Wild Camping

For so many, camping is a way to connect with nature. Wild Camping is different from usual camping which is not just about going outdoors, but also getting away from the busy campsites and caravan parks, and spending time with nature, truly. Wild camping requires more planning/organising and be prepared/self-sufficient for the whole experience. But there are specific rules that govern access for wild camping in the UK. Scotland allows wild camping anywhere but in England or Wales, there are certain places that we can go wild camping – such as the Lake District and parts of Dartmoor. But where ever you may go, you must check first if you need permission from the landowner. The most important rule to remember is that your wild camping trip should leave no impact on the landscape and shouldn’t disturb the environment or wildlife around you. 

So, wild camping is pretty much illegal everywhere else in Britain. But, people still do and that’s technically breaking the law. However, as I read in many places, the general advice is that if you stick to the rules you should be ok. A few things to remember: to camp in a small group, further away from paths (can’t be seen from a distance), towns and villages, pitch after dark and leave just after sunrise. Don’t light fires, take away everything you brought and absolutely Leave No Trace (LNT).

Friday the 2nd October, I went for Wild camping in Surrey Hills (The Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) with two of my friends (Sushil and Sulav). The weather forecast was not so brilliant and we had a bit of storm Alex experience in those two days. However, it was an interesting, fun and unexpectedly challenging trip for our first-time wild camping.

We planned and prepared as much as possible, packed our rucksack, and left home after eating an early lunch. Well, at least two of us definitely had our Nepalese style lunch (dal, bhaat, tarkari), but Sulav didn’t, allegedly. We started our walk from Mickleham. It was a bit of struggle to get going, especially walking up hills carrying (a 14kg or more) rucksack for the first time. I never knew, it would be tough. I can’t emphasis enough that you need to be smart about your packing and make sure that our load is as light as possible. But it’s hard to find the balance between weight and necessity that’s right for you.

The plan was to walk at least 21kms before pitching. Halfway, as we stopped for a nice cup of coffee at the Wotton Hatch, we thought of pitching at 16kms near Tillingbourne spring. It was getting late and we were a little tired as well. When we got there, it was almost 7pm and nearly dark. We looked for an area to pitch, a bit far away from the path. But it was all boggy (like a marsh) probably due to a non-stop rain. So, we went looking for a spot to pitch our tent in a higher ground.

We kept walking up towards Leith Hill and took some time before finding an area flat enough for three of us to pitch. It kept raining, but with our head torch on, we pitched as quickly as we could. We all had a 2P tent. My Vango Langley 600XL tent was heavy (more than 2kgs) but big enough to keep our rucksack, boots inside, out of the rain. Sulav and Sushil pitched near the big tree and I ended up pitching a little far away.

We cooked our food in our own tent and sat together (rather uncomfortably) in Sulav’s tent and eat quickly. We also had a quick ginger tea. I left my saucepan outside hoping to collect some rainwater and also remembered to charge my watch and mobile phone for tomorrow.

We went to bed early, just after 9pm but, I managed to sleep 3 hours or maybe less that night. It rained all day and "poured down" throughout the night. As we were on quite an exposed spot, it was a sleepless night with the sound of the heavy rain hammering on our tent and the gusts of winds made me think if we set up our tents properly and will it survive strong winds? I also kept wondering if water will be running inside our tent. But it wasn't like 50-mph winds or the worst weather we have ever experienced. So we were just fine. However, trying to fall asleep, Sushil said that he tried singing in the rain and I was counting numbers backward, recited Gayatri mantra, and also end up eating a protein bar, Snicker, and a bread roll. But Sulav said that he (allegedly) had a good long sleep and woke up once or twice only. I have absolutely no idea how you could have a good sleep in such a noisy tent!

After a few hours of sleep, I was awake early, just before 5am. It was completely dark outside and still raining. I changed my base layer and made myself warm first. Then, I started cooking my porridge while packing my rucksack at the same time. Sushil and Sulav were also awake and started preparing. Once again, we quickly eat our breakfast and drank a tea/coffee that we prepared with a little bit of water left from last night. Then, we packed up our tent, made sure we didn’t leave any rubbish, and started moving.

