I started to say nah! on the first minute and fast it forward. But when i see the risk you take showing us inside the cave i started all over again and keep saying i really appreciate your effort in sharing us the Old man.. i am totally impressed on the free soul travelling you made there. Kudos Fell Wanderer
One thing I luv about you is that you keep things simple, pack your bag and you're off, no bother and no team co-ordination headache. A great video as always bro and a real pleasure to watch, many thanks for sharing ~Peace~
Zed Outdoors Thanks Zed, I really love the simplicity of the bivy and being fast and light in the hills, although the middle aged spread is rapidly catching up on me these days so I try to cut down on weight in other departments like tents, tarps pasties etc.. ATB, Damian.
Pasties are a highly underrated survival food and I would gladly subtitute them in my kit instead of cover into the 5 C's of survivability: Combustion, Container, Cordage, Cutting and Cornish Pasties lol..
Fell Wanderer Should make a few sacrifices and get some stotties and pease pudding in the bag for your bait. Great video btw, the scenery is outstanding. ATB, Mike
Great video Damian, it brings back Fond memories of my times walking up to the old man of coniston. It's one of my fave views in the lake district. The cold wind an tired legs are sure worth it for those views. When I go bivvying I take my little Alcoa spirit stove which with the Wind shield/stand packs down into my nest of billy cans just nicely
Dave Mcnevin A small alcohol stove would have been a good idea and not as messy as the buddy burners where wax was running off all over and I had black soot everywhere, Thanks, Damian.
I want you to know that these videos you've done helped save my life. Was in a bad place during lockdown but watching you on your adventures got me through it. Thank you.
I found a mine over here some time back, kept going down and splinting into 3 shafts. each time I took the center to keep track. About 45 minutes down, I found a river, it was cool! then about 150' down, it got hot, real hot, the deeper we went, the more we sweat. weird! Like a portal to Mordor or something
Dude, I've watched you're mine exploring videos and you would love Coppermine valley here in Cumbria. Some of the mines are dangerous and that's part of the thrill of wandering through of these wild and largely forgotten and unexplored places. ATB, Damian
wait till you see a new video I filmed this weekend! Tons of forgotten relics, cabins, mines etc. We covered 30 miles of thick up and down and side ways search with elevation gains and minus from sea level to over 10,000' Friday night till Sunday night.
"I don't know where I am, In fact, I 'm camped out on the edge of reality." Ha ha, I Love it and will definitely borrow that phrase. Damian, I enjoy your videos much. Thanks for more great footage. Blessing and Cheers!
Nice one. Just watching this as I'm planning to go Saturday with rab and mark. Good hike up like. I've walked up twice before but not camped. Hardcore bivvying there like. Purple rimmed carabus again. Remember thrunton ? Don't think they bite. 😬 Anyway good vid. Enjoyed it many. Atb
Those purple rimmed carabus still look threatning and would have freaked out if one had entered my bag in the night. The one on your Thrunton Coe Crags camp looks the same. Would have liked to make it this weekend but can't sorry mate, will do soon I hope. Check out the old mines they are interesting but be careful as there are some sheer drops once inside. Check out Levers Water, its a nice spot for a wild camp. ATB, Damian.
Thanks for your video, enjoyed it very much. You have a very gentle way about you, if i may say so and intentionally or otherwise, you're a funny guy. All the best.
This has always been my favourite fell. As teenager my parents would leave me and my brother for a few weeks camping in Coniston. Wonderful memories. The Old Man was always a big adventure. Thanks for sharing.
I'm trawling through your vids Damian and enjoying every minute. I know the vast majority of the areas through which you wander - well, I'm from the north-east, too. Believe it or not, some of those mine workings date back to pre-Roman times. If I've got my bearings right, that hole you were looking down, at 21 mins, is Roman. By the bye, as long as you've got a decent torch, all of the mines which are not blocked off are safe to investigate - taking the usual precautions, obviously. The name 'Old Man' is, possibly, a corruption of 'old mine' or 'alta mine' - high mine, or 'maen' meaning stone in Brythonic, or whatever! Nobody knows. But, it's a great walk, especially with children - who can find something interesting at every turn. You should get 'The Little Wanderer' up there! x
Love your videos! Beautiful places and rich history unlike anything here in the USA; always interesting commentary as well! Thanks for sharing and keep them coming!
Great video as always. I have spent a lot of time in the lakes, visiting family, but never gone off the beaten track, maybe it's time I did. Thanks for the great vids.
Exelent video interesting and informative The Old Man of Coniston is my favourite walk and I've done it countless times and I never get bored of it keep the videos coming stay safe happy and well eny thing else is a bonus
Thanks for posting this, i first went up the Old Man when i was 12 on a school trip and loved it. I have been up there many times since and have slept up there too and again loved it. Unfortunately i will never do any more fell walking due to my health, having had 2 major operations on my back, but this video brought back many memories and i really felt i was there with you, thanks so very much for posting.
