 Hi all, About time I stopped lurking and introduced myself. I've lived in Sydney for 19 years and moved back to the south east UK for a few years. Many reasons, but camping and walking is up there. I'm looking at following the 3-day walk featured in Trail this month (Mar 08), over easter. Problem I've hit is a minimum stay of 2 ngihts at Kirkstone Pass Inn so I figured I would push on and find a wild camp. I appreciate that many don't want to give up their secret spots but any hints or ideas are welcome from such an informed bunch. Emails welcome if you don't want to post. I've short-listed Skyeside and Side Farm for my 2nd stop as I'll probably need a shower by then. Also I am always open to meets, walks and gatherings in the south east and south wales. I do drive and not limited to weekends unless the wife wants to join me. Thanks in advance
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 Haven't seen the Trail route, but if you head straight uphill behind the Kirkstone Pass Inn and over the top you'll find choice of wild camp sites no problem.
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.jpg) Hi Nick Where abouts in the SE are you? I'm also about and not limited to weekends and well up for walks round this way Surrey/Sussex
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Hi Tweek, Newbury / Reading. I've been looking at the south downs way and Thames path but open to suggestions. I'm fairly fit and can do a variety of distances but prefer not wading knee deep in mud as I tend to put off cleaning my boots once home.
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 Good to see you down this way here and safely away from those big nasty Funnel Web spiders you have back home there locally in Sydney, Australia!! Those things scare the heck out of me! Welcome Nick to the South East here, and to the very mad wild world that is the OM Forum! Enjoy the madness! 
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Hi Trevor, funny how an arachnophobic ends up living in Sydney. I personally found the huntsman spiders to be more intrusive as they like to live indoors and are frequently found staring at you from the ceiling whereas the funnel webs, although more deadly are common outdoors and in hiding places. Then we move onto the drop bears, snakes, and box jelly fish, not to mention the most deadly of all - the Irukandji. Makes you wonder why so many people go to live out there.
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Nick... am well up for having a go at the south downs way, not done any of it yet really so it'd be a bit of an adventure all round. Even with the bizarre weather round here recently I have to say I'm still in my walking shoes not boots so it's not too bad 
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I don't know your Trail walk but I do know of a nice wild camp spot - on the northern side of Kirkstone Pass is Brothers Water (big pond) and where the road (592) crosses its outlet (Goldrill Beck) there's a car park - turning left here takes you into Dovedale. Go past Hartsop Hall (by the way, you'll want the OS Explorer 1:25 000 map The English Lakes North-eastern area) and eventually the path swings rightish and starts to climb - on the map is marked 'waterfalls' and on this southern side of the Dovedale beck I came across a smallish level patch of grass, amongst trees and beside the beck with mini-waterfalls. Haven't camped here myself, but intend to, so don't make a mess It's probably less than an hour from the main road. On that day (June 2005) I went up Dovedale to Hart Crag and back along Hartsop above How, back to the road at Deepdale Bridge. Mini-adventure but very charming scenery. And no funnel-webs
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No idea where the 'Trail walk' is (dont buy magazines), but as has been said, you'll find no shortage of places to wildcamp up on the fells. I've pitched my tent on all the main 'chunks' of lakeland fells at one time or another. Plenty of places on the fells near Kirkstone Pass, regardless of which direction you head (unless you head down towards Windermere!).
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Many thanks for the responses to date. To clear up my question, I'll add a bit of detail on the route. Mardale head (south Haweswater) then west to high st. and Stony Cove Pike. South west to Kirkstone pass and up onto Red Screes. This is where I'll be aiming to pitch weather permitting. If the weather is bad I'll alter my route to head for Sykeside camping instead. From either point onto Dove Crag and Fairfield (Rydal head) and then turn north east over St. Sunday Crag an down into patterdale / Glenridding - night 2. From there it's the boat up to Howtown and back to the start via Loadpot hill and High Raise. I'll check out Emerald's spot just south of Gill Crag whilst I'm visiting the preist hole. Ta!
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 As people have already said the area around Kirkstone Pass all you need to do to find a nice wildcamp spot is walk uphill for half a mile or so and there are plenty of spots you'll find! Alos have you explained your situation to the Inn, although they may say these things on there websites rules you may well find if you phone them they will put you up for the one night, especially if its midweek, definitely worth phoning them to ask!
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Thanks Jamie, As mentioned, it is Easter that I'm going hence the Inn problem. Yes, I phoned them but being the long weekend........
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Tweek, I'm looking at a walk-camp-walk on the SDW this Sat/Sunday if you or anyone else is interested. I'm looking for a farm camp or similar that is open as most tend to begin their season from Easter onwards. I've bought some new kit and would like to try it out before the Lakes 3 day trip. Petersfield is mid-point between us both but open to suggestions. I could wild camp it if absolutely necessary but prefer a site with a water supply. Could also do a cheap B&B @ a pub but this defeats the idea of my new tent getting used  Let me know here or via email if you are interested.
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