The wild bunch... a family who made life an adventure

Charlie and Caroline Gladstone did what many other people only dream of.

When their first son was born more than 20 years ago the couple were living in London, but worried about raising a family in the capital they sold up and headed north. Far north.

Their new home was a farm in Kincardineshire in the wilds of Scotland, a place which they hoped would afford their growing brood the kind of freedom and outdoors experience simply not available in a town or city.

Fast forward to today and the Gladstones now have six children, five dogs and six horses, and the couple have just written The Family Guide To The Great Outdoors to pass on among other things the secret of building the perfect camp fire and the best way to skin a rabbit.

“Danger and fun have evaporated from normal life, but we brought our children up in the middle of nowhere in a very free way,” says Charlie. “They were allowed to go off and play in rivers and climb trees, which is how I was brought up. We think that’s had a profound effect on their confidence and their sense of who they are.”

As well as information about outdoor living, the book includes advice on making weapons, and axes. Charlie’s great-great grandfather was the famous Victorian prime minister William Gladstone, who had a collection of hundreds of axes, which Charlie still treasures.

He also explains how to make weapons including a potato cannon, bow and arrow, dart launcher and catapult.

“One of the theories we have is that if boys particularly were allowed to chop with axes, throw things, make weapons and light fires a bit more often, there’d be very little fighting in the street,” he says.

“Boys are naturally aggressive, and the wrong outlet for that is computer games or TV. If kids get out and run round, climb something and get really dirty, they’ll come in and be sweetness and light.”

While Charlie may be guilty of painting a rather rose-tinted picture of family life, the 49-year-old stresses that just because his children – who are aged between 13 and 23 – have been brought up spending a lot of time outdoors, it doesn’t mean they don’t have TVs, iPads and computers.

“Of course they do. We haven’t brought them up in a way that says outdoor fun is all they’re allowed,” he says. “But in a world full of ‘stuff’ and purchases, it’s nice to strip all that back and go for a sense of purity.”

He says admits that outdoor fun has been easily achievable partly because of where they live.

“But we’re not suggesting that children need to grow up in such a remote place,” he adds.

“Anybody can climb a tree, go for a long walk, swim in a river or cook on a campfire.”

Many parents may appreciate the fun side of the outdoor life, but worry about the safety aspects. However, Charlie says that as a child he did “unbelievably reckless” things, such as jumping into a river in flood, with a rope tied to his waist at one end and to a tree at the other.

“It was fine,” he insists, “and it removes an element of fear.

“You can survive unbelievable things in life. Allowing your children to walk to school on their own for the first time in a city is much more risky than climbing a tree.

“You just have to apply common sense, and learn your limitations.”

And while he acknowledges modern health and safety rules can have their place, he says, sometimes such rules can be “a nightmare”, which aren’t constructive or helpful.

“Stopping children from doing some of these things doesn’t improve their life,” he insists.

As well as explaining how to master outdoor skills, the guide suggests outdoor activities for families such as building rafts, dams, dens and treehouses, and making rope swings, smoke signals and even rosehip itching powder.

“You’d think kids would tire of outdoor games by the time they’re about 10,” says Charlie, “but if you add some real challenge and danger, they’ll enjoy them throughout their life.

“You need to be quite bossy with kids though and tell them, ‘We’re going to do it, tough’.”

He adds: “The best fun you can have in the world is sitting round a campfire with your kids.Given the opportunity, anyone can do these things – they’re completely free, and it terrifies me that more people don’t do them.”

The Family Guide To The Great Outdoors by Charlie and Caroline Gladstone is out now published by Square Peg, priced £12.99. To order from the Yorkshire Post Bookshop call 01748 821122.