Wild camping

[Spuffington]

When would you say the right age was to start kids off on it?

Mine is 4 and I'm going to introduce her to some mild Camping this year. We have the motorhome which we use frequently (or live in, in my case!) but she's expressed an interest in tents, so I will pull mine out of the Garage this summer and either camp locally (perhaps at the site I'm at now) but definitely want to get the wild Camping underway at some point.

I'll kick off with me this year but I'm guessing I've got another 5-6yrs before I can realistically take her off piste, as it were?

[LordHaveMurci]

No reason you can't take a 4yr old, you obviously won't be walking in too far & you'll be carrying almost everything.

[Johnnytheboy]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-cent...

Wild Camping sans permit banned in parts of Scotland.

[tenohfive]

Spuffington said:

When would you say the right age was to start kids off on it?

Mine is 4 and I'm going to introduce her to some mild Camping this year. We have the motorhome which we use frequently (or live in, in my case!) but she's expressed an interest in tents, so I will pull mine out of the Garage this summer and either camp locally (perhaps at the site I'm at now) but definitely want to get the wild Camping underway at some point.

I'll kick off with me this year but I'm guessing I've got another 5-6yrs before I can realistically take her off piste, as it were?

No need to wait that long. As long as she's comfortable going for a wee etc outdoors and you make sure she's warm (insulation from the ground often gets forgotten) there's really no reason why you can't go whenever she's interested in giving it a go. Usual sensible precautions i.e. close enough that if a meltdown occurs and you want to sack it off you can find your way back to the car, but logistically there is no reason to go whenever she's up for it.

One tip - if you put her in an adult sleeping bag, tie off the unused space at the bottom. The more empty space in a sleeping bag to heat up, the longer it takes to get warm. A hot drink and/or a snack once in the bag is a good way to get the body putting out heat too.

[battered]

I agree, you can do it as soon as they want to. Usual precautions apply of course, if the weather turns foul and they want out of it RIGHT NOW you need to have a get out of jail free option. Do you really want to have to deal with a bed wetting accident and a wailing child when it's p***ing down, you haven't yet had a breakfast and you have a tent to take down? If there are 2 adults then it's easier, one can pursue the bailout with the child, the other can sort out the gear and meet later. But you know all this stuff better than I. So get the basic camping sorted, then try a few mini-adventures when the weather gets better.

To be honest I still favour extremely light camping and bivouacing. Less is more, the less gear you carry the easier it all is.

[Hainey]

Johnnytheboy said:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-cent...

Wild Camping sans permit banned in parts of Scotland.

I find that a very worrying development. I'm a wild camper and I take trouble to leave as little footprint as possible. Not that I'm particularly visible in a Snugpak Stratosphere when I'm there anyways.

The point is that yes I've been camping with friends and witnessed the idiots trashing the place, but I've also never seen a ranger on hand to cope with it.

I'd far rather better education and enforcement than a blanket action that potentially criminalises the 90%+ who do not cause an issue.

[silentbrown]

Done a fair bit in Snowdonia - mostly on the Carneddau and around Snowdon.

As mentioned, camp high (ideally above highest mountain wall), pitch late, leave early, no fires, pack out or bury your poo.

There are some honeypot areas that seem to attract groups (particularly around some of the higher lakes) but there's plenty of solitude available.

[chasingracecars]

I think if you are far enough from people and not visible from a roadway you can camp pretty much anywhere if you turn up late and leave early.

[LordHaveMurci]

Thought I'd share this from another forum:

'For those who don't fully appreciate the importance LEAVE NO TRACE..
New legislation around Loch lomond comes into force today that will restrict access for those wishing to wild camp in the area. This new legislation is a reaction to damage to the area caused by litter, fires, tree damage, fly tipping etc.

Most of the land we all enjoy access to around the UK is privately owned. If we treat it with respect then we will continue to enjoy that free access.

When a piece of new legislation comes into play it is likely to set a precedent that other land owners facing similar issues may follow. Please Don't get complacent.
It is now more important than ever to leave your pitch clean and unmarked.

[gooner1]

Chicken Chaser said:

Does wild vanning count? I'm planning to do many of these to avoid a daily 100 mile commute. Looking a pub car parks, gyms, quiet residential roads and the odd lay-by!

Done that for the best part of 20 years, not evrery night obviously, while working on the Railway as a subby.
Van, sleeping bag, and sometimes a tent. Found some beautiful place all over England and Wales, was'nt even aware it was illegal.

[superlightr]

done a number a wild camp on the South Downs with my children. Don't light a fire. Leave no trace. Tuck yourself off the tracks and enjoy. Last one was December. 8 yr Daughter holding onto the tent as I pegged it down - windy was an understatement............. lovely thing to do and great bonding with daughter and dog. Dog did roll in some fox poo and had to find a cattle trough and break the ice to wash him in it. didn't help much......

