Wild camping on the edge of England in the Gram Counter Gear VLT tent | Scottish Borders

[@grahamswildcamping]

If any one would like to support my little meanderings: www.buymeacoffee.com/gpbasnettK It would be greatly appreciated!

[@BorderRambler]

Nice one Graham , some great exploring on the border. That cairn on carter pike is very similar to the one on cross fell but that one has walls coming out of it. Single skin shelters are always problematic in the UK full stop 😂😂 it’s a cross we have to bear , and I still use them atb Dave

[@grahamswildcamping]

Thanks Dave, I’ve actually been looking at getting up CrossFell soon and checking out Greg’s hut but I’ve had to delay with one of my pals doing his back in. I love exploring new areas, find it fascinating. That VLT tent was a great price (only £75) but it has limitations and a n Northumberland probably only useful for very specific conditions 😂 ATB, Graham 👍👍

[@donnavansenior]

Nice one Graham - I've seen many people pitch up there recently, but you're the first that recorded any video from hiking further up the valley. Myself and Llama Annie camped there last August, windy as owt that night, & I've been meaning to check out similar things that you'd circled on your map past the cairn - so cheers for that, it's saved me a hike - and by the looks of it a pretty boggy wet-footed hike. Loved the dad joke, and wise to head back to the cairn to pitch up, it's a fabulous looking structure and nice to be able to get out of the winds a tad if they're blowing. Let's hope this area doesn't get as over camped as the 'secret crags' do. TFS and atb from DVS :) P.S not sure of that tent mind lol - I have a single skin tent, a Naturehike Taga2, I still use it, but not very often due to condensation issues. I'd rather carry a few hundred extra grammes for a double skinned zippy tent 😁🏕

[@grahamswildcamping]

Thanks Donna, I like the quirky little nature of the tent but I reckon I’ll only use it in certain specific conditions, like you, I’d rather carry a slightly heavier separate fly and inner. I’ve a feeling it won’t get over camped, I hope not anyway. Exploring new areas is one of the highlights of camping for me, to spend ages looking at maps and what might be ruins or a bothy then go out and actually see what’s there- mint! That’s part of what makes your videos so interesting, all that exploring with Sami. ATB Donna and hope to maybe bump into you sometime in them hills 👍

[@northumberlandmountainhopper]

Hi Graham Nice video we had a great camp, extra walking excluded ! See you on the next one Cheers Adrian

[@grahamswildcamping]

Yup, see you soon!

[@360OutdoorAdventures]

Another enjoyable video Graham I enjoyed that. Stunning views and interesting facts. I'm with you buddy can you imagine how difficult life would be in those cottages even the basics like fuel and water. I wonder if they could have been hunting lodges or a place for shepards to stay if the weather became unpleasant. Loved the beer review great stuff 👍 👌

[@grahamswildcamping]

Thank you, I love to explore the little bits of history out in our remote areas. I think they were shepherds cottages rather than hunting lodges because of their typical size and classic two room design but I don't really know. It's sobering and fascinating to realise that these were once vital places full of life and now just forgotten and slowly crumbling. Thanks for the feedback on the beer review! ATB, Graham 👍👍

[@harrythehikerne]

Great video. Your description of the beer… and onion bhajis. Class man.

[@grahamswildcamping]

Thanks very much, I like a good beer and that one really took me back 😂- and thanks for the coffee, much appreciated, ATVB, Graham 👍👍

[@michaeljames8686]

Great video as always Graham , perfect viewing with a coffee in hand

[@grahamswildcamping]

Thank you, I suppose most of my videos are about 20 mins- perfect length for a coffee break, Cheers, ATB, Graham 👍👍

[@AlbertOutdoorsUK]

Thanks for uploading another adventure Graham, and also thanks for the shout out. I just got back from my Coast to Coast walk a couple of days ago and have had loads of KZbin to catch up on. I've never been to Carter Pike yet but it looks like a great place to visit. Thanks again. ATVB.

[@grahamswildcamping]

Hope you enjoyed the coast to coast- it looks a fantastic thing to do. Lovely to bump into you the other week and thanks again for the coffee. Carter Pike is a smashing place and only an hours walk or so from the carpark, ATVB, Graham 👍👍

[@thebackingpackinggeordie]

Great video mate, Carter Pike is on my to do list so thanks for sharing and looking forward to joining you soon.

[@grahamswildcamping]

Yep, looking forward to that mate

[@peterbasnett3266]

Another great video but you have given the game away. I keep saying to you "Don't tell them Pike!" All the best for your future ventures.

