I've been wild camping on and off for 30 odd years and never had an issue. I still get 'The Fear' (will I be asked to move on, will something go wrong, will drunk idiots hassle me?) but it's never been an issue. The worst that's ever happened to me is land owners asking me what I'm doing. I explained that I pitched up at dusk and will move on at dawn and that I won't leave any trace that I was ever there (no fires, no music, no messing about). In my experience, if you are a genuine person with manners and a love of the outdoors, then you'll be fine. Offering the person you are talking to a cup of tea or coffee can work wonders! I would say that wild camping works best as a solo venture. 2 people/2 tents as a maximum. Larger groups tend to get moved on. Don't let 'The Fear' own your life. Get out there and enjoy some wonderful scenery and experiences.
Great video Paul. Also don't underestimate the value of having a practice run or two in the garden. I did this one February night using budget gear I'd used several times quite happily car camping in summer months and it was a disaster. I was effing freezing, my battery light failed one hour in, my air mat went down, I ran out of water, forgot more bits and bobs than I remembered, but of course I had the luxury of being able to keep popping into the house for contingencies. After a miserable, cold, damp, sleepless night, I concluded that if I was going to start winter camping then I needed to up my game and gear. All learned in the safety of my back garden. My wife (and dog) thought it was all quite amusing but better that than a real disaster out in the sticks miles from anywhere.
Greetings from NorCal. I have never been to the U.K. except for Northern Ireland and I am always glad to hear Paul’ perspective on things. I share Paul’s concern about car break-ins at trailheads although it’s never happened to me in 50 years of backpacking and day hikes. One time in Grand Teton park in Wyoming I returned to a trailhead to find a car with Texas plates with it’s convertible top completely ripped off by a bear. There were beer cans with bear tooth holes in them scattered around the car. The hiker had left a cooler with food and beer in it on the rear seat. I didn’t see any drunk bears on the trail though.
I have rather taken for granted how lucky I am to have spent my childhood messing around in woods and camping. It completely normalised the experience for me.
Great video. Just to add my 2 pence worth, ALWAYS once you're done, LEAVE NO TRACE, one of the main reasons gamekeepers are so eager to move folks on is because of the stuff people are leaving behind after a camp, rubbish, firepits... condoms (yes I've seen it in the middle of nowhere, even one with a turd in it which raised even more questions). If you are asked to move on just politely agree and pack up your stuff, do not argue, don't be rude, just do it and stealthily find another spot a mile away
I chose the beach for my first solo camping. Got to the spot late, and had to race against the fleeting light to put up my tent. I pitched on a slightly higher ground, and made sure it’s not too near to any big bush. True enough, a wild boar came out of one of the bushes while i was having dinner - that sure gave a sense of excitement! 😂 Planning to go for a camping trip by the seaside again this weekend - with my family this time.
Garden first, campsite second, couple of day hikes next, then stretch it out bit by bit in the summer first. Learn how to use a paper map and a compass. Drop your phone in a puddle and you’re Friar Tucked. Carry a first aid kit appropriate for your conditions and degree of isolation. Learn first aid. Lastly, waterproof EVERYTHING! 1. Treat your rucksack 2. Use a rucksack liner 3. Use individual stuff sacks for individual ‘systems’: a. One for your ONE SET of spare clothes and your two pairs of spare socks. Then smaller bags for each individual item. You’ll thank me later. b. One for your sleeping bag. c. Use different stuff sacks for things like food, admin gear etc. this sort of stuff doesn’t need waterproofing per se but the more you organise the less time you need to have your rucksack open. You’ll see videos of American hikers just stuffing everything into one rucksack liner. Try that in the UK and you’ll be up sh1t creek the first time it rains. d. Not everyone agrees but I also top it off with a rain cover. 4. Lastly, organise organise ORGANISE! Get stuff so that you know which sack or pocket it’s in. Only open one pouch at a time and put stuff away immediately. If you need something in a hurry you’ll find it. Bags aren’t left open while it’s raining You don’t go to sleep and wake up to find everything wet And if someone does turn up to turf you off you’ll be sorted faster and less stressful than if it looks like there’s been a bomb in a charity shop. The warden might also be more sympathetic to letting someone who’s squared away staying until the morning, as they might be more confident you’ll leave no trace.
