Who doesn't wild camp, and why?

And if you somehow camp and hit a time when the helm wind is going.....

(I don't know if the forecasts really predict that.).

Metric Kate wrote (see)

Yes, Becky, hope you've clocked that meet in the Brecon Beacons first weekend in September. Train to Brum and I can take you from Cardiff Central, or stick out a thumb and see who's coming down your stretch of motorway.

Im at a festival unfortunately that weekend am joining people in the Malverns in september though

oh and Skip...that experience ended in my screaming the tent down till my boyfriend retracted his sleepy "it was just a dream" comment, found the leech and extracted it from the tent haha, not much sleep was had for the following few nights though!

The Helm Wind isn't what most people seem to think. Generally, people say it's a destructive wind associated with Cross Fell. That's not quite true. It's actually a wind with clearly defined characteristics, affecting the whole East Fellside, and those characteristics can be generated when the wind is as light as 15mph. It CAN be strong and destructive, but usually it isn't. However... it MUST be coming from the north-east to be the Helm Wind. If it comes from any other direction... even if it's a hurricane... it's NOT the Helm Wind!

I think this is possibly the only time the Helm Wind got a mention on a televised weather forecast... and note... it's coming correctly from the north-east!

 

One of the features that really nails it as being the Helm Wind is a long, rolling cloud in front of the fells, known as the Helm Bar. No matter how strong the wind blows, the Bar stays in the same place. Check out the video on this feature about the Helm Wind, which was clearly one of the more destructive examples.

 

It seems Wildcamping has Ordnance Survey's seal of approval! http://www.magazine.ordnancesurveyleisure.co.uk/magazine/tscontent/editorials/outdoor-skills/2012/wilderness-camping.html

First I'd like it say hi I only just found this site and love it

I'm into wild camping as I'm a bit of a survivalist but it's been a resurgence in me as a young lad I had the highlands of Scotland on my doorstep and was always in the wilds, we would go mountain biking with a couple of water bottles a PAC A MAC strapped to bike and lighters, cord, knife etc in pockets. Water purifying was alien in those days we would refill from a stream, bug down for the night regardless of conditions but never in winter

Now I'm older and don't answer to my ex-missis anymore I've got back into walking and then wild camping. Only thing I'm not in the highlands anymore. Manchester, the moors are to soggy and barren for a decent camp I'm used to hilly woodland but good for a walk and views plus the pubs on the roads serve some exellent food. The cat and peacock il always remember as out side both animals were there and some sleeping together.

London- I work there a lot but I get out every chance Epping forest is a star and big enough to lose the crowds. A tarp, bivie, paracord And cooking stuff is all I need to stay out a couple of nights. Roll on the bank hol weekend as waking up to the birds out there remind me of when I was a kid again

Epping Forest is certainly big enough to lose the crowds and also dead bodies

On one of my very first ever tent-less bivvies, curled up on a gritstone boulder on Blackstone Edge, I was mistaken for a dead body early one morning by a few lads walking the Pennine Way. I woke to the sound of a guy yelling "Look - a dead body!" He seemed really disappointed when I sat up in my sleeping bag.

Darra8 - how's it going?  Are you convinced yet?  Don't leave it too much longer as the nights are drawing in and you're missing out!  Just get out somewhere not too ambitious for your first trip, but make sure it's a decent spot, somewhere you can enjoy being.  Aim to get there well before sundown so you can get the tent up then sit out in the sun if possible or go for a short toddle around the camp area.  Choose the site if poss so that you get evening sun and morning sun, whilst still being sheltered if there's any wind forecast.  And take a dram or two, and something to sit on outside, like a sitmat.

I like to take binoculars so you can look for foxes, badgers, deer etc.  Amazing what you can see if you just look - and of course it's at dawn and dusk when you'll see most wildlife.

Go on - get out there and ENJOY!

Wot Rob said. Go for it!

rob dixon 2 wrote (see)

Darra8 - how's it going?  Are you convinced yet?  Don't leave it too much longer as the nights are drawing in and you're missing out!  Just get out somewhere not too ambitious for your first trip, but make sure it's a decent spot, somewhere you can enjoy being.  Aim to get there well before sundown so you can get the tent up then sit out in the sun if possible or go for a short toddle around the camp area.  Choose the site if poss so that you get evening sun and morning sun, whilst still being sheltered if there's any wind forecast.  And take a dram or two, and something to sit on outside, like a sitmat.

I like to take binoculars so you can look for foxes, badgers, deer etc.  Amazing what you can see if you just look - and of course it's at dawn and dusk when you'll see most wildlife.

Go on - get out there and ENJOY!

I now have a lighter tent, a good pack, and have also bought a smaller SIM too, so I have all the gear, just need the courage to get out and do it.

The trouble is, I have no idea of a good place to start. It will be in Snowdonia somewhere, but no idea where. I hope to get out this weekend and car camp, so if I get out for a walk, will have to look out for good spots.

Puerile irrelevent comment by Matt Brown 6 reported to moderators.

That bastard Skip wrote (see)

Puerile irrelevent comment by Matt Brown 6 reported to moderators.

It was his first post too, so was perhaps trying to impress

Try the Moelwyns?  Nice wild area behind Plas y Brenin - far less people there too - they're all off in the big mountains.  Lovely area, good for swims, too.