Wild camping in Scotland with a 7 month old

[touser]

We used to do a bit of wild camping before children. DH is keen to go wild camping again this year and I'm just not so sure now we have a 7 month old. Would you do it? Have you done it? Any suggestions on where/when to go in Scotland and what to take?

I've been camping with a baby of around the same age, although not wild. The only problem we faced was having an orange tent - it was hard getting him to sleep as it stayed light for so long and he woke up nice and early! He slept on a ready bed whilst my DH and I just had a roll mat and sleeping bags.
I should imagine the only thing about wild camping with a baby would be the water. Take a large bottle of water especially for him - wouldn't recommend drinking out of streams obviously!

No advice, there are wild camping websites though, I am sure I saw some when we did it, with info about places to go etc. in Scotland.

I would love to hear how you get on.

Any time but 'the summer will be freezing and even then you may find it hard to keep baby warm and dry. I would at least have washing/ drying facilities.

We have booked Canna Camping which has a bell tent with wood fired stove and is pretty remote. www.cannafolk.co.uk

Just another thought - midges would be pretty bad if you went in summer.

Hi Touser

We wild camp with our DS, and also use the odd low tech campsite. I would say go in May and June which is pre-midge season (relatively) and seems to me over the 15 years I have lived and camped in Scotland to have the most stable and dry weather. Its always a bit hit and miss later on in July and August.

I would recommend heading for the coast or one of the island sites, then you can camp next to a beach (fabby) and also have a chance of better weather as the rainy weather tends to stick to the mountains, I have been in the pouring rain and driven five miles away to the coast and been in amazing sunshine. I can recommend wild camping on Harris & Lewis

I would also pack a hot water bottle as a really good way to keep little ones warm, especially if you are siting outside drinking wine before you go to sleep. Light tent is also a problem but we find that although our DS goes to bed later when camping he just usually crashes out...

Thx everyone, some really good ideas.

Go for it - the freedom just works so so well with children. Camping is fantastic with kids. Midges are my personal nightmare but you can choose to avoid the worst places adjacent to lochs etc. Much of Scotland's water is good to drink but you can always add a puritab; in any case wander upstream for a bit to check theres no dead sheep etc and I'm sure you'll be fine. The length of daylight in the Scottish summer can lead to early mornings (I'm worse than the children) but just enjoy the early light for what it is and have an afternoon snooze!

there are alot of 'no overnight camping' signs popping up so it might be worth researching properly where you want to go. the rothiemurchus and mar lodge estates actively encourage responsible wild camping.