Camping in Rain - Tent & poncho awning - FINALLY I camp here! 

hi paul, i'm 17 and ive got into wild camping recently. went to lake district in summer for 4 days and climbed all the big ones, pillar, great gable, scafell pike while wild camping. cant go right now because school takes a lot of time. i like watching your videos, and i look forward to when i can go again. hope you are in good health 👍

Hi Paul. Don't worry about your health check. It's not invasive 😂. I was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney and lung cancer in 2020. I was given 3 months to live but by using Rick Simpson oil and watching videos like yours I am thankfully beating it. You have inspired me to get back out with the tent and into the hills. I have been very blessed in the last 4 years and a lot of my recovery is down to people like you. Keep up the good work. Jamie.

Hi Paul been following you for a couple of years, love your content. Have to say that your chat on this video “Paul under a tarp” was a really good watch, gentle kind and reassuring. You are doing good for men’s mental health as well sharing the outdoors with us. Thank you so much

Paul & all you menfolk of a certain age, GO & GET YOUR PROSTATES CHECKED! My brother looked, and felt, the picture of health but, to be blunt, his peeing was apparently a trickle not a gush. So he got it checked by a doctor, it was enlarged and easily fixed with pills. I'm now nagging my bloke to go get his checked because he's just passed the 50 mark himself (brother is 60). You have your orders! Love your videos. I'm stuck in a wheelchair full time now but in my former life, I camped all over my home county of Dorset. I just go camping via RU-vid videos now and I'm bloody jealous! There's nothing better than being under a tent in the pouring rain.

You can't beat seating out in nature, listening to the rain on a tarp ,tent . Blissful , great video as always.

Loved the video. I'm 68 years old. My desire to get out camping has never left me. However, Severn years ago, while I was out with my wife, something happened, which changed my life. We had walked about six miles or so, we where about half a mile from home, and I hit what I called a brick wall. I started shaking so much I couldn't stand. My legs just stopped. It took nearly one hour to get home. Over the next week or so, I noticed that I had no fuel in the tank. In other words, I had no energy. This brought back memories of my army days when I used to do forced marches with a full kit, around 80 to 90 pounds, sometimes carrying a general-purpose machine gun on your shoulder. After about 20 or so miles cross country, it became time to set up camp. When the adrenaline subsides, then the shaking starts, but it doesn't last long. Anyhow, I'm getting back to today. These same feelings, the shaking lasts for days if I try to exert myself, and this comes with chronic pain. After the doctor carried out some tests, he said that I had ME ( Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ) and Fibromyalgia. These create problems affect me mentally. I can no longer pursue my outdoor life. Walking even 20 yards is an effort. I'm now restricted to camping in my garden. Even getting set up is like climbing a mountain. We tend never to go to the doctors for checkups. We just go from day to day thinking nothing about it. Would you run your car without checking your fuel, oil, tyre pressure, and body work? We only get one body, and yet we neglect to service it, we all need to have health checks done annually. You go to the doctors and get your health check done. Eventually, something is going to go wrong with it, and everyone will experience a fault at some time in their live. With my problems, I am now in prison, probably of my own makings, because I neglected to have a yearly service, i.e., AN ANNUAL HEALTH CHECK. Enjoyed the video. Sorry for the rant. Take care, and hopefully, I'll see you in the next video.👍

Hope the health check goes well. Just had first ever camping , been inspired by you, English woodsman and others. I have high blood pressure, arthritis, 5 damage disc's and turn 66 in a few weeks. Loved it, thankyou

Paul, I saw you out walking today as I was cycling towards Ringinglow (gasping for breath) My apologies for not actually saying hello. All I managed was, “are you, Paul?”, as I recognised you from your videos. 😊

I love the sound of rain on a tent 👍

Hi Paul , aye it all starts around 50 with your health . I'm sure everything will be alright for you , it's all a balance life i reckon . No one wants to live like a monk , but at the same time you can't abuse your body . Getting out there camping and and hiking is good exercise and good for the mental health side of life too - sitting infront of the telly vegetating is the last thing you wanna be doing . I've had a couple of trips to the quacks and the hospital myself - turned out to be polyps - you can google the procedure . It is a worry , i think that's natural , but it's always best to stay in touch with what's going on in the inside . All part and parcel of getting older i suppose . ATB , Take it easy fella .

