Discussion
Dartmoor is the only place in England it's legal without specific permission, turns out there is a very active wild camping community out there that work on 'arrive late, leave early & leave no trace' & find spots to camp all over the country.
Done a camp with each of my two kids so far, my daughters friends are keen to go this year. There is something great about camping in the middle of nowhere, fetching water from a river & cooking in the outdoors then chatting & having a drink under the stars before an early night.
Done a camp with each of my two kids so far, my daughters friends are keen to go this year. There is something great about camping in the middle of nowhere, fetching water from a river & cooking in the outdoors then chatting & having a drink under the stars before an early night.
blindswelledrat said:
Yes I can imagine.
SO whilst you say Dartmoor is the only place it is legal, is the reality that it is okay in other places despite theoretically not being allowed? Presumably there aren't wild-camping police running through the night over all our green-belt land?
Arrive late, leave early & leave no trace and who's ever going to know? Use common sense, don't camp in a farmers field or in sight of anybodys property or a road & you should be Ok. If you have a huge family tent that's a bright colour it may not be a good idea, we use green backpacking tents that are low profile & blend in well.SO whilst you say Dartmoor is the only place it is legal, is the reality that it is okay in other places despite theoretically not being allowed? Presumably there aren't wild-camping police running through the night over all our green-belt land?
blindswelledrat said:
For reasons I can't adequately explain - that crosses the line from wild camping to tramp/army wanabee
Neither of the above. I'm a mountaineer. It can be planned or not, fortunately I've never had to do an unplanned one other than stretching 2 days out/1 night to 3 days/2 nights. The food got a bit thin on Day 3.battered said:
blindswelledrat said:
For reasons I can't adequately explain - that crosses the line from wild camping to tramp/army wanabee
Neither of the above. I'm a mountaineer. It can be planned or not, fortunately I've never had to do an unplanned one other than stretching 2 days out/1 night to 3 days/2 nights. The food got a bit thin on Day 3.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.I too would like to try some wild camps when my kids are a bit older (unless the wife will let me disappear off on my own!).
Did it years ago in the lakes.
Few beers then walk to somewhere remote by torchlight.
Best was here
https://goo.gl/maps/UXhKYbKfTVL2
Bit of a walk when a little pissed but worth it for the view in the morning.
A morning swim in the tarn is a great cure for a hangover.
Few beers then walk to somewhere remote by torchlight.
Best was here
https://goo.gl/maps/UXhKYbKfTVL2
Bit of a walk when a little pissed but worth it for the view in the morning.
A morning swim in the tarn is a great cure for a hangover.
LordHaveMurci said:
I have an ex forces bivvy bag, it's on my list of things to do - camp under the stars without tent fabric blocking that wonderful view!
Go for it, it's great. You could call some of them mini-adventures, a mate and I once lugged MTBs up Ingleborough, slept on the top and then rode off at first light. Yeah, yeah, it's not legal, but we didn't damage the trails or get in anyone's way at that time so it's a victimless crime. What I like about it is the bag is light and you can sleep absolutely anywhere. Take some nice tasty food, it doesn't have to be dehydrated hand knitted porridge, there are loads of tasty things you can take up. When you wake up you are already in situ. and you can bash on for the next leg. Make a penny stove and take some meths, or take a hexi stove or a pocket rocket, you can brew up with virtually no weight penalty.battered said:
Go for it, it's great. You could call some of them mini-adventures, a mate and I once lugged MTBs up Ingleborough, slept on the top and then rode off at first light. Yeah, yeah, it's not legal, but we didn't damage the trails or get in anyone's way at that time so it's a victimless crime. What I like about it is the bag is light and you can sleep absolutely anywhere. Take some nice tasty food, it doesn't have to be dehydrated hand knitted porridge, there are loads of tasty things you can take up. When you wake up you are already in situ. and you can bash on for the next leg. Make a penny stove and take some meths, or take a hexi stove or a pocket rocket, you can brew up with virtually no weight penalty.
I've wild camped but with a tent rather than a bivvy. Bivvy is on my list though 
I've done a reasonable amount of bivvying in the Lake District, up high in various places. Simply put, a bivvy bag and decent tarp (an Alpkit camping tarp - not a B&Q builders jobby) is the cheapest route into lightweight camping. And when you're carrying your gear (including camera gear) up mountains the reduced weight makes a lot of difference to the whole experience.
Wouldn't have got these shots if I weren't willing to bivvy:
850m closer by tenohfive^, on Flickr
Morning light on Lingmell by tenohfive^, on Flickr
Sunrise over Great End by tenohfive^, on Flickr
Sunset over the Western Fells by tenohfive^, on Flickr
Wouldn't have got these shots if I weren't willing to bivvy:
850m closer by tenohfive^, on Flickr
Morning light on Lingmell by tenohfive^, on Flickr
Sunrise over Great End by tenohfive^, on Flickr
Sunset over the Western Fells by tenohfive^, on Flickr
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