Great video, I eased into camping by always going with someone. At this very moment I’m on my second solo camp and love it. I still refuse to solo camp in the woods though! Far too creepy for me 😂
I used to carp fish at a large public park in Nottingham. You’d have people walking the dog in the early hours in torrential rain. I couldn’t believe it
@@MarkTayloroutdoors haha that’s the place! And yes I’ve experienced it all too. I’ve had people turn up for a swim in my swim, you name it it’s happened lol. Although for a public park close to the city centre I’ve never experienced any trouble and never heard of anyone else having any
Doing the first overnight 20 miler of the year on the weekend of 4-29. Already scoped out the put in and take out car parking situation on Street View and found two videos describing the shelter at the halfway point where we will be staying. Pre-trip research is great now.
I in joyed your video thank you for sharing. I’m an old school wild camper I just use a tarp plus I can make it into a ranger bag. I’m still liveing in the past I still use mess tins and metal cup😅it works for me. I test any new gear I get in my back garden or my shud. Be respectful to game keepers and people you meet out there. ( Always tidy up then know one knows you’ve been there )stay safe and in joy the world you live in.
I stay away from anywhere with active Grouse butts nowadays. Grouse shooting brings a lot of money into the local economy, and what with the recent spate of moorland fires in the peaks in the last few years (normally caused by numpties with disposable BBQ's), the game wardens have upped their game so to speak in order to protect the birds. I also don't push the envelope with the weather. It's easy to be overconfident in your skills and equipment, but as you get older your abilities wane, and your fitness ebbs away. A 3 mile slog through deep snow with a heavy pack is a lot harder in your 50s than when you were 30.
Thanks again Paul. you videos always simplify the do's and don't. I found taking my phone and listening to an audiobook was a great way to distract me from the various sounds of the countryside. I always take a cuppa-soup as backup for a hot drink if the weather is colder than expected
Hi Paul another video full of sound advice. My son and his mate were on there that day and he called me to say he saw you and said hi.I got him into wildcamping a few years ago and now he is old enough to go on his own it has become a big part of life, watching you and others on youtube has given him more choices on kit and places to go.Nice one fella.
I think back to my first trip and I remember how heavy my backpack was. People often say you "pack your fears," so I think I definitely did that! But I think for a first-timer, if packing something gives you peace of mind, then pack it. An extra tent, for example, might be a bit over the top, but extra food, or an extra light source? Go for it if it calms your fears. Then next time, you can look at what you took and decide if you really needed it.
If you're not 100% sure of the tent (for possible conditions and can't test it), all-in packing for fears, maybe a bivvy won't go amiss. Add duck tape, cordage and a few extra pegs (inc a couple of larger ones) and its playing safety!
Thank you for the advice and a great video, Paul. As a small older woman, I don't think I'd feel safe enough being alone. Love watching you You Tubers achieve the solitude I can't though!😊
Had two bloody grouse scare the crap out of me this week 😂 I find a checklist helps (when I use one!) I like to carry a few extra pegs, some Paracord and some tape. More than one light source and more than one lighter source for cooking. Water purification tablets are fairly cheap too, I’ve been carrying them hiking long before I started wild camping, bit of peace of mind especially during summer months.
Overcame the fear of camping by just doing it , got baptised in fire, the wild country 3 season tent flattened in a storm. After that nothing to worry about as an could only get better. When looking for a future spot, I'd take some pegs with you to see which ones you will need. When I went hillwalking would get the train or a buss. This time will be using a touring bicycle, looks cheap, won't have to worry about it getting nicked.
Totally agree Paul i took a friend to Wasdale campsite, was nice to be close to the wilderness but have that piece of mind that basecamp was sorted. All the way up Scafell I'm seeing perfect places to do an overnighter. Pub wasn't too bad either.
CAMPSITES. Use them. Find a campsite near to where you fancy wildcamping & set up a base for the first day. £15 - £20 a night gets you secure parking, showers, kitchen, toilets etc etc ........ I have a cheap Vango 3 man tent for a base camp & keep most of my lighter weight gear in a backpack in my car, ready for off whenever I fancy heading onto the fells for the night, & if I don't see a window in the weather; I stay at the basecamp & get pissed. It also gives you an excellent opportunity to try out your lighter gear. Easy peasy & something I've done for over 40 years.
Another way to get around the car situation (especially if you are backpacking from one spot to another in a linear way as opposed to out and back) is to coordinate a ride and pick up. Either get dropped off and picked up, or [if you'll be camping with a friend] take two cars and park one at the end and drive back together to where you plan to start so there will be a car waiting for you at either end.