Don't mind the rain, it's the wind that I hate when camping and nice to see you using a tarp over the tent

Another great vlog. I have been away from the Uk for 25 years. You really help me stay in touch with blighty and her season. Thanks so much

Glad to see you got to use the camp spot you've yearned for for so long 😁. Go for the health check. I was never given the option and I hike for miles carrying camera gear as a hobbyist landscape photographer. Last April I went to the docs with what I thought was a persistant chest infection. I was sent to A&E and blood tests said that I'd had a heart attack sometime in the previous 6 months or so and I need a cardio stent fitted. 48 hours later I was home with 4 weeks off and a rehab regime to work through. I'm fine now but in hindsight was a bit of a wakeup call. You need your health to do what you do, don't lose the opportunity to find any problems early 🙂 Take care 😁

Im77 yrs and love wild camping l start to wild camping 17as and love it all

Yea Paul, the pad is called Light Tour and they also make Naturehikes and others. They are good pads at under £100 and the R value of 5.8 is also pretty close

Hi Paul, Don't worry about your health mate, it's all about attitude and listening to what your body is telling you! The check up will be fine, if you have 'the personal check' you won't feel a thing and it's worth having. Definitely see you at Outdoor Expo next year, I've been following you for a while now, I always look forward to your (and Andrew Beavers) latest videos. Love the 'latest gossip' part of your videos, you're very watchable, relatable and down-to-earth. I notice you're using an Atom pack, would like to hear how you are getting on with it with regular use as I'm on the verge of ordering one after much research. Appreciate all the work you do keeping us informed and entertained. To your good health Sir.

An honest yet respectful video ....and take it from a newly retired " old man"the medical check up isnt as bad as you fear ...your best youtube video yet!!!!

Hi Paul, yes I'm still about and walk past that camp site regulary, just to make sure its been looked after, such a lovely spot, near to home, great views and hidden from view. I first camped there 8 years ago on a very snowy camp, around 2 foot drifts, even bought a pair of snow shoes after the camp, it never really snowed after that ! I have a couple more pitches in that area, one when I cooked roast beef with my oven you walked past on your other video, but like you said a day walking about will reveal several good sites to camp. All the best with your health check, definetly worth doing, 20 years ago when I was working we had them at work and I found out I had high blood pressure, been on tablets since, so really my blood pressure has been fine all that time, if it had not been picked up, who knows what might of happened, so get it done, I'm sure you'll be fine. As you know I'm having a break, doing a bit of travelling around and hols, RU-vid does take up a lot of time, hope to be back out camping in Nov/Dec...best get there early if I want to camp up there, there maybe a queue.....all the best Pat

Old video, I know Paul but that tent is massive. You can sit up, have about 4 osprey packs and a couple of cheap Hi-Gear airbeds in there.

Fabulous video. Loved listening to the narration. Lots of interesting topics discussed. I enjoy using my Speedster stove/windscreen set up. I prefer non-summit/lower pitches and always take a tarp for an extended covered area. The sound of the rain is beautiful 👌

Hi Paul, just wanted to drop you a comment to say I love the videos, my son and I have gone down a wild camping rabbit hole over recent months and your channel has given us loads of inspiration, so much so we just completed our first wild camp in Shropshire at the top of the Long Mynd recently! We had a great time and have got the bug big time! so again thanks and keep up the good work!

I'm glad you eventually found your spot. I'm 57 so I've had a few health checks at the Dr, they are nothing much to worry about. I've got more active since I hit my fifties than I've been in a long time, so don't be making any plans to be slacking off just yet. The only thing to worry about is when the doctor has his finger in your bum he doesn't put both hands on your shoulders.... 😅

Really enjoyed it. Don’t fear the finger of death, we women put up with worse 😂

Im 61 & starting to get blood pressure and weight related health problems. I found that what works for me is to eat the same foods but with a twist! For example, i dont eat 2 minute noodles plain. I have a handful of vegetables thrown in. It doesn't take long to add a little cabbage, zucchini, or spring onions & it actually tastes better. I fry a little less & grill a little more & changed to unsweetened fruit juice. I'm still in need of more exercise, though. Need to get hiking. 😕 Making small gradual changes to diet is far more likely to succeed than radical change, at least in my case. By theway, my partner nearly died screaming in agony with his prostate😢A few seconds discomfort is WELL worth it for safety sake. Thanks for a wonderful channel. You are helping me with my ptsd.🙋🏻‍♀️🇦🇺

I suggest always keeping the pole point in the ground (as you did here). If the pole is inverted with the spike up, it's potentially dangerous as easy to spike oneself if bending, especially in the dark.