[@grahamswildcamping]

And suddenly everybody who reads this comment, understands where I get my dad jokes from 😂😂😂

[@kirstythomas7253]

If those are your dreams without the cheese... 😂 Great video, G. Beautiful skies

[@grahamswildcamping]

Thanks K 😀👍

[@hedleythorne]

Great looking location, love the look of both shelters

[@grahamswildcamping]

Thank you, it’s a smashing place. Looking forward to your vids of Dartmoor, ATB, 👍👍

[@markwood5853]

Another great one👍 Keep those informative beer reviews coming 😆

[@grahamswildcamping]

Thanks Mark, appreciate it 👍👍

[@LundysWildcampBushcraft]

Cracking video Graham great to see you back out and I think you two are the first people I've seen explore that area it's on my list to do but it sounds like a very wet area nice tent I'll be watching Adrian's video on my dinner break atvb Jimmy 😎😎👍👍

[@grahamswildcamping]

Thanks Jimmy, the ground up to the summit was not too bad at all and there are duckboards in the worst places, the ground started to get really boggy when we walked further into the valley. It's an area ripe for exploring, as like you, I don't think I've watched anyone really get past the pike and there were few signs of human activity. Quad tracks were quite overgrown- perhaps only used during lambing? Cheers, ATB mate

[@jimmy.mccutcheon.1961]

Nice one Graham 👍 And Adrian 👍

[@grahamswildcamping]

Thanks for the first comment Jimmy!

[@HardyTempestsWildCampsandWalks]

If Frank Lloyd Wright designed tents…… Really great video mate.

[@grahamswildcamping]

lol, it certainly does have an ‘architectural’ vibe to it- funny old shape 😂 cheers, appreciate the comment 👍👍

[@davidhudson7590]

Best hills and views Northumberland and Borders just heaven moved 5 years ago but think il be back for good one day just gonna try bikepacking as with back n legs can't manage packs only light day one I got alpkit polestar tent under kilo seems canny job small but light so be grand good vid enjoyed this one

[@grahamswildcamping]

Thank you. Been meaning to try a bit of bike packing myself, loads of forestry roads around here. Donna Van Senior is a good one to watch as she's ebiking and camping around northumberland and the borders. That polestar looks canny, Cheers, Graham 👍👍

[@robmackins2111]

Best beer review ever!

[@grahamswildcamping]

@@robmackins2111 haha, thank you, I appreciate that!

[@robmackins2111]

Btw what do you do as a job? Very good knowledge of Anatomy. Is it related?

[@grahamswildcamping]

@@robmackins2111 I’m gonna be a bit reluctant to say what I do in public: but yes, good guess, it’s related!

[@barbohanley3882]

Great video!

[@grahamswildcamping]

Thank you very much ! 👍👍

[@seanconaty1144]

Nice vid mate. 🏕️

[@grahamswildcamping]

Cheers buddy !

[@nightsinthewild]

When I went up there there was a hole in the ground near the cairn that looked like a cyst. Did you see it? Great vid and nice to see Adrian out as well 😊

[@grahamswildcamping]

I never saw that, which is a shame, as it's just the sort of detail that adds a bit of richness to a walk- oh, well, guess I have an excuse for another yomp up there 🙂 Thanks Kerry, ATB 👍

[@WildBorkysadventures]

Looks wicked there👍

[@grahamswildcamping]

It was crackin', thank you, ATB, Graham 👍👍

[@tamirew9247]

Great to see you again. Your camps are always so fun for me with your bit of humor, irony and subtlety sweet sarcasm. I’d bet that you’re a hoot to work with at the hospital. Speaking of that, your RN is showing by verbally diagramming the vertebrae of what you hoped was a sheep 😅. Did you get a new tatt on your left forearm or is that an owie (minor abrasion)? Don’t know if you use the term “owie” in the UK 😂

[@grahamswildcamping]

Thanks Tami, that's the sort of feedback that encourages me to keep getting back out and making videos. I have done a bit of informal neuro-anatomy teaching in the past! It's not a tattoo, it was a thistle injury- those darn things are sharp! All healed now. I know what an 'owie' is - but I don't think I've heard anyone here use that term- perhaps I'll start! ATVB, Graham 👍👍

[@nickpotts4511]

Great explore mr B, hope the midge’s didn’t bother the pair of you

[@grahamswildcamping]

Thanks Nick, I enjoyed it and the midges weren’t too bad at all

[@macinthewild8116]

Nice one Graham , looked a good camp. I’ll have to try one of those beers mind!!