Thank you, interesting video. Lovely part of the world, unfortunately about five hours from my house. They should put a blue plaque on that first spot. Paul Messner slept here and the date. re. spares. Better to have it and not need, than, need it and not have it.
There are some pastimes or activities that become less attractive or even spoiled as more and more people become aware of them & take them up. As a participant of 25+ years, if I’m being completely honest, I have to say that wild camping is one of these. One thing that first attracts a large proportion of wild campers is solitude and that is increasingly hard to find. I really like Paul’s videos, especially his openness on issues like mental health. I accept I have no right whatsoever to gatekeep what is fundamentally an expression of personal freedom but I can’t help but wish that my beloved pursuit had remained a secret known to relatively few. So there’s a part of me that wishes that Paul (and many others) were not making these videos. That said I like Paul’s the best by far. By the way I’m super glad the comments have come back on the specific videos.
I've noticed a change as well with more and more people wildcamping in big groups, playing music, drinking, basically having a party. So it gets even harder to find a bit of peace in nature.
Most liked comment on here. And it says it all really. I suppose I am slightly hypocritical. I’ve got a lot of knowledge, confidence and enjoyment out of Paul’s (and others) videos and I’m grateful for the advice I have asked for and received. But it’s definitely driving a behaviour. Possibly this is just a passing fad (covid didn’t help with f***wits lighting fires here there and everywhere) and things will settle down. But it feels like Pandora’s box has been opened. You can’t put the lid back on it. It is kinda ironic that Paul won’t camp at a spot because he and others made it so popular to start with. Maybe stop giving out locations?
Agree with what you have to say. However, as with most things they come and go and these people that ‘flock’ to the latest trend often don’t hang around for long. Wild camping is very much an activity you must completely want to do and stick with which for most people especially young people today they don’t often commit to things long term
Definitely depends where you live. I live in northeast US and I went 150mile (240km) last year and only saw one other person the whole time. But the high peaks district of Adirondacks…..I saw 10 people per mile.
I started backpacking (and hence wild camping) after 10 years of family camping holidays so the camping bit I was confident about. I knew my tent, sleeping kit and cook kit all worked. All the other issues (apart from the car; I've (naively?) never worried about that!) I recognise. As for adders, in 50 years of hill walking I've seen 3 and only one posed any kind of threat (and another one of them was in France, not the UK!). I've also had dozens of ticks and only once seen the dreaded red-ring of Lyme's, and 5 days worth of antibiotics soon sorted it out. I did have a deer get tangled in a guy rope once, when pitched near a river, that gave the tent a good shake! Lesson: don't pitch where animals come to drink!
Hiya Paul; I'm Enjoying Your Videos as always, However I would like to see you do a Video on Correct Tent positioning with regard to Direction in heavy Wind Conditions. Reason Being, Most Tent Manufacturers face the Door to the Wind which I Find Backward Thinking & can if not careful launch any unlucky Camper off the side of a mountain. I always Pitch with back facing into the Wind so 1/ I don't get Blown over the side, but 2 For porch Cooking etc. Please Paul if you can Highlight the Dangers, & of the positives the correct way a tent is facing despite what the manufactures wind test say. Also the Very Same Question of Self standing Tents That will literally Blow away compared to Self Collapsing Tunnel tents designed with that inbuilt Wind redundancy. Great Videos Paul, all the best my Yorkshire Bro.
Although I’ve been to Great Britain about four times in the last 40 years and always rent a car, I was surprised to hear you talk about vandalism and breaking into cars at trailhead parking areas ..that’s a problem in the United States unless you are in a more remote areas like the Sierra Nevada in northern California, where I live, but I never thought it was a problem in Great Britain. I guess I’m naïve.
Hey, I mean this in a positive way as a compliment, but you seem like a nice old grandpa. Probably just because you look a little like how my grandpa looked 15 years ago and explain things in depth with a softer kind voice, but it makes for a very pleasant watch
I had some good advice from a squaddie about 45 years ago when camping alone. "Any fool can be uncomfortable" and " take 2 treats with you", for me it was a Mars bar and a 1/8th bottle of whiskey. His advice works well to this day. maybe minus the Mars bar.
Beautiful location, great information. One thing I would suggest is practice setting up and getting used to your equipment at home in the garden (as said in the U.K.) or the yard (as we say in the U.S.), if you've got the space. If not, try a local park. This was well done. Thank you very much. From San Diego, California.