I got very lucky. Very close to my house is a large piece of land. The developers wanted to turn in into an amusement park, but the idea was turned down and the land is now protected. I've been camping there for about a decade now. The good part is its only a 15 minute hike from my front door. Happy camping friend.

I'm loving these "Paul talks" videos, great format and very watchable.

I've been waiting for you to bring out a tarp / poncho to give you some outdoor protection. Nice to see you having a sit and chat outside of the tent.

Hi Paul, you may remember I won the OEX Phoxx 2 a couple of years ago. Im sad to say that it has only been used for garden camps so far but I will be having my first wild camp this weekend. Thank you for the inspiration

I backpack in Ontario Canada, so I'm fascinated by the contrast in terrain. But I can't justify the effort to take 1 night trips due to the 3-4 hr drive. If I can't go 4 nights I won't go.

Was at the pub on Ringinglow road with the dog on the weekend before last. Yikes beer in Sheffield is 8 times more expensive than when I wax there last. I suppose a lot changes in 1/3 of a century. Even Win Hill got steeper.

If it helps Paul, some of the best curries are veggie & loaded with lentils! So you can still eat WELL without losing flavour 😎

Great video Paul! I am in exactly the same boat as you! Ihave just turned 47 and my diet is crap and i dont excersise enough (need to get out wildcamping again!) My Dad had Prostate cancer and survived it as they found it very early through these health checks. I have had the "finger" now too....not that bad but its a releif as i know they are checking me and making sure it doesnt come my way, so in that respect no worries! its worth doing! Really worried myself about myself but cant get the motivation to get back out again....have all the kit and the knowledge but just need to get out but dont fancy going on my own and dont want to go with some fitness guru either..... would love to find a website that has people like myself who are overweight and low on fitness who want to get out so i can meet up... Anyway loving the vids Paul, keep them coming, loving you sharing your experiences :) cheers

Great video, water on a cut to rinse it then cover! No disinfectant, latest first aid treatment for cuts and abrasions. You did really well considering the weather conditions

Thanks. Hope you and yours are well. The awning seems a good idea.

I'm 54 just starting this camping thing on my own as apposed to camping with the missus on large sites and was worried about mine as I scuba dive and live the same life style but it's all ok. My 50s health check was blood tests, weight, blood pressure and a few questions, nothing to worry about.

Magical place is that Paul. There are several places like that around Sheffo that you can see that you can see the twinkly lights. Some in the suburbs where you'd have to be stealthy.

Hi Paul, I’m 68 and managed to lose 3 stone in 2020 after my first wild camp (to Angle Tarn) convinced me to lose weight! It wasn’t too difficult and didn’t involve any real deprivation or ‘living on carrots and peas’ as you put it. Just increase your protein and fat intake to displace much of the carbs i.e. eat bigger steaks and fewer chips and you’ll be amazed at the effect!

Hi Paul, You should try the Thermarest Trekker - which turns your sleeping mat into a ground chair. I have a Helinox Ground chair myself but never take it wild camping as I utilise my sleep mat - Exped Synmat 7 LW - with the Trekker 25. It works especially well with the X-mid 1 as there is more headroom.

Paul I’ll rank you as number uno of 2023 wild campers. Your the man when it’s outdoors wild camping In uk 🇬🇧. Thank you 🙏 for lovely content over the year mate . P.s lots of love to Jo ❤️

That tent is nice thing, right enough. Just looked it up.The hoop poles definitely tough things judging by the metallic rattle as you packed them. Glad you mentioned Patrickinson, as I've long been a great fan. I look forward to more when he is ready. Life gets in the way of stuff often. Super video, thanks again. Atb...Terry

I went for the health check Paul and it probably saved my life. If you've any concerns ( I did ) please mention them too the doctor/nurse . Good luck and don't miss the appointment!!

Enjoying the video with a glass of Coleraine Whiskey. Cheers buddy, hope you enjoyed your beer.