[danllama]

I really want to try this, but not done much camping in my life. Got a good mate who has so hopefully can rope him in to it, learn the ropes, and then go on my own regularly. Biggest issue on my part is being in London its a big drive just to get anywhere worth camping! I love being in nature though.

Has anybody tried wild camping in Slovenia? Is it legal there? I visited last year and stayed in hostels, but i'd love to go with a tent and camera gear, few bits of clothes. Amazing lakes and mountains. Lovely.

[tenohfive]

silentbrown said:

Done a fair bit in Snowdonia - mostly on the Carneddau and around Snowdon.

As mentioned, camp high (ideally above highest mountain wall), pitch late, leave early, no fires, pack out or bury your poo.

There are some honeypot areas that seem to attract groups (particularly around some of the higher lakes) but there's plenty of solitude available.

Is that a Scarp?

[Bill]

Hainey said:

I find that a very worrying development. I'm a wild camper and I take trouble to leave as little footprint as possible. Not that I'm particularly visible in a Snugpak Stratosphere when I'm there anyways.

The point is that yes I've been camping with friends and witnessed the idiots trashing the place, but I've also never seen a ranger on hand to cope with it.

I'd far rather better education and enforcement than a blanket action that potentially criminalises the 90%+ who do not cause an issue.

It only covers the easily accessible bits that you wouldn't be interested in, and reading between the lines will only be used on people who don't listen to the education element.

[Bill]

Spuffington said:

When would you say the right age was to start kids off on it?

Mine is 4 and I'm going to introduce her to some mild Camping this year. We have the motorhome which we use frequently (or live in, in my case!) but she's expressed an interest in tents, so I will pull mine out of the Garage this summer and either camp locally (perhaps at the site I'm at now) but definitely want to get the wild Camping underway at some point.

I'll kick off with me this year but I'm guessing I've got another 5-6yrs before I can realistically take her off piste, as it were?

It depends how far she can walk, but I suspect 4 is a bit early. I wouldn't wait as long as 10 though. And camping in the garden is a good start.

Also, I'd start in September because it's still warm and the nights are getting longer. There's nothing worse than being woken by a grumpy child who stayed up late and finds it too bright to sleep at 5am...

[MonkeyBusiness]

Anyone had any good wildcamps recently?

Heading out on Friday for my first camp this year into the Yorkshire Dales.
Weather doesn't look great but I've only got this window of opportunity for a few weeks. At least the streams should be running.


Hardest decision is tent (Banshee 200) or army bivi and tarp.

[LordHaveMurci]

Sadly not

Hopefully get out with my lad over the summer holidays, if a weeks camping in the Brecon Beacons this week hasn't put my Daughter off then maybe I'll get out with her again too.

Enjoy & please post some pics for us

[Hainey]

MonkeyBusiness said:

Anyone had any good wildcamps recently?

Heading out on Friday for my first camp this year into the Yorkshire Dales.
Weather doesn't look great but I've only got this window of opportunity for a few weeks. At least the streams should be running.


Hardest decision is tent (Banshee 200) or army bivi and tarp.

I do a lot up here in centrak Scotland. Unless its doggers weather then bivi bag and tarp everytime.

[superlightr]

did most of Hadrians wall a month ago with another of my daughters (10yrs old) 3 days walking and 3 rough camps.

Great fun - she did so well !!!! Don't underestimate the strength or determination of a child !!! So long as she had enough food she was happy ! - Each time we camped we were quite covert - off the track and behind trees etc. We camped near a quarry which had public toilets, in a field down a dip and hidden away and then last night we were so tired camped on a village green out in the open ! A lovely lady there refilled our water bottles and was very welcoming !

Its great fun walking/camping. Don't have any pics of the tent but its a Terra Nova Superlight. 2 man tent. very very light.

Edited by superlightr on Thursday 20th July 10:01

Edited by superlightr on Thursday 20th July 10:01

Edited by superlightr on Thursday 20th July 10:05

[RammyMP]

superlightr said:

did most of Hadrians wall a month ago with another of my daughters (10yrs old) 3 days walking and 3 rough camps.

Great fun - she did so well !!!! Don't underestimate the strength or determination of a child !!! So long as she had enough food she was happy ! - Each time we camped we were quite covert - off the track and behind trees etc. We camped near a quarry which had public toilets, in a field down a dip and hidden away and then last night we were so tired camped on a village green out in the open ! A lovely lady there refilled our water bottles and was very welcoming !

Its great fun walking/camping. Don't have any pics of the tent but its a Terra Nova Superlight. 2 man tent. very very light.

Edited by superlightr on Thursday 20th July 10:01

Edited by superlightr on Thursday 20th July 10:01

Edited by superlightr on Thursday 20th July 10:05

It's handy having a toilet near by, I find the biggest pain when wild camping is when my daughter needs a slash!