whitevanwoman
Guest
I've just got home from my first solo wild camp, just me and the dog, and I'm dirty, tired, sunburned but on a real high after a great 24 hours away. I didn't go very far, only about 25 miles from home to an area I know quite well, and where there is a car park next to Forestry Commission woodland where I was planning to stay. I had arranged to meet a friend nearby today to do some dog training and so I took the opportunity to go down the night before for my first proper wild camp.
When I got to the car park, I couldn't get on it due to a 7 foot height restriction barrier so I had to rethink my plans. There was a layby next to the entrance which I thought I could use but I felt a bit uneasy about parking on the roadside so I had a scout round on foot and discovered a nice little spot on a back lane just off the main road. It opened onto unfenced woodland and so was perfect for the dog and plenty of fuel for the storm kettle. I slept like a log, listening to owls hooting as I dozed off, and slept until 9am this morning, and to the best of my knowledge, not a single person or car passed me. At no point did I feel worried or apprehensive, and I was glad I'd moved off the road.
Of course the glorious weather has made all the difference, I can't believe we've had over 20C here in March!!! I had a few moments of sheer bliss this morning whilst waiting for my friend to arrive when I sat outside the van eating a bacon butty cooked on a camping stove, in vest and sunglasses. And last night's tin of hot pot was one of the best meals I've had for a long time.
I had to come back this evening for an IT exam and to dogsit my friend's 2 collies, otherwise I would have stayed away and moved on somewhere else (it's a madhouse here tonight with 3 biggish dogs all reverting to puppyhood and play fighting... furniture flying in all directions...)
What was your first experience of wild camping? Good or bad? Memorable or forgetable? Did it leave you wanting to get back home as soon as possible, or did you return home reluctantly, desperate to get away again? Where did you go and would you recommend it?
(I'll edit this later with the details of the car park and a couple of photos once I've got the dogs under control and had a bath)
When I got to the car park, I couldn't get on it due to a 7 foot height restriction barrier so I had to rethink my plans. There was a layby next to the entrance which I thought I could use but I felt a bit uneasy about parking on the roadside so I had a scout round on foot and discovered a nice little spot on a back lane just off the main road. It opened onto unfenced woodland and so was perfect for the dog and plenty of fuel for the storm kettle. I slept like a log, listening to owls hooting as I dozed off, and slept until 9am this morning, and to the best of my knowledge, not a single person or car passed me. At no point did I feel worried or apprehensive, and I was glad I'd moved off the road.
Of course the glorious weather has made all the difference, I can't believe we've had over 20C here in March!!! I had a few moments of sheer bliss this morning whilst waiting for my friend to arrive when I sat outside the van eating a bacon butty cooked on a camping stove, in vest and sunglasses. And last night's tin of hot pot was one of the best meals I've had for a long time.
I had to come back this evening for an IT exam and to dogsit my friend's 2 collies, otherwise I would have stayed away and moved on somewhere else (it's a madhouse here tonight with 3 biggish dogs all reverting to puppyhood and play fighting... furniture flying in all directions...)
What was your first experience of wild camping? Good or bad? Memorable or forgetable? Did it leave you wanting to get back home as soon as possible, or did you return home reluctantly, desperate to get away again? Where did you go and would you recommend it?
(I'll edit this later with the details of the car park and a couple of photos once I've got the dogs under control and had a bath)
