I'm plodding through the Munros and have reached a point where I'm going to have to tackle some of the more remote areas soon. To date I haven't camped overnight at all in the wilds but this year I'll probably do so a couple of times, starting with either Fisherfield or Knoydart.
I usually carry enough to drink on day trips but I don't want to carry enough for two days. In the past I have sometimes just drunk from a stream and thought nothing of it, but wandering through Blacks recently I saw various bottles and potions for purifying water. Not only that but there was a further stash of potions designed to take away the bad taste resulting from the first lot.
Is any of this necessary in Scotland? What do other people do? Are there any particular hazards likely from drinking from Scottish streams - bugs or whatever? (I won't be taking a stove so boiling water is out.)
"BeauGeste" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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I'm plodding through the Munros and have reached a point where I'm going to have to tackle some of the more remote areas soon. To date I haven't camped overnight at all in the wilds but this year I'll probably do so a couple of times, starting with either Fisherfield or Knoydart.
I usually carry enough to drink on day trips but I don't want to carry enough for two days. In the past I have sometimes just drunk from a stream and thought nothing of it, but wandering through Blacks recently I saw various bottles and potions for purifying water. Not only that but there was a further stash of potions designed to take away the bad taste resulting from the first lot.
Is any of this necessary in Scotland? What do other people do? Are there any particular hazards likely from drinking from Scottish streams - bugs or whatever? (I won't be taking a stove so boiling water is out.)
People will tell you about liver fluke and all sorts of terrible things but I've always drunk from streams with no ill effects. It's like 'Will I be struck by lightning?" maybe, maybe not. Just do it!
I'm plodding through the Munros and have reached a point where I'm going to have to tackle some of the more remote areas soon. To date I haven't camped overnight at all in the wilds but this year I'll probably do so a couple of times, starting with either Fisherfield or Knoydart.
I camped in Fisherfield for a week last year and had no ill effects from drinking the water from both streams and lochs, but then again my wife says I've got an iron stomache. Cheek!! 🙂 My daughter, who is a microbiologist and tests all the water samples from all over GB¹, reckons with what I have put through my stomache over the years I should be dead, or at least very sick 🙂
(mode)Proud parent
1) She acctually helped discover some new strain of Cryptosporidium and has her name mentioned in some scientific book that came out last year. (/mode)
The message <[email hidden]> from "BeauGeste" <[email hidden]> contains these words:
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I'm plodding through the Munros and have reached a point where I'm going to have to tackle some of the more remote areas soon. To date I haven't camped overnight at all in the wilds but this year I'll probably do so a couple of times, starting with either Fisherfield or Knoydart.
I never used bothies but you could probably avoid the wild camps should you want to by using the bunkhouse at Barrisdale for Knoydart and Shenaval for Fisherfield. You might have more of a problem with the peaks round Loch Mullerdoch but the is a YH in Glen Affric to the South and the peaks to the North are probably doable in a day. Then there is Beardies Bothy to the North and Ben Alder Cottage if you don't mind ghosts. :-) However in the long run it is easier just to forget about bothies and wild camp or bivvy where you want.
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I usually carry enough to drink on day trips but I don't want to carry enough for two days. In the past I have sometimes just drunk from a stream and thought nothing of it, but wandering through Blacks recently I saw various bottles and potions for purifying water. Not only that but there was a further stash of potions designed to take away the bad taste resulting from the first lot.
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Is any of this necessary in Scotland? What do other people do? Are there any particular hazards likely from drinking from Scottish streams - bugs or whatever? (I won't be taking a stove so boiling water is out.)
There weren't 20-30 years ago and I can't see why it should be much different now. I, and a good may other Munro bashers are still alive and in reasonably good health.
"BeauGeste" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I'm plodding through the Munros and have reached a point where I'm going to have to tackle some of the more remote areas soon. To date I haven't camped overnight at all in the wilds but this year I'll probably do so a couple of times, starting with either Fisherfield or Knoydart.
I usually carry enough to drink on day trips but I don't want to carry enough for two days. In the past I have sometimes just drunk from a stream and thought nothing of it, but wandering through Blacks recently I saw various bottles and potions for purifying water. Not only that but there was a further stash of potions designed to take away the bad taste resulting from the first lot.
Is any of this necessary in Scotland? What do other people do? Are there any particular hazards likely from drinking from Scottish streams - bugs or whatever? (I won't be taking a stove so boiling water is out.)
I know its no real proof, but the guy who ran the bar in Kinlochewe compared a glass of water drawn from his tap against my leftovers from the wilderness (Lochan Fada, to be precise), and I know which one I'd rather drink! The water from the loch was crystal clear and tasted lovely, with no after effects.