Desperate to find a replacement for the stormin' norman cone, its the 2 piece build that fits into the mug its paired with that matters the most to me.
I ❤️ this one Paul - one of your best and aiming at the new camper. Great stuff. PS have been living in Crookes now for a year and love the Peak District and all it has to offer. Kevin.
The first time I took my 8 year old on a wild camp up kinder scout, half hour before sunset and the wind was picking up, as I was pegging out the tent the corner completely ripped off but managed to support it the best we could with our bags, sleeping inside half a collapsed tent with a child taught me a lesson.
@paulmessner Did my first wildcamp last night, it turned into a windy & wet one but was great :) Your videos have been extremely helpful, keep up the good work 💪
My biggest fear was simply that wild camping in most of the U.K. is illegal and I could end up in court. On the SeatToSummit website it says: “In general, it’s best to camp in national parks and public woodland areas, nature reserves over areas that are privately owned or in farmers’ fields. Getting permission is crucial.” Are wild camping laws, like huge numbers of other laws in the U.K., on the statute book but never enforced?
Watching this on a wild camp 😁 I can just about see Bamford edge from where I am. It’s definitely a beautiful spot, but I wouldn’t camp there again either due to its popularity and likelihood of getting moved on. Atb Mark
Great video and advice Paul, parking the car safely is always my biggest worry. I'm still quite jealous of you mainlanders as the OS Maps app doesn't cater for Northern Ireland as yet, i hope they can update this soon.
It can be hard to relax the mind for some people like that old song you fill up my senses like a night in the forest ,which can freak some people out I tarp camped with my harley a few times and because I didn't want to stray far from the bike it did limit my options but always had a good time
Great tips as usual Paul. People always forget to mention ASTM ratings for sleeping pads, if it doesn't have an ASTM rating (industry standard testing) then the R-value means sweet FA and it won't keep you warm in the conditions it claims it will... Same goes for sleeping bags and EN/ISO ratings, if it doesn't have one then add +5°C to the comfort rating or you'll be cold. 👍
I think theft is my biggest fear. I usually have a bit more than I hike/camp with leftover in my car so Im always paranoid. Not only getting my gear stolen but the car damage too. I cant always camp where I want to because its too far from the car.
Great video Paul. I’m a camp site car camper for many years with the family but really want to try wild camping. My biggest fear is getting moved on, watching your complete end to end and some others I think I’m going to try woolpacks. How often have you been moved on here? Cheers
I'd recommend taking a water bladder especially in summer when you can't always trust water sources due to drought😅(Speaking from personal experience)😂
That second pitch on banford edge you showed is now patrolled by game keepers on quads, myself and my mate got asked to move on initially last time I visited there. Luckily the gamekeeper was a nice guy. We then got a group of drunk Ukrainians throwing lit cigarette butts down on us at 2.00am and we had words. It's a shame, it used to be quiet years ago.
@@leecromer3289 that's what I was thinking. It was 2 guys and a woman, they threw 2 lit dumps down, quickly followed by a Ukrainian fag packet, we popped up and had words with them, I explained the leave no trace ethos....and told them to take their empty cans with them.... unfortunately we found the cans further down the path on the way down in the morning....arseholes! God knows how they got there, I hope they weren't driving, they were pissed as farts.
Nice tips thank you, for my first 2 wild camps I went to Dartmoor where you are allowed to wild camp without permission so the fear of being moved on etc wasn’t a factor when getting used to it. Oh and if you can afford one a Garmin inreach mini or similar to give you the comfort of checking in with family and calling rescue if you are out of mobile phone range
By all means be prepared but It's them anxieties and unknowns that help create the excitement of wild camping. Sometimes the mistakes become part of the story.
Bizarre. I’ve been to Bamford Edge for dinner with a view with my lad after visiting the hospital today. He’s got cerebral palsy so he can’t walk for miles and I was thinking that it was the ideal spot for us to wild camp. Especially that flat area you showed with the rocks as a wind break. My only concern was the gamekeepers but it doesn’t seem to be mentioned much now the idiots that were doing it during covid seem to have stopped. I wonder if you were below edge you would be less likely spotted or do they use drones etc? Cheers. Keep up the great vids mate
Great video Paul, I've only been wild camping a few times but can definitely relate to all of the points you covered 👍 I notice you've been using the Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor (last video) and the Flex Trail (this video), having used them both which would you recommend as they both seem comparable spec/cost wise?
