Evening all,

Havent started an off topic thread yet so though I would.

In June of this year I'm off backpacking for three months, round the channel isles, highlands, ireland, through europe and accross to south america. I wanted to see if there's anyone on M-E who's done anything similar? If so any advice/stories etc.

I've set myself a £300 equipment budget, includes pack, clothes, footwear, sleeping bag and a few other things. I've set a £1,500 budget for the actual trip (food, water, travel fees and accomodation) I'm also planning my route using GoogleEarth - Hmmm - and making note of hostels along the way.

Have I forgotten anything?

Peace - Off to bake a cake.

Hello, good luck on your trip.

Don't forget your travel insurance! You want to make sure your camera, baggage etc are covered.

Cake, mmm, what sort of cake?

Good old coffee cake. Though I throw lots of maple syrup/toffee into the mix too. Good stuff, tastes like a giant chewy brownie.

And Travel Insurance,absolutely! I'm trying to find the cheapest quote at the moment.

And thanks for the good luck, I might just need it in south america.

Hi Oli,

If you like, I could PM or email you some favourite locations you might want to include in the Highlands and Ireland?

Caz,

That would be fantastic of you! Apologies for not replying to your email I'm under a ton of work at the moment. But I shall endeavour to reply today!

Oli

Re

If you start out from Glasgow and head due North, you'll see some of the best sights in Scotland.
You can take in Loch Lomond, Eilean Donan Castle (where the film 'Highlander' starts), Glen Coe, Loch Ness etc and if you keep going, the same road takes you all the way to Skye. http://www.castles.org/Chatelaine/EDC/e-donan.htm

You might want to consider getting some Insect repellant, as the Scottish Mosquito, known as the 'midge' has acquired a liking for 'foreign' cuisine.
Be prepared for ALL weathers.

If you want to investigate any MA while in Scotland, let me know.
There are some interesting things going on up here.

Thank you man, I was planning on heading up through the highlands and up into Skye, but the midges put me off. I'm told by a friend they will "do me good". But I may give camping a miss and stick to hostels.

hey there,

From my travelling experience the one best piece of advice would be don't overpack...anything you need to buy can be bought on the road as and when you need it especially as you will be in the UK (not exactly back country!) for the first part.
An overfilled backpack can be a unecessary load on the mind (as well as the back) and half the things in there will never be used!!

And please send me the recipe for coffee cake before you go!

I want some...

take garlic tables for the midges. used them in greenland and didn't get bitten once (nor did i do any of the other things - sleeping under nets etc)

spare shoes if they will fit, or an epic epic pair of shoes that you could walk on the sun in.

Oh I have epic epic shoes.

http://www.zappos.com/images/717/7174420/4998-269819-d.jpg those bad boys should do the trick.

Sam you can still get bit, but its the case of if your prone to an allergic reaction.


Good shoes!