To finish off this year’s BAM collection here are my nights out from July to December, with September probably being the highlight!
July
This was my usual holiday bivy straight from our usual cottage in Nethybridge, along the Speyside Way and out the back of Carrbridge into the moors west of Aviemore. I climbed up to the highest peak I could get to without entering the clouds and bivied near the cairn with a beer and food for company.






August
Another late night departure from home on the 29th to tick off yet another bit of forestry, west of Aberdeen near Drumoak.



September
After an unfortunate and completely unprovoked incident resulted in me being assaulted by an unhinged truck driver, I needed to spend some time away from the roads, so I jumped in the car after work one Friday and headed for the Cairngorms. Setting off near Logie Coldstone I spent an hour or so riding through low clouds/mist before climbing straight up Mona Gowan (749m) from Strathdon, which was impressive as I had forgotten to bring the fresh battery for the gears on my fancy bike and so was riding single speed after about 5 shifts! As I’d hoped, I emerged from the clouds just as the sun was setting and had an amazing view of an inversion, with cloud rolling over nearby hills like waves. It was even nicer in the morning and I had a tough time dragging myself away from the summit to drop back into the mists and return to the car via Morven Lodge. Definitely helped lift my spirits.








October
A night time car MOT drop off in Maud presented me with a bivy opportunity on the way home. The forecast’s 5% chance of rain equated to it raining the whole night as I cycled, but eventually eased just as I found a mostly suitable wood to get myself set up in. The morning proved drier as I scurried back to get a day’s work in.



November
Another ride from home with limited time. Used the singlespeed as the roads were wet and it has mudguards and pitched up in some trees not far from the Deeside Way.



December
Struggled to find a slot for this one, so ended up going out late on Boxing Day after the rain stopped, to try out Maryculter Woods, which worked out quite well.






So that was another year in the bag making two in a row and 5 years total, if I remember rightly. No reason to stop now, so roll on 2025 with as many interesting nights out as I can manage!