Discussion
amongst watching many of the above (very envious of English Woodman’s sleeping bag and hammock collection) no one has mentioned OffCamping
https://youtube.com/@offcamping
I like this as something different. Managing stealth camping on roundabouts and leaving no trace.
https://youtube.com/@offcamping
I like this as something different. Managing stealth camping on roundabouts and leaving no trace.
Gretchen said:
amongst watching many of the above (very envious of English Woodman’s sleeping bag and hammock collection) no one has mentioned OffCamping
https://youtube.com/@offcamping
I like this as something different. Managing stealth camping on roundabouts and leaving no trace.
Used to watch him regularly, but probably not for a year or so. All got a bit repetitive (fairly understandably).https://youtube.com/@offcamping
I like this as something different. Managing stealth camping on roundabouts and leaving no trace.
Gretchen said:
amongst watching many of the above (very envious of English Woodman’s sleeping bag and hammock collection) no one has mentioned OffCamping
https://youtube.com/@offcamping
I like this as something different. Managing stealth camping on roundabouts and leaving no trace.
I had a watch of it a while back but really couldn't see the attraction in camping on an urban roundabout. That's what hobos do, no? https://youtube.com/@offcamping
I like this as something different. Managing stealth camping on roundabouts and leaving no trace.
The whole attraction to me would be getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday urban life with all its noise and light pollution.
PurpleTurtle said:
Gretchen said:
amongst watching many of the above (very envious of English Woodman’s sleeping bag and hammock collection) no one has mentioned OffCamping
https://youtube.com/@offcamping
I like this as something different. Managing stealth camping on roundabouts and leaving no trace.
I had a watch of it a while back but really couldn't see the attraction in camping on an urban roundabout. That's what hobos do, no? https://youtube.com/@offcamping
I like this as something different. Managing stealth camping on roundabouts and leaving no trace.
The whole attraction to me would be getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday urban life with all its noise and light pollution.
daddy cool said:
redrabbit29 said:
I live right next to Swinley Forest (Berkshire area). It's a huge woodland but haven't the guts to camp there. I have half heartedly explored look for places but most just seem to be between trails or too exposed.
The other idea was the North Downs Way but that has similar issues. My ambition is to walk this - or similar - as part of a multi day hike. 3/4/5 days of 15-20 mile stretches then camp that night.
Hello neighbour! The other idea was the North Downs Way but that has similar issues. My ambition is to walk this - or similar - as part of a multi day hike. 3/4/5 days of 15-20 mile stretches then camp that night.
I too live right beside Swinners, so am in there almost every day riding, running or walking. A mate of mine would occasionally sleep out in there in his hammock but i never have - like you say its very busy, and you'd need to go south of Lower Star Post i think to find the bits least frequented by dog walkers. Plus, the rangers are pretty hot on anyone starting any kind of fire (even stoves) so that would rule out brewing up in the morning!Do you mountain bike? If so, getting into bikepacking is a good way to be able to get quite far away from civilisation quite quickly, and if you want to bail after the first night you can get home easily. For example, my first trip was half the Ridegway - got myself to Avebury via public transport and cycled to just outside Goring on day one, wildcamped, and then cycled back to Bracknell (30 miles) the next morning - was home by 10am!
Not done the North Downs Way, but did the South D/W in 2021 over 2 days (by bike). Would be at least 5 walking i assume...
Me and a mate are thinking of doing (at least) half of the West Highland Way in spring, so i'll be starting my training shortly, so if you see someone pounding through Swinley with a big backpack on that might be me...
I walk in there most days including some big loops. Know the place very well, especially Swinley Park and brick pits/buttersteep. Camped a few times with a very small tent, hammock and various little shelters. Will try a night this spring with my daughter, her first wild camp, easy to go home if she doesn't like it.
Do a lot of night walks too and wildlife watching. There are a few spots you can manage to get away from every one.
Kes Arevo said:
Hammocks, they're the future!