What a camp ✨ glad that you found the local paradise and I hope that the health checks go well Paul. I didn’t rush packing up the other day either. All the best, Sarah

One of the few good things about living in Derby is that I can pop into the Peak district on a whim, love it!

Another great video Paul. Can't tell you how reassuring it is to see someone else exit the tent with their shoes on their hands like I do. I am the same shape and size as you, I think.

Put me to shame Paul with that set up there, you made it look like a mini paradise. So that's 4 of us who's camped right there. It is a fabulous view of the city all lit up. Cheers for this vid. Brings back happy memories for me 👍

the last 4 years i've seen alot of tents. i never really commented on them. but i like your tent for real.

I really enjoyed this video, loved the awning, and the gossip section. Never a bad video Paul 👍

Another brilliant video. Like the chat with a beer in your hand. Felt like I've had pint and a chat with a mate. keep doing what you do. It's good Paul

Ive always found the patter of raindrops on my tent quite hypnotic great video again paul keep them comming👍

Had my Wellman check 6 months ago, at 49.5yrs. Don't worry about it Mate. Lifestyle questions, blood pressure, blood test for cholesterol. I'm the fittest person i know but my bad cholesterol was high considering my activity so some diet changes for 6 months and then a re-test to make sure all on track. We can't do the thing we love unless we stay fit and healthy and if we can get to retirement in good shape, we can do it every day. Didn't get a finger up the back passage, bit relieved about that but shouldn't they be checking that? Ha Ha. Love the vids - keep on keeping on.

Paul, brilliant content as always! Really enjoy your videos, informative, unbiased, and focused! Try not to worry about the health check. It is just a routine one or at least it was for me! They will only test for prostate if you have symptoms or request it! Keep up the fantastic work! Nick

Brilliant video Paul, takes me back to my younger days. Keep up the good work. Cheers Jack.

Very amazing video well done and keep up the great work and your microphone you can clearly hear the difference it is like night and day and I always carry spray plaster it is very amazing for cuts mate

I always use the same sea to summit pad plus I have the foldable foam matress underneath it. This keeps my sea to summit insulated and much more comfort. Also protection from punctures.

Hi Paul love your channel you’ve inspired me to try wild camping don’t worry about the annual health check at 50 I’m now 69 and have had these checks since I was 50 I’ve been told to loose a few pounds for years and change my diet but these checks could safe your life don’t worry about the finger it’s not worth worrying about I’m now walking 40 miles a week and feeling great please do more long wild camps 3/4/5 nights enjoy. John

Drinking Newcastle brown Ale. Excellent video and learning from the table and tarp and the cooking stuff and also the mat you sleep on etc an your seat etc❤

Hi Paul, I'm well over 50 but had a "well man" check up at age 50. They check blood pressure, weight, blood sugar and gave me a blood test for PSA (prostate) No rubber glives were used 😂 The PSA set a baseline number which, when i had it tested again 5 years later, indicated i had prostate cancer and led to me getting early treatment. My advice is not to worry in advance but use it as a way to see what small changes you can make to look after yourself so you can continue to enjoy life and your family can have as much time with you as possible 😊 ❤

As for your health checkup....at 51 I found out my mitral valve had failed. At 52 I had open heart surgery to repair it. Luckily the rest of my heart was in great condition due to my diet and exercise. I am now 56 and in pretty good health. Good luck on your checkup.

Paul, don't worry about the prostate exam. My doctor eased my anxiety considerably by leaving both hands on my shoulders throughout.

Many thanks once again for everything, especially oowha!

You would like the Helinox ultralight cot...it was a game changer for me.

I really like taking a tarp and setting it up so I have a place to cook food and hang out. It beats being crammed in the tent all night. I usually tarp camp but sometimes a tent is a must.

McEwan's Champion ale! 7.3 abv though, handle with care... Us older bods don't want the volume these days, so relative strength is, well, relative.

Top video Paul I found the way you packed interesting not many you tubers show how they pack up ie in which order to put stuff in your pack ect . ATB Kev

Paul, just want to say, really enjoying the videos. This video was fantastic. just so genuine, natural and calm. thanks for doing what you do......keep on doing it.