In article <[email hidden]>, Sandy Birrell <[email hidden]> writes
Quoted message said:
(mode)Proud parent
1) She acctually helped discover some new strain of Cryptosporidium and has her name mentioned in some scientific book that came out last year. (/mode)
In article <[email hidden]>, Sandy Birrell <[email hidden]> writes
Quoted message said:
(mode)Proud parent
1) She acctually helped discover some new strain of Cryptosporidium and has her name mentioned in some scientific book that came out last year. (/mode)
<silly mode>
Beano ?
</silly mode> Runs & ducks
Even I know thats been out longer than a year Bill, hasn't it? 🙂
The message <[email hidden]> from Peewiglet <[email hidden]> contains these words:
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Then there is
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Beardies Bothy to the North and Ben Alder Cottage if you don't mind ghosts. :-)
Whooaa. I don't think anybody mentioned ghosts to PeeWiglet when she was asking about bothies lately. She's not gonna like it.
<whimper...>
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I didn't realise the Beardies Bothy was said to be haunted too....
I didn't intend to suggest it was but if Beardies ghost is anywhere it is probably in Scotland. IIRC the car crash in which he died (as a hitch hiker) was in Scotland. My parents gave him a lift in 1962 or 63. (He died I think in 1967). He claimed to have remembered me on a course at Plas y Brenin but I think he was just being polite. :-)
I know its no real proof, but the guy who ran the bar in Kinlochewe compared a glass of water drawn from his tap against my leftovers from the wilderness (Lochan Fada, to be precise), and I know which one I'd rather drink! The water from the loch was crystal clear and tasted lovely, with no after effects.
15 years ago the cabin cruiser industry finally put paid to the ghillies tradition of drinking from Loch Ness (often diluted with other drinks mind)
Lochan Fada should be fine.
Once had a glorious cup of tea out of Titicaca. How sterile it was boiled up there God only knows, but the UV was fierce.
Worth it for the romance. Brewing up with "sea water" is a novelty.
I know its no real proof, but the guy who ran the bar in Kinlochewe compared a glass of water drawn from his tap against my leftovers from the wilderness (Lochan Fada, to be precise), and I know which one I'd rather drink! The water from the loch was crystal clear and tasted lovely, with no after effects.
15 years ago the cabin cruiser industry finally put paid to the ghillies tradition of drinking from Loch Ness (often diluted with other drinks mind)
Lochan Fada should be fine.
Once had a glorious cup of tea out of Titicaca. How sterile it was boiled up there God only knows, but the UV was fierce.
Worth it for the romance. Brewing up with "sea water" is a novelty.
"RJ Webb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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Is any of this necessary in Scotland?
No
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What do other people do?
Drink quality water
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Are there any particular hazards likely from drinking from Scottish streams
Watch out for bothies....
BTW water is a big problem in the Highlands right now.. Its everywhere.
Richard Webb
At one time would have agreed with you all, I was "getting away with it" too. Then I got campylobacter. Obviously dont conclusively know where from. You definately don't want to get it. Dont take the risk!
On Fri, 7 Jan 2005 14:16:57 GMT, Roger <[email hidden]> wrote:
[...]
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I didn't realise the Beardies Bothy was said to be haunted too....
I didn't intend to suggest it was
Phew!!
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but if Beardies ghost is anywhere it is probably in Scotland. IIRC the car crash in which he died (as a hitch hiker) was in Scotland. My parents gave him a lift in 1962 or 63. (He died I think in 1967). He claimed to have remembered me on a course at Plas y Brenin but I think he was just being polite. :-)
I didn't realise Beardy was a contemporary figure. Who was he?
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<more whimper!>
Whympers ghost probably haunts the Matterhorn.
As long as it's not on my cross-country route, it's welcome to it! :-)
Best wishes, -- ,, (**)PeeWiglet~~ / \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk
On Fri, 7 Jan 2005 14:16:57 GMT, Roger <[email hidden]> wrote:
[...]
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I didn't realise the Beardies Bothy was said to be haunted too....
I didn't intend to suggest it was
Phew!!
Quoted message said:
but if Beardies ghost is anywhere it is probably in Scotland. IIRC the car crash in which he died (as a hitch hiker) was in Scotland. My parents gave him a lift in 1962 or 63. (He died I think in 1967). He claimed to have remembered me on a course at Plas y Brenin but I think he was just being polite. :-)
I didn't realise Beardy was a contemporary figure. Who was he?
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<more whimper!>
Whympers ghost probably haunts the Matterhorn.
As long as it's not on my cross-country route, it's welcome to it! :-)
Best wishes, -- ,, (**)PeeWiglet~~ / \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk
In article <[email hidden]>, Sandy Birrell <[email hidden]> writes
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W. D. Grey said:
In article <[email hidden]>, Sandy Birrell <[email hidden]> writes
Quoted message said:
(mode)Proud parent
1) She acctually helped discover some new strain of Cryptosporidium and has her name mentioned in some scientific book that came out last year. (/mode)
<silly mode>
Beano ?
</silly mode> Runs & ducks
Even I know thats been out longer than a year Bill, hasn't it? 🙂
