Welcome to the Highlands

A fabulous Wild Camping, Bivouac and Backwoods adventure area

This new Wild Camping area is split into two plateaus Cedar and Pine.

This area has a basic toilet facility for both plateau users to use. There is plenty of wood in this area to scavenge for, and we have built a ground fire area in each plateau.

The Highlands Plateaus – Pine and Cedar

Pine plateau

Pine plateau is set up for Hammocks and using bivouac bags. To facilitate this we will have Hammocks and Bivy bags available to hire and stored in the shed in this area for easy access. There are fix Hammock anchor points attached to the trees where hammocks can be stung up. There is also a great Bivy Bag sleeping area just under the tree on the RHS as you enter Pine Plateau. If you wish to bring your own equipment then that is fine as well.

Cedar Plateau

Cedar Plateau is light weight camping, Bivouac building and other wild camping methods you may wish to try out.

Bivouac Building made from natural material, be it an evening or for a longer period should all now be built in this area and Cedar plateau should be booked for this activity. Have fun building the Bivouacs, from the natural materials lying around. Please remember to check yourselves for Ticks and when finished, dismantle your Bivouacs and scatter the natural materials.

Support and help for Leaders in preparing to use the Highlands

We have completed a factsheet for using this area and must be followed on all occasions. 

Draft risk assessments for using in the Highlands Area

The Highlands - What is available to book, via OSM and how it works..

There are two plateaus, Cedar and Pine to book for different activities

Evening and Day Visits only – Please book Cedar Plateau for both Backwoods Cooking over open fire or for Bivouac Building. 

If Cedar Plateau is booked then, if free, book Pine Plateau which is primarily set up for overnight stays.

Overnight visits

• Pine Plateau is set up
  • with 10 Hammocks and marked anchor points on the trees
  • 10 Bivy Bags, high quality Forces specification Bags are available. You simply put you sleeping bag inside one of the Bivy Bags and all should be dry, warm and cosy!
  • The Hammocks and Bivy Bags are available to hire via OSM. You can only book one item at a time. If you want 5 Bivys Bags and 5 Hammocks you have to make 10 separate entries. Sorry its clunky but it's the best I can do using the system.

• Cedar Plateau is for Wild camping, bring your own hike tents or build your own Bivouacs 

Toilet Facilities - These are very basic.

• There is a Porta Potty for the girls / ladies in one end of the shed. This is all sign posted, there is anti bacterial hand wash provided. 
• Along side the shed there is a screened off area with 2 Urinals for the boys and Men.
• Being delicate – for No 2 please use the main campsite loos

The Porta Potty must be emptied by the plateau users and not left for the site team to do this.

(A £50 disposal fee will be charged for each un-emptied Porta Potty)

***** Please note *****

Washing facilities you need to bring your own or use the site toilet facilities about a 10 minute walk away.

Water Supply – no mains water available

• We have a small supply of water in the Shed and we will look to collect rainwater, but this is not guaranteed and it is NOT drinking water.
• Please bring your own water supplies.

Fires

• Both plateaus will have a small Ground Fire each. These automatically come with the plateau when you book it. 
• Altar Fires will be available to use on either plateau on a first come basis and are not bookable 
• Fire Buckets are provided. Please make sure they are full of water before you start your fires.

Leaving the area - please ensure everything is left clean, tidy and you would not know you have used this area. this includes

• All bivouacs are dismantled and the natural materials are scattered into the woodlands
• All fires are out.
• Unburnt wood returned to the wood pile. Make sure it it not alight!
• Ash scooped up and put in the bins provided
• All Hammocks and Bivy Bags put away neat and tidy. If wet please let us know on - mail@glennywood.org.uk
  

And don't forget .........

Porta Potty from the girls loo emptied before you leave.

Finally a little History and Background to the creation of the Highlands

This part of Glenny Wood was purchased in the early 90's primarily to stop any access across the campsite to this area, thus causing potential safeguarding challenges etc. This area was initially called “The New Lands”

Since the revamping and modernisation of Glenny Wood which commenced in late 2006, our focus has been developing the main central areas of the site, adding in a comprehensive range of activities and actively managing the woodlands. 

Ever since taking over the direct management of the site in late 2006 Phil W always wanted to develop this top plateau area.

In late 2024 through to May 2025 we were finally able to make this happen and develop the far end of Glenny Wood, which has been renamed "Highlands". 

The original concept and the new name came from Phil W.

To create this new and exciting area, Angus W supported by Andy D took up the challenge. They worked out the detail, the best approach and after a significant amount of work the Highlands has been created. The rest of the Glenny Team also supported the works to create this fabulous area. 

Highlands in Pictures June 2025

Highland Dead Hedge

On Tuesday 13th May 2025 as part of the IT experts Ping Identity's World wide Volunteering day 12 team members from the Bristol office, supported by Phil W from the Glenny team had a fabulous day undertaking further developments to the Highlands Area

The team build a "Dead" Hedge, which was around 20 metres long and is a great natural feature for this area. 

The team work was fabulous and they achieved so, so much. Many thanks to all the team volunteering and working hard at creating the Dead Hedge. Some pictures below

So what is a dead Hedge??

• A dead hedge is a wonderful habitat that's full of life. Dead hedges provide hiding places and nesting habitats for all sorts of creatures, as well as food for insects. 
• As it rots down, the nutrients are recycled back into the earth below, meaning your garden 'waste' needn't go into garden bins or bonfires. 
• Creating a dead hedge is an ongoing activity, which can be added to every time you prune a tree or cut back a shrub. 
• Small mammals, birds and spiders find shelter in the upper layers, whilst the soft rotting wood below is a perfect home for beetles and fungi. 
• These busy critters feed off the wood and return its nutrients back into the soil. Recycling our wood in this way creates diverse habitats.
• By not disturbing this Hedge area, you are helping to support a healthy ecosystem.

Highlands - During Development