Really Really Really Wild Camping

I am interested in really roughing it ie building my own shelter and lighting a fire and really getting back to nature (in a Ray Mears style). However, I want to do this legally and with out breaking too many rules. If I do this I will be as eco-friendly as poss - not cutting down tress, using dead wood for the fire etc - and responsibly - not covered in deer's blood dancing naked round an 8ft pire (although ....??)

Any ideas on where this would be acceptable or if it would just be frowned upon totally. If so then I will have to just pretend but I would like to do it if I can.

Any thoughts ??

Erm, to be honest, I don't know. Wild camping's possible, but I suspect that most of the places where you can legitimately wild camp - or landowners tolerate it - high in the Lakes for example - aren't ideal for what you're talking about, because there's previous little wood or stuff to construct any sort of shelter from, though there are places with caves you can use as bivvies.

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OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

Woods are good for this (just don't ask me how I know........) the unfortunate thing is that they usually belong to someone.

Let's pretend they don't. The best rainproof shelter would be a framework of dry twigs with a top dressing of bracken - laid properly it won't let rain through. More bracken on the floor is an option but rather prickly. And some people are allergic to the spores so check B4 you spend an entire nite on it.
To start your natural fire you need kindling - silver birch bark is the best - but don't leave the tree naked! Then dry twiglets (not the biscuits) and small branches.

I learned to camp out the 'proper way' no toilets or washing up facilities or furniture - used to build my own - so have had many a happy week living au naturelle.

I guess deep in some remote wood no-one would ever spot you, so while it would be tresspassing, you could get away with it.

Possibly

Choose a dry forecast weekend - after 4 days in pouring November rain without a stove, I discovered starting discreet fires that don't smoke is tricky if you don't want to be noticed. A good fallback is to take food you can eat uncooked eg boil-in-a-bag, malt loaf or oats, or otherwise gradually starve whilst trying to hunt.. hey its all part of the 'remote' experience! Thatching your shelter is satisfying, and gives you something to do all day too, if not reverted to hunter-gatherer mode.

Matt, glad to see you've thought about this a bit and are taking a responsible attitude. The first thing I'd say is DON'T sneak on to someone's private land and try to do this surreptiously. Not only is it illegal and inconsiderate, it's also unnecessary. You may be surprised to find out (I still am) that, 9 times out of 10, if you ask nicely, landowners are quite happy for you to spend a night or two on their land (as long as you explain what you're doing and how you're going to cope with waste, etc). The alternative is to select a location where wild camping is accepted by convention, or that's so remote, either you won't be spotted or you couldn't possibly do any economic damage.

You need a location that will provide water, fuel and shelter. If you light a fire, not only should you not remove wood, but you shouldn't leave a trace of your fire behind. This restricts you to grassed land (where you can cut out a turf for a fire base, then replace it when you're done) or a beach. Camping in woods is less eco-friendly because your environmental impact is inevitably greater. Having said that, it's useful to be near a wooded area so you can gather fuel and shelter materials.

You mentioned being 'as eco-friendly as poss' and not 'breaking too many rules', but with a little forethought and planning you can do this with no environmental impact and no law-breaking at all. If you don't, then you're exploiting the environment rather than enjoying it, and you need to rethink your approach.

I would try wild camping with a tent and stove first before you go for the full experience, so you can get to grips with issues like locating and carrying water, disposing of your own waste without environmental impact, and so on. This would also help you work out what equipment you need to take with you for your full-on experience.

Thanks for your comments

I have already done both low and high level camps of more than one night with a tent and stove etc and the next step is really wild. My other problem is being land locked here in the midlands. There are a few forests and the like but not much in the way of real wilderness so that makes it a bit harder. any suggesions on where ??

Where r u in the midlands?

Cannock Chase is close to me and can even be regarded as a bit of wilderness if you find the right place. It has lots of forests, and even a couple of hills (although not very big ones).

When I've been pottering around there some Sundays with the kids I've seen that people have been wild camping (albeit with a tent and stuff...)

btw, best place to find wood is the stuff that has fallen from high and had been caught in the lower branches. It'll be dead, but much drier than the bits on the ground.

nice tip sofa man , ooer! double entendre.

alex
I live just outside Stourbridge so Cannock is easily accesible

Cheers