I have a camping hammock but am put off because...A. Can't be bothered with the faff of getting out when you need the loo.
B. Trees. Obvious one but they won't tend to grow up high where I camp.
Dont mind a woodland camp mind...need to sort that soon.
MonkeyBusiness said:
I have a camping hammock but am put off because...
A. Can't be bothered with the faff of getting out when you need the loo.
B. Trees. Obvious one but they won't tend to grow up high where I camp.
Dont mind a woodland camp mind...need to sort that soon.
Hammocks are great as you can camp on horrifically uneven ground, slopes, and you can guarantee it is the same comfort every time.A. Can't be bothered with the faff of getting out when you need the loo.
B. Trees. Obvious one but they won't tend to grow up high where I camp.
Dont mind a woodland camp mind...need to sort that soon.
You do need trees though. It's definitely a drawback! There is an 800g tent in the camping shop over here which may end up in my panniers in case.
Well, I bought a backup tent in case I struggle to find anywhere for the hammock.
It was a cheap back up tent. €80
I'm actually very impressed thus far. It only weighs about 1kg, but has 3000mm HH for the upper,and 5000mm for the tub.
It's a bivvy style one person,but plenty of room in it for me.
Goes up very quickly, and the package is very small.
Now to see what it's like in rain. Usefully comes with extra seam sealant, and various repair parts.
Egbert appreciated the box.
It was a cheap back up tent. €80
I'm actually very impressed thus far. It only weighs about 1kg, but has 3000mm HH for the upper,and 5000mm for the tub.
It's a bivvy style one person,but plenty of room in it for me.
Goes up very quickly, and the package is very small.
Now to see what it's like in rain. Usefully comes with extra seam sealant, and various repair parts.
Egbert appreciated the box.
2 from this year. All in the depths of the Yorkshire Dales.
Alpkit Elan. This is my second Elan as I originally thought it was too small and regretted selling it.
However, I had the best nights sleep ever whilst wild camping in this. Not sure if it was the stream next to me or the setting.
Views for miles
Alpkit Elan. This is my second Elan as I originally thought it was too small and regretted selling it.
However, I had the best nights sleep ever whilst wild camping in this. Not sure if it was the stream next to me or the setting.
Views for miles
Edited by MonkeyBusiness on Friday 12th May 14:33
My mate attempted the West Highland Way solo a year or so back and had such a horrific first half (the boring Loch Lomond section, in constant rain) that he binned it off at Crianlarich. Its niggled him ever since so he suggested i join him and we do the 2nd half - which we did a couple of weeks ago.
We both suffer terribly from insect bites so were worried about midges, and of course the weather, but in fact it couldnt have been better - dry the 3 days of hiking, and sufficiently windy that we didnt notice any midges/mozzies until we got to Fort William.
Day 1)
We started about 1pm from Crianlarich train station, and did 12 miles, and found a lovely spot next to a river. Im in my trusty TerraNova Laser Competition 1, my mate in his new Durston - which looks huge but offers about the same interior space as mine.
Pictures dont show just how windy it had got by this point. Anyway, had a nice evening standing around chatting having a few beers.
Day 2)
Plan was 15 miles, through Bridge of Orchy and across Rannoch Moor to a wildcamp spot near Kingshouses - in fact, all the (semi-official) spots were taken, so we decided to press on to find somewhere. However, as with most of the trip, theres 45 degree slopes up on your right, 45 degree slopes down on your left.
We ended up going up the brutal Devil's Staircase and over the top, and again, could only find the odd spot that would fit one tent (not both of ours), or an area that looked ideal until we discovered it was 5mm of soil with bedrock beneath, FFS! Ended up pushing on to Kinlochleven, making it 25 miles for the day.
We considered sleeping in a little picnic area by the river but thought it would be too busy with the public, so ended up going to a (lovely) official campsite just out of town beside the Loch.