I don't camp myself but enjoy watching the videos. The Sunderland fan situation was sad and disappointing. Having lost a daughter myself I can understand the hurt it caused. But just spoken to hubby about your health check, he said only worry when they put one of the gloves on that reaches their shoulder lol.

Keep well Paul .. I love the outdoor life as you do and i'm 65 now .. i was all well till i was in my late 50s them got blood pressure even though i wasn't aware i had it. Been on meds since and BP is now controlled ok. Don't be afraid of health checks .. better knowing then not. I do east well generally and don't drink much. I'm as overweight as you are but eating well keeps its regulated. Eating healthy can be fun that i found .. i make all my own meals and really enjoy it .. i am now pre diabetic but this can be controlled via diet so that it doesn't get worse .. i don't worry about it. I'm sure your full checkup will be ok .. good luck and keep the videos coming .. 👍

You should get a reflective foam mat under the sleeping pad. This has been a game changer for me.

nice little spot was up there 3yrs with my puppy getting her used to camping

Hi Paul..go have your check up, don’t worry about the finger jobby, it’s not that bad. Cholesterol and diabetes are probably your biggest concerns, take action according to the results. I logged with an app everything I put in my mouth for a month, then analysed what’s good what’s bad what I could do without or just cut down. Find your happy medium, and never deny yourself a luxury. Eat that donut, but you have to walk 5 miles to balance it. I believe your health it dealt to you at birth, you can meddle around with it a bit, dieting is not easy, everything in moderation. im 66 , this August just passed I cycled and camped 600 miles around northern France. Good luck pal, and thank you for your candidness, you are not alone

Sunderland are brilliant to watch lately, I hope they get back into the prem they were in there when I was a kid

Love the idea of the tent/tarp combo, being able to sit out on the porch in the dry. Cracking. Did smile when you spared us the pad-pumping 👍😇. Good luck with the probing ☝. All the best, Pete.

Love the tarp.

Will certainly be going to the NEC in March. Great film and loved the set up of the tent and tarp that I will replicate 😂

Paul new fan 😊really enjoy ur vids and ur lovely accent 😍❤from Michigan

I have a diy cone for one of my alcohol stoves. Lighter than the Trangia 27. Great if just boiling water.

Hi. I enjoy your adventures. Eating-wise, a good rule of thumb is two-thirds plant and one-third animal. So eg: 1 pork steak and two veggies. Grill or fry broccoli, peppers, courgette, onion, garlic, even carrots... mixed nuts or seeds also good fried till they pop or raw just as a snack. Aim to consume 30 veg a week. I lost 25 kilos and never counted a calorie. Good luck.

After a pot noodle you have soup course - cleans the pot ;) you can get these Miso soup kits weigh nothing. Then the pot becomes your rubbish bin.

I’m having a Fall River Widowmaker. Aptly named @10.2%! I found your channel yesterday. I’m enjoying.

Great monologue about Bradley and your health ❤

Paul, great video. Good to see you getting out the alcohol burners again. Your tarp/ponch did splendidly in the winds and rain Good poles and guy lines make so much difference when using any kind of tarp, yes and height is key too, yes👍.

Nice slow pace comfortable camp and video paul. Making ur little man cave made an interesting tweak to the setup. Enjoyable video mate. God bless 🙏

You need some neat stickers on your water bottles!

Paul, just make sure the Dr takes off his rolex before he goes rummaging around 😅. I've lost over a stone since Feb, go to the gym twice a week and have tried to cut down on my booze intake. Definitely feel fitter for it. 56 in a couple of weeks, and can still get out and do the things I like. For comfort you've got to try a Big Agnes Rapide pad. Best nights sleep ever for me.

Hi Ya Paul don't worry to much mate all standard stuff i am 64 blood pressure slightly up so on tablets carrying a little bit to much on the belly front and working hard to get rid of it i still go camping and i love my hiking

What a cracking looking setup. Great vid, looked really chilled. I had my middle aged health check recently, nowt to worry about.. just ask the doctor to take their rings off…. 😢

Really enjoyed this one. Definitely on the same page in terms of local camps. I had a spot that took me ages to find but saw on youtube and once I did I went as much as possible but now it's quite well used so found another. Literally can jump in the car and 10 miles later I Can park up and walk to my new spot no bother. I'm 45 and not had the old slippery fingers and cough yet but had loads of checks. I blame the last few years as work from home etc has definitely slowed me down. 3 weeks of b12 injections helped top me up, but even though I'm as active as I can be I'm still feeling more run down. I've had my eye on the tarp poncho but 35 on ebay seemed risky for a square of silnylon! But it worked well for you and definitely helps to keep you from being tent bound all night.