[@grahamswildcamping]

Ah yes, those beers really took me back 🤣🤣

[@tamirew9247]

@@grahamswildcamping boy did they. The mezoproic age was it? You’re hilarious😂

[@grahamswildcamping]

@@tamirew9247😂 perhaps they drank the same beers back in the ice age 😂 cheers Tami, comment much appreciated 👍

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

The waterfall is Chattlehope Spout... it is very very boggy getting to it and to make that worse, it is best seen in spate (which I've not managed yet because the terrain is really boggy). There are wild goats there too. If you are interested in trying to reach it some time, then you are better off going up Girdle Fell. I can't remember seeing anywhere you could pitch though. There's plenty of flat ground, just a lack of dry ground. You could possibly do a bivvy at the Girdle Stone if you really wanted to stop the night there. The ruined cottages are likely shepherd shiels or shooting huts rather than permanent residences. However, there was mining activity in the area nearer the border. I've thought about going to check it out, but it is an incredibly remote area... it is one of those places where the remoteness starts playing on your mind when out by yourself... 'if I have an injury, will anyone be able to find me' type of place. Carter Pike though is a great little hill. Fabulous views for very little effort. Thank you for taking us along on your adventure.

[@grahamswildcamping]

Thanks Alice- I owe you an apology! Your hiking video was part of the inspiration for getting up there and exploring, but my attribution to you ended on the cutting room floor thanks to wind noise 😂 Thanks for the extra information on the waterfall and general area- it wasn't named on my map. You're right about the feeling of remoteness- It felt as if nobody had been that way in a long time. ATB, Graham 👍

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

@grahamswildcamping lol don't worry about shout outs... glad to have helped inspire the camp. It was good viewing, I enjoyed the video.

[@grahamswildcamping]

thank you 👍

[@g7waw]

Hi Graham grate video. I started watching your videos after seeing you on Adrian's Videos. What was the podcast you talked about. ATB David

[@grahamswildcamping]

Hi, thanks. I often listen to ‘Sasquatch Chronicles’ podcast for a bit of fun. Recent episode no. 1078 is pretty interesting. ATB, Graham 👍

[@themountainmen9484]

Excellent as always, and you look midge free in comparison to Adrian😂

[@grahamswildcamping]

I got a few bites, but I was surprised to see them at all on an open summit like that. If they are more attracted to Adrian than me, well, I'm all in favour of that! ATB, Graham 👍

[@themountainmen9484]

@@grahamswildcamping 🤣🤣

[@garrygreen3210]

Cracking cairn on Carter Pike

[@grahamswildcamping]

It's a cracker! Great for a rest stop and very useful if you're camping up there, ATB, Graham 👍

[@davidhudson7590]

Dream or a few funny mushrooms before bed not pinching your milk😂

[@grahamswildcamping]

lol!, I don't know what causes those wild camping dreams- I don't have them at home! 🤣ATB, Graham 👍

[@shivpmorgan32]

I love you like a brother

[@grahamswildcamping]

@@shivpmorgan32 bromance 🙌👍

[@oleksandrlarin7274]

Hello. I'm wondering how was the tent? Are you satisfied with it? How do you think, is it ok for a 192 cm tall person? Sorry for so many questions, but there is almost no information about this tent in youtube)

[@grahamswildcamping]

Hi, I'm satisfied with the tent and it performed as expected (there was a slick of condensation ob the inside( It provides a reasonable amount of room for it's weight but it will always attract condensation, so if on a multi-night trip you'd have to find a way to dry it off during the day. It was ok for me at 5'6" because I could easily avoid touching the sides but at 192cm that would be more problematic for you. Hope this helps a bit with your decision!

[@oleksandrlarin7274]

@@grahamswildcamping thanks a lot, this was really helpful!

[@tamirew9247]

Hey wild camp friend. I tried to “buy me a coffee” and it brings up error 404 page not found. I also typed in the full address in my browser and the same error code came up. Do you suppose it’s because I’m in the US? Shouldn’t make any difference I would think.

[@grahamswildcamping]

This happens from time to time- maybe because I'm just not that tech savvy. I think I've fixed it now though (hopefully) 👍

[@davidhudson7590]

Seems canny tent I got dd tarp 3.5x3.5 not tried it yet I've bought all gear ready but chronic pain and fentynl patches I've not felt upto it yet but think why I enjoy these type vids tips and ideas etc as il get out if hell has me

[@grahamswildcamping]

Chronic pain is no joke, hope the patches are working for you, and hope you get out soon 👍Adrian is excellent for demonstrating new tarp configurations- I was impressed with the one on this camp and I'm def going to pinch that idea, ATB, Graham 👍