Day 3)
As we were now 10 miles ahead of schedule, we pretty much decided we'd push on to (almost) the end, so did 14 miles from Kinlochleven (which started with a pretty brutal climb) and ended up at another (official) campsite at Glen Nevis. That just left us 3 miles to walk to Fort William the next morning where we had a scummy hotel for the last night before our train home, but was nice being able to have a pint and a shower
Sooooo.... bit of a fail in terms of wildcamping (1 night out of 3) but good fun nonetheless
We both suffer terribly from insect bites so were worried about midges, and of course the weather, but in fact it couldnt have been better - dry the 3 days of hiking, and sufficiently windy that we didnt notice any midges/mozzies until we got to Fort William.
Day 1)
We started about 1pm from Crianlarich train station, and did 12 miles, and found a lovely spot next to a river. Im in my trusty TerraNova Laser Competition 1, my mate in his new Durston - which looks huge but offers about the same interior space as mine.
Pictures dont show just how windy it had got by this point. Anyway, had a nice evening standing around chatting having a few beers.
Day 2)
Plan was 15 miles, through Bridge of Orchy and across Rannoch Moor to a wildcamp spot near Kingshouses - in fact, all the (semi-official) spots were taken, so we decided to press on to find somewhere. However, as with most of the trip, theres 45 degree slopes up on your right, 45 degree slopes down on your left.
We ended up going up the brutal Devil's Staircase and over the top, and again, could only find the odd spot that would fit one tent (not both of ours), or an area that looked ideal until we discovered it was 5mm of soil with bedrock beneath, FFS! Ended up pushing on to Kinlochleven, making it 25 miles for the day.
We considered sleeping in a little picnic area by the river but thought it would be too busy with the public, so ended up going to a (lovely) official campsite just out of town beside the Loch.
Day 3)
As we were now 10 miles ahead of schedule, we pretty much decided we'd push on to (almost) the end, so did 14 miles from Kinlochleven (which started with a pretty brutal climb) and ended up at another (official) campsite at Glen Nevis. That just left us 3 miles to walk to Fort William the next morning where we had a scummy hotel for the last night before our train home, but was nice being able to have a pint and a shower
Sooooo.... bit of a fail in terms of wildcamping (1 night out of 3) but good fun nonetheless
On the subject of Midges, try Avon Skin So Soft, as endorsed by the Royal Marines and the SAS! 
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-mar...
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-mar...
MonkeyBusiness said:
How does you mate like the Durston? Get rave reviews.
Oh man, he changes his mind every day - i got sick of hearing about it every day of the trip!Prior to going we did a couple of local overnighters as he wanted to test it before going (it was a last minute upgrade from a 2-man Lanshan)
He liked the porch storage on both side, but was disappointed that the interior space was tiny (the same, or maybe smaller, than my TerraNova) and that the fact the inner sort of went crossways between the 2 hiking poles so it made hard to pitch when the section of flat ground is very small. So he decided he wouldnt bring it.
Then the night before he said "ive changed my mind, i want to give it a longer test, and see how well it deals with rain" (of course, it didnt rain on our trip)
Hes flip-flopped twice since we've been back about whether or not hes selling it...
As for me, im thinking about upgrading to a Tarptent Scarp 1, as while its technically a 1-man its HUGE inside, and my TerraNova is horrific for doing anything than literally just sleeping. Even at 5'10, i cant sit in the tent without stooping my head forward. But again, im flip-flopping between justifying spunking £500+ on getting that for our fairly infrequent trips.
PurpleTurtle said:
On the subject of Midges, try Avon Skin So Soft, as endorsed by the Royal Marines and the SAS!
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-mar...
Yeah, ive thought about trying that... ive heard mixed reviews about its effectiveness though. Only one way to find out i suppose. I do hate DEET, but its a guaranteed solution. Honestly, a single mosquito bite the last time i was in Italy had my hand puff up so much you couldnt see my knuckles any more... i dread the summers...https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-mar...
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