35.34 into the video and that pot noodle can be heard making its way through you 😂 Another great video Paul.

I'm 51 , with respects to your MOT checkup ,I had mine at 40 and 50 , they just asked a bunch if health style questions , took blood , weight height measure and blood pressure , nowt else like, all good , don't worry

This popped up again. I know you have long since had your health check. It isn't the finger, it's the camera crew and old BBC camera that's the problem. 😂 I've been a cash cow for the doctor lately. I'm nearly 2 years beyond my average life expectancy (I'm mid 50's). Also COVID made me diabetic, wildcamping has helped my head, fitness and I'm in the best shape for nearly 20 years. Keep getting out there, look after yourself and thanks for all your videos.

Hitting 56 Paul getting into camping again very much enjoy the videos. Had a few words from the doctor in recent years and in amongst a lot of other stuff that’s been a distraction taking small steps here and there to be less unhealthy. All the best with it and hope to see you at an event. Cheers

After trekking this summer on the Kungsleden trail in Sweden I've changed my sleep system for comfort... must be something to do with being 50+! Have upgraded the Neoair Xlite regular for a Neoair XLite NXT MAX wide and that will sit on a Helinox Ultralite cot. Sometimes I'll just take the cot, colder times I take the Neoair with it, if I'm going extra light, then just the Neoair, depends on adventure/temp. Have also changed the RAB 400 bag for an Enlighten equipment Quilt 950fp down after using cheaper quilt other times, I prefer the freedom. Need to get out and test the new systems...

Great video Paul, ive fancied that spot myself, i remember the Patrick dickenson video. Horrible what those 2 Wednesday fans did, really good that the rest of them raised 23k for the bradley lowery foundation👍

I'm on my Mother's home-made Elderflower & Apple cordial....... Don't drink alcohol as just doesn't agree with me, which is a real shame as she also makes her own vodkas, rosehip, elderflower, etc, etc......... As mentioned on another one of your vids, I'm loving my x-boil system, there's not a lot to dislike really. I've just (on my trip to UK) loaded-up on synthetic jackets, got 3 Montane ones, Prism, Axis Alpha (mix of down & synth) & an Icarus..... All bargains from the factory outlet shop in Ashington. Looking forward to giving them a good going over during the winter months. ATB Paul.

That was absolutely brilliant Paul, really enjoyed this latest video. PS - It's not plain sailing when you're over 50 particularly in the colon area 😞 Best of luck and I hope you listen and act upon the advice of your GP. Life is too short

We spent a considerable amount of money on a camper van getting a brand new van and getting it professionally converted. Like you we have done the NC500 and Scotland West Coast several times in our case but wanted to take our grand kids with us occasionally. We soon found that the campervan which was o.k. for two and do- able with 3, was a little too small for this, so we bought a 4 berth 7.5 metre fixed bed caravan. We use the campervan to tow the caravan with and it is very good at doing that but otherwise, the campervan hardly gets a look in now because the caravan is so comfortable, even though the campervan was more than 4 times as much to buy, the caravan being a second hand one. I would advise anybody wanting to buy a campervan or motorhome to try a caravan first. It could save you multiple thousands of pounds and provide you with more space. We probably won't sell the camper though, even though we have another car with a tow bar attached but it shows that we only needed to spend the £12k we did on a second hand caravan to get away camping in a vehicle.

for me, sleep is very important on a camping trip. I use two sleeping pads, stacked. ALWAYS a good experience and worth it to me the extra bulk. This is motorcycle camping so weight isn't as critical as in backpacking.

Don't worry about your 'well man' check. It's better to find stuff early doors. I had mine at 50 like you. Ended up with the camera up jobbie! 😳 Glad I did, they found polips which can eventually turn to bowl cancer if not sorted. Camera was fine.....it was the camera crew I think they sent in that caused my eyes to water!! 😵‍💫😵😱. I'm 55 now, have angina, had a little stroke and still living life to the full!! Currently in Scotland mountain biking down mountains!! As landrover say, one life, live it!!