Once again, we decided to keep our walk under 16kms. There was no mobile reception in the area where we pitched. So I replanned the route on our way back. Early in the morning, it was a really nice walk back. The trail was almost empty for us to enjoy. We hardly met a few (dog) walkers and runners on the way. The views were splendid after the rain. The greenery was greener than usual and it was just fantastic to see mist/fog. as I like to think it was as if trees were breathing out oxygen for us.

Most of the paths were clear with only a few puddles that we couldn’t avoid. After jumping in just one puddle and a bit of walk, Sushil decided he needs a new waterproof boot for a next trip. We mustn’t forget as well that even if our boots are waterproof, water can get in and run down our legs easily. So, over-trousers and gaiters are always useful which we all had. In fact, I would like to say we are always prepared (over cautious sometimes) because of our experiences from past hiking trips.

Hence, we always find hiking/camping in bad weather as enjoyable as in good weather. Hiking in the rain, light to moderate drizzle is good fun but it could be challenging in heavy rain and wind. So, it is all about taking sensible risks and be a little more prepared for the elements for worthwhile rewards. 

A few things to remember based on our experiences and what I learned:

First of all, you should pick a good trail / well-established path (a loop route is even better if you are planning to hike as we did). In bad weather, you should try to avoid steep hills, narrow paths, and wetlands. It is important to check on the weather before leaving and prepare accordingly. 

Rucksack/backpack – a rain cover is enough for a light drizzle. In heavy rain, you could use a heavy-duty bin liner to line the inside of your backpack. Use dry / zip-lock bags to keep important equipment/food and other bits dry inside your bag.

A good tent and an extra groundsheet (if you are worried about the rain). Sleeping in a tent in the rain is definitely one of the great joys in life! But if you are like me and can’t sleep with all the noises, do bring earplugs!

You must ensure our tent is safe and secure. Tighten the guy ropes and always bring some spare pegs! If it is raining, keep rucksack and boots inside a tent.

If a heavy downpour/storm is forecast, you should check you aren't camped where it could flood (in a valley or a floodplain). If lots of lightning directly overhead, the advice is to avoid tents or standing under trees or other tall objects that may attract lightning strikes. In such a situation, the best thing to do is to get into full waterproofs, go outside, in low ground, or in a nearby building (if possible) and enjoy the lighting show.

Remember to dress for the temperature. You should bring warm, waterproof clothing and boots and socks. Don’t wear cotton or denim. Invest in a good waterproof and windproof jacket. Is there such thing as the perfect jacket - waterproof, breathable, lightweight, comfortable to wear for a long time, and warm as well? This is probably why we should wear layers. When choosing layers, consider how hot or cold it is and dress appropriately.

Get a good base layer – wicks sweat off your skin. The Middle (insulating) layer – retains body heat and outer (shell) layer – shields from wind and rain. Waterproof paints and Gaiters are also great to keep your socks dry.

You would also need:

• A good Sleeping Bag, a liner and Camping mat (folding) is essential.
• Camping cooking equipment, lighter.
• Shove or trowel, toilet paper, wipes (bio-degradable)
• GPS tracker (mobile phone), map, compass, battery pack
• A microfiber towel
• Waterproof case for map and mobile phone.
• Hiking poles – might be useful.
• First aid kit.
• and more…

Food - it’s important to remember we are not going for a picnic and take what’s absolutely necessary. Quick snacks that we can eat on the go, such as energy bars and dried fruit/nuts are lifesaver! it’s always a good idea to snack small and often throughout the day. Most of all, always remember to smile, laugh and enjoy!

By the way, once I came home, I did clean and dry my tent properly before packing as storing a damp tent doesn’t do it any good.

A bit long video (< 6 mins) but a collection of our memorable moments.

Note: Saturday 3 October 2020 was the wettest day for UK-wide rainfall since records began in 1891, Met Office researchers have said. The downpour followed in the wake of Storm Alex and saw an average of 31.7mm (1.24ins) of rain across the entire UK. (Source: BBC News 16/10/2020 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54561601)