+Peepresc Thanks Peepresc.. you know a walk starts by putting one foot in front of the other then who knows what then can be achieved. the human spirit is capable of many amazing things under difficult conditions and I'm sure with determination and hard work you will achieve things which were once thought impossibe. ATB, Damian
Your brave going into that mine, but I could feel the history.. as I understand it, some of those holes are really old.. cooper pick men in animal skin old, imagine the effort to dig that deep. Great video as usual looking forward to the next, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for taking the time to make these Vids, i always look forward to seeing where you are going next. Maybe carrying a walking pole and using a small tarp would keep that wind off you and make the night more enjoyable , atb Tom
The British Outdoor Adventure Thinking about it, you have the perfect tent pole in your kit already, that would be your camera tripod! so the addition of a small lightweight tarp would give you a better comfort level when bivvying.....
Really enjoying the videos and can't wait to get back to the UK and some walking. I purchased a vacuum sealer for food and ditched the tins, less weight and my own choice of cook in the bag food.
tea grub camperman Its done with Adobe After Effects, I'm not that clever just use a template and change the picture and text etc.. Thanks for watching..
Thought this bit of information might be useful to you. In a woodland where I camp there have also been some unusual findings of sheep remains, the fleece and wool everywhere as well as some bones. At first I thought it might be poachers taking an animal, and then butchering it in the cover of the woods. Having spoken to the farmer though, he informs me that badgers have taken a few of his sheep. Foxes will take the lambs but badgers will take an adult and drag it into woods to devour. He said badgers are not to be underestimated. When you think about it, they are a large stoat or ferret, being of the same family, and look how tough they are. Hope this sheds some light on your sheep findings. Atb
Wow .... I simply love your videos and this was exceptionally great. You always make me want to go and do the same thing. Brilliant editing, brilliant commentary and loads of fascinating footage. Well done my friend - keep up the fantastic work!
I'm a new sub and love your videos. This country is amazing. I live in Florida where it's so flat, no valleys or hills that I'm aware of except for Tallahassee and little or no natural rocks. If you find a rock here, it was probably imported. LOL! These views are amazing, I would love to be able to walk on a daily basis in places like this. Thank you so much for filming and sharing it.
Thanks for your comment. I love your country also and keeping a close eye on your politics. Beauty can be found everywhere explore what you have it is lovely in your area to. Thanks for watching.
You reminded me of one of those Cu Chi tunnel rats in the Vietnam war films, what a scary little mine tunnel that was, it sent a shiver down my spine just as if the mother in law had walked over my grave! I once spent a week camping on an island all alone, well, I was all alone until the police arrived and made me move because I was distracting the drivers as they drove around the island, on the A27 in Sussex. You can't win can you?
blamhof Thanks Mick, pleased to see you are back on RU-vid, have missed your's and Ruby's wandering adventures in the hills, hope to see you both soon my friend, Atb, Damian
just found out about your videos today, they are fantastic! i hope to be able to wild camp Ireland in the future, well done on the channel ill be subscribing
Really brilliant video again put over in a friendly 'matter of fact' way. It's good the way you keep the patter going. I would dry up long before you do. I really liked the dubbing of ice cream van chimes. I'm convinced there is a Mr Whippy up on the Cheviot. W'e'll look out for it when we do the pennine way in June! As a cattle breeder I would say that you have to respect them but they are basically harmless - unless you have a dog. They are just curious. Your visit is probably the most interesting thing that has happened to them for days!
+Ronnie G Thanks Ronnie, that walk up the College Valley to the Cheviot where I saw the young cattle had me concerned at one point. I kept gaining distance from them and as they slowed down so I stopped to do some timelapse video and each time they kept moving closer, unknowingly at the time just out of curiosity. PS.. my patter is repetative and must have done scores of takes to get the right crack flowing in the video, I'm only good at editing lol.. ATB, Damian.
What a stunning place...Would have loved to have walked it but not anymore...Although you said the spoil was a blot on the landscape it did have a beauty to it.Thanks for taking the effort in filming...Another place that I did not know existed.....Cheers from Inverness.
Great video once again. Brought back some memories of when I was a member of a hillwalking club, if you didn't keep an eye on your rucksack when stopped for a break, some rocks would be added haha. Thanks for the video, I do enjoy these :)
Gra Fra Thanks for your comment, I cant wait to get back out and will be heading up to Scotland soon at Glen Coe, it promises to be a special trip, Atb, Damian
Excellent, Glen Coe is magical. Let me know when your heading up & I'll try to arrange a meet. I'm heading to Fort William tomorrow, I'm going to spend a few days walking the Great Glen Way. Atb, Graham
Enjoyed as always Fell wanderer, I know what you mean about the old mine exploration, I can't resist. Trying a minimal bivvy myself this weekend in the local hills going as light as possible. Thanks for sharing. Mark.
