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Mole wrote (see)

...also keep meths bottle in my sleeping bag/jacket pocket too.

I prefer a brandy and coke myself, but each to their own

As for melting snow, I haven't done it for a long time, but I do remember it had a very low yield. A full 1ltr water bottle full of snow melted down to something like 200ml of water. It was quite hard to pack it in though.

if you do melt snow, take extra fuel! and  have some liquid water in the bottom of the pan to start with.

I find draping a jacket over my sleeping bag effective for extra warmth as well as a little bit of exercise before sleeping [even  just tensing muscles for a while.

i take a couple of plastic bread bags tp put on over my socks for calls of nature...i'f i've forgotten a pee bottle! A pee bottle is very worth while just make sure it's at least a litre... old plastic milk bottles aren't bad it your aim is good

some thin foam like you get stuff packaged in makes a big difference too., even if it's just a little bit to sit on, rest your elbow on while reading, rest your feet on when you put your boots on etc.

 I know what you mean about the fuel Andrew: it's a bit like the car & stopping (100-70 takes the same force as 70-0, so someone who just manages to avoid an accident travelling at 70 will have hit the obstacle at 70 if they were doing 100).

I will, however, definitely melt at least one pot of snow.  It might also be difficult to get water where I'm going to pitch so I may need to do two or three.

SimonDawes wrote (see)

It might also be difficult to get water where I'm going to pitch so I may need to do two or three.

There's no "might" mate, i assure you.

Saying that though, you do have several million litres to your South/SSw/Sw/West/NNw/Nw or an absolute treacherous decent to a source to your direct North.

I'd take extra fuel.

Simon, forgive me for going on mate but that source to the North is almost inaccessible, even in good weather, and quite a danger in the current conditions, unless you skirt round, which will add at least an 11/2hrs to your journey,  maybe 2 or 3.

If you're just doing the one night i'd recommend carrying in 2 litres, which wont be too heavy but should see you through.

Btw, i was planning on a surprise visit but the missus informed me earlier she's going out with her niece and family, for her nieces 18th, bloody women, i bought southern comfort too.

Will do Twiglegs, but I'm melting at least one pot of snow.

And so you should.

Btw, i expect a full trip report Monday, Tuesday at the latest, with pics.

Hope simon is having a good time up there, it's blody freezing lol.

He's on a flat peat bed Paddy, so pegs should be fine.

I doubt there's and PDNP rangers on here at this time so here's a earlier pic of me and Moonlightshadow at simons pitch.

I've posted some pictures on trip reports (title is derent Edge). 

Thanks for all of the advice all, I had a great time.  I left the Lady Bower Inn at 2.30 after a couple of pints (best to get hydrated before starting out).  I took my time and bimbled up to Back Tor, arriving there at 5.00.  I had taken plenty of water, therefore, I didn't need to melt snow.

It's a fantastic place, waking to the unique sound of Red Grouse is brilliant.  It got to -1 on the night (so my thermoter recorded) but I was toasty warm.  It is a beautiful place; I really liked the look of the Wheel Stones.

minus 1 ? That's not a winter camp

Last night was -21°C in Belgium - here's how the inner looked in my Akto:

There was even a layer of ice inside my bivi bag and it was snowing inside the inner each time I touched it.  Now I really trust Mountain Equipment transition temp ratings.

 Temperature does not define the season you know!  -1°C was exactly what I was hoping for, I would not be going out in -21°C!