The sound of the sea / rain pattering on the roof, wind gently rocking the van ........all fits in with Abraham Maslows hierarchy of needs.
Physiological, and security being the first two blocks of the pyramid.
I personally think subliminally, when wild camping part of the satisfaction is being at one with the surroundings....being part of the jigsaw.....rather than electing a man made " solution" i.e the man made commercialism of a structured campsite.
WVW mentions the Northumbrian coast which in my mind is Englands best kept secret, Beautiful sands and a seascape second to none.
For some reason, I find peace in the lake district......... its a spiritual home.
Sorry to wax a little lyrical, but I hope my thoughts make sense.
Channa
I think you've summed it up nicely there Channa. There are places where it's almost a necessity to be alone, but you don't feel alone there somehow, just at peace with the world. I think that when wilding there is a subconscious satisfaction at being able to survive outdoors, perhaps satisfying an instinctive need inherited from our nomadic ancient ancestors, which has become buried and ignored by modern life.
For me sadly the Lake District is not how I remember it as a child, and perhaps because I live so close and therefore take it for granted, I find the central Lakes area really quite unpleasant in mid summer when that peace and solitude just disappears, even in remote fells and valleys. But there is a significant part of Cumbria which lies outside the Lake District National Park and which remains largely off the tourist trail even during peak season; the Eden Valley, the North Pennines, the Caldbeck Fells and back o' Skiddaw, the Solway Firth, and the South and West Coast and those are the places where I like to go to find that peace and solitude. And of course, if you're hardy enough, the central Lakes in winter is usually fairly peaceful.
It's a tricky situation for Cumbrians, as the county is largely dependent on tourism and so we do try to accept unbegrudgingly (is that a word?)the influx during the summer months but I think many local folk heave a sigh of relief at the end of the summer when the majority of tourists disappear and we can have our quiet, remote favourite spots back to ourselves.
What I loved about the Northumberland coast which I think sets it apart from other coastal areas is the sheer wildness of it and the power of the sea; even on a warm sunny late summer's day, the wind and surf was still awesome. You are right about it being the country's best kept secret - and although this is probably very selfish of me, I do hope it remains that way as it doesn't seem to have become as touristic (not sure if that's a word too) as the Lake District.
I know I should really explore the south of england as I hardly know it at all, and I'm sure there are hundreds of miles of fabulous coastline and many other wild and peaceful places, but I think my heart is in the north.
Now I'm waxing lyrical too :lol-053:
