Wild camping

[55palfers]

C0ffin D0dger said:

LordHaveMurci said:

camp under the stars without tent fabric blocking that wonderful view!

Not strictly wild camping but I used to do a bit of night fishing when I was younger. Had a few sessions on warm summer's evenings where I wouldn't bother with any shelter just the bed chair and sleeping bag. Wonderful thing to do and still brings back happy memories.

We used to do a lot of that when I were a lad.

Sadly, due to tttish morons leaving all their rubbish on the riverbank and injuring the farmers cattle, you can no longer night fish on lot of the River Severn controlled by the BAA.

Like a lot of posters have said "leave the site as you found it"

[anonymous-user]

I absolutely love wild camping, I have a great little one man tent and often take myself off to get away from it all

[Spuffington]

It's been on my bucket list for a while, but being recently single again and having a bit more time on my hands, I'm planning on taking myself off to Dartmoor to indulge in a bit of alone time in the great outdoors.

Also a great reason to buy some cool kit!

[gpb1]

Just back from a long weekend in Scotland in our van. Did a bit of wild camping in Glencoe. Was a but blustery so pointed the camper into the wind to reduce buffeting. Took care to leave no trace of our having been there. Waking up in such spectacular scenery can't be beaten.

[LordHaveMurci]

Spuffington said:

It's been on my bucket list for a while, but being recently single again and having a bit more time on my hands, I'm planning on taking myself off to Dartmoor to indulge in a bit of alone time in the great outdoors.

Also a great reason to buy some cool kit!

There is a Dartmoor wild camp map online showing you the areas that you are legally allowed to camp, not everybody takes notice mind you.

Cool kit is always a bonus, I know have 5 tents, at least 5 rucksacks, 2 stoves & God knows what else!

[tenohfive]

gpb1 said:

Just back from a long weekend in Scotland in our van. Did a bit of wild camping in Glencoe. Was a but blustery so pointed the camper into the wind to reduce buffeting. Took care to leave no trace of our having been there. Waking up in such spectacular scenery can't be beaten.

Is that what the motorhome crowd consider wild camping eh?

Edited by tenohfive on Wednesday 15th February 17:00

[tenohfive]

blindswelledrat said:

Beautiful pictures.

Cheers.
I will admit to being eaten alive by midges whilst taking the last one. All of them have some sort of story attached though - like reluctantly crawling out of my sleeping bag in near freezing temps during the middle of the night for a piss and happening to glance up...sleeping bag instantly forgotten.

[WestyCarl]

Anyone got any good locations? I've camped / bivied before but now want to involve the kids who are keen (10 & 13)

Requirements;
- within 200 miles of midlands
- within 1 hr walk of car park
- good view (maybe high)
- maybe by water (for making food and maybe late night skinny dipping)

Any recommendations?

thanks

[battered]

WestyCarl said:

Anyone got any good locations? I've camped / bivied before but now want to involve the kids who are keen (10 & 13)

Requirements;
- within 200 miles of midlands
- within 1 hr walk of car park
- good view (maybe high)
- maybe by water (for making food and maybe late night skinny dipping)

Any recommendations?

thanks

Loads of choice. Remote bits of Snowdonia, or even less remote bits, because after 7pm and before 7am there's nobody up there. Easy access, go to Llyn Idwal, base of Idwal Slabs, you have the Devil's Kitchen to look at, the lake for water and (very cold) swims, easy access to Oggy Cottage parking and facilities, next morning charge up the Glyders for a scramble over Castell Y Gwynt, a jump over the Adam and Eve boulders, and anything else you fancy. If you can climb, there are great easy climbs on the Slabs. Some tough ones too, Suicide Wall sticks in my mind.

[LordHaveMurci]

Snowdon / Brecons or drive a bit further & come down to Dartmoor, loads of places to (legally) camp within 1hr walk of safe parking & lots near swimming spots (Foggintor Quarry).

There are some very active groups on Facebook if you venture on their, you'll get some great local responses.

[tenohfive]

WestyCarl said:

Anyone got any good locations? I've camped / bivied before but now want to involve the kids who are keen (10 & 13)

Requirements;
- within 200 miles of midlands
- within 1 hr walk of car park
- good view (maybe high)
- maybe by water (for making food and maybe late night skinny dipping)

Any recommendations?

thanks

Scar Lathing in the Esk Valley, Lake District is one possibility. There are lots of others but it's the only one I've personally camped at that's within an hour's walk of the car - it's about a 3 mile walk from the Hardknott Pass (a worthy drive in any event) and whilst it's not silly high it's rugged enough to dominate it's surroundings, sitting above the confluence of the River Esk and Lingcove Beck.

Not the greatest photo's but here's one I did earlier:





Wherever you pick it's worth being aware that if you're close to water your chances of midges go up in some places. And they can really sour the experience. Walking distance from a fast moving stream for cooking is a good idea though.

[LordHaveMurci]

Stunning views there

[lucido grigio]

tenohfive said:

midges go up in some places. And they can really sour the experience. Walking distance from a fast moving stream for cooking is a good idea though.

Same goes from my experience of trying to pitch a tent way up north of Sweden.

I actually gave up and slept in the car that night.

Insect repellent spray was useless.

[LordHaveMurci]

lucido grigio said:

tenohfive said:

midges go up in some places. And they can really sour the experience. Walking distance from a fast moving stream for cooking is a good idea though.

Same goes from my experience of trying to pitch a tent way up north of Sweden.

I actually gave up and slept in the car that night.

Insect repellent spray was useless.

Part read an article on mossies earlier, a lot of stuff like citronella candles were found to be useless, sray on deterrents about 60% effective. I have read that you should pitch with your door facing the wind, as they don't like the wind it'll keep them out of your tent.

[lucido grigio]

I don't recall having a big problem of them getting inside the tent, maybe it was the stench of the

great unwashed put them off....

Though I did get bitten plenty of times over the 2 week stay in various Nordic parts.

[LordHaveMurci]

Our 1st couple of trips, 1st with my daughter, 2nd with my lad, great memory makers.

[RammyMP]

Me and a mate take the kids to a secret location in the borders. It's great, no mobile signal, no wifi, happy days!

[WestyCarl]

Thanks for all the replies.

[MonkeyBusiness]

Great thread. I fully intend taking up wild camping this year.
Have all the gear (army bivy, DD tarp, etc).

I have a couple of sites I'm looking at in the Yorkshire Dales. Just waiting for the weather to pick up.

[Bill]

battered said:

Some tough ones too, Suicide Wall sticks in my mind.

I've wild camped all over the place abroad, but very little in this country (some of the campsites I've stayed at weren't far off though...) I help out with a scout troop and we've done a few nights bivvying in the local woods which is always a laugh. My kids are getting older so I really should take them at some point.