Hi amazing place . Did that walk some years ago . We found a deep shaft and at the bottom was a ore cart laying on its side . And we also came across a large opening to the mine big enough to get a van inside . As you say love the lake district . We come up every year on holiday . Pity we live so far away in Suffolk or we be there most weekends .
I have to revisit that place because there was more to explore and didn't have the time to see all that Coppermine valley had to offer. Thanks for your comment, ATB, Damian
Stayed here on Saturday. Camped right at the top and it got to about -6 in the night. Woke up to freezing fog with about 2mtr visibility!! Looking forward to going again and waking up with views like yours
That looked like a tuff one buddy, could see it in your face at times. Thanks for sharing, another great trip out. Oh by the way the beetle was a Violet Ground Beetle, almost certainly. Looking forward to the next one already.
Paul Lingard Thanks, I feel old as there were people passing by me with a lot more energy, think I need to loose the beer belly and get a bit more fitter, Damian
Fell Wanderer Possibly buddy. But I find that a lot of these walkers just tend to have their heads down with the only objective been to get to where they're going. Now folks like us stop and smell the roses now and then, take in the world, not rush past it at a rate of knots. Not forgetting that if they're not back at the car before sundown most would be in a total panic. We don't have that problem we just open the rucksack and get on with it...LOL
Tee Campez Cheers Terry, I like your videos too.. great minds think a like.. I'm going to Glen Coe in a few weeks and watching your beautiful timelapse videography has inspired me to improve and record the experience
good to see you out on the fells came across some slate mines above seatoller on the way back from dalehead tarn.didn't have the bottle to venture in.keep ticking them wainwrights off.cheers geordie
Well done great vid of our great landscape.. Going for a walk along the Wansbeck with the son and sasha the dog see if I can find your hotel for the night lol...
Nice vid, I'm going to have a go at some wild camping without a tent myself. To start with I'll just use my camping matt and sleeping bag inside a survival bag and see how I get on. I'll take some warm clothes and I've got a nice little gas camping stove so I'll be able to make some hot food and hot drinks. I'll be alright, it should be fun. It'll keep the spirit of adventure alive in me. Anyway keep on wandering the fells and thanks for the video.
You will sweat in those plastic survival bags and get wet from condensation the next day as they aren't breathable. Buy a military surplus bivy bag, they are reasonably priced and will give you years of service if looked after. If it rains, turn the bag upside down so the hood is a rain flap and you will stay dry.. ATB.
Fell Wanderer I will follow your wise words and purchase an army surplus bivy. They are very reasonably priced and they're three layered gortex, so great quality and value. For someone like me who loves the great outdoors, it will give me many years of service. I know the Coniston Fells area very well. I've walked a lot over those hills through the years, it's a brilliant area. I've also explored a number of the old mine workings. There's a very extensive network of tunnels beneath those fells, though you do have to be very careful, some of the workings are in a very poor condition now. Wainwright said he counted more than a hundred openings into those hills, so they were very heavily mined. I think it was all copper mining in that area. Anyway, thanks very much for the advice.
ha ha camping on the edge of reality lol. This is the second time ive watched this and its great, no nonsense just you being you doing what you enjoy. Excellent entertainment mate thanks for sharing it. ATB Steve
Mate I really really like your adventures I will one day visit those beautiful places. Just quick advice good tent will be your best bet in this excursion. Meant while I will going to watch all your videos. Take care be safe you never know we may bump on each other on a hills. Nik
+Nikola dermendzhiev You are right I do need a tent for camping high up as a tarp is not strong enough in high winds. Thanks for watching, ATB, Damian.
Wow great place for a wild camp and great video. Is it wrong that I was willing you to go further into the cave LOL keep safe fella and keep up the great work.
So far, and maybe Im a little biased having been to The Lakes, but something about this video was just a bit special, The caves, where great. I can see the allure of them. Much respect Damien. (y)
great video mate I was there a few years ago, I'm going to Angle Tarn again in a couple of weeks time, looking forward to going back there again. we need to sort out when we are going to willowbog when we get time Atb Daz
I’ve been up a few times and I’m heading there next weekend with my daughter but my knees are knacked but I want to take her up there. This video gives a fine idea of the best peak in the bum lakes.
I like the outer fells, there seems to be less people, although Coniston is a popular place its easy to get parked unlike places such as Keswick and Ambleside.
Great video always love watching your stuff love to see you out on your inflatable kayak more i really loved your video on ullswater, also talking about stoves i got a small picket rocket stove from amazon for about £3 and along with the gas (around £6) it fits snugly into my cooking pots which are similar to yours if i find the link ill post :)
Ricketymanfilms Thanks Paul, If I'm not here I'll probably be in a box 6 foot under or stuck in a cold damp coal house in Ashington wearing a tight pair of shoes that doesn't fit properly. Damian
