending so much time in the Cairngorms reminded me of the huge variety of landscapes in this incomparable area and how the light, the colours, the sky, and the weather change every trip. I'll never get bored here.

Cairngorm Plateau, August

Ben Macdui, Cairngorms, September

Glen Feshie, Cairngorms, October

Rothiemurchus Forest, Cairngorms, October

The Lairig Ghru, Cairngorms, October

Glen Feshie, Cairngorms, November

The autumn was unseasonally warm with plenty of rain but few frosts and little snow. Winter didn't rrally being until well into December when I had my first camp in snow conditions since March.

Coire Ardair, Creag Meagaidh, December